A long time ago, when I was a teenager, a country singer by the name of Barbara Mandrell, sang, “He grew the tree that He knew would be used to make the old rugged cross.” The song brought out, that even at creation Jesus was planning our redemption. This song could not be any truer. … Continue reading –>
“For Christ’s love compels us…..” 2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV Around the world, some children get baptized and are given a celebration dinner with nice gifts. Around the world, other children get baptized and get beaten by their parents and disowned by their family. Around the world this month, some pastors will be given warm greeting … Continue reading –>
Last week we were looking at how Jesus not only made and taught disciples, He was a disciple of the Father. Jesus gave us the perfect model for being a disciple. Last week we saw Jesus modeled being a disciple by reflecting the image of God, which we saw can only be done by community … Continue reading –>
As we near the end of studying the life of Christ in the book of Mark, we see how Jesus taught His disciples and told them to make disciples, but did it ever occur to us that Jesus was a disciple? Jesus was a disciple of His Father, and in Jesus’ public life and private … Continue reading –>
After more than 175 years of preaching the Second Coming, one important question comes to mind for Seventh-day Adventists. Is Jesus still going to come again? Are we still planning on it? Is it still a part of who we are? Growing up as a Seventh-day Adventist I heard people talk about how Jesus was … Continue reading –>
So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?…” Mark 10:51 NKJV While we were studying last week’s Sabbath School lesson in class, a friend told an interesting and disturbing story. She said several years ago her stepfather was in the hospital. A “sunshine band” from her local … Continue reading –>
Coming from Bethany towards Jerusalem, Jesus saw a fig tree in full leaf, and approached it, hoping to find some figs. Finding none, He cursed the tree, and by the next day, it had withered and died! (See Mark 11:12-26.) What a strange story this appears to be – a contrast to the loving acts … Continue reading –>
A while back I was watching my favorite show at the time, Unsolved Mysteries. This episode was about a young boy who was mentored by a young man. Since it was “Unsolved Mysteries,” where we’re often told to call their phone number to catch the bad guys, I was bracing myself for the turn in … Continue reading –>
Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.) Mark 7:19 NLT First let me say that I am explaining this with the NLT instead of the KJV, because most of … Continue reading –>
Something always bothered me about the story about Jesus calming the storm, and why Jesus asked His disciples where their faith was? I thought they were showing faith when they asked Him to calm the storm. Then one day it finally dawned on me. Let’s take a look. As evening came, Jesus said to his … Continue reading –>
