Do short-sighted Christians make you want to avoid church? Not short-sighted as in eye problems. Short-sighted as an not thinking out of the box. Far enough into the future. Beyond the walls of their own church. Things like that.
Forgiving the 50 and the 500. A very short parable. About forgiveness and love. Two verses. But it’s embedded in an actual event. It must be very important. This parable ended with a question from Jesus to a Pharisee named Simon. (Not Simon Peter, the disciple.) Jesus told Simon, “You have judged correctly”. Jesus told the woman who was the “target” in the event, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Yes, it seems we can learn much from the parable of Forgiving the 50 and the 500.
The story below is totally fictional. Maybe. Nothing even remotely like this could ever happen. No one would ever agree to this. I don’t think. It’s based on a true story. Although that last statement can’t be proven, I believe it’s true. It’s almost beyond belief. And yet…
My second week of radiation treatment begins in half an hour. One down – seven more to go. Or, more specifically, 4 down and 34 to go. And that gives a bit of a clue as to what “have to stay positive” is about. But only a clue. There’s more to it.
If I love God am I protected from everything? You know, some people think this is true. It’s certainly possible to read parts of the Bible and get that impression. However, the key word there is “parts”. There are verses that make it feel like God will protect us from everyone and everything. The thing is though, ...
Even when we know a lot about God, in our heads, we still doubt. Even when we trust God in our hearts, we still worry. It's nice to know we're not alone. Those are some of the same things David seems to express in Psalm 25. Why can't we trust what we know?
Will we have enough food in Heaven to be happy? The food we want? That probably depends. Fortunately, I like fish. Like the sushi below. But the real question is, will we have enough food? Too many people in the world don’t get what they want or even enough of any kind of food.
Are you ready? God is coming. We don’t know when, but He will be here. At any moment. So it’s not even a question of “will you be ready”. No. It’s a question of “are you ready”. Now.
The problem of the miracle hidden by miraculous healing. Say what? Being healed by God, through prayer, is a miracle. What else could there possibly be? What could be more important than still being alive when death was at the door?
The problem of healing … or not Healing. And being loved. By God. Healed or not. Thirteen years ago, I wrote something titled, “Healing (or not)”. Back then, it was strictly an analysis of what the Bible said. Now it’s 2023. I’ve had some experience with healing. And with not healing. It’s so much more real when it’s our own life depending on being healed. Or not healed.
God and me - this life and the next 