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In a film, "Like a Thief in the Night", a young man is working at a zoo, doing maintenance of a cage box inside a reptile house. As he is working, a snake makes its way out of its cage box, which has been inadvertently left unlocked by someone. The snake comes to a rest near some of the tools and hardware that are being used by the young man. The young man is unaware of the snake's presence or place of rest, so without looking, he reaches out for a tool ... and the snake bites into his hand.
A friend of mine visited a church congregation this past weekend. He met with different people and was also able to spend a brief time speaking with the pastor of this church congregation. As they conversed with the pastor, the pastor asked them what genre of books they had read lately. When my friend said, apologetics, the pastor was quick to state, I hope you have not done so to fight. Consequently, my friend found themselves explaining to this pastor what apologetics is and the importance of its usage.
From time to time, I have issues or concerns about my life. Sometimes I share them with God, as well as others. In the process, God will come to speak to me by various means, in this case a dream, His Spirit, and His Word.
In Christianity, people often find themselves asking questions about degrees. No, not academic degrees, but spiritual degrees of the extent to which a Christian may be healthy, weak, borderline, or dead. The "Parable of the Sower" brings to light four rationales in answering the question of: "What is my spiritual degree?"
I am always amazed at how when a praise report is arising on one side of the spectrum of family and close friends, an overcast of hardship arises on the other side. However, it is best to follow in guidance of God's Word:
Throughout the years, I have witnessed the increase of the use of emotions to describe God's work within a person's life. At the same time, I have witnessed the decline of Biblical means to express the later. It is such trends that are diminishing the presence of God's Spirit both within and amongst His people.
Jesus said, "I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him, bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me -- cut off from vital union with Me -- you can do nothing." John 15:5; Amplified Bible.
After the crazy day I had, most people would have gone home; I didn't. I went off to grab a bit to eat, then to Bible Study. I needed some spiritual encouragement and uplifting. Though my mind was still busy about the interview, during bits of the lesson and through prayer time, God impressed upon me Jairus and his daughter (Mark 5:35-36).
Jairus receives news from his servants that his daughter is dead; to stop bothering Jesus over coming over to the house to pray for her. Jesus, sort of overhears what was said, and addresses Jairus. Jesus tells him not to panic, don't be afraid, and to KEEP ON BELIEVING. Tonight I began to allow that message that Jesus once left with Jairus ... "KEEP ON BELIEVING" to flow from my heart and into my mind. My mind has began to "be still, and know that [He is] God." and "with God, all things are possible." Thanks God! In an age of electricity, church congregations have integrated much technology into their gathering of members and people who share a similar belief as them. In the process, they have also incorporated much of the business world into the manner in which they govern their church congregation. In the process, many church congregants have lost a connection of the true church of the Bible.
I have felt inclined to read Mark 8:22-26; the miracle of a blind man whose sight was restored. This passage fascinates me because it is the only noted case in which Jesus touched the person twice before they received their complete healing. Yet there is no declaration within this passage as to why this was done in this manner.
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R. A. Gómez |
