abandoned to Christ.

What does it mean for us to "walk in love"? Does it mean that we should all walk around as if we were floating on cloud 9, filled with romantic and idealistic thoughts about our lives and relationships? What does it mean for us to be a "fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."? Does it mean that we are to abstain from anything and everything that brings us pleasure; wear drab clothes and a permanent expression on our faces that tell the world how miserable we are being children of the Most High God, living in a sin infested world? Short answer to both these questions are assuredly in Christ - NO! When I read Ephesians 5:1-2, one of the first things that come to mind is the tabernacle and the altar of incense that was placed on the west side of the Holy Place, and stood in front of the curtain/veil of the Most Holy Place (or the Holy of Holies). The LORD said to Moses, "Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankince...

Thank you for joining me in this biblically-based, interactive review of The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. If you’re reading this, please know that I’ve been praying for you in accordance with Psalm 86:11-12. I encourage you to pray this as well. Why is this "interactive"? It is interactive because I will ask you to pause, read, and meditate on the Scriptures noted throughout this review. The Holy Spirit has led me to write in this manner so you may read God’s word for yourself first, then you can read the excerpts from The Shack . Please pause now and read 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 and 1 John 4:1 ; then pray and ask our gracious Father God for wisdom (James 1:5) so that we may rightly discern His voice and receive with humble and grateful hearts His words of life and truth. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the ...

Many of us who "grew up in the church" are familiar with words like  blasphemy and heresy, but aren't sure what they mean,  how God applies them in His word, and how He expects us to apply them in our daily lives as His holy and dearly loved children. "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." ~ Exodus 20:7 "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." 2 Peter 2:1 In order to gain what God's usage of blasphemy and heresy are, we'll take a look at how these words (in their various forms) are used in Scripture as well as the original Hebrew and Greek. blasphemy   n.  ~ 1. profane or contemptuous speech, writing, or action concerning God or anything held...

We just purchased this DVD yesterday and we watched it last night. This movie is based on a true story of Angus and Jill Buchan who founded Shalom Ministries in South Africa amongst the Zulu tribes. The Buchan's are just regular folks - farmers. Watch this movie and be in awe of what our great and mighty God does with us regular folk as we offer Him, our 5 loaves and 2 fish! I HIGHLY recommend this movie. A couple of times, Angus uses the "bl----" word to curse; but this is prior to his conversion. Angus and Jill are still living lives totally abandoned to Christ and live in a way that would make us "westerners" a bit ashamed, BUT in a way that causes us to praise God, repent of our laziness and lack of spiritual fervor. There is also a documentary of Angus and Jill in the Special Features section of the DVD - which by the way is so powerful! When you watch it, you'll feel like you're reading the book of Acts as you see Scripture being lived o...