The Genesis Creation Story Genesis 1 is a simple and majestic opening to the Bible. It introduces the two main subjects of Scripture, God the Creator and humans as his creatures, and sets the scene for their long relationship. Clearly the interests of the author are focused primarily on the patriarchs, given the amount of material allocated to their story … Continue reading ORIGINS #2 – Creation
Creation Models
The book of Genesis opens simply ... "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The author boldly presents God as Creator then as Redeemer of humanity. Life is not an accident. God has a purpose and he is working to fulfill it throughout history. Men and women are made in the image … Continue reading Creation Models
Freedom in Christ
Jesus ministry had three major components (Luke 4:14-5:26): Teaching, healing and setting people free from spiritual bondage. Jesus confronted demonic powers and freed people from their influence (Luke 4:31-37, 41). The early church carried on the ministry of Jesus as the apostles focused on these same three areas of ministry (Acts 5:12-16). We should do … Continue reading Freedom in Christ
Your Friend, the Holy Spirit
The Gospel of John records many of Jesus’ last words spoken not long before his and crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. During this time, Jesus spoke frequently about the fact that he would be leaving his disciples but that another One just like him, the Holy Spirit, would come in his place (see John 14:15-17, 26; … Continue reading Your Friend, the Holy Spirit
Healing Today
This weekend at CityLife, we spoke on the subject of healing and then took time to pray for people. We were encouraged by the many testimonies of healing that took place in each of our church gatherings and we pray for God to continue to work in the lives of everyone needing healing. When it … Continue reading Healing Today
The Joy of Not Knowing It All
I was reading the apostle's Paul's first letter to the Corinthians last week and came to chapter 13, the great love chapter, a chapter I have read hundreds of times. The following statement jumped off the page at me: 1Cor.13:12. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will … Continue reading The Joy of Not Knowing It All
Your Work, God’s Work (Pt.2)
In a previous post, we talked about God as a worker and the sacredness of work, as well as God’s purpose for our work or business. Today we want to share a few reflections on the integration of our work and our faith as followers of Christ. How You Work Matters It's one thing to … Continue reading Your Work, God’s Work (Pt.2)
Jesus’ and the Routine of Daily Work Life
For the first 30 years of his life, Jesus was boring. He was an unknown carpenter who wasn’t doing “big” things for God. He worked alongside his dad, using his hands to shape, shave and tack together pieces of wood. He quietly studied the scriptures, and grew in stature with God and men. He didn’t … Continue reading Jesus’ and the Routine of Daily Work Life
Your Work, God’s Work (Pt.1)
Did you know that the average person spends about a third of their life working, a third of their life sleeping, and the other third with family or friends (when they are not working or sleeping … or on the internet!). That mean’s that over half of our waking hours are spent in the workplace. … Continue reading Your Work, God’s Work (Pt.1)
Jesus, Born to be King
Christmas draws our attention to the arrival of Jesus on the earth as a small baby over 2,000 years ago. It provides an opportunity to reflect on his life and how He intersects with our life, wherever we may be on our journey. Jesus is known by many titles, each describing part of who he is … Continue reading Jesus, Born to be King
4 Wrong Answers to the Question “Why Me?” by Tim Keller
Here is an excellent BLOG post by Tim Keller from Redeemer Church in New York City (August 6th, 2012) ... When I was diagnosed with cancer, the question "Why me?" was a natural one. Later, when I survived but others with the same kind of cancer died, I also had to ask, "Why me?" Suffering … Continue reading 4 Wrong Answers to the Question “Why Me?” by Tim Keller
Understand and Rest in God’s Providence (Pt.2)
Let’s look at a well known statement by the apostle Paul that gives us a providential perspective on our lives. Rom 8:28. We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. NAS No matter what is happening in … Continue reading Understand and Rest in God’s Providence (Pt.2)
Understand and Rest in God’s Providence (Pt.1)
One of the things that the prophet Daniel had to learn was to understand and rest in God's providence. If he was here today, he would tell you that his life did not turn out as he expected it would or even as he planned that it would. His life was affected by dramatic circumstances … Continue reading Understand and Rest in God’s Providence (Pt.1)
Theological Reflections
Theology may sound a bit boring and heady, but it's really not. It is simply the study of God. Of course, God is not someone we can put under a microscope and fully understand. He is beyond our comprehension. nevertheless, as creations of God, its important that we take time to think about our Creator … Continue reading Theological Reflections
The Jesus Story
The Jesus Story Matthew’s begins his story about Jesus with a family tree that any first century Jew would have been pretty impressed with. It includes heroes such as Abraham and David, but also some surprise inclusions such as Boaz (son of Rahab the prostitute) and Solomon (born out of the adulterous relationship of David … Continue reading The Jesus Story