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[av_heading heading=’BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS’ tag=’h1′ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=’30’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’17’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jhvzq7k7′ admin_preview_bg=”]
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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I want to begin periodically giving some book recommendations on my blog. Each week I’ll try and give 3-4 books, and provide a brief paragraph explaining why I am recommending the book. I hope you enjoy.

C. S. LEWIS – A LIFE: ECCENTRIC GENIUS, RELUCTANT PROPHET

Continue reading “BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS”

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[av_heading heading=’FINDING THE GOSPEL IN GENESIS 3:21′ tag=’h1′ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=’30’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’17’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jhvzuaap’ admin_preview_bg=”]
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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Preparing my Sunday school lesson last week reminded me of an old truth that I have always found fascinating. In Genesis 3:21 Moses writes, “And The Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin and clothed them (ESV).” Continue reading “FINDING THE GOSPEL IN GENESIS 3:21”

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[av_heading heading=’ACTS 4:13′ tag=’h1′ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=’30’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’17’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jhvzwbg2′ admin_preview_bg=”]
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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In Acts 4:13, Luke writes, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and preceived that they were uneducated common men, they were astonished, and recognized that they had been with Jesus (ESV).” When we examine this verse we need to notice three things.
First, The counsel saw the boldness of Peter and John. The disciples did not shrink back from the moment. Continue reading “ACTS 4:13”

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[av_heading heading=’ACTS 5:41 AND THE CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CHURCH’ tag=’h1′ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=’30’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’17’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jhvzyppw’ admin_preview_bg=”]
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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This morning while reading Acts 5 I was struck by verse 41. Beginning in verse 17 we read the story of the apostles being arrested because they are continuing to preach the gospel. Eventually they come before the counsel, are rebuked and beaten, and are released. Then in verse 41 Luke tells us, “Then they left the counsel, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name (ESV).” Continue reading “ACTS 5:41 AND THE CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN CHURCH”

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[av_heading heading=’GALATIANS 4:30-31′ tag=’h1′ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=’30’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’17’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jhw007ez’ admin_preview_bg=”]
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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This morning I have been meditating on the implications of being a son of the free woman as opposed to being a son of the slave woman. In Galatians 4:30-31 the apostle Paul writes, “but what does the Scripture say? ‘cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. ‘so brothers we are not children of the slave, but of the free woman. Continue reading “GALATIANS 4:30-31”

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[av_heading heading=’GALATIANS 5:1′ tag=’h1′ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=’30’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’17’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jhw05gf2′ admin_preview_bg=”]
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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In Galatians 5:1 the Apostle Paul exhorts, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm  therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”  He is reminding his readers that through the gospel they have freedom from the bondage that comes with their sin and rebellion.  His challenge is for them to not return to living lives controlled and dominated by sin. Continue reading “GALATIANS 5:1”

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WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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I came across this story yesterday and wanted to comment.  In belgium a pair of deaf twins were euthanized because they were facing a life of blindness.  Commenting on their death, their doctor said, “It was a relief to see the end of their suffering.”  Every year thousands of people in Belgium choose euthanasia. Most of them face a terminal cancer diagnosis or something of that magnitude.  So you might ask, “What was the suffering spoken of by their doctor?”  Did they have a terminal diagnosis?  No!  Their suffering was that they could not stand the thought of being blind and not being able to see each other ever again.  You read that correctly.  They chose death over blindness.   Continue reading “BELGIUM EUTHANIZES DEAF TWINS GOING BLIND – ABC NEWS”

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WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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In my daily devotions this year I’m spending one month in each of the shorter epistles. For the month of January I am reading Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia. I want to periodically post something that I come across in my reading that challenges me or that I find interesting.
This morning I was challenged by Galatians 6:9, “and let us not grow weary of doing good for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. ” this verse encourages me to continue pursuing godliness and holiness even when all I want to do is give up. Continue reading “GALATIANS 6:9”

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[av_heading heading=’REVELATION 3 AND THE CHURCH AT EPHASIS’ tag=’h1′ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=’30’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’17’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jhw094i9′ admin_preview_bg=”]
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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In my daily Bible reading this morning I came across the passage in Revelation 3 where Christ rebukes the church at Ephesus for abandoning their first love. This passage is a good reminder for all of us to remain focused on what makes us christians. Continue reading “REVELATION 3 AND THE CHURCH AT EPHASIS”

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[av_heading heading=’1 PETER 1:15-19′ tag=’h1′ style=’blockquote modern-quote modern-centered’ size=’30’ subheading_active=” subheading_size=’17’ margin=” margin_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” av_uid=’av-jhw0bw5m’ admin_preview_bg=”]
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – PLAY HARDER.
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In 1 Peter 1:15-19 the Apostle Peter reminds his readers that they are to be holy because the one who called them is holy (vv. 15-16).  Peter then predicates this command to be holy upon what Christ did for them on the cross.  He says that they were purchased, not with perishable things such as silver or gold (v. 18), but with the precious blood of Christ (v. 19).  Our motivation for doing good, therefore, should not be the mere command of God. Continue reading “1 PETER 1:15-19”