Mission Faithwalk

                   For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)                 This is one of those verses I prefer to avoid. Paul wasn’t ashamed of the gospel. He went to prison and was eventually killed because he proclaimed it. Am I ashamed of it? I know I don’t speak it out with the boldness of a number of people I know. Even when I’m arguing with folks, I tend to debate their points rather than trying to make my own. Part of that is because I don’t consider a discussion of the gospel, or much of anything else with any depth to be possible in the thirty seconds they think sufficient to break the ice and hand out a tract. And I’m not meaning to criticize their method. I just can’t use it.       ...

                 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’    But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24) You might also find it useful to read Psalm 139. We know the story. So, I’ll move on to another. A guy on a Facebook video said something about seeing if he could call her in. He shouts, “Pretty Lady” several times, and adds “come on” a couple of times. An owl (Barred, I think) flies ...

                     Th erefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:21)                 One of the things about roller coasters, movies, drugs, moral filth, an evil is the law of diminished returns. First, it’s exciting. Then it isn’t enough, so we add more. Eventually, there just isn’t enough, but in some cases, at least, walking away is impossible.                 God is the means of getting rid of the moral filth and evil in our lives and one of His main tools is His Word. This isn’t necessarily an instant, miraculous, magical transformation. It’s simple psychology. Read this carefully. Do not think about an elephant. Chances are very good that you now have an elephant stuck i...

                  “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.   If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (John 15:18-21)                 Let’s start with a pet peeve. There are people in the world who are being beaten, raped, sued, imprisoned, and killed because of their faith. They deserve our respect, our love, and our prayers. I’m not dismissing what they face. At the same time, other people are being ridiculed, laughed at, ridiculed, and cancelled/rejected. I believe they also deserve our respect, ...

                 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)                   What does the last paragraph above look like in your imagination? From tracts I saw decades ago, I got the impression some people ...

                 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)                 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3)                 Give us today our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11)                 Today’s first verse comes from the account of the devil’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness as Jesus’ answer when Satan challenged Him to turn stones into bread to prove He was the Son of God.  The second verse is wh...