power

As the scriptures tell us that King Saul stood head and shoulders above everybody else, there is one aspect of the spiritual growth process that seems to stand head and shoulders above the rest: identifying and renouncing the lies that hold us in bondage, and embracing God’s truth which sets us free.

Recently, I have been blessed by the experiences of two dear friends, both dealing with the fallout of trauma, as Jesus lovingly takes them through this process.

Some years ago I took a course in the historical books of the Bible. One of my assignments was to make a chart of the kings of Israel and Judah. I listed whether they were good or bad and in what ways they were weak. With only a handful of exceptions, I noticed that even kings who started out great usually fell hard later.

Did you celebrate Pentecost Sunday yesterday?  Fifty days after Easter the Church historic has celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit in power upon the waiting disciples in Jerusalem in the first century.  Since then, much debate and discussion has arisen among the faithful regarding our understanding of the third person of the Trinity.  As I result, I fear, the clear and crucial role He plays in our daily lives has been neglected.  In addition, even many Christians have come to doubt His existence or His person.

"We and the world, my children, will always be at war. Retreat is impossible. Arm yourselves."

─Leif Enger 

"Every time we say 'Let there be!' in any form, something happens." —Stella Terrill Mann

Every artist knows the importance of light. According to the Bible, the first words God ever spoke aloud were the unforgettable words, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). We cannot fathom the gigawatts of creative power unleashed by these words. When we choose to create something, we call upon the same creative power that willed light into being. That’s an enormous privilege—and a weighty responsibility!