Category: Faith

Fruit of the Spirit – two mnemonics

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Here are two mnemonics for the nine Fruits of the Spirit using the ESV version (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control).

Who is H. B. Charles?

H. B. Charles Jr. is a well-known pastor, author, and speaker recognized for his commitment to biblical preaching and pastoral leadership. He serves as the pastor-teacher of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Charles is celebrated for his Christ-centered preaching, his emphasis on expository preaching, and his passion for equipping other pastors and …

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Tolkien, Lewis, and Underlying Reality

Tolkien asks: What moves you most? What gives your life meaning?  Lewis replies: The stories I love. When I’m done with a story I love, it inspires me. I’m ready to be better. They inspire me and move me. They give me meaning in life. Tolkien says: The reason that stories move you is they get in touch …

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What Was Paul’s Primary Focus

Q: The apostle Paul had much to say to the 1st Century Christian’s (and to us today). What was Paul’s primary focus? A: Paul’s primary focus can be summarized as the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its transformative power for both individuals and communities. His ministry emphasized the following key aspects: 1. …

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Bob Polk Recognized at Doane University

Reverend Dr. Robert L. Polk became a friend of my parents, while attending Doane with them, and was best man at their wedding (in 1952). Bob Polk has had a wonderful life and has been, and is, an inspiration for thousands. Doane University named their newly built amphitheater in Robert Polk’s honor, on May 17, …

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Notes for January 2024

My sermon this month is titled, Eyes, Nose, and Shoulder for the Sake of Christ. The primary point is to keep our eyes on Jesus (from Hebrews 12:1). I’ve always like the metaphors of keep your nose to the grindstone and put your shoulder to the wheel. To do the will of God we do …

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Breathing, Mindfulness, and God

I put the following into ChapGPT: How can Christians use Transformational Breathing to grow closer to God? Please tell me the steps. I don’t need to have the benefits reviewed. I just want to know how to do it. The response: Transformational Breath can be incorporated into a Christian’s spiritual practice as a way to …

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Good poem – “To be of use”

I had a colleague shared a poem with me I’d not seen before. Good one, by Marge Piercy in 1973, “To be of use.” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57673/to-be-of-use To be of use The people I love the best jump into work head first without dallying in the shallows and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight. …

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Tim Keller on the Decline and Renewal of the American Church

Tim Keller, who I respect very much, has written an extensive article on the decline of the American church. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/tim-keller-decline-renewal-american-church/ It is, in fact, part of a yet larger work. Fuller article here. I am one who does believe in the virgin birth, life, death, physical resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, the transforming power …

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The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires.

The thoughtful Soul to Solitude retires.Online from a poem by Omar Khayyam (1048-1131) the very influential Persian mathematician, philosopher, & poet. Follow this link for an insightful analysis of the poem.https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/K/KhayyamOmar/4NowNewYear/index.html He was certainly not Hebrew or Christian.