“Discipleship is Warfare” – The Holiness Project – Day 47

This argument against God is as old as time itself.  If God is love and evil exists, either God is weak or He is not as loving as we make Him out to be.  It usually comes in a more philosophical form, but you get the idea.

The problem is that God has an eternal perspective (and we do not).  The central message of the Bible is that our rebellion against God (sin) has eternal consequences that are so horrible that it is almost beyond belief.  The very fact that God, Himself, came in the flesh to be tortured and killed in a painful death on the cross in order to save us should give us some indication of how serious the situation is. 

God’s love compelled him to sacrifice Himself to save us from the results of our alliance with evil.

“The Missing Link” – The Holiness Project – Day 50

People are already asking me to clarify the title of this series and perhaps here, in the conclusion, is the best place to do it.  The question seems to be the difference between calling this series “The 7 Laws of Spiritual Success” (which is the actual title) or “The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success” (which, in some ways, I prefer).

My goal was NOT to talk about success as being either “spiritual” or “worldly.”  Every thing is spiritual (especially for Christians).  For most people, to be a famous actor or a “successful” businessman or woman or to accomplish a life-long dream of traveling the world are common ways to define success.

Book 5 - The Road to Jerusalem

“Prayer Support” – Seeking Jerusalem – Day 27

I have to say that this is my favorite “truth” in the seven truths of Romans 8.

We looked at the truth that there is now NO CONDEMNATION (Romans 8:1) and the truth that there are also NO EXCUSES since we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us (Romans 8:11).

Then the obvious question always comes up, “How do I know that I have the Holy Spirit in me?” and there we talked about the truth of EVIDENCE OF LIFE (Romans 8:15b, 16) which the Holy Spirit himself gives us.

And then we talked about the truth of SUFFERING and GLORY (Romans 8:17,18) which make all of us a bit uncomfortable (but maybe excited at the same time).

But I have to say that I am always blown away by this whole idea of PRAYER SUPPORT (Romans 8:26,27,34).

Book 5 - The Road to Jerusalem

“Suffering and Glory” – Seeking Jerusalem – Day 26

I have an idea for a book (and maybe a movie) called A Glimpse of Glory.

It’s the story of a black worship leader who loses his sister to a mugging gone wrong and she is stabbed and killed.  Of course this creates a crisis of faith and he goes into a tailspin of grief and guilt which leads him into a frantic search for his sister’s killer.  He ends up one night in the very same bar, nursing a drink and wondering what he is doing with his life.  He decides to leave and try to get his life back on track but, first, he has to go to the bathroom.

On the way to relieve himself, he feels a knife pressed into his back and a voice in his ear telling him to step outside through the back door.  Once in the alley behind the bar, his assailant demands all of his money, using his knife as a warning and a motivation to hurry.

Book 5 - The Road to Jerusalem

“No Condemnation” – Seeking Jerusalem – Day 23

“I believe that God is love and that I am a good guy and it will all work out in the end.”

My friend, John, was talking and he was serious.  He had been a member of our church for years.  He was over 80 years old and still of sound body and mind.  But not of spirit.  I had asked him why he did not leave the Catholic church and become an official member of our church.

“No, no, I can’t leave the Catholic Church.  I would be excommunicated,” he insisted.