But Christian and Faithful behaved even more wisely and bore the humiliation and shame with so much meekness and patience that they won several of the men in the fair to their side (though few in comparison to the rest). This made the others so enraged that they decided the two men should die for what they had done and for deluding the men of the fair. If you have read Pilgrim’s Progress, you are likely familiar with the town…
If you had told me a few years ago that Scripture taken out of context would cause me to begin questioning teaching I had sat under for nearly two decades, I would have likely dismissed the claim. After all, this was not an isolated incident. It is unpleasant to confess that I also took Scripture out of context during those years, from offering messages and blog posts to even being permitted to minister from pulpits on Sunday mornings. The error…
Whenever I read in the book of Psalms, I am reminded simultaneously of my frail humanity, my need for my Savior, and the glory and power of God. It is quite difficult to not see the type and shadow of a believer in Christ expressed in the confines of the psalmists’ words as they bare their souls before God. Martin Luther is recorded as saying, “[The Psalms are] a Little Bible, wherein everything contained in the entire Bible is beautifully…
Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Isaiah 49:15 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately…
Words seem futile in times like this, at least words originating from my own thoughts and emotions while sitting in the comfort of my own home far away from unimaginable horror and persecution. Right now, there are thousands of people thousands of miles away in Afghanistan facing incomprehensible tribulation, torture, and even death. A recent article spoke of a pastor in Afghanistan receiving a letter from the Taliban saying, “We know who you are, what you do, and where to…
How did that get in there? Perhaps you can relate to putting something in the most unlikely of places. I have heard stories of this happening and have almost done this myself on more than one occasion. I once walked to the laundry room with the intent of putting the milk away in the cabinet. It sounds ridiculous, but it happened. I read a story once where a woman put her keys in the freezer and had no recollection of…
Last week, I wrote a blog post surrounding a recent video from Rediscover Bethel where the topic of prophetic ministry was discussed in house among two leaders affiliated with Bethel church in Redding, California. Today, I want to continue looking at the remaining teaching in this video on the office of a prophet, judging prophecy, and false prophets, to name a few. The goal of this post as well as the previous one is to evaluate the teaching and to…
A few weeks ago, Bethel released a video in their series, Rediscover Bethel, dealing with their teaching on basic prophetic ministry. I took time to listen to this video while keeping my Bible open and taking notes. The more I listened, the more I noticed familiar words and phrases mentioned, which originated from a DVD curriculum Kris Vallotton had released several years ago about prophetic ministry. I had taught from this curriculum provided in the former church I attended, the…
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:16,17 ESV For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 ESV It is an interesting observation. Whenever I…
Here I was, standing in the New Age section of a large chain bookstore, feeling extremely uncomfortable and facing a wall of books. It would not surprise you to know there were books concerning astrology, tarot card reading, numerology, necromancy, and supernatural phenomena of various curiosities lining the shelves. I never knew I could huff so much and be so thankful to make my way back to the Bible section. Is that not fitting? After observing what I came to…