Category: Epiphanies

The “Father of all lies…”

Truth told without finesse doesn’t negate the damnableness of deception, especially self-deception. Just look at Lucifer, who still thinks he’ll win as satan…

Diverse…or insane?

‘Diversity’ at the price of true liberty and unity is insanity.

Ownership Training

“A tennis player trains by practicing tennis.

A singer trains by singing.

Our stewardship over the finances entrusted to us is our “training for reigning.” Our learning to “reign with Christ” and co-labor with Him to bring Heaven to Earth starts with how we handle the money in our hand.”

Pastor/Speaker/Writer/Entrepreneur James Baker, Wealth with God FB page (posted 3/18/24).

Wise Love.

“You can judge how far you have risen in the scale of life by asking one question: ‘How wisely and how deeply do I care?’ To be ‘Christianized’ is to be sensitized. Christians are people who care.” E. Stanley Jones. (“So…first be wise in your caring…and that will dictate how much care you show.” Commentary by Denny Beckham.)

Holiness is…’fearsome’ otherness.

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3). This holiness is the devastating divinity of God. Isaiah is undone by this fearsome otherness.” It’s Good to be a Man book by Michael Foster & Dominic Bnonn Tenant, pg. 135. (Italics and bold added by me, and: “I’ve never heard holiness defined in quite these wonderful terms before = WOW!”)

Hallowed, RELATIONAL Holiness & Wholeness…

“Holiness is not God asking us to ‘be good‘. Rather, it’s an invitation to ‘be His‘.” Lisa Bevere, as quoted in small book, First Cup Devotions for Couples, pg. 57.

First Love Fire?

“Paul said elsewhere, we should not quench or extinguish the Spirit in our lives (I Thess. 5:19). In the sermon “Reigniting Your Passion for God,” Rick Warren highlights seven passion killers:

  1. An Unbalanced Schedule
  2. An Unused Talent
  3. An Unconfessed Sin
  4. An Unresolved Conflict
  5. An Unsupported Life
  6. An Unclear Purpose
  7. An Undernourished Spirit

“So many forces are capable of stifling the work of God in our lives. That’s why we must pray without ceasing. It is through prayer we draw close to the God Who is a consuming fire, and we become illuminated (empowered and connected to His People) in His Presence,” as found in The Book on Prayer, by Ken Gurley, pg. 158 (words in parenthesis added by me, dkb).

Masqueraders

In thinking re. my ‘cutting-edge’ yet faltering laptop…and our current fixation on ‘smart’ phones, the thought came to me, ‘it sure is a phone-ey world’! (I know, corny, right? But true, w/our addiction to virtual ‘reality’ and the ‘god’ of technology!)

Law…or Grace?

“For many centuries, it was traditional for many Christians to think of Law and Grace in opposing terms. However, the opposite of Grace was never Law…but disgrace. Just as the opposite of Law was never Grace…but lawlessness.” Pastor/Rabbi Jorge Corrales, IPC (International Pentecostal Church), Simi Valley, CA