Category Archives: Bible

Fourth Man in the Fire

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Screenshot 2014-06-18 at 8.48.53 AM

When King Nebuchadnezzar decreed that only his image should be worshiped in Babylon three of his Hebrew subjects, Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego continued praying to the only true God. When called before him they boldly had this to say:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

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An Exhortation to Father’s

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familyFirst, a word about society. Our culture at large has pretty low expectations for behavior. Honesty, morality, decency and work ethic are no longer expected from most people. Slipping in a few minutes late, taking home a few office supplies, riding the clock a few minutes here or there is what employers and co-workers expect as normal these days. People will do what they can get away with, at school, at work, at red lights without cameras, filing their income taxes, etc. I’m not talking about embezzling corporate funds, I’m talking about the “little things” that supposedly everybody does, from running errands in the company car to flirting with the waitress.

Hopefully Christians – I said hopefully – attempt to rise above falling expectations. Continue reading →

Is Jesus Radical?

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radicalLet’s begin by defining our terms. Most people have a concept of radical that may be hard to put into words. You could be a radical thinker in a good way that doesn’t involve overthrowing the government (but that’s one possibility). Miriam-Webster’s online dictionary gives 3 definitions, these are the two that apply to our discussion:

1) very new and different from what is traditional or ordinary
2) having extreme political or social views that are not shared by most people

Radical describes something new, different, or views that are not shared by most people. I contend that Jesus was radical from man’s point of view, but not from God’s.  Continue reading →

Happy Memorial Day

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memorial day

I’m going to post this today and then Happy Monday as usual tomorrow. This is an update from an archive post dated 5/18/2009. 

Memorial Day is traditionally the first long weekend of summer, so maybe for you it’s just another excuse to break out the grill and water toys.  If you have to work that day, maybe it’s an inconvenience that that the Post Office and banks will be closed.  Some people will simply sleep in that day and not care why.  The American dream lives on. Continue reading →

The Problem with Religion

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not my religion In 2008 I said the Problem with Religion is that it’s easier than following Jesus. Posting a list of rules or setting up a routine to stick to is often easier than imitating Christ. Jesus challenges us to love unconditionally, to love the unlovable, to consider others before ourselves, to act in humility, to seek God’s will about our own and all others for that matter, and the list goes on. “Keep these 10 commandments” is predictable; following Jesus is not. Your family at home and your boss at work probably appreciate rule following and predictability; acting Christ-like may not make friends and influence people. Continue reading →

The Problem with Comfort Zones

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comfortable chairI’ve heard sermons, lessons and seminars that advise Christians to do something for God and “get out of your comfort zone.” It gets really awkward when Ray Comfort does it. Carrying your Bible in public, praying over lunch in the school cafeteria and volunteering for short term foreign mission fields are all examples of what can only be done once we leave our comfort zone. While all of those and many other examples are great things that Christians should be doing, I’ve never like the expression. I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone to get out of their personal comfort zone. My blog archives go back to 2008, check me on that if you’d like. Continue reading →

Bible Gateway Blogger Grid, Take 2

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Last week I announced The Master’s Table was joining the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid. Then on Twitter I called it the Bible Gateway Blogging Grid. Bible Gateway re-tweeted my post but I still felt like a chump.

Or Android or Kindle

Or Android or Kindle

I did mention the Bible Gateway site, offering dozens of English translations and a host of others. I failed to mention the Bible Gateway Mobile App. Check out the classic Bible Gateway site then take a look at the Beta version which is coming soon. Read up on the Bible Gateway Blog or test your knowledge with the Bible Quote Quiz. It’s fun and you might learn something. On social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, G+) posts tagged #bgbg2 are from Bible Gateway Blogger Grid members. You may have also noticed the Verse of the Day in the left-hand sidebar with a link to Bible Gateway; you can also subscribe to Verse of the Day via email.

We devoted a week of posts to Holy Week in April, then another week preparing for the National Day of Prayer. Next week will be sort of a return to business as usual; expect 2 or 3 posts a week that are God honoring and Christ centered, with all scripture references linked to Bible Gateway. My translation of choice is the English Standard Version (ESV) but your favorite versions plus some you may have never heard of are waiting for you at Bible Gateway.

 

God is a Collector

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reprinted from September 19, 2011

Stamps, coins, baseball cards… all things that get collected. Perhaps Barbie dolls and firearms could be collectible. It takes a special type of person to collect exotic sports cars. What collectors have in common is the desire to gather, catalog and/or display as many of a particular item as can be obtained.

God is a collector, too. What could God possibly collect? He created the heavens, the earth, and all that exists. He owns the cattle of a thousand hills.  What could be of such importance to God that he pays careful attention to gather, store with care, and perhaps one day put on display? Continue reading →

Prayer Week: Posts, Quotes and Verses

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day of prayerTomorrow is the National Day of Prayer. Paul Wilkinson has compiled a collection of archived posts from Christianity 201 on the subject of prayer and this post at Everyday Student has several quotes on prayer (Joseph Smith and Rick Warren on the same list) and a huge collection of Bible verses on the topic. Continue reading →

National Day of Prayer 2014

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Screenshot 2014-04-25 at 11.24.23 PMNext Thursday, May 1 2014, is the 63rd National Day of Prayer. Now we all know I’m not going to recite the Lord’s Prayer while humming the National Anthem, but let’s be honest. Christians from all denominations across the country are making a concerted effort to pray together – this is a good thing.

Today’s Verse of the Day is Hebrews 7:25 which reminds us we draw near to God through Jesus Christ and no other way. We pray in Jesus’ name because as our great High Priest is our advocate with the Father and ever lives to make intercession. Continue reading →