#190 – Fantastic Faith

BLESSED NEW YEAR TO YOU! I am confident that God intends 2022 to be our best year ever. That isn’t pious rhetoric, it’s the simple fact that God, who turned Jesus’ death at Satan’s hand into Satan’s ultimate defeat,* is ready to meet us in our troubles and turn them into blessing. https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1-corinthians/2/6-10 Paul wrote,…

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#189 – Religious Fantasyland, Part 2

Continued:We have compromised ourselves by our love for the world, which includes love for “self,” which means self-rule instead of surrendering to the rule of Jesus. We disregard His explicit requirement that we take up our cross daily to follow Him. We insult Jesus and do a great disservice to the Kingdom of God by…

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#188 – Religious Fantasyland, Part 1

Maybe I should apologize in advance for writing such a thing as this. Or maybe not, because I believe this is what God would say to American Christians about who we are, compared to the glorious Church that Jesus gave Himself for. KNOW YOUR ENEMYWe need to know our enemy if we hope to succeed…

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#187 – Spiritual Gastric Lymphoma, Part 2

WORTH FIGHTING FORThe Gospel is glorious. The Church that Jesus established is glorious, but that glory is largely missing today and strongholds (previous post) have much to do with it. So, where are the saints who will pray for the Church? Not just your church but the one down the street that believes a bit…

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#186 – Spiritual Gastric Lymphoma, Part 1

Elaine’s gastric lymphoma led to a decreased appetite and thus to her receiving less nutrition, and to a bleeding ulcer and the loss of blood that would carry available nutrition and oxygen throughout her body. Something similar happens in churches when those with power use it in sinful ways. They can be of the pew…

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#185 – Immanuel – -, Update, Family Photos

IMMANUEL, GOD IS WITH US“Immanuel, God with us” takes on special meaning in times of need. It gives us a place to stand under Son-lit skies even when life events attempt to throw clouds over us. Jesus is our place of certainty amidst uncertainty that would otherwise overwhelm us. He heals our souls even as…

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#184 – Post-Infusion Update on Elaine

I am so excited to report that Elaine’s IV Infusion went extremely well. God is answering your prayers! They put us in Infusion Room 7, which seemed like a good place to start. We are so thankful that she has had no negative reactions to the five-hour treatment. None! They started with lab work, which…

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#183 – Answered Prayer, and Anointing

Our family was together Sunday evening (including the 11 great-grandsons), and after we ate, they gathered around Elaine and me for a time of prayer and speaking blessing over us. That’s something that money can’t buy. We see answers to their and your prayers and are encouraged by how Elaine is sleeping; that she is…

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#182 – Take Those Sneakers!

My younger sister Lin, from southeastern Pennsylvania, wrote this recently. ——————— Good morning, brother! As you and Elaine are working through her medical diagnosis, I thought you’d be encouraged by my recent lesson regarding God’s interest and care in even the smallest details of life. A few weeks ago we went on a three-day bus trip…

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#181 – Eyes

When we set the eyes of our hearts on things of the earth, we use scripture to help us satisfy our soul hunger in a fleshly way in our few years here, instead of how it can help us glorify God as we prepare for eternity in His Presence. If that sounds like pious pontification…

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