Steve's Blog
**"{c:red}But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.{/c}"** John 15:7–8 (NLT) What did Jesus actually mean when he said, "you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!" Did he really intend for us to think that there was no boundaries regarding our requests? Can we ask for extravagant amounts of money or fame? Perhaps, but...
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*Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.* 2 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT) It can be very difficult at times to maintain a heart that is open, tender and compassionate. There are certainly risks involved when we allow our hearts to be open and loving, but the alternative of closing our hearts to others is ultimately more damaging to ourselves and others. A heart needs to be trained and exercised so that it can increase in capacity, both physically a...
*“They will be in despair, and all the workers will be sick at heart.”* (Isaiah 19:10, NLT) It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Few people would dispute the wisdom of this advice, recognizing that if you can prevent a problem with a little effort in the beginning rather than spend a great deal of effort attempting to correct the problem later. The question that we are confronting now is not about the efficacy of an ounce of prevention, but about...
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The concept of eternity is often beyond the capability of our intellects to grasp. Surveying Christian history, we find conflicting thoughts and ideas about time and how it intersects with eternity. On the one hand, James Milton Black, who wrote “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” penned the words, “and time shall be no more.” Conversely, John Newton in Amazing Grace declared, “when we’ve been there ten thousand years.” Can we reconcile these two thoughts?
Support for the concept that t...
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“Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” (Proverbs 10:19, NLT)
“… let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (1 John 3:18, NLT)
It is no longer enough to not be racist. In today’s climate we are told that we must speak out against racism and to use our social media platform to demonstrate our commitment. A new term emerged in the last several years to describe this behavior. “Virtue Signaling” is defined in the Urban Dict...
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Do we ever get to the place where we are too important or big to do certain jobs for the cause of Christ? Are some tasks so menial that they are not deserving of our effort or attention? Many years ago, my grandfather was working with a well-known evangelist. One evening during a meeting my grandfather noticed that there was a need to set up more chairs. As he began setting up additional chairs, he asked another minister to help him, but he received this reply, “That is not my ministry!” This ma...
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Outwardly, more than any time in recent memory, we are living in a period of uncertainty. Questions being asked include: “How many people will become ill or even die as the result of COVID-19?” Or “Will I lose my job and what will be the economic impact of the shutdown?” You undoubtedly have questions of your own. Now think back with me 2000 years to the first Holy Week. We are followers of Jesus, but he has just been arrested and handed over to the authorities. Within a few short hours, Jesus w...
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This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Haggai 1:7 (NIV)
Once again, we find ourselves on the threshold of a new year. Traditionally, it is a time for making resolutions. Many of those resolutions will be cast aside by the middle of January. As I have previously written[1], I have found most New Year’s resolutions, however well-intentioned, ineffectual. We should begin immediately anytime we are aware of changes that need to be made, regardless of what the c...
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Last week we looked at the contrast between the desire to have things go smoothly, as planned and without interruption versus the realization that interruptions and obstacles might actually be divine appointments that allow us to see God at work while ministering to others. We looked at a few examples from Jesus’ ministry in which he was seemingly interrupted by those in need. Now in the 2nd part we will examine some steps that we can take so that we are not caught off guard by opposition or any...
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Recently, I listened as someone offered a prayer for someone who was traveling. They prayed for smooth flights, easy connections and no interruptions. I’ve heard prayers before a church service asking that everything would go according to plan, smoothly and once again with no interruptions. On the surface, these seem like very normal, even noble prayer requests, but what if it is really better for us to pray that instead of our journey being on a smooth path, we ask for a road of opportunity. Th...
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It is not uncommon to hear the words praise and worship used in tandem and even interchangeably, but do they really mean the same thing? On one level they may seem the same, but there are significant differences. ===  There are many Hebrew and Greek words for both praise and worship as translated into English. The most prevalent Greek word for praise indicates esteem and honor, a recognition of God’s glory. The word that is used m...
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Because of his love, God had already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him, and it brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves. Ephesians 1:5–6 (NCV)
“Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin; how shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin? Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free, for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.”...
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“You are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us…” (2 Corinthians 3:2–3, CEB)
You do not have to spend very much time with someone to discover what things are the most important to them. We cannot easily hide what we treasure the most because “…What you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:45, NLT). If sports or politics dominate our lives, you can be sure that it will be reflected in our conversations a...
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When the phrase “who cares” is used, it may either be a statement of indifference or a question inquiring if anyone is concerned. There are times when a statement of indifference is perfectly acceptable because there are so many things of so little consequence, but when it concerns our attitudes toward people, indifference must never be an option because there are so many people who are wondering if anyone cares about them and their circumstances.
The importance of conveying our empathy and...
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Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
Is holiness a subject that anyone should bring up in “polite company?” If they even know what you are talking about, there is a good possibility that they will not have a proper understanding of what holiness really is all about.
If people have an adverse reaction to the concept of holiness, it may not be that they are opposed to holiness, but instead, they are ope...
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“Who Cares” or “Who Cares?” When the phrase “who cares” is used, it may either be a statement of indifference or a question inquiring if anyone is concerned. There are times when a statement of indifference is perfectly acceptable because there are so many things of so little consequence, but when it concerns our attitudes toward people, indifference must never be an option because there are so many people who are wondering if anyone cares about them and their circumstances. The importance of co...
One of the ways to stir up lively discussion among Christians is to bring up the subject of “Seeker Sensitive Churches.” Inevitably, blood pressure will rise and charges will be thrown back and forth. For some, “Seeker Sensitive” is a code word for a gospel message that has been compromised or watered down while others view it as a way to introduce people to Jesus in a nonthreatening manner. A question that often comes up in my mind is this: “What do we call the opposite of seeker sensitive?” Se...
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It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 (NLT)
in reality, it is a simple question. How do we decide what to do and where to live? Depending upon our circumstances, we have the freedom to move. As a child of God, what factors should we be considering as to whether we stay where we are or move someplace else?
How much consideration should we...
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Although I have my thoughts on what is going on in the world pertaining to the torture and martyrdom of Christians, a better question might be, **“What does love think?”** I have been particularly struck by a phrase in 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV), *“(Love) thinks no evil.”* Other translations such as the NIV render the text as *“it keeps no record of wrongs.”* In either case, I would like to explore the question, what does love think and do my thoughts align with it? === 
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Hearing is essential. Or is it only meaningful when there is something we want to hear? Paul warned Timothy: For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT)
Even if w...
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes. 2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)
There is seeing, and then there is seeing that goes deeper than the surface. It is hard to see things as they really are because of our lack of insight or preconceived notions. Elisha’s servant could see things in the natural realm, to a greater reality. We need God to open our eyes to the realities beyond the visible. Without eyes that see beyond the natural, we will have...
“Sir, we want to see Jesus.” John 12:21
In the days leading up to the crucifixion, some men wanted to see Jesus. They did not approach him directly but instead sought to use Philip as an intermediary. We cannot be sure, but perhaps they felt uncomfortable, as Greeks, to approach Jesus. Philip, having a Greek name, seemed like a possibility.
We do not know why these men tried to see Jesus. Some men wanted to see him so that they could worship him. While others, like Herod the Great, felt th...
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In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NCV)
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
The subject of individual rights is a hot topic right now. Perhaps it has always been, at least in the United States of America. It is a country that prides itself on “rugged individualism,” nonconformity, and independence. “I want to live my own life, and you can’t tell me what to do” is a...
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We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. 1 John 5:20 (NIV)
Are you familiar with the expression, “What you don’t know can’t hurt you?” While there may be circumstances where this maxim is proven true, often, it is demonstrably false. While someone may take comfort in the idea that “ignorance is bliss,” the Bible addresses this succinctly: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6 (CSB)
Back in the day...
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4–5 (NLT)
When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and we accepted his gift of salvation, we became a member of the great and glorious body of Christ. There is also an expression of the body of Christ at the local level; we are many members with many different backgrounds, gifts, interests, and abilities. It is a mystery...