Now, the man in the picture is not a Christmas shepherd, but Joel Stein, a prominent columnist for The Los Angeles Times. He’s written features for Time magazine, and has impressive journalistic credentials. He says this of himself on the front page of his website: “I’m the guy who loves porn and hates America.” He’s known for his column where he said he not only opposes the war in Iraq, he opposes U.S. troops. Clearly he’s a man who says what he thinks.
Most days, by God’s grace, I am happy and content, even joyful.
But not today. And no, it’s not because of the playoffs this weekend. (Not that they helped, but the groaning and crying out of Romans 8 is a lot bigger than the NFL.)
I'm interrupting my new series of blogs on longing. Why? Partly because today, January 22, is the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the most tragic judicial decision in American history. It’s also the annual March for Life, which I’ve participated in, and where my heart has been today.
Scripture often describes our longing for God as a deep hunger or thirst. Hunger and thirst are basic drives in our bodies, and there is also a hunger and thirst of the soul.
Last month a UPI report began as follows:
America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life — even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise.
The Gospel of John may be my favorite Bible movie of all-time. It came in under the radar, and many people still haven't heard of it, much less seen it. Yet it's in many ways the most endearing and personal portrayal of Jesus, and above all it's faithful to the text of Scripture. It combines narration with dialogue and action.
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ Job 37:5-6
A blog reader posted a link to this video (thanks), which I found powerful. I think it’s worth every second of its 8 minutes. And it also may be a great idea for your church.
Before you watch, consider these verses from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11:
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what ...
Our future resurrection is solidly grounded on Christ's past resurrection. No wonder the devil is so adamantly opposed to Easter, and the historicity of Christ's resurrection, and all it means (including Satan's doom).
One of my favorite ministries is the JESUS film project, which I have personally witnessed at work in powerful ways in China, Cambodia and Mexico. (More about that later in this blog.)
Every word in the film is from the gospel of Luke, and it includes at the end an invitation to receive Christ. In countries with low literacy, people can't read the Bible even if it's been translated into their language; but all of them can understand the JESUS Film, which is Scripture on a screen, God made visible. I read an amazing story from the JESUS ...
I'm the author of over 40 books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. I love Jesus, my wife Nanci, and our daughters, sons and five grandsons!
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