Love Like Jesus: Forgiveness And Paralysis
Here’s a chapter from the book I’m writing: Love Like Jesus: How Jesus Loved People (And How You Can Too). It’s coming soon.
And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he then said to the paralytic — “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home.
Matthew 9:2-7
How Jesus Loved People
Jesus loved the paralytic by forgiving him.
How to Love Like Jesus
Years ago I was a one-man information technology team for the fire department where I worked. My primary job was that of a firefighter but in the evenings at the fire station, and on overtime at headquarters, I would purchase computers, install software, and program databases. Read More
The Type Of Person Jesus Was Looking For (And the type of person you should look for too)
Read John 13:31-33.
To His Little Children, He Said . . . Read More
Like Me (or like Jesus)
Sculptor Anthony Smith at work. (Wikimedia Commons)
. . . having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
John 13:1
Maybe The Most Undervalued Verse In The Bible (Or how to fail at guarding your heart)
(Read Proverbs chapter 4)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
How To Fail To Guard Your Heart
The writer of Proverbs chapter four is sharing wisdom with his sons. He spends much of the chapter admonishing them to listen to his words and to value wisdom highly. Then, toward the end, he says what he says in verse 23, “Above all else, guard your heart . . .”
“Above all else,” he says.
This instruction, which is at the very least Read More
Orlando Shooting: The Hard Part Most Are Missing
Emergency vehicles on scene at the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando
I just want to share a few thoughts on the Orlando Shooting. Thought number three in particular is the most difficult and it applies to you, and to me.
1) It’s a horrible tragedy. This was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Fifty died, and fifty-three were injured. My heart breaks for the victims and their families. They’re in my prayers and I hope they’re in your prayers too.
2) We need to guard against acts of terror in the most sensible and effective way possible. This is where everybody wants to go when they discuss the Orlando tragedy. This is the part that’s most popular in the media and in the blogosphere. I have my own opinions, but the purpose of this blog isn’t to offer up the actions I believe we should take to prevent attacks like this one. The purpose of this blog post is to focus on something more difficult.
3) The hard part, the most difficult thing we need to guard against, is this: Read More
The Kingdom Of God Is Like A Football Team by Brant Hansen
Brant tells his story better than I ever could. Watch the full video here: The Kingdom of God is Like a Football Team
An Unlikely Coach
When they asked Brant Hansen to Read More
10 Attributes Of Jesus’ Relationship With His Father (And what we can learn from them)
The passage we’re about to look at is amazing. It’s amazing because it’s a revelation of the most important relationship to ever exist: the relationship between Jesus and his Father. We see here, plainly stated by Jesus himself, ten attributes of the perfect relationship between Father and Son.
We’ll look at those ten attributes of Jesus’ relationship with his Father from John 5:17-37 (I encourage you to read the passage first), then we’ll look at Jesus’ relationship with his disciples, and, finally, we’ll take a look at Jesus’ relationship with you.
10 Attributes of Jesus’ relationship with his Father
Read MoreImitating Maravich–And Imitating Christ
Pete Maravich
When I was in highschool I read this book about the great basketball player Pete Maravich. He averaged 44.2 points per game in college ball one year. He was great in the NBA too. Some of the moves you see in the NBA today were pioneered by Maravich. He became one of my heroes and I was inspired by his life. I was never much of a basketball player but after I read about Maravich I improved dramatically. I read about how he was a gym rat, so I became a gym rat. I read about how he practiced, so I began to practice that way. I learned to shoot the way he shot. I learned some great basketball moves by imitating Pete Maravich’s basketball moves. The result was Read More
Martin Luther King–And Anger
“I had spoken hastily and resentfully. Yet I knew that this was no way to solve a problem. ‘You must not harbor anger,’ I admonished myself. ‘You must be willing to suffer the anger of the opponent, and yet not return anger. You must not become bitter. No matter how emotional your opponents are, you must be calm.” –Martin Luther King
I’m reminded of Jesus’ words when he said, “…go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.'” (Matthew 9:13)
He quoted this scripture from Hosea–twice. (Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13, 12:7)
God loves mercy, and more than that, God wants us to Read More
When It’s Time To Die
(From the archives)
It’s Time to Die
In a previous post we saw how important it is not to die indiscriminately. It was a post for people who can’t say no, as you might gather from the title: How Not to Become a Christian Doormat.
This post is probably more important and for a greater number because this post is for all of us who Read More
What Makes For A Happy, Healthy, and Long Life: Via Eric J. Swanson
Do you want a happy, healthy, long life?
It’s amazingly unsurprising how this lines up with what Jesus commanded us.
Excellent article via Eric J. Swanson » What makes for a happy and healthy life?.
For over 75 years (yes you read that right) Harvard University has been Read More
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Posted on January 21, 2016 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too, Marriage
Eric J Swanson, Grant study, happiness, how to be happy, how to health, how to live long, John 13:34, love