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
I’m so thankful to our Father for every one who receives from Him, and for every one who receives from Him through this blog. A friend of mine sent me this on Twitter today.
Just wanted you to know, I’m thankful for you in the same way! Read More
“Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”
“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.”
― Erma Bombeck
There was this man who was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was a teacher of the Jewish scriptures, and also a member of the Sanhedrin, one of the 71 Jewish men who ruled over Israel. I’ve heard the Sanhedrin described as a combination of our Supreme Court and our Senate, so the guy was a big deal in the Israeli community.
So the people selling animals in the temple, and the people changing out currency were taking advantage of the situation. If you traveled to Jerusalem for Passover, and you showed up with a sacrificial animal, it had to be without blemish. The priests were the ones who decided if it was acceptable or not. Well guess what, it was usually found to be unacceptable. But, conveniently located right here in the temple we happen to be selling pre-approved animals for sacrifice–for an exorbitant price. And, you have to pay for the animal with the temple currency. We can exchange your cash for our currency, in fact we have money changers right here in the temple standing by, but, it will cost you.
Providing a means of exchanging currency and providing animals for the Passover sacrifice was a good thing, but overcharging wasn’t. It was a sin. It was a sin found right there inside God’s temple. And Jesus, out of love for his Father’s house, turned the tables on those taking advantage of the people. He took action.
The religious leadership of his day asked Jesus: What sign can you show us to demonstrate you have the authority to cleanse the temple like this?
So there’s this wedding. And it’s time for the reception. And Mary, Jesus’ mother, is there. And Jesus is there with his brand new disciples. And the wedding planner miscalculated, so they ran out of wine.
I don’t know if you’ve ever been at a wedding where you were privy to what was happening behind the scenes but if you have, you know that when the supply of drinks, or food, or any other essential item runs out, the women involved start to–well, their emotional intensity rises significantly. Kathy was involved in serving a meal at our son’s wedding and she was so nervous she Read More
How My Friend Nick Griffin Says, Merry Christmas
Things I Heard In Church: He is not “the God formerly known as the Prince of Peace”
Speaking of Jesus:
“He is not ‘the God formerly known as the Prince of Peace,’ He is the Prince of Peace… Forever.” –Matt Bowen Read More
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Posted on December 2, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Study, Things I Heard In Church
Advent, anxiety, Christian, depression, Isaiah 9, peace
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
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Posted on November 28, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Study, How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too
Christian deny yourself, die to self, Love like Jesus, marriage, take up your cross
Thank You
I’m so thankful to our Father for every one who receives from Him, and for every one who receives from Him through this blog. A friend of mine sent me this on Twitter today.
Just wanted you to know, I’m thankful for you in the same way! Read More
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Posted on November 26, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary
thanksgiving
If I’m Not Thankful For What I’ve Got
“If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.”
–Frank A. Clark
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Posted on November 25, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary
thanksgiving
The Effect Of Pride On Thanksgiving
“Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”
–Henry Ward Beecher
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Posted on November 25, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary
Christian, thanksgiving
The Math Of Thanksgiving Dinners And Football Half-times
“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.”
― Erma Bombeck
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Posted on November 25, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary
thanksgiving
How God Responds To An Honest Seeker
Read John 3:1-16 Nicodemus Visits Jesus
An Honest Seeker Comes To Jesus
There was this man who was a Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was a teacher of the Jewish scriptures, and also a member of the Sanhedrin, one of the 71 Jewish men who ruled over Israel. I’ve heard the Sanhedrin described as a combination of our Supreme Court and our Senate, so the guy was a big deal in the Israeli community.
He shows up to Read More
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Posted on November 21, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Study, Is Jesus real, Seeker
Honest Seeker, Is Jesus real, John 3, Nicodemus
Things I Heard In Church: “I Like God’s Math Better Than My Math”
Read John 6:1-15, Jesus Feeds the 5,000
There’s Too Little, And It’s Too Late, But… Read More
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Posted on November 17, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Study, Things I Heard In Church
feeding 5000, I have nothing to offer God, I need help, loaves and fish
What Every Parent Wants (Including God)
“I’m not sure I like bathtime.” (by Tom Page, Creative Commons)
Read John 2:13-24, Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Sin Inside The Temple
So the people selling animals in the temple, and the people changing out currency were taking advantage of the situation. If you traveled to Jerusalem for Passover, and you showed up with a sacrificial animal, it had to be without blemish. The priests were the ones who decided if it was acceptable or not. Well guess what, it was usually found to be unacceptable. But, conveniently located right here in the temple we happen to be selling pre-approved animals for sacrifice–for an exorbitant price. And, you have to pay for the animal with the temple currency. We can exchange your cash for our currency, in fact we have money changers right here in the temple standing by, but, it will cost you.
Providing a means of exchanging currency and providing animals for the Passover sacrifice was a good thing, but overcharging wasn’t. It was a sin. It was a sin found right there inside God’s temple. And Jesus, out of love for his Father’s house, turned the tables on those taking advantage of the people. He took action.
The religious leadership of his day asked Jesus: What sign can you show us to demonstrate you have the authority to cleanse the temple like this?
Jesus said: Read More
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Posted on November 14, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Study, John
Christian, Christian growth, Christian living, God chastises those He loves, Jesus cleanses the temple, John 2:13-24
Things I Heard In Church: At one point the bat was inches away from my neck and making me a vampire.
Paraphrased from a Dave Teixeira teaching, 10/25/2015, Sunday, Strength in Weakness
Image via cthoyes – Creative Commons (The bat in this image is not the same bat that nearly transformed Dave Teixeira into a vampire.)
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Posted on November 12, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Things I Heard In Church
Cedar Mill Bible Church, Christian Humor, Dave Teixeira
How To Find The Best Wine Ever
So there’s this wedding. And it’s time for the reception. And Mary, Jesus’ mother, is there. And Jesus is there with his brand new disciples. And the wedding planner miscalculated, so they ran out of wine.
I don’t know if you’ve ever been at a wedding where you were privy to what was happening behind the scenes but if you have, you know that when the supply of drinks, or food, or any other essential item runs out, the women involved start to–well, their emotional intensity rises significantly. Kathy was involved in serving a meal at our son’s wedding and she was so nervous she Read More
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Posted on November 7, 2015 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Study
anxiety, Christian happiness, Christian joy, depression, Jesus Christ first miracle, water to wine
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