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Showing posts from October, 2018

His Mercies Never End: Why Study the Book of Lamentations

Introduction It was a massive national tragedy. Despite many prophetic warnings, the people of Southern Kingdom of Judah refused to repent and return to the Lord. The result was the invasion by Babylon of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple, the disappearance of the Ark of the Covenant, and the deportation of the Judeans into 70 years of Babylonian captivity. The year: 586 BC. Though Jeremiah foresaw all these things, he did not tell the remnant: ‘ I told you so. ’ On the contrary, he was extremely pained by the accuracy of his prophetic prediction regarding the conquest and destruction of the his holy city. Yet, in the midst of the collective darkness, God’s character and light shined brighter than ever. Hence, to understand Lamentations is to understand God’s steadfast love, unceasing mercies, and larger-than-life faithfulness. Hebrew Name of Lamentations Ekah "Ah, how!"   Ginoth “Elegies' or ‘Lamentations.’ Author

Hear Am I, Send Me: Understanding the Call of God Part 02

Isaiah 6:8 (KJV): Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Matthew 22:14 (KJV) For many are called, but few are chosen. In Part 01, we learned that the ‘call of God’ can be personal and universal. It is also means spiritual responsibilities. In Part 02, we will see that the commitment and responsibilities of God’s call also bring privileges and blessings. The Call of God Has Privileges Here is the justice of God: those who obey the call, pay the price, and do so with a whole heart, are appointed to great reward. There is the promise of abundant life in Christ (John 10:10ff). This author is thoroughly convinced that the most effective, adventurous, joyful, fruitful and fulfilled life, is the one that is lived for God. Even those persons who enjoy worldly fame, acclaim, riches, and longevity, cannot be compared to the life lived to the full for God. Furthermore, the worldly achievement

JERUSALEM: Magnet for Christian Visits Part 03

For many believing Christians, it is a dream come true. Whether on tour, business, or a private visit, a highlight for many is a visit to Jerusalem, the holy city. Since the Six Day War of 1967, when the historic Old City and Mount of Olives came under Israeli control, the number of Christian visitors has risen. In addition, the demographics have changed from a predominantly Middle Eastern to a western and third world constituency. The purpose of this series is to understand what is happening, why, and how it impacts the future. In Part 01 , we learned that the ‘river of pilgrimage’ has been flowing from the very beginning of Christianity. In Part 02 , the ‘tourism factor’ was introduced. The Ministry of Tourism took a proactive approach in marketing Israel and Jerusalem as ‘attractive,’ ‘inspiring,’ and ‘safe’ places to visits. Their efforts appear to have paid off: the number of Christian visitors has risen steadily over the past half a century, though marketing alone is n

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BRETT KAVANAUGH: Why the Fuss?

It was the most heated and difficult confirmation of a US Supreme Court justice in modern history. Despite every attempt to derail his nomination, Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in as the 114th justice of America’s highest court. It was an especially significant victory for US President Donald Trump. Kavanaugh is a highly qualified and respected jurist. He had received seven thorough background checks and in all areas he came out squeaky clean. So then, why did accusations of sexual assault against Judge Kavanaugh cause such a firestorm? Why the fuss? What were the reasons for this conflict, which grabbed global headlines? The story of Justice Kavanaugh is a parable of our times. When we know the what and why, then we ‘understand the times’ and as a result we will know what we need to do (I Chronicles 12:32). Reason 01: The Culture War The firestorm over Kavanaugh is a classic textbook case of the on-going ‘culture war,’ including a strong dose of ‘identity politics