A tax collector does not only think about money. There is one tax collector whose priorities in life changed. His focus went from taxes and skimming extra cash for himself to things unseen. He stopped padding his accounts. He began storing treasure in unseen places where thieves do not break in and steal…where moth and rust do not destroy. He became a writer. Follow his account with me. His name? Matthew.
Read MoreWe like choices. We also like deciding ourselves. We do not enjoy being told what to do. We do not enjoy anything with only one option. It may surprise you, but, in life’s number one issue there are no choices. There is no plan A, B, C, or D. There is one plan…just one. Truthfully, there is no need for alternative plans. Plan A is the best. It’s the only solution. Nothing else will do.
Read MoreDon’t think about being open to new ideas or being willing to consider ideas you previously disagreed with. This is different. The subject is opened minds. It is not open minded. There is a difference. You and I can choose to be open minded with earthly ideas. We cannot open our minds. Think about that.
Read MoreWe enjoy invitations. We enjoy being included. Unless we have a conflict, we seldom say no to an invitation. Personal invitations are even more difficult to turn down. We both have personal invitations. They come from the One who made us. “Believe in me,” He gently calls to us. No other invitation compares to this one.
Read MoreThe human soul is designed to be activated by emotion. We yearn for ways to awaken that emotion. Awakened, we are more alive. So, we seek ways to awaken the emotion of our souls. We search for it in wealth. In fame. In drugs. In immoral living. In possessions. But we find no true soul awakening in any earthly thing. This is about blazing hearts.
Read MoreWe envy those who seem to experience special events. This event was a once in a life time. Sometimes we say, “Wish I could have been there!” This was one of those “been there” events. It had never occurred before-or since. This makes the event significant-take note-pay attention. While neither of us were there, the event involves both of us. It happened on a dusty road in the Middle East.
Read MoreLife can be compared to a journey. Let’s call it a a road trip. Road trips have a beginning and end, so does life. Road trips may have unexpected delays, detours even accidents…so does life. Sometimes we take a road trip to get away, like these two men. Want a companion for life’s road trips? Two men on a road trip found one. Rather, He found them.
Read MoreYou and I have a handicap. It’s not visible. It’s not noticeable. It’s not obvious when we speak. This handicap causes problems with our past and our future. It causes us to make poor decisions, even mistakes. Life would be easier, if we could only remember.
Read MoreWhen someone dies their remains are put in the ground…or scattered over the earth. A deceased person stays deceased. In all of history there is only one exception. One person in world history did not stay in the grave. This one defeated human death. Unheard of right? This fact impacts every person living today.
Read MoreThey thought they had him. They arrested him. Then they killed him. He was finished. He even said, “It is finished!” when he died. They were sure they were done with him. He would forever be silenced. Not so. This was only the beginning.
Read MoreAn eyewitness gives powerful testimony. An eyewitness knows the truth. Want the truth? Find an eyewitness. There was an unusual eyewitness for this world event. In fact this eyewitness knew everything-almost- about the event. He was in charge.
Read MoreThere was a Spanish Explorer a few centuries ago. He thought he could find the fountain of youth. If he did he would stop the aging process. You might say this guy was searching for paradise. Of course, he never found the fountain of youth. And you and I will never find paradise on earth. While there are many wonderful places-not one place on earth is paradise. There is a simple reason. Paradise is not found on earth.
Read MoreWe are so sure. We think we know. It’s not possible to be wrong. We believe we know what’s right. After all we know what we’re doing. Don’t we make the rules? Ever thought you were so right? Then you discovered you were so wrong? Or-worse yet, you never knew you were wrong? It happened then. It can happen now.
Read MoreEver thought about this? What existed before earth and the universe? The unchangeable truth is God. Next question: What was on God’s mind before He made the universe? You and me were. But this astonishing fact remains: we are not compelled to believe.
Read MoreEver thought of the assumptions you make? We could think of our assumptions as judgements. Do we realize that many of our assumptions are often wrong? Some assumptions are insignificant, they don’t matter. Others are life and death issues. This one is. This is about examining our assumptions.
Read MoreHe could see the truth. He spoke the truth. Those closest to the situation could not. They were the experts. When faced with the truth, the experts wanted a second opinion. Turns out they were not interested in the truth. The outcome had to be their way. One man would die.
Read MoreHow do we react to an outcast? He was. Their opinion of him allowed significant mistreatment. He was beaten and bullied. Yes, he remained very much alone. Those in charge had condemned him before they heard his defense. That’s how alone this man was. He faced injustice for hours. He did this for us.
Read MoreYou thought you were friends. Actually you’d known each other for years. You went places together. You did significant things together-they were memorable life events. You ate together. You laughed together. You wept…together. You thought you were friends. Then your friend disowned you.
Read MoreIt has been a long time since people were executed on a cross. Seems too gruesome for today. But Easter and the cross go together. And it’s been such a long time since that first Easter…perhaps Easter does not apply today? Is Easter just an old tradition? Did it really even happen? Would it make a difference if there were expert, eye witnesses to the first Easter? There were.
Read MoreOnly one person in history ever had such a thing happen. There was pain. There was agony. There was intense suffering. But these lasted only seconds. After the pain and agony came intense relief. There was instant healing. It really happened. This person was never the same. But we do not even know his name. The most important thing to know is who did the healing. We know his name. Innocent Man.
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