The World and the Wind Scatter. Christ Secures.
Brush your teeth. Take the medicine. Feed the dog. Daily things are easy to skip because missing one day seems to cost nothing. Hebrews 3:13 puts “encourage one another” on that daily list, and the bill for skipping it arrives later.
Nobody buys a 120-ton compressor package because the lifting lugs look good. Without them, though, it never gets off the truck. Galatians 6:2 calls us to be that kind of unglamorous strength for each other when the load gets too heavy.
“Love one another” is the command behind all the others. “Serve one another” is love holding a towel. I have a story about that, although it is not one where I come out looking particularly good.
At my first church retreat, in the Texas Hill Country, I was the only one wearing shorts. Nobody said a word to me, about the shorts or anything else. Romans 15:7 asks for a better welcome: accept one another, as Christ accepted you.
I. Introduction Most organizations want to be recognized. Companies spend millions of dollars to create logos so you can recognize them. Here’s a quick quiz — how many of these company logos can you name? Answers: Row 1: Marriott, Shell, Nike, Popeyes, Pepsi, Atari, Union 76, ToyotaRow 2: Prudential, AT&T, Chevrolet, Adobe, John Deere, McDonald's, … Continue reading Love One Another
I. Introduction Diane is a wonderful gardener. Our backyard is an oasis – flowers grow everywhere. She tends the roses and the hibiscus, which she calls her “biscuits,” and she prunes them faithfully. And sometimes, she’ll cut an especially beautiful flower and put it in a vase in the kitchen. And here’s the thing … Continue reading I AM The True Vine
I don't usually delve into discussions of apostasy or church authority. My own personal feeling is to pursue unity where possible — Paul puts it well in Ephesians 4:3: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." But I recently read an article on Catholic Share by Godwin … Continue reading A Response to “The Protestant Reformation Was a Total Failure. Period.”
I. Introduction Think about the last time you asked someone for help and they couldn't come. Maybe a repairman said he'd be there Wednesday — he wasn't. Maybe a doctor said "we'll schedule something" and meant three weeks from now. Maybe a friend said "I'll be right there" and you were still waiting an hour … Continue reading The Word Was Enough
Our Shepherd knows His sheep. Do you know Him? Listen for His voice. #Jesus #Shepherd #BibleStudy #Sunday
I. Introduction Think about all the doors you passed through today. You probably didn't think about a single one of them. You just walked through. That's what doors do when they're working correctly — they're invisible. You don't think about a door until it's locked and you don't have the key, or someone slams it … Continue reading I AM The Door
Introduction - Light Changes Everything Legos are evil. I'm convinced of it. Step on one in the dark and it's an incredibly painful experience. In fact, some theologians believe the thorn in Paul's side — the one he begged the Lord three times to take away — was actually a Lego. If you step on … Continue reading I AM the Light of the World
I. Introduction Who does Jesus say He is? The Gospel of John describes Jesus beautifully, beginning with John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” But for our lesson today, I want to begin a little later in John 1:9–13 because it provides … Continue reading I AM The Bread of Life
I. Introduction Jesus has been making His way toward Jerusalem for His final Passover. Along the way, He has been telling parables and teaching in synagogues. He has been describing the Kingdom of Heaven, sharing difficult wisdom such as “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than … Continue reading Behold! Your King is Coming!
I. Introduction Israel had long been warned that disobedience would lead to captivity. Jerusalem fell, many were exiled, and empires changed hands. Daniel not only foretold the rise of Persia—he also lived through the transfer of power as God’s people remained in exile. Esther takes place in the Persian Empire after Babylon fell, when many … Continue reading Esther: Queen of the Darkest Night
I. Introduction: How Did the Magi Know? Back in 2015, I traveled a lot more than I do today, and in December 2015, I found myself in the grand metropolis of Otley, UK. Now in the UK, I don’t know if they know what a warm sunny day is, but that weekend, the rain had … Continue reading The Gifts of the Magi, the Gift of Our Savior
I. Introduction Psalm 139 Today I want to take a moment to reflect not on headlines or controversies, but on the foundational truth that every life is known and loved by God. In Psalm 139, David meditates not on theological jargon, but on the overwhelming reality of God's personal involvement with His creation. Psalm … Continue reading God Knows Us Intimately
The content reflects on Psalm 128, emphasizing that true success is found in reverence for the Lord, rather than societal measures like wealth or titles. It illustrates how blessings extend from individual faith to family and community, advocating for a life focused on God's guidance. Happiness arises through obedience and faithful living.
Enduring Trials for the Glory of Christ How Suffering Purifies, Strengthens, and Prepares Us for Eternal Glory I. Introduction In 1 Peter 4:12–19, Peter speaks tenderly but urgently to Christians facing trials. Last week in 1 Peter 4:7-11, Peter had called believers to stay focused on prayer, love, hospitality, and service. Now, he turns directly … Continue reading Enduring Trials
In 1 Peter 4:7-11, Peter emphasizes living purposefully as believers, urging spiritual alertness, deep love, and faithful service in light of Christ's imminent return. He encourages prayerful living, selfless love, and the responsible use of spiritual gifts to glorify God, highlighting the importance of community and unity amidst challenges.
Let us live for God, because God died for us.
In 1 Peter 2:18-25, Peter instructs believers to submit to their masters, emphasizing respectful conduct even in harsh situations. He advocates for enduring unjust suffering as a commendable act of faith, mirroring Christ’s example. Ultimately, such trials lead to spiritual strength and divine recognition, reaffirming God's purpose in believers' lives.
Christians are temporary residents in this world, called to live righteously and submit to authorities as a reflection of their faith. It encourages believers to appreciate life’s beauty while remembering their eternal destination, acting as ambassadors of Christ through loving behavior, and adhering to God’s will above all.
We explore Peter's teaching in 1 Peter 1:22-25 about the significance of obedience, purification, and sincere love among believers. It highlights that true love, stemming from a transformed heart, is rooted in the eternal Word of God, contrasting the fleeting nature of human life with the permanence of God's promises and the transformative power of the gospel.
1 Peter 1:13-16 emphasizes the call to holiness for believers, highlighting the importance of mental preparedness, sobriety, and hope in Christ’s grace. Peter encourages followers to shed past ignorance, embrace moral purity, and embody God's holiness in all aspects of life, ensuring that their conduct reflects their identity as God's children.
I. Introduction Bill had the honor last week of telling wives to submit to their husbands. I think Bill made it clear that whatever misogynistic and sarcastic comment I was probably going to make isn’t supported by scripture. So last week, after emphasizing mutual submission in the latter half of Ephesians 5 and addressing husbands … Continue reading Christlike Submission
In Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul emphasizes believers' unity and spiritual maturity. He calls for humility, gentleness, patience, and love to maintain this unity, which is the Holy Spirit's work. Each believer has unique gifts for church edification, aiming for Christlikeness and stability in truth, fostering a healthy church community.
Introduction: God’s Unfolding Plan for the Gentiles In Ephesians 3:1-13, Paul reflects on his role in revealing the "mystery" that had been hidden for ages—that Gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel in God’s redemptive plan. God’s eternal purpose, beginning with Adam and continuing through Abraham and Israel, culminates in Christ. From the very beginning, God’s … Continue reading God’s Unfolding Plan for the Gentiles
This week's passage in Matthew 26:26-56 showcases significant events in Jesus' life. It includes the institution of the Lord's Supper, Peter's denial prediction, Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, and His subsequent arrest. These events emphasize fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus' obedience to God's will, and the symbolism of the Lord's Supper elements.
The passage from Matthew 19:16-26 delves into the interaction between Jesus and the rich young ruler, offering insights into wealth, discipleship, and reliance on the Lord. It explores the challenges of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material abundance, emphasizing the role of divine grace in achieving true discipleship and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Introduction: Contextual Background So we’re going to cover Matthew 18, several parables together, so it’s going to feel like we’re moving quickly. But there’s a theme, a purpose to Matthew’s writings, so it’s important to understand before the study how this chapter fits within the larger story of Jesus' ministry. Matthew's Gospel is organized in … Continue reading From Humility to Forgiveness
I. Introduction We’ve been studying the early church as witnessed in the Book of Acts, and before I begin today’s lesson, I want to review where we’ve been and then maybe we’ll have a better idea of where we’re going. I think it’s important to know where we are before we begin a journey. … Continue reading Evangelizing in the Wilderness
I. Introduction I visited a coworker in the hospital this weekend. He told me he was at home watching tv when the doorbell rang. When he opened the door, there was a 6 foot cockroach standing there. Before he could say anything, the cockroach punched in the stomach and ran off. The next night, he … Continue reading Security in God
Image via WikipediaIntroduction Last week, Michelle taught from Isaiah 6. This week, the lesson covers Isaiah 7-23. When I first started studying, I though, whoa, we're supposed to cover 16 chapters? I spoke to Fred about this last Saturday; he said there was no problem covering all 16 chapters, he would enjoy a thorough lesson. … Continue reading Act on Revealed Truth
Welcome to the CCLXV edition of the Christian Carnival, this week's collection of the best Christian writing on the planet. Prolific writing this week, too! There are a huuuge number of submissions. Grab a cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy. Richard H. Anderson presents Shalom for the shepherds posted at dokeo kago grapho … Continue reading Christian Carnival CCLXV
I could call this the "Day After Trying to Recover From What Might Have Been a Minor Flu Edition," but I won't. Christmas Season and Flu Season accompany each other every year, like Hansel and Gretel, or Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum. I had just enough aches and pains to baby myself to prevent a flu... heck, … Continue reading Christian Carnival CCLIV
Genesis 1:1. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And God saw that it was good. And sometimes, He smiles. 🙂
Image via WikipediaIt's National Bailout Day, seeing as how our illustrious US Congress has allocated $700 billion for Wall Street bankers. As Christians, I think we probably could put $700 billion to better use, don't you? But I got to thinking that our lives are not ours, we have been purchased at a cost. How … Continue reading Christian Carnival CCXLIV
When the US Government funds anything remotely Christian in nature, all sorts of "separation of church and state" groups get upset. The ACLU files a lawsuit and the "offensive" Christian material is removed. So why is it ok for US tax dollars to be used to oppose Christianity? Shouldn't the same standard be used? PBS, … Continue reading PBS and the Separation of Church and State
Chasing the Wind is honored to host the 219th edition of the Christian Carnival II, the blogosphere's best Christian writing. My comments on the post in italics after each entry, but I left the author's original thoughts when he or she provided them. I included almost all posts I received; I excluded two from the … Continue reading Christian Carnival CCXIX
Welcome to the 208th edition of the Christian Carnival, a weekly amalgomation of this week's best Christian writing. Chasing the Wind is humbled to host such a fine collection of postings this week; I suggest picking a few titles below and clicking them; you won't find a finer collection of Christian thoughts anywhere on the … Continue reading Christian Carnival 208
Via Michelle Malkin via Weasel Zippers (no, really, that's the name of their website) (and links from National Catholic Reporter and Asia Times, there are 111 million Chinese Christians, and every day there are 10,000 more. By 2050, China will be the third largest Christian nation behine the United States and Brazil. Ten thousand Chinese … Continue reading 10,000 Christians a Day
Christian Carnival 178 is up at ... Chasing the Wind! I have the honor of hosting this week's carnival, affectionately known as Christian Carnival 178, 2^89th, hexadecimal B2, or binary 10110010. Whew, and I think there were almost that many entries. 🙂 They're presented here in roughly the order submitted; if you're a blog author … Continue reading Christian Carnival CLXXVIII
Barrack Hussein Obama describes himself as a Christian and the New York Times is almost besides itself with glee. Notice the picture and how holy Obama appears. I like Christians, I really do. I happen to be one. But those people that routinely exhibit their Christian faith are routinely trashed by the New York Times. … Continue reading Barack Hussein Obama: Self-Described Christian
Ah. A lightbulb goes off. I read several posts this Easter weekend about the dangers of forming a theocracy. The Houston Chronicle linked to one at Feet to the Fire: The banwitdth devoted to the dangers of Church to State is enormous. Being righteous lefties that analysis comes easy to us. As a lefty who … Continue reading Blog Against Theophobes
This week's Christian Carnival is up, and it's being hosted this week... here, at Chasing the Wind! I've decided to categorize the entries this week into posts about Jesus, posts about our relationships, and posts about us. Jesus tells us we are to love him and love our neighbor as ourselves, and that reminds me … Continue reading Christian Carnival CLXIII
"Too preachy?" That's a new one to me. Hollywood is taking out all the factual, religious elements of the movie Amazing Grace and replacing them with secular, humanistic socio-political motives. From the Wall Stree Journal (subscription required): Hollywood's 'Amazing' Glaze By CHARLOTTE ALLEN Wall Street Journal, February 23, 2007; Page W11 ...Alas, a lot of … Continue reading "Amazing Grace," Hollywood Style
I've never seen so many news stories trumpeting the Democrats winning one or both seats of congress. Tonight, CNN was saying how great it was to have a divided Congress, or a President in one party and the Congress in another. The media is trying to brainwash the American people into believing this is a … Continue reading So Much Liberal Media Today
Sort of like combining Stephen King and C.S. Lewis. "House: The Only Way Out is In" (WestBow Press) is a very suspenseful and intense novel by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker. In fact, it's so intense, I cannot in good conscience recommend this to kids or to the squeamish. The entire first half of the … Continue reading Review: House
Spotlight today on the Colorado Rockies, and a thanks to USA Today for portraying Christianity in sports in a positive light. DENVER — No copies of Playboy or Penthouse are in the clubhouse of baseball's Colorado Rockies. There's not even a Maxim. The only reading materials are daily newspapers, sports and car magazines and the … Continue reading Upon These Rockies I Will Build My Church
North American Mission Board (NAMB) commissioned Zogby to poll the effects of that piece of blasphemous anti-Christian trash, The Da Vinci Code. Among the key findings - The more familiar a person was with the book, the more likely they would consider the claims of The Da Vinci Code to be true. The more familiar … Continue reading The Da Vinci Code is Anti-Christian
Am I boycotting the "Da Vinci Code" movie? Or am I just refusing to go see it? The nuance is hard to discern. Christians Plan Boycott of 'Da Vinci Code' by Robert B. Bluey Posted May 04, 2006 Christian activists are planning a boycott of the soon-to-be-released Da Vinci Code movie, which one influential pro-family … Continue reading Boycotting "Da Vinci Code"
A recent comment indicates that some people are under the impression... well, I'll let the comment speak for itself: Characterizing the court battles of religious symbols in public as “prohibiting the free expression of Christianity†is highly disingenuous, however. The court battles have been about government sponsorship of such expressions, not about individual expression of … Continue reading Liberty Legal Institute
While the newly freed Afghanistan says they respct freedom of religion as long as that religion is Islam. Abdul Rahman converted to Christianity 16 years ago and is in jail facing the death penalty because of it. Michelle Malkin has full details here and here, including petition drives and embassy contacts to write to encourage … Continue reading Death to Afghan Christians
Welcome to St. Patrick's day in America. The oldest traditional Irish holiday in the new world (1762 by some accounts). We were celebrating our differences in the melting pot of America long before other immigrant groups. Given for the Scottish son of the Roman Calphurnius and his wife, Conchessa. Padraig, at 15 became a cowherd … Continue reading LULAC, NAACP got nothin' on me.
The Houston Chronicle ran an article on Sunday, of all things, about an atheist who does not believe in God but belives Christians are good. He's joined his local church and claims to be a Christian, all the while denying the existance of God. I myself think this of a corruption of Christianity from the … Continue reading The Meaning of Christianity
21st Century Reformation has a beautiful article on Sanctification, what it is and what it isn't. Go read the article, reflect on it, then come back. Or stay there, that's ok. 😛 Just before Part 1, the author writes about the problems with a "therapeutic approach" to Christianity, that somehow one's expression of love is … Continue reading Coming Out of Denial and Discovering Our Sin
The decision to publish (or not publish) the Dreaded Cartoons of Blasphemy that have the Islam "Religion of Peace" so riled up isn't such a clear cut decision. Let's look at the options: Let's say you're a Boston Globe and you happily publish pictures of the Virgin Mary covered with dung. Publishing the Muslim cartoons … Continue reading Cartoons of Blasphemy
The Presbyterian Church USA has lost over 2 million members since 1967. They project to lose another 85,000 members this year, accelerating the loss from 65,000 last year. Why? Albert Mohler suggests it is because of the embrace of theological liberalism. As these researchers demonstrated, the embrace of what they called "lay liberalism" led massive … Continue reading Presbyterian Church Membership Losses
I wrote last July that I fully expected the liberal Democrat party to try and claim Christianity for themselves under the name of "progressive Christianity." A prime example is in USAToday recently that tries to show that "playing the God card" isn't working for George Bush and the Republicans. Even if, as the author admits, … Continue reading Democrats Misplay "God Card"
I've been playing with this idea for a while, and I'm giving it a shot today. If it turns out I don't like this idea, I can always delete it later. 😛 (I'm going to edit this post as necessary to clarify the intent, so don't be surprised when the wording changes.) I want to … Continue reading Where They Stand
I already blasted this television show as being offensive to Christians. Apparently it started airing this week, and NBC affiliates are dropping "Book of Daniel." This Nashville station was the 7th to drop it this week. NASHVILLE, Tenn. - NBC's Nashville affiliate has closed "The Book of Daniel" after the show, whose main character is … Continue reading Another Station Drops "Book of Daniel"
What's the Deal with Wicca by Steve Russ is a "deeper look into the dark side of today's witchcraft." The author gives a quite detailed picture of Wicca and why it appeals to teenagers expecially, and compares it to Christianity. If you are a teenager or know a teenage considering Wicca, knowing about this religion … Continue reading Review: What's the Deal with Wicca?
People that hate Christians should not go see "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." The Guardian Unlimited, England's ultra liberal rag, says "Narnia represents everything that is most hateful about religion." Exceprts: The Christian radio station Premier is urging churches to hold services on the theme of The Gospel According to Narnia. Even the … Continue reading A Non-Christian Narna
More Narnia links, I'll update this list today if I run into more later today. Narnia, by the way, is the land from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" in case you've been living under a rock. 😛 Are you a lion or a witch? I'm not upset with being linked to Lucy. Aslan … Continue reading More on Narnia
During a study last night, we studied how to tell the Holy Spirit is moving in a Christian's life. When the bible doesn't give us a specific answer to a question in life - what college do I choose, when to have a baby, what career should I begin - listening to the Holy Spirit … Continue reading When the Holy Spirit Moves You
Jay over at Wizbang was challenged by a reader who asserted that he couldn't condemn the links between Islam and terrorism because Christians are pretty hideous, too. Aside from the fact that even if Christianity was bad, that doesn't mean you shouldn't condemn terrorist links anyway, Jay challenged him to find some examples of Christian … Continue reading The Christian Threat
I find this non-ruling interesting: The U.S. Supreme Court was asked to review whether the words "In God We Trust," written prominently in large block letters on the Lexington, N.C. county government center, violated the so-called separation of church and state. As an aside, I'll keep saying this until the news media gets it: there … Continue reading In God We Trust
The riots in France were predicted in a book just a month before the riots started. Militant Islam is a threat to western democracies, and Tony Blankley describes it in his book, "The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations?" It is beginning to dawn on Europeans that the combination of a … Continue reading Eurabia
Ever see one of those billboards signed "God"? The organization that puts up the billboards has a website at Godspeaks.com. From there, you can see all their billboards and see basic questions about Christianity, whether you're doing great or whether you need some help.
Far Left: Al Franken is laughing it up, I suppose. Nobody else is, because he's not funny. He's promoting his new book on Amazon with a video clip showing how good it feels to kick a conservative between the legs. Michelle Malkin has video stills and here is the video clip. Basically, he questions a … Continue reading Far Left, Far Right
Baldilocks does a little Jesus-preaching and quotes liberally from C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. I love to read about people who take yet another step of sanctification and realize something about themselves needs to change. I'll be working on the same thing for, oh, the rest of my life. The Bible says that Satan is the … Continue reading Good Reading Links for Monday
I'm convinced the liberal left is working on a new tactic - to claim christianity for themselves. That's right, if you believe in the right to have an abortion, they're working on scripture interpretation to support it. Gay marriage? They push a "God is Love" approach that allows homosexuality and completely skip over the "homosexuality … Continue reading Progressive Christianity
I finally finished I don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. I was slow at reading the full book only because there was so much to provoke thought, especially in the first half of the book. Essentially, IDHEFTBAA (pardon the abbreviation; it's a long title) gives a step-by-step apologetics approach to Christianity, all the … Continue reading I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist
Looking for Christian reading material? There are so many titles out there, it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Christianity Today has listed the top Christian books for 2005, divided into several catagories: Apologetics / Evangelism: Christian Living: Biblical Studies: History / Biography: Christianity and Culture: Missions and Global Affairs: The Church / … Continue reading Christianity Today Book Awards 2005
VATICAN CITY - The cardinal leading the Vatican's charge against The Da Vinci Code urged Catholics today to shun it like rotten food and branded the bestseller "a sack full of lies" insulting the Christian faith. "I would ask the author of this book and similar ones to be more respectful because freedom of expression … Continue reading Da Vinci Code is Rotten Food
A recent poster wrote: I am not sure I buy the claim that atheism is in decline, and I certainly question the statement that it is losing its scientific basis. Religious belief has no scientific evidence to support it and a long and bloody history of violence, cruelty, and intolerance. If you don't "buy that … Continue reading Religious Wars
Guitarist Brian Welch, has parted ways with Korn, the band he helped start. Guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, a founding member of Korn, has left the band and has rededicated his life to Christianity, according to the group's management. "Korn has parted ways with guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch, who has chosen Jesus Christ as his savior, … Continue reading Korn Guitarist Finds God
Last year with Passion of the Christ, religious issues came back to the front of American media. Now I see that NBC is coming out with two new Biblical shows this year. One is Revelations, premiering April 13 at 9pm ET/PT: REVELATIONS 9/8pm Wednesdays This limited-run drama series stars Bill Pullman as Dr. Richard Massey, … Continue reading Bible Fiction on Television
Coffeeswirls has a very nice article about faith and how it works. From my limited understanding of other major religions, he's done a good job of capturing how each deals with faith: Buddhism: Ignorance is the roadblock to salvation. Ignorance is found in your belief that you and the world actually exist. If we stop … Continue reading How Faith Works
Via Pamibe comes an article about as offensive as the left can be. I always wonder this about the extreme left: they preach Political Correctness (PC) everywhere. Can't say this cuz it offends group A. Can't say that, cuz it offends group B. I know I'm allowed to call myself white, but if you're another … Continue reading Offensive Sacrilege
From the Denver Channel: BURLEY, Idaho -- An Idaho English teacher is in trouble for ripping up a Bible in class. Burley High's Karen Christenson said she was trying to illustrate a point about censorship, as her sophomore students read Ray Bradbury's novel "Fahrenheit 451," which is set in a future society that commands all … Continue reading Teacher In Trouble For Ripping Bible
Daniel Leach entered a plea of guilty today of murdering his girlfriend in January. After watching the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the movie "The Passion of Christ," Daniel called police and confessed to killing his girlfriend Ashley Wilson. The case had already been closed; her death had been ruled a suicide. The crucifixion of … Continue reading "Passion" Murderer Pleads Guilty After All
With a note of thanks to SondraK comes an 18 year old's fight for free speech. Tired of leftist propoganda in his high school, he starts Operation Tiger Claw - his right to disagree with what was being taught to him. The amazing thing is the homework this kid did ahead of time - armed … Continue reading Operation Tiger Claw
I long for the days where my biggest concern was practicing my faith to the best of my ability. It wasn't that long ago - late 90's when I have have long drawn out discussions involving baptism - was full immersion really necessary? Can you truly baptize infants? Or discussing tithing - if your church … Continue reading Am I a Religious Whacko?
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