(SN015) Christianity is not a religion based on cloning its followers meaning all Christians don’t think exactly the same nor do they live out or express their faith exactly the same. What Christianity does profess and encourage is that we have the same core beliefs, and moral compass.

(SN014) If I’m to be honest, it’s not the verse I hate, it’s my constant failure to consistently apply and live by the verse that I hate. The worst part is, I know how to fix it.

(SN013) According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, 40 million or 1 in 5 U.S citizens suffer from Anxiety. Anxiety often leads to depression, which if untreated, can lead to hopelessness. Learn how to change hopelessness to hope.

(SN012) Several years back, like 20+ years ago, I had the most amazing prayer time which I haven’t ever had to experience again. 

It was an early morning and I was having a difficult time clearing my mind while trying to pray. Thoughts were swirling in my head and I just couldn’t get focused on a conversation with God. 

In my frustration, I changed my prayer to, “Please clear my mind so we can talk” 

(SN011) When you read the title, ‘Forgive…Never’ what immediately came to your mind? Did you think of someone who hurt you and you refuse to forgive them? Or, did you think of someone you hurt and refuses to forgive you?

What is forgiveness anyway?

Many feel forgiveness is condoning someone’s actions or letting someone ‘get away’ with something without consequences. From a Biblical perspective, both of those perspectives are wrong.

(SN010) True humility is a powerful character trait

False humility is nothing more than pure arrogance

Let me Explain…

(SN009) In my studies I try to slow down enough to catch words and phrases which I would otherwise normally pass over. Then I try to immerse myself into the events I’m reading about. Luke 8:22-25 provides a great example of how that works.

(SN008) When reading Acts 10, I learned a very simple yet very important truth about sharing our faith and the forgiveness found in God’s grace.

(SN007) I mentioned last week I gave up New Year’s resolutions except for one…seek God’s praises. While continuing that theme in my studies this week, a lesson I taught several years ago came to my mind. The lesson pertained to changing habits and was titled, Backfill. As I delved bit deeper into that study this week, I learned a few more things which I’d like to share with you today.

(SN006) I gave up making New Year’s resolutions a log time ago, except for one, to succeed at gaining praise from God. Yeah, yeah, I know you can’t earn or work your way into heaven, it’s a free gift. You can’t even do anything to justify that gift. Amazingly, God offers the gift of forgiveness regardless of what we've done in the past. That’s explicitly stated in Romans 10:8-10. While that message is pretty clear, some still feel doing something, anything is a required part of the formula.

(SN005) What exactly is a silver lining? A silver lining is when something good or productive is generated from a less than favorable situation. Optimists tend to look for silver linings in most situations, pessimists, not so much. While optimism and pessimism are a part of our DNA, at the end of the day, it’s ultimately our choice to which philosophy we ascribe. Paul was the ultimate silver lining preacher.

(SN004) I lived a part of my life approaching religion like a sophisticated game for which you kept a scorecard of good deeds versus bad deeds. But, what if my understanding of religion was wrong? What if your score is not relevant because perfection is what’s actually required, not just more good than bad.

(SN003) I recently had a conversation about religion with someone who grew up Catholic. In the conversation I mentioned I grew up Catholic as well to which I was asked, “What are you now?”

(SN002) The hardest part of being a servant is feeling like you’ve been taken advantage of or that you wasted your time because your investment was not appreciated or reinvested. The reality is, you will be taken advantage of. There are people who will take all you are willing to give and never entertain a thought of thanking you or reciprocating. 

(SN001) As I’ve thought about prayer one word keeps popping into my head, ‘Why.’ More specifically, Why do I pray?