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Throwback: A Lesson from Hair

December 30, 2021 by Fritz

This week’s throwback Thursday comes from 10 years ago.

A Lesson From Hair

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Sabbath Controversy

December 29, 2021 by Fritz

Christianity began as a movement within the Jewish Faith.  Jesus was a Jew, all the disciples were Jews, all the apostles were Jews, and almost all the miracles Jesus did were to Jewish people, with just a few exceptions

But some of the Jewish believers preached to those who weren’t Jews, and surprise, those people were giving their lives to Christ and experiencing a great revival.

Then came the controversy.

The Bible, in Acts 15, tells of a group of believing Pharisees telling people, especially the non-Jewish converts, they had to get circumcised or they wouldn’t go to heaven.  After all, the Bible commands circumcision; so they weren’t obeying the Scriptures if they didn’t get circumcised, and you can’t go to heaven if you disobey the Bible. 

It’s a bigger controversy than just circumcision, the Bible is full of laws that don’t address faith and daily living; the worship on Saturday, the Sabbath for instance; and Tithing, and not eating Pork, Shrimp, or catfish.

The Jewish Apostles in Jerusalem had to figure this out!  

Their conclusion was, since God saved non-Jewish people before they were circumcised, they didn’t have to get circumcised to be saved and go to Heaven.

This, by the way, is a strong indication salvation is NOT a guess, people can know for sure they are saved or not.  They knew by the movement of the Holy Spirit and a “know so” faith in Christ.

So they sent a letter abroad to the new non-Jewish believers with a list of requirements, and it is a short list:

“be responsible only for these bare necessities: Be careful not to get involved in activities connected with idols; avoid serving food offensive to Jewish Christians (blood, for instance); and guard the morality of sex and marriage. These guidelines are sufficient to keep relations congenial between us. And God be with you!”

Acts 1:29 (Message Bible)

What about circumcision?  Not on the list.

What about Saturday worship? Not on the list.

What about Tithing? Not on the list.

What about eating catfish, shrimp, pork, or a whole host of other things?  Not on the list.

Faith and salvation is about receiving the living Jesus Christ who paid for our sins with his own self-sacrifice. Full surrender to him, what the bible calls letting him live in you and you living in him is the source of life here and on the other side of eternity.

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Joyful Monday! Facing Rejection with Joy

December 27, 2021 by Fritz

Seemed like a tough couple of weeks for Paul and Barnabas. 

The story is in Acts 13:15-52

The two apostles preached a really good sermon about God’s promise to send a messiah, Jesus, who was raised from the dead, offered forgiveness of Sins and a hope for the future.

But some of the religious people didn’t like their message and tried to put a stop to it, using devout men and women of the area to raise a stink.

The passage is clear, it was the good people doing the persecution. Rejection from bad people is expected but from those trusted to live right?

But it didn’t bother Paul and Barnabas, they just moved on to the next town. Neither did it bother the new converts, Acts 13:52 said they were “filled with Joy and the Holy Ghost”.

This is the focus of today’s “Joyful Monday”.  

We all want to be appreciated, especially by those we value. But JOY must be found elsewhere than acceptance from people, even good people.

Joy comes from a personal relationship with Jesus and is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Martin Luther, from back in the 1500’s, wrote these Lyrics,

“The Spirit and the gifts are ours; through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!” (“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”)

Full surrender to Christ and living in the Holy Spirit is where JOY invades.

Posted in Faith, Holy Spirit, Joy, Podcast, Rejection | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

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