I recently read a book that talked about the miracle — that the very existence of life on Earth —really is. A few decades ago, scientists estimated that were a mere two factors necessary for a planet to support life. Now that list is up to 150 necessary factors!
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The Book of Acts (Chapter 12), shows us how faithful and faithless people respond to the storms and trials of life. If you remember in Acts, the early church in Jerusalem was growing like a weed. About that same time, King Herod decided to persecute the church. First, he murdered James and then he arrested Peter. He most likely planned to kill Peter, too. I love Acts 12:5, “So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”
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“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” Matthew 9:1-4
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“In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.” 1 Kings 6:1
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Early one morning, I was in my office reading, and my young son got out of bed and walked in. He informed me he needed to use the bathroom. I told him do it! I sat there reading for a few more minutes, and then I realized I never heard the toilet flush. So, I went upstairs to check on him, and he was quietly sitting on the toilet, waiting for me to help him “finish up” his business. I told him, “Son, you need to tell me these things, so I can help you.” He looked at me, deadly serious, and said, “Dad, no one knows the future but God.” I laughed and said, “You’re right.”
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The other day, I was struck by Acts 18:26. Let’s read the verse in its context.
Acts 18:24 “Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, (more…)
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Please pray, church! This is a very exciting season. Pray for our new pastors! Pray for the Draper building construction process. Pray that we can get a new church stage. Pray for the West Valley church plant!
We had over 75 people join us at our West Valley church plant info meeting Saturday night! (more…)
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Recently, I read an informative and sad article about the persecution of Christians around the world. Here are some excerpts:
According to the International Society for Human Rights, a secular [group], 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today are directed at Christians. Statistically speaking, that makes Christians by far the most persecuted religious body on the planet.
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Christian, we are free! Romans 8:1-2 states “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” We have tremendous freedom as believers. We must never let go of that truth!
Yet there is another truth that we must never let go of either! In 1 Corinthians 8:12 Paul writes “… when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.” These two parallel themes run throughout Scripture. We have tremendous freedom in Christ and a mature believer limits their freedom for the sake of others.
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