tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146341642024-03-06T22:51:32.470-05:00Saturday TalkInstead of experiencing Christianity as a Sunday-only religious activity and as a Monday-through-Saturday operation of secular-humanistic values, this blog attempts to see everything in our world through a Christian biblical lens. In other words, "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." —<em>1 Thessalonians 5:5-6</em>Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-37910062654453977802022-03-14T16:25:00.000-04:002022-03-14T16:25:23.470-04:00How to Process World EventsWe are experiencing an unprecedented time of rapid change. These are times of war and upheaval. Starting with the death of NBA star, Kobe Bryant in January of 2020, the pandemic, the death of George Floyd, and a contentious election, we've been experiencing event after event of national and international upheaval. The events all over the world are no longer distant. They are happening in our Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-64267144824379843172021-04-22T10:22:00.001-04:002021-04-22T10:25:16.446-04:00The One Thing You Must Do To Break A Bad HabitReplace it with a good habit. Easy, right? Well, it depends.When I was a kid, I had to deal with overt racial tension in school. So, life wasn't easy. I had learned to cope by waking up every morning before school to ruminate on how the day would go. I believed that if I could imagine the worst, it will help make the day go better.But, what eventually happened was that this practice cultivated a Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-78686069162422990742021-03-28T12:20:00.003-04:002021-03-28T13:36:21.392-04:00The Bible Wasn't Written to You. But it was Written for You.I needed to think about this aphorism for a moment. "The Bible wasn't written to me?"This statement, when I first heard it, gave me pause. I was a little uncomfortable with it at first. However, the second sentence puts it into perspective. "But the Bible was written for me."When we read the Bible, we ought not read it to get a personal message from God. The Bible wasn't written that way. HoweverKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-66306144824222678932021-02-15T17:51:00.006-05:002021-02-18T11:44:40.745-05:00The Treasure Principle Last time we looked at the false assumption that the Bible should be easy to read. We tend to feel this way because we Americans have a plethora of bibles and a consumerist approach to religion. This makes us susceptible to taking the Scriptures (the Bible) for granted. And, as a result, we may mistake God, Scripture, and the church as existing to please us. And many in our culture will find it Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-77860898745913461402021-01-16T12:42:00.000-05:002021-01-16T12:42:16.454-05:00Who Said Reading the Bible Is Suppose to be Easy?I remember giving away Bibles during an outreach event in 2018. Many people either weren't interested in a free Bible because they have a bunch at home, or they wanted a Bible with larger type or a particular English translation. People were pretty fussy about it. As a result people rejected the free Bibles, or took it without much thought. I suppose I should have been happy just to get the Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-41196143853753510122021-01-03T10:09:00.000-05:002021-01-03T10:09:01.286-05:00Are You Hungry?I believe many Christians want something better.They are tired of the same old Bible teaching that focuses on trite sayings or rudimentary instructions like: God wants you to do the right things. You don't. You should. Amen. They are suspicious of intentions, lack of understanding, and denominational biases. They want meatier and more substantial instruction — rather than feel-good and Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-9584164890367262792020-12-25T15:44:00.003-05:002020-12-25T15:44:52.698-05:00There's a Bible Famine in the LandI am concerned that too many American Christians are disengaged from the Bible.According to a 2019 Barna study, only 5% of the U.S. citizens surveyed actually engaged with the Bible in a way that it impacted their decision-making. And about 50% are disengaged. And according to a recent 2020 survey conducted by Barna and the American Bible Society, even fewer are engaging with Scripture due to theKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-39725230115884396982020-12-18T09:28:00.004-05:002020-12-18T10:14:49.404-05:004 Bible Reading Attitudes Part 4Previously I introduced 4 diverse attitudes Christians have about the Bible:We don’t respect the Bible.We respect the Bible, sort of.We respect the Bible and use it to justify what we believe.We respect the Bible as God’s very words.Last time I talked about the attitude, We respect the Bible and use it to justify what we believe. People who have this attitude generally respect the Bible, but onlyKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-83343815301873554082020-12-11T10:15:00.001-05:002020-12-18T09:26:17.609-05:004 Bible Reading Attitudes Part 3Previously I introduced the issue of 4 diverse attitudes Christians have about the Bible:We don’t respect the Bible.We respect the Bible, sort of.We respect the Bible and use it to justify what we believe.We respect the Bible as God’s very words.Last time I talked about the attitude, We respect the Bible, sort of. People who have this attitude generally respect the Bible's authority as God's veryKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-80455480812943003522020-12-04T12:28:00.010-05:002020-12-11T10:27:57.305-05:004 Bible Reading Attitudes Part 2Last time I introduced the issue of diverse attitudes Christians have about the Bible. The first attitude I discussed was the “We don’t respect the Bible” attitude. In it people who have this attitude would never admit they don’t respect the Bible. But they treat the Bible as inconsequential or non-authoritative when it contradicts current cultural values and practices.Attitude 2: We respect the Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-15621388720319141592020-11-24T14:10:00.018-05:002020-12-18T09:27:42.130-05:004 Bible Reading Attitudes Part 1
I used to think that all Christians believed reading the Bible was essential to being Christian. But over the years I've discovered that Christians vary widely on the Bible's importance.
There are many beliefs about the Bible among Christians. But all the various beliefs can fit into four attitudes.
They are:
We don’t respect the Bible.We respect the Bible, sort of.We respect the Bible Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-86076740273081009922016-06-22T05:03:00.000-04:002016-06-22T05:03:18.914-04:00Three Questions Christians Need to Ask When They Vote in Elections Part 3
Last time I discussed the true nature of human beings. This is critical, because how a candidate values human beings determines how she governs them. But as was mentioned last time, this assumes we know where human rights come from. This leads us into our next question.
3. What are rights?
We talk and debate about rights all the time in the United States. But do we truly understand what they Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-14924992729966044522016-06-08T05:00:00.001-04:002022-03-21T08:01:34.686-04:00Three Questions Christians Need to Ask When They Vote in Elections Part 2
Everyone has a perspective on the big issues of life, and our candidates are no different. In my last article I discussed the first question we need to consider when voting as Christians. What is the primary reason or purpose of government? This naturally leads us into our next question to consider.
2. What is the true nature of human beings?
Are people intrinsically valuable? And how Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-22211070788500901612016-05-28T17:36:00.001-04:002022-03-21T08:00:41.030-04:00Three Questions Christians Need to Ask When They Vote in Elections Part 1
When it comes to elections, I don't typically pay much attention to debates, opinion polls, and news reporting to get accurate information. However, I do pay attention at times to guess at a candidate's point of view. And it's instructive to hear from the candidates themselves, and to observe their actions over time. But I'm not simply trying to match a politician's positions with my own.Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-80776697517617194862011-10-29T16:18:00.002-04:002012-10-08T12:47:38.949-04:00A Biblical Lifestyle: MoneyOne thing that marks authentic Christianity in the life of a believer is the way she thinks and how she lives her life. It affects how she views and handles money, personal and social responsibility, politics, and the environment.
The most obvious behavior is in how a person handles money. Even people who are unbelievers can have good money habits, but who — other than a genuine believer — wouldKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-13914271206029767352011-05-20T10:01:00.001-04:002011-05-20T10:07:40.958-04:00What's The Truth?
I am not asking what is the nature of truth. I will assume that truth is the authentic nature of all things. Truth is the way things really are, and the basis for the way things are. With truth we arrive at solutions, deal with reality, and are capable of navigating the world the way it actually is.
The title question is something much different. It sets the stage for true discussion and Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-37767834623145384302011-04-22T12:01:00.001-04:002011-04-22T12:10:33.884-04:00What's So Good About Good Friday?
Courtesy demondimum of MorgueFile.com.
Today is the day Christians celebrate the suffering and death of Jesus, the Christ. Although some people have chosen to celebrate Earth Day in lieu of this, believers from all over the world recognize the significance of remembering the day Jesus gave his life for the life of the world. However, some people celebrate with no real understanding of its trueKerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-10190462007112657592011-04-20T09:42:00.001-04:002011-04-20T09:43:42.873-04:00No More Sacrifices Left
Courtesy clarita at MorgueFile.com
Many people are celebrating the Passover this week, which started yesterday. People are commemorating it in different ways. Some people see it as a time to annually watch The Ten Commandments. Some people view it as a time to look forward to the Easter celebration. And Jewish people see this time as a very sacred remembrance of God's deliverance of the Jews Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-11569373884152537902011-04-04T16:03:00.004-04:002011-04-06T12:38:07.937-04:00Marriage According to Jesus
Any questions?
Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-21628593371180941802011-03-25T11:44:00.000-04:002011-03-25T11:44:28.950-04:00An Inconvenient Christianity
Photo courtesy cohdra of Morguefile.com.
I was casually listening to a Christian radio talk show, when suddenly a woman called up with a problem that I found rather peculiar and unexpected. She said she had been a Christian for 17 years, but spent a few years in rebellion to Christ because of some personal problems. Now, she is in the process of being more dedicated to Christianity. However, Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-49620342892862743462011-02-24T10:38:00.002-05:002011-02-24T10:41:44.047-05:00What Does God Really Want?Everyone has an opinion about what God wants. Some people believe He simply agrees with them on every issue. (God just wants what they want. Just be sincere.) Some people believe God wants everyone to "just get along." And then there are people who believe that God is too demanding. There is nothing worth doing if not done perfectly. He can't be pleased.
In Matthew 9:9-13 Jesus invites a tax Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-38611971347783090012011-01-27T13:12:00.000-05:002011-01-27T13:12:01.057-05:00Why Christian Boundaries Are NecessaryYeah, we all want to be welcoming and friendly like Jesus. And yeah, we can be cautious about dealing negatively with other people. In fact, we may believe that agreeing with people is the best approach for dealing with differences.
But the truth of the matter is that Jesus wasn't a pushover either. He was very clear about who he was, and he wasn't backing away from that. He was clear about Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-23316679376403726302011-01-19T15:01:00.010-05:002011-01-19T15:09:24.250-05:00A Hero is More Than a SandwichAfter the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords — and the Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration — it got me thinking about the idea of heroes. What is a hero? What makes a hero? How do we decide who a hero is?
Some people would call those, who eventually stopped the gunman's rampage, heroes. Some may even call Ms. Giffords a hero for fighting to survive. Though others would Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-48033405704286384292011-01-07T11:27:00.001-05:002011-01-07T11:28:56.018-05:00Why The Reason for the Season Isn't Jesus' BirthI was in a Christian book store not too long ago. And an older woman was in there talking on her cell phone quite loudly. It was very annoying. I tried to ignore her, because I am nervous about approaching an older woman. But she had very bad manners, and the conversation was way too loud. So, I started to approach her when, thankfully, she hung up. I quickly went back to browsing the books as I Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14634164.post-53796164623608925542010-12-10T10:56:00.000-05:002010-12-10T10:56:34.085-05:00Unsalted SaltThe strength of salt is that it has a very distinctive quality. It is unique because it has a very specific taste, and affects food in a particular way. You can count on it enhancing the flavor of our food, causing certain chemical reactions during baking, and melting snow on sidewalks.
But what happens when salt loses it's saltiness. It is no longer salt. But worse, it can't even be classified Kerryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01342938514040310724noreply@blogger.com0