In Defense of the Christian Faith

(Note: I apologize, AGAIN, for the formatting. I will attempt to fix it later, but we shall see...) Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. Today, I just wanted to share a few Scritures that talk about knowing God. With the new year approaching, everyone starts making all their resolutions; but I think that we should make it a priority every year to draw closer to God each and every day. If we think about it, do we REALLY know God? Or do we just THINK that we know Him? The deciding factor is if He knows us -- Does He know us? So that is what I wanted to talk about today. Luke 13: 23-27 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?...

... no, not today; that was Saturday. The Christmas season is officially over... but my good friend, Alice, was bemoaning the fact that no has written a poem about the day after Christmas. I wasn't planning on it, but I decided to take up the challenge. I'm not a professional poet, but I thought I'd give it a try. For many of us, the day after Christmas is either filled with returns or deal hunting. (Although I normally brave the crowds, this year I preferred to stay home.) We call it the day after Christmas, but our calandars label it "Boxing Day." This is the day when the Canadians (and some others) open all the boxed gifts (Christmas). Comedian Brad Stein joked that the day gets its name because "'I'd like to return the fruitcake.' 'We don't take it!' POW! Happy Boxing Day!" :D Anyway, that should be enough of an introduction to my poem. So here is one last taste of the season before it goes into hybernation for another year. ...

I have a few Christmas songs that I'd like to share with you all. The first one is "In the First Light" by Todd Agnew. (Someone created the video to go along with the song, but I like it anyway.) Enjoy!    Next, I wanted to share a song by Casting Crowns entitled "While You Were Sleeping." This is one of my favorite songs. Enjoy!  "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." ~ Isaiah 9:6-7 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So, I accidentally missed my own meme last week... shame on me! ;p To make up for it, I wanted to introduce a classic. Christmas is just around the corner, and if you're like many Americans, after all the food has been eaten, you sit around a watch TV -- perferably, the classic Christmas shows, such as White Christmas. Well, there is one show that I'm not even sure is a Christmas favorite for most, but it definately could be classified as such. I'm talking about the motion picture Ben-Hur (which is one my favorites). This story sheds so much light on just what Christ did for us, by taking a character and walking him through the life of Christ. But there is another side to the story, that not every one is familar with, and I wanted to share it today, in honor of Christmas. Hope you all enjoy! Merry Christmas ------------- Inspiration for Wallace’s next project, what would become Ben-Hur, came from an unlikely source: his own ignorance. Wallace often told the story of how i...

"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." ~ Colossians 2:13-14 "Nailed to the top of Jesus’ cross is a “certificate of debt” to Caesar, a public display of Jesus’ crime: “King of the Jews.” When punishment is complete, Caesar’s court will cancel the debt with a single Greek word stamped upon the parchment’s face: “tetelestai.” Finished. Paid in full. Being king of the Jews is not the crime Jesus pays for, however. Hidden to all but the Father is another certificate nailed to that cross: ours. In the darkness that shrouds Calvary from the sixth to the ninth hour, God the Father unleashes His fury upon His sinless Son who has taken upon Himself the crimes of the world as if guilty of all. At the last, it ...

Last week, I joined my good friend, the Brickster , in a challenge to write a short story. (My apologizes that it's taken this long for an update, Brickster!) Those of you who don't know me that well might be thinking, "You? Write a story?" Well, let me tell you a little secret: I love to write short stories. When I was younger, my siblings and I were sitting around the house out of sheer boredom when one said, "Hey, let's write a story!" Everyone thought that this was such a good idea, and we proceeded to busily scribble on our papers whatever our imaginations so desired! Soon, everyone else was bored again, but not me! I kept on writing until I had finished the story. Over the next few years, I wrote sequals to that original story. Now, mind you, the stories that I wrote are nothing professional, but I learned that day that my talent lay in writing stories. All of that said to say that I have come out with my first teaser for the Brickster's challe...

The other day, I was listening to an audio Bible when something in the following passage jumped out at me, so I'd like to share it for today's WFW. Matthew 25:13-30 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talent...