Eddie Jones's Blog, page 22

Will We Be Christ to Others?

 

The majority of teens (especially non-Christians) says someone who listens without judgment (66% Christian, 72% non-Christian) seems like a person who’s comfortable sharing their faith.

Do we reflect the love of Christ without judgement?

Are we comfortable sharing our faith with others? Not in a “it’s my way or hell” way, but with ears open to hearing the spirit of the other person?

This is telling in light of past Barna findings which showed that a number of Gen Z who had interacted with church or Christianity said church was not a safe space to express doubt.

Gen Z teens desire conversation partners who are open to difficult topics.

Are we comfortable discussing difficult topics in ways that lead others to the love, grace, and mercy of Christ?

Non-Christians very much dislike when:

Christians quote scripture or texts from the Bible as evidence for Christianity
(24% not very appealing, 34% not at all appealing)The person wants to pray for the non-Christian as part of the conversation
(19% not very appealing, 30% not at all appealing)They are asked to give the reasoning behind their own lifestyle choices or beliefs
(23% not very appealing, 18% not at all appealing).

The next time God leads someone into your life, pray that his Holy Spirit will fill you with such an anointing that you become the ears, eyes, and hands of Christ, affirming them as a person. After all, Jesus considered that person of such great worth that he died for them.

A Prayer for Power Behind Your Purpose

Finding Your Purpose

To You, Lord, who is able to do abundantly more than we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us, I bring to you my daily work. (Ephesians 3:20)

Lord, right here, right now, I declare these words of yours as truth: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. But you came that we may have life, and have it to the full.”Your purpose is to save us from our sins and  free us   from  sin.Your purpose is to heal all of all sickness. Not some sickness, but all sickness.Your purpose is to heal all of all affliction, infirmities, disease, addiction, injury, and deformity.Your purpose is to heal the brokenhearted and those broken in spirit.Your purpose is to comfort all who are depressed, stressed, and anxious.Your purpose is to bring joy to all who are sorrowful.Your purpose is to bring love where you find hate.Your purpose is to bring peace where there is conflict.Your purpose is to bring liberty to those held captive.Your purpose is to harvest fruit where good seed is sown.Your purpose is to bless the works of our hands when we work in your will.Your purpose is to bless us to be a blessing to others.Therefore, Lord, I claim that your purpose is to bless me. Not that I might keep your blessings for myself, but that I can share your blessings with others. This is my purpose and joy: that I may bless others to share in the abundant life you destined them to enjoy.I now look expectantly for your purpose to be done today, for your will to be done today, on earth and in my life with the same expediency and efficiency as your will is done in heaven.May it be so.Amen.

Pronouns Matter to Jesus

Culture Shift

Some months back I heard a pastor refer to the Holy Spirit as “she.” Hearing the Holy Spirit addressed in the feminine gender seemed odd, almost irreverent, so to settle my own spirit, I did a little digging.

It turns out the Hebrew word for “spirit” (ruach) is feminine

But in Aramaic this same word for “spirit” (rûacḥ) is masculine.

In Genesis 1:26-28 we read, “God created man in his own image. In the image of God created him. Male and female created them.”

God created Adam in his image.

God created Eve in his image.

Both reflect the image of God and yet both are distinctly different.

So is God male? Female? Both?

Grammatical pronouns do not change the biology of a person, nor does calling the Holy Spirit “she” or “he” change the nature of God. We know that the Holy Spirit reflects God’s character (2 Corinthians 3:18). We also know that God’s character does not change (Malachi 3:6).

Yet when Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, he refers to God’s spirit as “he” and “his.”

“When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” (John 16:12-14)

In calling the Holy Spirit “he” did Jesus diminish the Spirit’s feminine qualities? God forbid.

If grammar does not change the biology of a person and grammar cannot change the nature of a spirit, does it matter which pronoun we use when addressing God and others?

First, let’s look at the issue of authority. If Jesus called the Holy Spirit “he,” and Jesus is the son of God — by his very nature God in the flesh — then by what authority do we disregard the words and example of Jesus?

Second, there is the issue of authenticity. If a slight grammatical change alters the perception of God’s holiness and unchanging nature, then some might conclude that God affirms our desire to rearrange the furnishing of his temple — to remake his temple into our image. And that’s dangerous business.

God’s temple is holy, and we are that temple. If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Third, there is the issue of agenda. God has an agenda. He desires that all will come to him. Satan has an agenda. His agenda is to sow seeds of confusion, steal the words of God planted in hearts, destroy our faith in Jesus, and leave us dead in our sins.

Consider these words Jesus:

“When he (God’s spirit) comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin, and prove the world to be wrong about righteousness and judgment.

“Wrong about sin because people do not believe in me.

“Wrong about righteousness because I am going to the Father.

“Wrong about judgment because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

“When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears.” (John 16:8-13)

Like Jesus, believers are called to speak what we hear from the Spirit, what we read in God’s word, and what we can testify to be true based on God’s character.

Perhaps the lesson of the sermon is for us to pay close attention to the fruit of the spirits we hear. If that fruit leads to righteousness, repentance, and lives lived as persons redeemed by the blood of Jesus, count that as a good harvest.

If the fruit is rotten, dead, and sown in corruption, leave it and walk on.

Keys to Humorous Writing

The prayer of a righteous student is powerful and effective

There are two primary reasons we laugh: surprise or superiority.

Either we laugh to cover our feelings of embarrassment, or we feel superior to a group or person who’s been tricked and made to look foolish.

 

Good humor includes these six elements.
• Target
• Hostility
• Realism
• Exaggeration
• Emotion
• Surprise

Let’s begin with the first, target.

Humor is criticism cloaked as entertainment, directed at a specific target, and is always unfair.

Comedy is cruel. In humor we ridicule, tear down, destroy, and we do it for laughs. When you add humor to your writing and speaking you bond with your audience. And when you bond with your audience, you sell books, tickets, trinkets.

This is the power of humor.

It is physiologically impossible to hate someone with whom you’ve laughed. When we laugh we temporarily give ourselves over to the person who makes us laugh. For the writer and speaker, this is power.

First pick your target. Make sure it’s a person or group your audience loathes — or at least feels superior to. Then savagely attack.

Example

My tenth grade English teacher gave me the lowest year-end grade of any student in her class. D-.

“I wanted to give you an F,” she said. “You deserved an F. Actually, you didn’t even deserve the F, but F- isn’t an option.”

“So why not fail me?”

“And have you repeat? Why should I suffer because you don’t know the difference between affect and effect?'”

“There’s a difference?”

“Leave!”

But I got my revenge. Due to my D- minus, the next year they put me in the grammatically-challenged English class. Of course, I aced the grade, pulling down an A-. We all have a level of excellence and I’d found mine.

Due to my A-, my senior year they placed me in the smart kids class.

“You! This must be a mistake.” Turns out my tenth grade english teacher had moved up to twelfth grade english. “How’d you get assigned to my class?”

“Hard work, long hours, and prayer. You?”

“Hard work and long hours.”

“Not prayer?”

“Didn’t think it necessary.”

“The prayer of a righteous student is powerful and … you know the rest.”

“Effective, though I doubt you can spell it.”

She was right. I couldn’t. But I would learn its spelling by year end.

 

Let’s check our formula.

Target: Yes, teachers.

Hostility: Yes, my teacher looooved pointing out my educational limitations.

Realism: Yes, this is a true story. I did bounce from the smart-to-stupid-to-smart-class from my sophomore to senior year.

Exaggeration: No, we’ll cover that next time.

Emotion: Some. We’ll cover this next time.

Surprise: Yes. My placement in her class shocked both of us — and not in a good way.

 

When possible, add humor to your writing. A few laughs can sometimes save a weak scene.

We Need Writers, Speakers, Teachers, Trainers, Leaders, and Soldiers Willing to Serve on the Front Lines of God’s Kingdom

Band of Brothers / Band of Sisters

Here at Heavenly Special Operations a group of intelligent officers recently compiled random transcripts of previous reports which we believe may point to future activities along the enemy’s lines.

We believe these reports to be accurate and authentic.

Plans are underway for a special mission with the goal of rescuing all who may still remain behind enemy lines. To this purpose, S. O. seeks young men and women who are willing to risk their lives and reputation in order to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, and befriend those in prison.

To this end we call groups of 12 to serve others before themselves, speak for those who have been silenced, and proclaim the good news that in Christ all can be set free from sin.

We need writers, speakers, teachers, trainers, leaders, and encouragers willing to serve on the front lines of God’s Kingdom.

Email this recruiter at: eddie@eddiejones.org to learn how you can belong to something greater than yourself. Join now and receive your new field manual (a FREE Bible) and a draft copy of Tha Pirate Gospel: Tales and Adventures of tha Sun as told by John Mark.

Below are Top Secret reports and an analysis how these events might unfold in the coming months.

There before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest (Revelation 6:2).

“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” — Jesus (Matthew 24:7)

No one knows with certainty when nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:36). But we are called to observe our times and prepare (Luke 12:56, Mark 13:28-29). Within the past twenty-four months, feelings of division have increased significantly throughout the world. This trend may only accelerate and lead to increased global conflict.

Another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword (Revelation 6:4).

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. Nany false prophets (preachers & teachers) will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” — Jesus (Matthew 24:9-12)

China, North Korea, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Cameroon, Central African Republic, India, Mali, South Sudan, and Ethiopia have all experienced an increase in violence against those who follow Jesus. In the U.S. FBI data shows an unprecedented spike in murders. Gang violence increased in 2021.

I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:6)

“There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these (3 things) are the beginning of birth pains..” — Jesus (Matthew 24:7)

In 2021 957 million people across 93 countries did not have enough to eat. Experts agree that we may be on the verge of a world wide food shortage.  

[image error]“This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come. — Jesus (Matthew 24:14)

A pale horse whose rider was named Death and Hades were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth (Revelation 6:7-8).

In many ways, it’s easier to share the Gospel now than ever. Apps, ebooks, the Internet, all make God’s Word available to those living in free societies. Those in dark countries (China, North Korea . . . see the list of Christian-persecuting nations above), prohibit the spread of the Gospel. Even in those countries, though, Christians continue to share their faith. The Gospel will be preached to all nations as a testimony. A few will believe and accept Christ as their savior. After this global testimony of the Gospel we can expect wars of an unprecedented nature, famine, world wide starvation, and wild, savage animals. This last trend, an increase in attacks on humans by wild, savage animals will be in response to a substantial decrease in food sources for the animal kingdom.  

Those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” They were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow brothers and sisters and servants were killed just as they had been. (Revelation 6:9-11)

“Then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days were not cut short, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” — Jesus (Matthew 24:21-22)

Those serving on the front lines of God’s Kingdom can expect persecution and death. If you are in Christ, accept that you are already dead in your old self and now alive in him. 

We seek recruits willing to give their lives to Christ in order to serve him and serve their neighbor. Once more I make this pitch: email me at: eddie@eddiejones.org to learn how you can belong to something greater than yourself. Join now and receive your new field manual (a FREE Bible) and a draft copy of Tha Pirate Gospel: Tales and Adventures of tha Sun as told by John Mark.

 

Water Baptism and Why It Matters

Readers Are Leaders — UMC Split

Raymond Jones (my dad), Germany 1945

Readers lead. Those who cannot read, or refuse to read, follow. Often they are led astray down the wide path that leads to destruction and never-ending torment for the soul.

In military circles baptism by fire refers to a soldier’s first time in battle. In one sense it is the first time a soldier dies, for even if they survive the war, they are changed forever. In the TV series Band of Brothers private Albert Blithe seems reluctant to engage the enemy, to advance, to do anything other than hunker down. Captain Ronald Speirs comes along and gives Blithe this advice.

The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you’re already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you’ll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it. ― Stephen E. Ambrose, Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne.

This is the function of baptism: we accept that though alive, we are already dead.

Those who read, those who learn, those who study the archived documents of wars and conflict, who observe the animal kingdom, understand that death comes fast: certainly much sooner than we expect. Be it baptism by fire or baptism by water, death comes to all.

A recent article in um-insight.net examined water baptism within the United Methodist denomination. UMC is but one of many that treats baptism as a minor event in the life of a believer. It’s mentioned in our denominations’s “Field Manual,” but not emphasized. Cynthia B. Astle, the author of the article, cites the following texts from the current UMC Book of Discipline.

“Our Doctrinal Standards and General Rules, Article VI The Sacraments. We believe Baptism signifies entrance into the household of faith, and is a symbol of repentance and inner cleansing from sin, a representation of the new birth in Christ Jesus and a mark of Christian discipleship.

“We believe children are under the atonement of Christ and as heirs of the Kingdom of God are acceptable subjects for Christian Baptism. Children of believing parents through Baptism become the special responsibility of the Church. They should be nurtured and led to personal acceptance of Christ, and by profession of faith confirm their Baptism.”

“Our Doctrinal Standards and General Rules, Article XVII—Of Baptism. Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.”

“The Ministry of All Christians, Paragraph 122: The Process for Carrying Out Our Mission—We make disciples as we: … lead persons to commit their lives to God through baptism by water and the spirit and profession of faith in Jesus Christ;”

“The Ministry of All Christians, Paragraph 126: All Christians are called through their baptism to this ministry of servanthood in the world to the glory of God and for human fulfillment.”

“The Ministry of All Christians, Paragraph 129: “… In baptism, water is administered in the name of the triune God (specified in the ritual as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) by an authorized person, and the Holy Spirit is invoked with the laying on of hands, ordinarily in the presence of the congregation.”

“Church Membership, Paragraph 216 (2) a: There are many occasions as people mature in the faith when the Holy Spirit’s confirming action may be celebrated, such as in the reaffirmation of the baptismal covenant or other services related to life passages. Unlike baptism, which is a once-made covenant and can only be reaffirmed and not repeated, confirmation is a dynamic action of the Holy Spirit that can be repeated.”

“The Ministry of the Ordained, Unauthorized Conduct, Paragraph 341 (7). No pastor shall re-baptize. The practice of re-baptism does not conform with God’s action in baptism and is not consistent with Wesleyan tradition and the historic teaching of the church. Therefore, the pastor should counsel any person seeking re-baptism to participate in a rite of reaffirmation of baptismal vows.”

Look again at the requirements for and purpose of baptism.

entrance into the household of faith acceptable subjects for Christian living confirmation of a willingness to be baptized a sign of profession of faith a sign of regeneration a sign of new birth in Christ Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands

The UMC and other denominations baptize infants. In my experience they seldom encourage youth, young adult, or even old adult baptism. An infant or toddler who is still learning to crawl, walk, talk, cannot be expected to make a decision regarding their new:

household — and baptism into the Body of Christ is joining a new spiritual family living status — and like any change in living arrangements, there are family expectations confirmation — should we really expect an infant or toddler to understand such a commitment?what profession of faith, regeneration, new birth in Christ Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit really means?

The Apostle Paul gives a clear summary of the importance of water and spirit baptism.

Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

If churches are wetting infants on the head and calling it baptism, it’s no wonder so many young and new adults today reject the idea of Jesus, God, sin, and their need to repent. If an individual truly has been baptized and received the Holy Spirit of Christ, we might expect some evidence of spiritual fruit.

Instead, what we find much too often is a culture of spiritual rot.

A recent Barna survey reveals that most American christians do not believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit are real. Thinking good thoughts about others, does not make them good. Believing Satan is not real or that the Holy Spirit is only a mystic symbol of religious piety does not change the impact both have on humanity. Because British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believed Britain and Nazi Germany were “the two pillars of European peace and buttresses against communism” he bowed to all of Adolph Hitler’s demands. Chamberlain thought Hitler meant no harm.

He thought wrong.

I was raised in the Methodist church. As I recall, I became the 1000th member of St. Marks United Methodist Church in Raleigh. (It’s possible I mis-remembered this part, but nonetheless I like to claim this distinction.) I was in our church’s youth fellowship, went to Sunday School, participated in Christian groups at N.C. State and yet, I had never died and been born again. I’m sure God’s protection and provision surrounded me and I have no doubt he called me, if you had asked me in high school if I’d been baptized in water and with God’s Spirit I would have said no.  Then one day, while in college at State, I went to New Life Camp at the corner of Durant Rd and Falls of the Neuse Rd, was baptized. Later in the old auditorium in D. H. Hill library I prayed to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Only then did I truly receive a new birth.

Those who are in the Kingdom of God know we are war, but not with our neighbor. Our neighbor, like Chamberlain, may be misguided, confused, naive, but he or she is not our enemy. This war is fought in the spiritual realm where angels and demons, light and darkness, battle for the souls of the lost. This is not some video game that can be turned off, reset, replayed.

This is deadly business.

So watch videos if you wish. Play games if you want. Read books; please read books! Just know that while you are lost in a fantasy world of entertainment, the enemy is rolling across the countryside killing and taking hostage those too naive to believe the rumble of gunfire means that Satan is advancing.

In the end private Albert Blithe realized he was a dead man walking, picked up his weapon, and became a soldier. He fought without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. His small efforts helped defeat evil. Your enemy, the one you may think doesn’t exists, shows no mercy, no compassion, no remorse.

And whether you believe he exists or not, he’s gunning for you. If you want to fight back, email me and I’ll help you get fitted out for battle.

 

Reading Tips for Sixth Graders

Reading Tips for Middle Grade Readers

In each of The Caden Chronicles the publisher includes questions about the case that Nick Caden, and readers, must answer. Before presenting the novel to your reader, ask what your child already knows about the subject. For example, in Dead Man’s Hand Nick must uncover the killer of an actor playing the roll of Billy the Kid.

After reading the first chapter, ask if the story makes sense; this is called “monitoring understanding,” — a fancy, term that means “the ability of understanding something.” In my day we called this comprehension. If chapter one lacks clarity to your reader, ask them to re-read and make notes of where they became confused.

Note any supporting details they found interesting.Have them write down questions they may have about where the story is going, why a character reacted the way they did, any clues they believe the author included on purpose.Ask them to read aloud.Suggest they write down the chapter’s main ideas.Ask them to list any problems characters overcame.Ask them how a character changed in a chapter. Characters who change are putty people: external circumstances reshape putty characters. A character’s will and inner strength will often resist change. Ask them to note that struggle as well.Ask them to describe what they think will happen in the next chapter.Once they are several chapters into the story, ask them to predict how the story might end.Ask your reader why the author describes settings the way he does, how he uses dialogue, humor, or suspense for effect.What new words did your reader discover. What words might your reader have used instead of ones the author chose?Have your child write down unfamiliar words on sticky notes and if the word’s definition is not made clear by the story, look them up later.

Reading is KEY to learning. Those who cannot read, follow leaders. Be a leader. Be a reader. Buy a boy or girl a book.

North Georgia Conference Sues Mt. Bethel (“a holy place”) Church

UMC Split

“The North Georgia Conference is suing Mt. Bethel Church after attempts at mediation failed. The suit is seeking that the court require the transfer of all assets to the conference. After a failed attempt at mediation, the months-long dispute between the North Georgia Conference and Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church has landed in civil court. The North Georgia Conference is the largest such regional body in the U.S. in terms of membership, encompassing nearly 800 churches and 350,000 United Methodists. By some counts, Mt. Bethel is the conference’s largest church. The legal dispute between North Georgia and Mt. Bethel comes as The United Methodist Church appears to be heading for its own split.”

Read the complete article at: https://um-insight.net/in-the-church/umc-future/conference-sues-for-control-of-megachurch/

Elymas the Sorcerer

A Scary Tale from the Crypt

When the Apostle Paul arrived on the island of Seleucia, he met a sorcerer named “Son of Salvation” (Bar-Jesus) who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. Sergius was an intelligent man and sent for Saul Paul and Barnabas because he wanted to hear the word of God.

These days there are an endless number of videos featuring preaching and teaching of God’s words: some of it truthful.

Today, as then, a great many false prophets spread false teachings. By taking God’s words and adding some false beliefs, or removing some of God’s truth, they gain fame for themselves, sometimes fortunes. Today we might call this the spirit of “Elymas the Sorcerer.”

As soon as sorcerer heard that his boss wanted to meet with Paul he opposed them and tried to turn Sergius from the faith.

But Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at sorcerer and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. You pervert the right ways of the Lord.”

Deceit, trickery, perversion are but three test to verify if someone is speaking the Truth of God—a false prophet or “magician of darkness.”  See if you can detect the trickery in this comment.

https://eddiejones.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Jesus-Calls-Sinners-edited.m4a

The speaker highlights the slight shift from calling sinners to repent to simply calling sinners. The speaker seems glad, almost giddy, that Christ leaves sinners broken, addicted to sin, tormented by dark thoughts. Were a physician to invite the sick, give them a kind word, and send them on their way without treating the disease and asking the patient to follow prescribed instructions would be grounds for malpractice. And yet many false physicians peddle such medicine and claim it has the seal of Christ.

Jesus’ began his ministry with these words: “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15)!”

Jesus began to preach by saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17).”

The Apostle Paul said, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).”

In calling sinners, Christ is first calling, inviting, asking that they come as they are. Bring all your baggage, all your wounds, all your ways of filthy living. Christ healed the sick, drove out demons, opened eyes, ears, mouths. He came to restore us, not leave us to rust where we are.

So what warning can we take from Elymas the Sorcerer. Consider this: after Paul witnessed the false teachings of the sorcerer he said, “Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”

This curse coincided with the sorcerer’s spiritual blindness. Every time and all the time our sin blinds us.

Immediately mist and darkness came over the sorcerer, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. This is the state of all who fall under the influence of false prophets and sorcerers promoting dark teaching. Their victims grope about confused, stumbling, falling deeper into distress.

When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

When we hear all the words of Christ, all the words of his Father, not simply those we find comforting, we too will be amazed and believed. This is the good news of Jesus.

If you are a young person and wish to talk about your faith, begin with reading the words of Jesus. Study his actions. Accept his words—all his words—without shedding some because they make you uncomfortable. Healing should make us uncomfortable.

If we are in the presence of Jesus and do not feel pain, some discomfort, there is a good chance we’re not really in his presence at all.

Examine Me as Severely as Necessary That I May Confess, Repent and Be Changed

Proverbs 15:6

“Great riches are in the house of those who are right with God.” Proverbs 15:6

Lord, am I right with you? Close? Near enough right to receive your riches?

If not, show me where your Holy Spirit needs to work in my life, where I need to be changed and made holy. Examine me as severely as necessary that I may confess, repent and be changed, but do so with as much mercy as possible.