Jeff Ragan > Recent Status Updates

"One day I was on such a mission to Damascus...About noon, Your Majesty, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to fight against my will.' 'Who are you, sir?' I asked...'I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting." - Acts 26:12-15

"So Paul, standing before the Council, addressed them as follows: 'Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious, for as I was walking along I saw your many alters. And one of them had this inscription on it - "To an Unknown God." You have been worshiping him without knowing who he is, and now I wish to tell you about him. He is the God who made the world and everything in it.'" - Acts 18:22-24

"Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. He brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household.' Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household." - Acts 16:29-32

"Then Peter replied, 'I see very clearly that God doesn't show partiality. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. I'm sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel - that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.'" - Acts 10:34-36

"Jesus has all authority. All means all. When a leader assumes some authority - usually associated with a position or office - it's easy to forget the source from whence authority is derived. It doesn't come from a church or board or supervisor who grants it. All authority rests with Jesus..." (43).

"They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. The sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need." - Acts 2:42-45

"...then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed." - Genesis 2:7-8

"Most people throughout history would say that hate is stronger than love. My Father's way of love versus Satan's way of hate - that was the test. I was here to prove that love was stronger than any force that opposes it, that a person empowered with love will overcome a person motivated by evil, that 'love never fails'" (59).

"Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me." - John 16:12-14

"I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock with one shepherd." - John 10:14-16

"There is no part of the relationship between Texas and the rest of the United States that could not be accomplished by utilizing existing State-level institutions and agencies, executing bilateral agreements between Texas and the United States, or by Texas signing onto multilateral international agreements that are already in place" (144).

"Several factors enhanced the rapid spread of Christianity. Greek remained the common language of the empire, facilitating the preaching of the gospel. The Roman peace endured throughout the second century, allowing commerce & trade to flow freely along thousands of miles of roads & shipping lanes. Merchants, businessmen, soldiers, & others...spread the word of Jesus along these same conduits" (276).

"The apostle John's account of Christ's life takes us back to the beginning of time. It reveals to us God's ancient plan of redemption, one that has brought us 'one gracious blessing after another' (1:16). John's gospel resounds with the message that God took on human form to save and restore his broken creation" (1307).

"What matters most on this Political question [of Texit] is not whether the Civil War settled it, but whether the people of Texas believe that a question was settled that they've never been properly asked. The growth of support for Texit clearly shows that fewer and fewer Texans consider the result of the Civil War the final answer to the independence question" (137).

"There are two components to an effective military force: the 'means' & the 'will'. The means is the hardware & the people who use it...Attacks on the means are not ultimately likely to succeed...However, the other dimension, attacks on the will, might indeed bring victory. The most potent military force is no use at all if there is no driving will behind it" (166-7).

"Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' After supper he took another cup of wine and said, 'This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you - an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.'" - John 22:19-20

"The First Jewish Revolt affected Jews and Christians in several ways...With no temple, the influence of the high priest and the Sadducees rapidly dissolved. Only the Pharisees survived the crisis...Jerusalem, already affected by local persecutions of Christian leaders and famine, surrendered her leadership to churches in Antioch, Alexandria, and other Graeco-Roman cities..." (262).

"If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me." - Luke 14:25-27

"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food to eat or clothes to wear. For life consists of far more than food and clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all of your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not!" - Luke 12:22-25

"So why do you call me 'Lord,' when you won't obey me! I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then obeys me. It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the flood waters rise and break against the house it stands firm because it is well built." - Luke 6:46-48

"...because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea...He took with him Mary, his fiancee, who was obviously pregnant by this time. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth & laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn." - Luke 2:4-7

"Antioch was a prestigious city of the East, founded as a Hellenistic capital by Seleucus I in 300 B.C. The Romans made Antioch the provincial capital of Syria and the residence of the Roman legate. A sizable Jewish community lived among a total population that exceeded a quarter million people" (244).

"The resurrection of Jesus Christ forms the core of Christianity. If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, there would be no Christian faith, for death would still rule over us. Jesus' resurrection validates the fact that he did indeed conquer death, and so he is able to extend this salvation to others" (1249).

"If any of you wants to be my follower...you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?" - Mark 8:34-36

"...the Jerusalem church hosted a conference...prompted by the successes of Paul & others among the Gentiles...After an intense discussion, Barnabas & Paul persuaded the apostles & elders that grace alone was sufficient to make a person a Christian. The conference turned aside those who would see Christianity as merely another Jewish sect, perhaps the most serious threat to the life of the early church" (116).

"Jesus began his work of building the church by calling his twelve apostles. These first disciples were not remarkable for their earthly talents. Most of them were fairly ordinary people, but they were willing to follow and obey Jesus. In the end, most of them, according to tradition, accomplished great things for God and laid down their very lives for him" (1224).

"Locally raised forces can be invaluable in defeating guerrillas on their home territory. The decision to trust locals is a difficult one, and a team that makes the wrong decision may find themselves led into an ambush. On the other hand, failing to give trust where it is due may alienate the populace or, at the very least, result in missed opportunities" (155-6).

"When they saw him, they worshiped him-but some of them still doubted!
[Jesus said] 'I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you...I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" - Mt. 28:17-20

"Jerusalem reached its zenith when Herod the Great transformed the Hasmonean city into a capital worthy of his kingdom. The scale of Herod's projects dwarfed those of all his predecessors and can still be seen throughout Jerusalem today. Herod's successors expanded the suburbs northward to include Bezetha, but the Jerusalem of Jesus' day essentially was that created by Herod the Great" (228).

"'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." - Matthew 22:37-40