Month: June 2017

Acts 9:4. Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Recently, in jail, I spoke with a man who came to bible study with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.  As he told his life story, he relayed multiple occasions when he had gone to God for help, only to receive nothing.  God, if He…
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Acts 8:18-23  Simon offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you… For I see that you are in the bond of iniquity.” I am fascinated, and perhaps obsessed, with how God changes me.  Currently, that obsession is playing out in the battle over…
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Acts 7:58,60 They cast him out of the city and stoned him… And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Occasionally, someone will tell me I am a little too serious in my writing. …
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Acts 5:1 Ananias… sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. As a child, I recall the feeling of jealousy I got when others were recognized and I was not.…
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Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. When I first met with the concepts of recovery and Alcoholics Anonymous (or Narcotics Anonymous), some Christians vehemently discouraged me from attending any such meeting.  As you may well…
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Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord… I am not a very tidy person.  In fact, I am a bit of a slob.  My wife on the other hand is not.  I tend to leave a…
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Acts 3:6 I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! When I was in college, I waited tables to pay the bills.  I once served a family who left me with a gospel pamphlet as my…
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Acts 2:4,13 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit… But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” For those of us who have lived out some public destruction or addiction, it is, I think, common for those around us to always wonder.  If we have a bad day there will always be…
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Acts 2:23 This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Is God in control of everything, or do I have free will?  Does God pick me or do I pick him?  Does it have to be one or the other?…
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John 21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” My…
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