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Month: September 2020

Too Much Success?

He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Acts 12:2 One of the worst things that happened to me, after I first diverted opiate pain pills for my own use, was . . . nothing. I cheated the…
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Faith, Fear, and Face Masks

And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world. So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. Acts 11:28-29 I’ve been surprised by how controversial face masks have become.…
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Unhelpful Things Christians Say

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch . . . And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. Acts 11:19-21 Often, in the midst of painful trials, well-meaning Christians…
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Set in My Ways

If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way? Acts 11:17 I’ve been in and around enough churches in my life that I’ve become familiar with this argument against change, “That’s just…
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You People

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Acts 11:2 It’s always amazed me how quickly an addict can become judgmental towards others. In treatment himself, only a few days sober, the newly recovered addict suddenly has the audacity to look…
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Certificate of Participation

Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. Acts 10:34-35 Over the years, I’ve run several marathons and have finished them all except one. That one, I walked off the course halfway through, taking the bus of shame…
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Playing God

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” Acts 10:25-26 When I worked in the ER, it wasn’t uncommon to care for those who’d been in motor vehicle accidents caused by an intoxicated driver. There…
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Priorities and Excuses

So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Acts 10:29 In my addiction, I made a priority of using, committing a tremendous amount of time and effort into the getting, consuming, and hiding of my pills. I let very little get in the way of my appetite. Everything else took a backseat, while…
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Christian Bigotry

You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. Acts 10:28 I grew up in a Christian home with wonderful parents who lived good lives. I was never taught…
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Am I Going Deaf?

About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” Acts 10:3 My family thinks I’m losing my hearing. They may be right, but I don’t only have a physical problem with my ears. Often, I’m preoccupied enough that I don’t…
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