Blog

I am excited to announce an upcoming men’s retreat at Living Hope Church in Willmar, Minnesota on Saturday, January 28th.  This retreat is designed to explore our condition as Christians who still struggle with our human (flesh) nature.  We all have some defect with which we wrestle and which causes some destruction in our lives. …
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Matthew 12:31,32 …Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven… whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven… Have you, like me, ever feared that you are, in the end, unforgivable?  Whether it is a painfully public failure or deep dark secrets locked…
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Matthew 12:7  I desire mercy, and not sacrifice… How do I know if someone is a Christian?  What does that look like?  I have mistakenly thought that what set me apart as a Christian was all the stuff I did not do.  I could point to a list of things I refrained from, which I…
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Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. I must admit that I have often been skeptical of Christ’s offer. It seems that the Christian life is…
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Matthew 11:16 But to what shall I compare this generation?… We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn. I know when I have not been listening at home.  When I ignore Dad, Dad, Dad long enough, my daughter will yell, Scott Matthew Abrams! …
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Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Here, Jesus articulates the great paradox of the Christian faith.  If I pursue myself to find life, I will fail.  It is only when I forfeit self to pursue God, that I truly live.  This is not…
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Matthew 10:34,37 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword… whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Sometimes Jesus words to not sound very Jesus-like.  I have, in my mind, a very clear idea…
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Matthew 10:32,33 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. I have always read such verses and wondered, What Would Scott Do?  If, like Peter, I were questioned…
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Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. When I was in kindergarten, as my last name is…
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Matthew 10:16,28 I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves…  Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Jesus’ pep talk to his disciples prior to sending them out into the world was a…
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