Category: Kingdom of Heaven
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God is seldom in charge…
While I still believe God is ultimately in charge, is it possible God only controls the events of this world to the degree we align our wills to his’? Is it possible, we can only align ourselves, collectively, with God if we are truly seeking to know his’ will, and…
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Remember your baptism?
Remembering your baptism isn’t about remembering the event. Remembering your baptism is remembering who you are as a member of God’s family, as a member of the Church, and as a citizen of God’s kingdom. Remembering your baptism is remembering you’ve been spiritually changed. Remembering your baptism is remembering you’ve…
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The Black Panther and the Church…
Not surprisingly, I couldn’t help but think of the Church. We also have a treasure the world desperately needs. We, the Church, also struggle with the purpose of our existence. Do we exist for ourselves? Or, do we exist for the world? Are we a kingdom in hiding, or a…
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God “Bless?” America
Is it possible we understand the word “blessed” correctly, but expect the wrong outcome? After all, we live in the wealthiest, most prosperous nation on earth. But, what’s all of our wealth and welfare doing for us?
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God meant things to be so much easier…
Is it possible that we’ve created a way of living that’s unhealthy, unsustainable, and undermining the kind of life we actually long for? Is it possible that our values and lifestyles – the values and lifestyles of normal, church-going, law-abiding citizens – are actually completely out-of-whack? Is it possible that…
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What broke him?
Yesterday, Nikolas Cruz entered the campus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, FL – a school he was expelled from – murdering seventeen innocent victims and injuring at least fourteen others. The press is already reporting there were “red flags” – expulsion, social media posts, strange behaviors, etc. …
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“Love Transforms” – the 5th and last sermon of a series called, “We Love First,” preached on May 28th, 2017 at First Church Coral Springs
Do we Really Believe This Stuff? During Lent our theme was “Restoration.” We talked each week about how God can restore what is broken. Throughout Lent, as I prepared for each sermon, I found myself asking, week-by-week, “Do I really believe this stuff?” Do I really believe God can fix…
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Pre-Easter Pondering
I know it’s not Easter yet. Easter is still a few days away. Before Easter, we still have Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and Holy Saturday. We can’t just skip to Easter, bypassing all that led to Easter. But, Easter is on my mind – probably because it’s the biggest…
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The Sin of Being Passive
I can easily be accused of being passive. I don’t move quickly. I take my time making decisions. I tend to be quiet – taking in more than I express. I don’t get very excited very often. I prefer peace and calm. I don’t show much variation of facial expression. I…
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We’re All Mad Here…
I just finished the manuscript for Sunday’s sermon. Unfortunately, I had to cut a quote a I planned to use from Alice in Wonderland, “You’re mad, bonkers, completely off your head. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.” Confession: Sometimes, when I am preaching, a little voice…
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