WWJH – Who Would Jesus Hate

By Matthew | Published: February 16, 2010

Who Would Jesus Hate? Before we answer this question, I think it’s imperative that we define the word “hate” in a Biblically accurate and appropriate context. Typically we reserve the word hate for feelings that extend to the strongest feelings of anger and disgust of something and someone. I’d like to suggest that the best definition is not the inclusions of feelings, but the lack of existence of key behaviors and attitudes that were present in the ministry of Jesus.

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Posted in Devotional, New Testament Christians, The Devil | 4 Comments

Finding Peace in “This too shall Pass”

By Matthew | Published: February 9, 2010

The Good and the Bad Shall Pass

It has been a while since my last post on this website. A lot has happened, a lot of it was bad and unpleasant, but I’d like to think that the good and pure results out weigh the bad in how they have shaped me.   There is a lot that I would like to say, but I chose to let this post’s title direct my thoughts. The other topics can all wait their turn in line. Recently I heard of a Jewish story about King Solomon. It’s not a Bible story per se, but it’s anecdotal value stems from God-breathed lessons and truisms.

This Too Shall Pass

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Posted in God's Will, New Testament Christians, Personal Goals, Wellspring | Leave a comment

A Healthy Respect for the Devil

By Matthew | Published: October 26, 2009

This morning I heard a sermon on expectations. Oddly enough one of the main verses that was referenced was Luke 11:24-26:

24“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” Read More »

Posted in Temptation, The Devil, Wellspring | 1 Comment

Is it Wrong to Hate Life? What Does the Depressed Christian Do?

By Matthew | Published: October 23, 2009

Who is to blame? Your wife is asking you questions and requesting your help around the house or with running errands. Your boss gives you two projects on top of what you are already working on. You wake up one Wednesday morning, still recovering from the flu and your car breaks down, in the rain, on your way to work. Oh yeah and you have doctors appointments that day plus a schedule full of other errands and to-do’s. A favorite saying of mine is “when it rains, it pours” meaning that when something goes wrong, the world decides it will pile as much “wrongness” as it can on top of that initial annoyance. Maybe it’s always raining and it’s our attitude that decides when it pours. Maybe our hearts decide how wet our soul is going to get from the rain. Read More »

Posted in Devotional, God's Will, Temptation, The Devil, Wellspring | 4 Comments

The Wellspring of Life – A New Section on After the One

By Matthew | Published: October 20, 2009

I’ve decided to add a new section to the website called “The Wellspring”. The term comes from Proverbs 4: Read More »

Posted in Devotional, God's Will, Personal Goals, Wellspring | 3 Comments

Desire or Devotion? What does God Really Want from Me?

By Matthew | Published: October 2, 2009

I will admit it, there is a conflicting nature in my soul and no I am not referring to the nature of Paul’s conflicting natures (Romans 7). I tend to uphold a stricter (some would say more ‘conservative’) view of how the Bible should be used. When thinking about the long term goals of letting God’s word mold my soul while at the same time influencing and working with those around me, Read More »

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Fully Assured in All the Will of God

By Matthew | Published: September 17, 2009

If you have read about my goals for this website then you are already somewhat familiar with my passion for pursuing God’s will in all things. This past Sunday the Preacher at Winnetka Church of Christ (Bruce Evans) gave a sermon about the importance of pursuing our dreams. He mentioned a man, in Colossians 4:12, that I couldn’t remember hearing about before. Now there isn’t much mentioned about Epaphras in the Paul’s letters, I could only find three, but the times he is mentioned gives us some insight into his goal for the Colossians.

Colossians 4: 12 – Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

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Posted in God's Will, New Testament Christians, Personal Goals | 5 Comments