Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

The forgotten holiday - Ascension Day

The problem of the forgotten holiday – Ascension Day

What is the forgotten holiday?  Actually, maybe not so much forgotten.  More like never really celebrated that much.  Ever.  I call it the “forgotten” holiday as a nod to Francis Chan’s book – The Forgotten God.  Does that help to identify it?  If you live someplace like France, Germany, Norway or Sweden – you’ll be wondering why I call it forgotten.  Your countries haven’t forgotten.  But if you’re like me, in the U.S. – or if you’re in the U.K., Canada or Australia – you get it.  Maybe, no matter the country, you get it if you’re Catholic.

So what is the forgotten holiday?  It’s Ascension Day. 

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Is your spiritual life private?

Is your spiritual life private?

Is your spiritual life private? My question is for Christians. And it arises from an article I just read titled, Fifty six percent of Christians Feel Their Spiritual Life Is Entirely Private. If you only read the title, and you have a private spiritual life, a reasonable conclusion is that it’s OK to be so private about your faith. But, is that really a good thing?

Is your spiritual life private? More

Does God always give us what we want?

Does God always give us what we want? That depends.

Does God always give us what we want? The first version of this had a slightly shorter title. Someone asked, after reading it, whether the answer was yes or no. This time, I’ll give the answer away right upfront. It’s right there in the title. It depends. This means, therefore, the answer is no! Without even getting into the condition(s) upon which “it depends”, the answer must be no, since there is, in fact, at least one condition. Let’s find out about that condition.

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How did Christianity get to be like this?

How did Christianity get to be like this?

How did Christianity get to be like this? You ask, Like what? Let me answer, initially, with a hint, rather than a direct answer. Some think one of the worst things to happen to Christianity was when Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. As history is showing, that’s more significant that most people probably realize. The parallels to what’s going on in the U.S. today are incredible.

Historians now debate whether “the first Christian emperor” was a Christian at all. Some think him an unprincipled power seeker. What religion he had, many argue, was at best a blend of paganism and Christianity for purely political purposes.

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Who's supposed to do the Great Commission? Christians or the government?

Who’s supposed to do the Great Commission? Christians or the government?

Every Christian should know what the Great Commission is.  And pretty much everyone in the U.S. probably at least heard of separation of church and state.  So when someone receives an award for “Selfless and Steadfast Service in the Lord’s Vineyard” I expect them to understand the relationship between the Great Commission and the idea of separation of church and state.

Instead, we read a headline like the one of foxnews.com:

Barr says ‘notion’ of separation of church and state misunderstood because of ‘militant secularists’.

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Do American Christians care about truth at all?

Do American Christians care about truth at all?

Do American Christians care about truth at all?  That should be a dumb question.  Dumb in the sense that all Christians care about truth.  Don’t we?  Sadly, apparently not.

The headline from NBC News reads: RNC airs video clip of ‘Biden’s America’ — it was actually Barcelona.  Just in case you’re not aware of it, Barcelona is in Spain.  You know – Spain, as in the country across the Atlantic.  In Europe.  Not in America.  Although some people, notably our President – Trump – don’t seem to know this.  Or maybe just flat out don’t care?

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Blessed are the peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers.  But who / what are peacemakers?  Some of you will think of a Colt handgun.  Or a strategic bomber.  Or maybe even an MX Missile.  If you’re Christian, or think you’re Christian, hopefully those aren’t the first things that come to mind.  Why not?  Because Blessed are the peacemakers is something Jesus said.  It’s one of the Beatitudes, from the Sermon on the Mount. 

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