7/27/2015 4:54:03 PM
Pastor Bitter
Why are Christians so judgmental? You are all such hypocrites! Such accusations come up in all kinds of situations, but perhaps most commonly in the area of sixth commandment sins. Of course our natural reaction to such accusations is somewhat defensive, and perhaps rightly so in many cases. But at the same time, it’s a question worth examining and considering as we ponder what the sixth commandment teaches us about our lives.
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7/20/2015 5:04:14 PM
Seminarian Nicholas Mount
Luke Skywalker had Yoda. The karate kid had Mr. Miyagi. I had Donald Hayne. Um…yeah…he’s not famous. He’s not even green. Nor did he train me to do anything awesome like harness the power of the force or to do the iconic crane kick to defeat my enemy but he was a guru of sorts. He gave me focus…discipline…and patience to know when I should talk to a television with conviction. Yep, my grandpa knew it all. He knew when to plead his case to a ref. He knew when to yell “Ugh”. He knew when to say “Yes!” or “Alright” and I soaked in every last bit of it. In time, I also acquired the low art of watching televised sports.
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7/12/2015 10:04:00 AM
Pastor Schroeder
Even in today’s culture, where right and wrong are thought to be up for debate and ultimately up to the individual, I think it’s safe to say that everyone agrees that murder is still wrong. In just about every nation on earth, the harshest penalties of the law are reserved for those who take innocent lives, especially if such murderous violence is carried out with premeditated thought. And with all the moral and political activism from conservatives and liberals and everyone in between, one thing we haven’t seen is any particular group that wants to legalize or decriminalize the act of murder. No, at first glance, we are all in agreement. Murderers ought to be punished severely.
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7/5/2015 11:00:13 AM
Pastor Bitter
The fourth commandment instructs us to honor our father and mother. Further examination of the bible’s teachings on this topic shows us that the fourth commandment also includes leaders in the church and in society at large. But what are God’s people supposed to do when these leaders are clearly headed in the wrong direction? What happens when we hear stories of parents abusing their children? What happens when we hear about church leaders abusing their positions? What happens when governments ignore or even participate in persecution of Christians? What happens when even our own government passes laws and makes decisions that are blatantly contrary to God’s will? Today, as we consider King David and his son Absalom, we see the guidance God gives us in the 4th commandment for this part of our lives.
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