FREEDOM!

“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10; it is this verse that is inscribed on the Liberty Bell).

Freedom.  The very word can evoke powerful emotions in anyone’s breast.  There is an innate longing deep within us that yearns to be free.  We abhor the very images of bondage, despotism, and slavery.  Chains and shackles are the symbols of cruelty and subjugation.  We hunger for the opposite, for freedom.  We value it so highly that we think it is of greater worth than life itself.  We honor the noble women and men who have given their lives to possess freedom, and to purchase and maintain it for all of us.  Freedom is worth dying for.  It is worth fighting for.  It is worth living for.

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If There Life On Other Worlds?

With all the interest in UFOs, UAPs, and reputed alien encounters, this becomes a common question.  As Christians, what is our response?  Does the Bible allow for the possibility that there are inhabited planets elsewhere in the universe?  Well, first of all, let’s clear that there is no absolutely definitive answer.  The Bible does not say one way or the other.  And Christians disagree about the issue.  Let’s examine the matter for ourselves.

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Devil of Miracles

I was talking with a long-time friend on the phone the other day.  He lives in Massachusetts; I am in Virginia.  Emails and phone calls are our friendship vehicles.  Thank the Lord for technology.  It was good to hear his voice, to catch up on news, to reminisce from events from 45+ years ago.  In our conversation, he mentioned that he is friends with some Oneness Pentecostals.  (This is a unitarian cult.)  He commented that even though they do not believe in the orthodox faith of the Bible, they still experience many healings and miracles.  There is definitely a supernatural element in their churches.  This got me to thinking.

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The Scarlet L

I must confess that often the reason I write one of these small essays is when something ticks me off. And, you guessed it, again something has rubbed me the wrong way. Actually, it has been something percolating for a time in that part of my brain that registers frustration and irritation. A few things I have heard recently have now caused the percolation to increase to a boil. Here is what I am upset over…

I am pretty tired of any time a Christian makes a statement that a certain behavior is sinful, as defined by the Bible itself, then that person is branded as intolerant and mean-spirited. I am tired of preachers and teachers being labeled as judgmental any time they address the issue of sin, especially specific ungodly actions. I am tired of parents, teachers, and church workers being castigated as being legalistic whenever they expect Christians of any age, but especially children, to behave in ways that the Scriptures deem as righteous and godly. Bottom line: I am tired of being judged as unfair, unforgiving, and ungracious when I simply agree with what the Bible says about sin, wickedness and evil.

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Do We Have An Immortal Soul?

 Question:  Is the soul of man immortal, or does it ceases to exist at death?  D. in Crozet, VA.

Answer:  The word immortal basically means not liable to death, undying, or deathless.  There is a debate both within the church and without about whether the soul is immortal.  At the time of physical death, do we continue to exist or not? To truly understand this issue, we need to first understand what we mean by death.

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