Category Archives: Trogo: Something To Chew On

A Lament for Joy Garden

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I grew up in Richmond, Virginia.  Until my wife and I moved to Charlottesville, VA in 1987 it was always home to me.  For the first seven years of our marriage, Sue and I lived in various places in the Northside or West End of town.  Early on we discovered a Chinese restaurant that would remain one of our favorites even after leaving the city—Joy Garden.  Joy Garden was located on Broad Street, near the corner of Broad and Boulevard.  It was a family-run restaurant with delicious food, friendly service and a fun atmosphere.  Their Beef Sichuan is still the standard for that dish by which Sue measures all other restaurants.  Even though we moved to Charlottesville, then Pennsylvania, and now Crozet, VA we would still dine at Joy Garden when we had the chance. Continue reading →

A Christian View of Halloween

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We had posted an article on Halloween several years ago.  However, with the holiday fast approaching, I think it would be beneficial to offer this article again.  Just click on this link for A Christian Perspective On Halloween  And if you have any questions or comments, please let us know.

 

Truth Builders is a ministry initiative of Advancing Native Missions.  However, the content of this site is the personal opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the opinions, views or conclusions of Advancing Native Missions, its leaders or staff.

Creation Ex Nihilo

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There are numerous ways in which Christianity differs from many other world religions, and from ancient mythologies.  One of the most significant is the concept of creation ex nihilo.  Ex nihilo is a Latin phrase that means “out of nothing.”  The doctrine of creation ex nihilo asserts that before the creation of the cosmos, nothing existed but God alone.  No thing at all.  Then God spoke into existence the material universe.  It was created by divine fiat, by the order of God.  The universe was not created out of any kind of preexisting material, for nothing existed before the creation. Continue reading →

Wake Up, America!

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One of the bedrock foundations of our republic is the concept of religious freedom.  It is basic to everything we believe.  It was considered divinely-ordained right by our Founding Fathers.  It was codified and guaranteed to us in our Bill of Rights.  Yet, religious expression and liberty of conscience is increasingly coming under attack.  Consider a few examples…

The Fire Chief of Atlanta, Kelvin Cochran, self-published a book that briefly mentioned biblical teaching regarding non-marital sexual relations, including homosexuality.  He was not claiming to state official policy of the Atlanta Fire Department.  He was simply stating his personal beliefs.  For this “offense” he was first suspended, then fired from his job. Continue reading →

Prayer is War!

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“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” – Luke 10:19

According to the Bible, we are engaged in constant spiritual struggle.  Many are not aware of this reality.  But it is true nonetheless.  And our enemy is powerful.  That enemy is not our spouse, our boss, our children, or our neighbor.  It is the Devil himself, and the hosts of his kingdom.  The Scriptures teach us that we are not fighting against human agencies, but “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  In this verse Paul describes the hierarchy of Satan’s armies.  Ever wonder why the spiritual life is so difficult?  Why is prayer so hard?  You have the forces of darkness fighting against you. Continue reading →