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I Can’t Choose Just One!
Recently, we asked our readers for some suggested topics for the month of July. We are writing on 8 of their suggestions this month, and today’s post is the 5th of these posts. Of all the suggested topics, today’s is the hardest for me. Cindy asked me to write about “your favorite Bible hero, and what about that person inspires you.” I love this topic, except that I can’t choose just one! I was talking with Leah earlier about this and said, “It just depends on when you ask me!” The Bible is so filled with great lives that, it seems, whoever I am reading about or studying at the…
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To My Preaching Friends
Dear Brother, It happened to me again last night, and I know it happens to you at times, too. I preached my heart out last night. The sermon wasn’t long, but it was a full-length appeal. Right at the outset, I let everyone who heard the sermon know that the goal of the lesson was to appeal for a response. Basically, the sermon was a 22-minute invitation. And, you know what happened, don’t you? No one came down an aisle. No one that I could see even looked like they might. Just like has happened to you, my heart sank just a bit. But, just like you, I put on…
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Lebanon Road Reading for July 22-28
Month: July Theme: 31 Passages Every New Christian Should Read This month’s passages walk through the major theme of redemption in the Scriptures. Sunday, July 22: God’s Wrath Explained : Romans 1:18-32 Monday, July 23: God’s Judgment Explained : Romans 2:5-11 Tuesday, July 24: Justified by Faith : Romans 3:9-26 Wednesday, July 25: Life through Jesus Christ : Romans 5:12-21 Thursday, July 26: Live by the Spirit : Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:16-26 Friday, July 27: Living Sacrifices : Romans 12 Saturday, July 28: Walk in the Light : 1 John 1-2 Note: This series has been adapted from Zondervan, as published at http://alextran.org/2007/11/25/23-bible-reading-plans-that-will-satisfy-anyone/.
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Thoughts on Becoming “One” with Your Spouse
“Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother, and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Maybe no verse is used more in wedding ceremonies than that one. It outlines so much of what God has in mind for the design of marriage. Often, we abbreviate it a bit when we talk about the “one flesh” idea, and just say, “They shall become one.” In commenting on the verse, Matthew Henry wrote, See how firm the bond of marriage is, not to be divided and weakened by having many wives (Malachi 2:15) nor to be broken or cut off by divorce, for any…
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What about that “Personal Relationship” with God?
Recently, we asked our readers to provide suggestions of topics for us to write about on our blog. This is the 4th post of 8 we will have in July. In recent years, the phrase “personal relationship with God” seems to be everywhere. If you watch religious TV or listen to Christian programming, you are almost assured of hearing that phrase often. One of our readers, John, who asked us to write about this topic, though, made sure to include the phrase “inner life” in his suggestion. That is key to this discussion. Part of the struggle with having a personal relationship with God is that word “personal.” That may…
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Lebanon Road Reading for July 15-21
Month: July Theme: 31 Passages Every New Christian Should Read This month’s passages walk through the major theme of redemption in the Scriptures. Sunday, July 15: Signs of Authority : Matthew 9:1-8; Luke 13:10-17 Monday, July 16: Jesus Fulfills the Law : Matthew 5:17-20; Romans 8:1-4 Tuesday, July 17: The New Birth : John 3 Wednesday, July 18: Jesus Willingly Taken : John 18:1-11 Thursday, July 19: Death and Resurrection of the King : Luke 23:44-24:12 Friday, July 20: Christ, a Sacrifice for All : Hebrews 1, Hebrews 3-5 Saturday, July 21: The Birthday of the Church : Acts 2 Note: This series has been adapted from Zondervan, as published…
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Lebanon Road Bible Reading for July 8-14
Month: July Theme: 31 Passages Every New Christian Should Read This month’s passages walk through the major theme of redemption in the Scriptures. Sunday, July 8: The People Reject God as Their King : 1 Samuel 8 Monday, July 9: Saul Fails & is Rejected as King : 1 Samuel 15:17-23 Tuesday, July 10: Many Kings Sin : Jeremiah 1-4, Jeremiah 7 Wednesday, July 11: The Sin of God’s People : Ezekiel 20:5-26 Thursday, July 12: An Eternal King Promised : Jeremiah 23:16; Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah 9:9-10 Friday, July 13: The Promised King is Born : Luke 2:1-20 Saturday, July 14: God becomes Flesh : John 1:1-18 Note: This series…
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Three Quick Blog Updates
We have lots of stuff going on, so today’s post is just meant to give you a quick update on some news ‘n’ notes. 1. There will be no blog posts during the week next week. Adam is headed to church camp. The Sunday posts with the Lebanon Road Bible Reading will be on here, but there will be no posts during the weekdays. If you are new to our site, use this as a chance to look around. 2. Speaking of camp, some of the counselors are trying something new this year. We have set up a Tumblr from camp, and plan on uploading pictures, quotes, etc., at various…
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Resources for Family Devotionals
Recently, we asked our readers for ideas on what they would like us to write about. We got a lot of good suggestions, and we are writing about 8 of them in July. (This is the 3rd post.) One of the suggestions, from “Mashflash16,” was for some help with family devotional ideas. The comment stated that their family devotionals were always praying, singing songs, and reading Scripture, but they wanted other ideas. Before giving some suggestions, let me commend this family. The main thing about family devotionals is to do them! We do not have one every single night, but we strive to have about 2 per week. Honestly, we…
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“America’s Heart” : Happy Fourth of July
On this, America’s birthday, I hope you will take to heart this short “Rest of the Story” by the late Paul Harvey.
