based on 2 ratings
| 2,628 views
ADDICTION | Angeles Arrien, a cultural anthropologist, describes our situation this way. She says our condition is one of universal addiction. She has written that we are all afflicted with addictions, not necessarily to drugs or alcohol or other substances -- those are merely symptoms -- but
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Paul describes this situation as “death-dealing sin.” He calls it “the dead-end abyss of separation from God.” The way they put in medieval times was to describe humanity -- listen to this: humanity was portrayed as a wingless bird, stuck in its alluring conditions, too heavy to fly. Does any
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
To let go requires a change of mind. It’s not unlike jumping from a burning building. I have to decide that “down there” is safer than “up here” even if getting “down there”
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
If I may return to the picture of the burning building, It’s a sure thing that I won’t jump if I don’t know the thing is on fire.... We will not give up the structures of our existence -- not on
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 20, 2008
One of the most profound problems is: "How can justice and mercy be reconciled?" The law demands punishment; to set it aside invites anarchy. And God is holy — as Leviticus loudly proclaims. Ignoring our failures and setting aside justice would mar God’s beauty, like placing a Sharpie in the hand
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 20, 2008
based on 5 ratings
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Pastor Tim Keller (Redeemer PCA, New York), made this observation: “All other gods say, ‘Fail and you will die.’ Our God says, “Fail and I will die for you.’ All other religions say, ‘Our god is too
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 19, 2008
based on 1 rating
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In the inspiring book, This I Believe: Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, Susan Cosio writes, “I believe in a daily walk just to listen.” A chaplain at a medical center, a writer, and a mother of three, Susan Cosio says:
I believe I have to remove myself from the voices that
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 19, 2008
“Fasting can be a form of body praying… [But] fasting has nearly ceased to be practiced among us as a religious duty. It has been replaced by other forms of self-denial. One of the most common of those among us is dieting, which is largely cosmetic and therapeutic. What is there to say about it?
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 19, 2008
based on 1 rating
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One of my favorite books is called This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women. It is a compilation of eighty essays based on the National Public Radio series of the same name. The essays are from the famous and the unknown. One of the essays that I found most moving is
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
based on 2 ratings
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Today is February 14, Saint Valentine’s Day, of course. What do you know about Saint Valentine, or, to use his Latin name, Valentinus?
It is difficult to know anything for certain. In fact, historians claim that the details of this man’s life are lost in obscurity. About the only thing they’re
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Those who love each other want to be together always. And God wants to be with you always. That in itself is proof that he loves you. And you and I cannot resist such love. Or, if we can, we shouldn’t. God’s love ought to melt away
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
I have never been a boxer, but ever since I was a child, I have heard that, in the ring, you lead with your left. That is, you position yourself opposite your opponent in such a way that your left glove is out in front. Your right glove is close to your body. You’re always jabbing with
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 14, 2008
This past week I heard a man named Paul Peck speak. He talked about watching the riots in Los Angeles in April of 1992 following the acquittal of the four white officers who beat Rodney King. Paul watched in horror as African Americans burned down their own communities and businesses, but instead
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 14, 2008
The idea of sacrifice seems to have been lost. We have been praying for my Uncle Bruce and Aunt Julie. They are the kind of people who know what it means to sacrifice. Daddy’s youngest sister,
Even though my Uncle Bruce was only 16 when his father died, he made a promise to get his sister
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 4, 2008
There is an old saying among evangelists: “The hardest work is not getting folks saved, but getting them lost.” John Piper adds: “The hardest thing is not to satisfy thirst, but to make people
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 4, 2008
Jim Collins’ book, Good To Great, sold more than a million copies. The first sentence captures his main point: “Good is the enemy of great.” Collins believes that most organizations fail to become great because they are good, and we settle for good. Good is good enough for most people.
As a
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 24, 2008
One time I was leading a retreat for single, middle-age people, that is people in their 40s and 50s. When I looked on the roster, there was a man I knew was 75 if he were a day, but he had signed up so I didn’t question his age. He was a regular at the church and had gone on other retreats. I
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 24, 2008
From time to time we hear statistics about how people first came into church membership. These figures trace back to the Institute of American Church Growth, which asked 10,000 people about their pilgrimage. What led them in? The answers were: special need, 2%; walk-in, 3%; Pastor, 6%;
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 24, 2008
It’s interesting how we share faith. We all have our own way based on our own abilities. I have always been impressed with those who can quote the appropriate scripture in times of crisis. My sister, Jean, can do that. My pastor in San Antonio, Texas, could do that. I just can’t do that. I’m
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
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