Lookahead:  I'm sure we all can zoom in on specific toxic words that we would take back, if only we had the chance. :-(...but it's the old toothpaste analogy--it comes gushing out of the tube and there's no putting it back in.  And in fact, I was so NOT looking forward to the drill-down on … Continue reading Unpacking #23 – Most Lethal Weapon

Lookahead: Fast forward to a new millennial (2008) video called Lord, Save Us From Your Followers.  From the street interviews, it was clear that many people were  still suffering from the religiosity of Christians.  Some of the remarks:  "Instead of the Church of Jesus Christ, it has turned into the Church of Being Right...most of the … Continue reading Unpacking #22 – Wrapping Up Our 3-Post Passage

Lookahead:  They also were willing to assume major risks as a result of that belief, and to demonstrate their faith.  And how about ~4000 years later?  People are still required to take risks...for example...Should we trust that God told us to leave our profession as a classically trained oboist, and hop on the next ship … Continue reading Unpacking #21 – Works Without Faith Are Dead?

Lookahead:  Perhaps I may need to shed some more light on the "works" term by way of a few empirical reference points.  Reduced to its essence, I believe "works" means good, godly deeds that are meant to help others.  All well and good, but I believe that the potential for probs lies in the true motive … Continue reading Unpacking #20 – Faith or (Over-)Works

Lookahead:  So if we tell a white lie about how many pounds we bench-pressed, do we really deserve to go to hell?  The problem is not picayune v. grandiose sins.  The problem is that we are sinners--and God can't fellowship with sinners, or allow us into His sin-free habitation.  God gave us a way to become 100% clean, … Continue reading Unpacking #19 – The Hell Thing

Lookahead: Since birth I was constantly comparing myself to some imposed standard of perfection--and then driving toward it.  Once Jesus set up residence in my heart, I became perfect in God's eyes. That knowledge gave me incomparable joy!  But I soon discovered that there were always joy-killers out there who would try to interfere and … Continue reading Unpacking #18 – How Would You Like To Be Perfect?