“Atonement” is a theological word that gets mentioned. In short, atonement refers to the work that Christ has done for those who have faith in Him to earn their salvation.
I think people sometimes approach the gospel with skepticism. Jesus died for the sins of all who believe in him.
I know I used to ask was “why do we need this? Why do we have to believe in Jesus? Is sin such a big deal? Why is he the only way?” Continue reading “Why Jesus? Couldn’t there be another way?”
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 5:10
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus begins the sermon with a section called The Beatitudes, 8 statements, most of which seem counterintuitive at first glance. But these are much deeper than pithy statements. They point us to the ethics of Jesus.
The final beatitude is in Matthew 5:10, while verses 11 and 12 elaborate on it.
Blessed are the persecuted. Continue reading “Blessed are the persecuted? “
Originally posted April 6, 2012
Statistically, we know that the vast majority of Americans believe in some form of a higher power. There are relatively few who are atheists. Since people do believe that there is something, and since it’s so easy to think of the majority of Americans as Christians, many simply attach themselves to Christianity.
But what does it mean? Christianity?
For so many, we call ourselves Christians but then never pray, or read the Bible, or go to church, or experience fellowship with other believers, or show any actual desire to have a relationship with Jesus. Without these, how can a person be Christian?
Continue reading “The American Gospel and the meaning of Easter”
On last week’s episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Maher ended the show by launching a diatribe against Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Liberty University, the Christian liberal arts university, at which Romney delivered a commencement speech earlier this month.
In Maher’s remarks (video above), the commentator repeatedly states that Liberty isn’t a “real” college. Continue reading “Bill Maher doesn’t know what he’s talking about: says Liberty isn’t a real university for teaching creationism”
In March of 2009, after having fought an off and on battle with cancer for over a decade, the disease had spread to the brain of Stefanie Spielman. The new treatments which needed to begin had affected her even more severely than the numerous rounds of chemo therapy which she had endured over the years. It left her drained and dizzy.
Her husband Chris had to take on more responsibilities around the house, things which had usually fallen on Stefanie, like paying bills, cooking meals, and helping to organize the schedules of their four kids. The family prepared to have a celebratory dinner after the radiation had finished, but this was cut short when Stefanie suffered a fall. After doing a few tests at home, she was taken to the hospital. The cancer had spread to her spine.
In the new book, “That’s why I’m here,” Chris Spielman writes that it was at that point he was faced with the harsh reality that she was going to die from cancer. In a poignant moment, before Chris left the hospital to return home, from her hospital bed, Stefanie said, “You’ve proven to me you can do it.” Continue reading “That’s why I’m here: new book about Stefanie Spielman, faith, and love”
