As a child, I loved pictures of Jesus: Jesus and the children, Jesus walking on water, feeding the 5,000, talking to Zacchaeus, and more. But He was so serious—pleasant, more or less, but serious. The man in the drawings and paintings might hint at a smile, but NEVER laughter. People imagine Him as serious, neverContinue reading “LAUGHTER. John 13:7-10.”
Tag Archives: Hebrews 1:9
WHAT WAS JESUS LIKE? Hebrews 1:9.
The Bible is not a novel, is it? It employs brief descriptions, hints at personalities, settings, and the details readers love. Parts of it read like a plot summary. But if a novelist were in charge, the Bible might be a fifty-volume set. Yet we have questions: Were Adam and Eve tall or short, thinContinue reading “WHAT WAS JESUS LIKE? Hebrews 1:9.”
IF THERE WERE A SECRET RECIPE FOR JOY, WOULD YOU FOLLOW IT? Hebrews 1:9
When I cook, I almost never use a recipe. I like to be creative and “let the spirit move me.” But I also cook things that are easy and that I am used to cooking (you could argue there is a recipe; I simply memorized it). But if you cook challenging meals for large groupsContinue reading “IF THERE WERE A SECRET RECIPE FOR JOY, WOULD YOU FOLLOW IT? Hebrews 1:9”
How Do You Get to the Place Called Happiness? Follow the Obedience Road. Hebrews 1:9.
When it comes to portrayals of Jesus on film, my favorite may forever by that of Bruce Marchiano in the Visual Bible’s film, “THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.” Were I to choose one word to characterize that portrayal I would choose “joyful.” Through prayer and Bible study, Bruce became convinced joy was the key toContinue reading “How Do You Get to the Place Called Happiness? Follow the Obedience Road. Hebrews 1:9.”
JESUS CHRIST: THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. Lamentations 3:25-33; Hebrews 13:8; 1 John 4:8; Hebrews 1:9.
Homer Simpson is confused about God: “He’s always happy. No wait. He’s always mad.” Which is it? Have you heard people argue God is always mad in the Old Testament, but always loving in the New? God never changes. God judges sin. You reap what you sow—both the good and the bad. He judges sin,Continue reading “JESUS CHRIST: THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. Lamentations 3:25-33; Hebrews 13:8; 1 John 4:8; Hebrews 1:9.”
Jeremiah’s Nickname. Jeremiah 9:1.
Scholars suggest Jesus must have exuded joy or children would not have flocked to Him. In fact, Hebrews says Jesus was more joyful than anyone else. WHY was Jesus joyful? Because He was obedient. “You loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above all your companions”Continue reading “Jeremiah’s Nickname. Jeremiah 9:1.”
Picture Jesus Happy.
Do you know anyone who is happy all the time? Who is it? What makes him so happy? Solomon was the wisest person, and Samson may have been the strongest. But can you imagine the happiest person who ever lived? I wonder what that person was like? How do you picture Jesus? Happy? Sad? Angry?Continue reading “Picture Jesus Happy.”
People Who Do What is Right are Happy!
Aren’t coloring books fun? Remember the smell of grinding crayons into that thick paper? Did you try to stay inside the lines? In a 1992 TV ad, a nerdy teacher in Kissinger glasses walks up and down the rows of an elementary classroom saying, “Stay within the lines. The lines are our friends,” but oneContinue reading “People Who Do What is Right are Happy!”
Christians Should Hate More.
How do you like that title? True or false? I read an article with that title today, and I believe it is true. We need to hate EVIL a lot more than we do. Sure, God wants us to love people. But He commands us to hate sin. Do you hate sin? Murder, perhaps? Rape?Continue reading “Christians Should Hate More.”
Household Words: 