Category Archives: Theology

Searching for the Gate of Heaven

Posted on December 7, 2024 by salooper57

In language intended to evoke Jacob’s experience at the “gate of heaven,” Jesus told the disciple Nathaniel, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Continue reading →

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What Are We Doing When We Worship?

Posted on December 5, 2024 by salooper57

Some people think of church as if it were a spiritual or emotional filling station. I’m running low, so I’d better go to church, or I won’t make it through the week. But that makes it all about me, which makes worship impossible. Continue reading →

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Grateful People Know These Two Things About God

Posted on November 30, 2024 by salooper57

You may think: “I already know that. God is strong. God is loving. Everybody knows that.” But our worry and our ingratitude testify that it has not gone from doctrine to practice, from head to heart. Continue reading →

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Created to Worship

Posted on November 28, 2024 by salooper57

The Fall of Adam shattered us. It broke our relationship with God and with each other. It damaged our ability to think. Our mind and will and emotions are all out of order. Humanity suffers a kind of spiritual PTSD to this day. If you think there might be something wrong with you, you are not mistaken. You are suffering from “The Fall.” Continue reading →

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He Is Able (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Posted on November 22, 2024 by salooper57

You want God to get you out of a tough spot. He’s planning on getting you into heaven. You want to avoid embarrassment. God is planning on bringing glory down on your head. You want your kid to be okay. He wants your kid to be amazing. Continue reading →

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Jesus, Don’t You Care?

Posted on November 9, 2024 by salooper57

Again, those telltale words: “Don’t you care?” There is something in us that is not quite sure that he does. Continue reading →

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The Halloween Post: What the Bible Says About the Walking Dead

Posted on October 26, 2024 by salooper57

Their transgression and sins were not the cause of this deadness, but its result; the way a stench is not the cause of physical death, but results from it. Continue reading →

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Incomparable Power (Ephesians 1:19-23)

Posted on October 23, 2024 by salooper57

What are “the believing” believing? In my experience, many people who profess belief in God have little more than a blur or smear of religious thoughts – some quite pagan – about a God who is generally nice and will look after us and take us to heaven when we die. Continue reading →

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Jesus: Liberal or Conservative?

Posted on October 19, 2024 by salooper57

When it comes to the question of whether Jesus is a conservative or a liberal, I think there is evidence for both, but there is no evidence that he is a Republican or a Democrat. He calls Republicans and Democrats to join his side. He will not join theirs. Continue reading →

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Immeasurable Power (Ephesians 1:19-23)

Posted on October 16, 2024 by salooper57

…we will only experience God’s power if something in our life uses God’s power. Our houses have TVs and computers, stoves and dishwashers, fans and hairdryers, and they all use electricity. Is there anything in our lives that uses God’s power? Continue reading →

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