Christian Living
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What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Actually Believe? Part 2
| March 1, 2019The Watchtower Society teaches that God has chosen to use one organization to communicate all truth to man. They claim that only the Watchtower Society knows what is true. If the Watchtower Society comes up with a "new revelation" that contradicts something they taught before, the "new revelation" must be accepted by everyone as the new truth.
Why I Value Modesty
| March 1, 2019There was a day, nearly eight years ago, that I came to a startling realization: I no longer cared about being modest.
What Do Jehovah's Witnesses Actually Believe? Part 1
| January 1, 2019My wife and I have Jehovah’s Witness (JW) neighbors, and like all good JWs, our neighbors tirelessly reach out to us with what they think is the Gospel. But there's a problem – we are already Christians. After many conversations, during which I am never quite sure exactly what they are trying to tell me, I decided it was time to find out exactly what the JWs believe and why they think it is necessary to "reach" us.
Legalism - Worse than Adultery
| January 1, 2019The word “Legalism” is defined as, “Excessive adherence to a law or formula.”
My Safe Place
| January 1, 2019All I ever wanted . . . just four little words, but those words are packed to the gills with meaning. When they dare to be uttered, their source is daring to bare their heart and soul to give you insight into their deepest desires. And usually following those words comes a story—a story of crushed hopes and dreams.
Christmas: Joy or Pain
| November 1, 2018It’s Christmas Eve. Millions of people are doing the last-minute preparations for the big day—Christmas. The stores are closing early tonight. Thousands are traveling to be with family and friends.
Desperation Births the Beautiful
| November 1, 2018I read a well-known story to my children last night. It is my youngest son’s favorite Bible story: the story of baby Moses. I read a well-known story to my children last night. It is my youngest son’s favorite Bible story: the story of baby Moses. This little guy didn’t pick the best time to make an appearance into the world. He was conceived at a time when Hebrew parents didn’t exactly want to be having babies.
Original Mandate
| November 1, 2018Here is the original mandate for the human race: Genesis 1:27–28 says, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them:
God is Perfect, but He's not a Perfectionist
| November 1, 2018James 1:12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
The Sower and the Seed
| November 1, 2018One day when a lot of people were gathered around Jesus, He preached a sermon about the sower and the seed. He said a man went out to sow seeds. Some seeds fell by the wayside, some fell on rocks, some among thorns, and some on good ground. Then Jesus interpreted His parable. The seed is the Word of God. The wayside is people who hear the Word of God, but before it can take root in this type of person, the devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts so they don't get saved (his motive is clear).
Love for the Lord Jesus
| September 8, 2018I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to love the Lord Jesus. Everyone wants to be loved, and Dwight L. Moody once said that if you can convince a man that you love him, you will win a friend for life. Think about it. If you can convince a man you care for his soul, he will be open and honest with you, but in no other way will he do so.
True Forgiveness
| September 8, 2018We hear a lot about forgiveness. There are many books, articles, and quotes about what forgiveness is or isn’t. I’m about to add my understanding of it to the big pile. Some of the ideas out there about it are completely false, and I’d like to address some of those.
Dreams, Visions, and God's Word
| September 8, 2018The article I am writing is in response to the eighth article in David Wickey’s eight-part series entitled “Buy of Me Gold Tried in the Fire."
Knocking on the Wrong Door
| July 1, 2018There are many, many different beliefs in the world. There are even hundreds or thousands of different groups that all claim to be right, and they each say that they are following the Bible. How can this be? How do we know if what we believe is really right? Jesus said that many religious people will find out too late that they were not on the right path, but we never stop to consider if He might have been talking about us.
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 8 of 8)
| July 1, 2018In 1980, I had a dream. In the dream, I was fishing with some people I did not know. We were not catching anything. Finally, we went to a different place to fish. In this place, we caught one huge fish. It was enormous in size. This big fish had a wound that had been healed. After this, we began to catch many small fish. The small fish began to turn into people. There were all kinds of people. Many were of my own people, the Amish.
Grieving God's Heart
| July 1, 2018Psalm 78:40-42 tells us how often the Israelites provoked God in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power – the day He redeemed them from the enemy. Often when we are in a wilderness experience we doubt and limit God. We forget the things He has done for us and others in the past. We speak many negative things with our mouths.
Garment of Praise
| July 1, 2018This morning I felt as though I had a cloud of heaviness hanging over me. Everything looked dark and futile. My past sins and mistakes seemed to be all I could see, and I heard the enemy whisper, "This is who you will always be and know." I knew it wasn't true, but the heaviness was far too strong for me.
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 7 of 8)
| May 1, 2018First Corinthians1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. This unlimited power becomes a reality in a believer’s life because it is the power of God that saves us. This can never be accomplished by self-effort or human good works.
Why Would a Good Father Punish His Children?
| May 1, 2018For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (Hebrews 12:6).For years I struggled with the idea of God's chastening in my life. Especially the idea of God chastening me without me knowing why. I would never punish my own children without first making sure they understand why. And yet I had to be honest, in many of the difficult things I've faced in my life, I have not had a clear reason for them. Is there a difference between trials and chastening? How can I know the difference? You cannot love and trust a God who seems to delight in hurting you. And yet scriptures are very clear on the value and need for God's chastening in our lives. This is by no means conclusive, but here are a few thoughts that have helped clear things up for me.
Seven Men Sought Entrance into the Kingdom
| May 1, 2018Seven men walked up to the door of the kingdom of God to seek entrance; only one made it in.Seven men walked up to the door of the kingdom of God to seek entrance; only one made it in.
What is Worldliness?
| May 1, 2018In the January Amish Voice, we asked for your interpretation of I John 2:15-16: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Why did Jesus Come to Earth?
| May 1, 2018How would you respond if someone were to ask you the following two questions: Why do you think Jesus came to earth, and in what way did you personally benefit from it?
Forsaking All and Following Jesus
| May 1, 2018One by one, Jesus called out and said follow me. Peter and Andrew said yes. James and John said yes. So did eight others. They dropped all—their jobs, incomes and family and followed immediately.
Follow Me
| March 1, 2018And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him (Matthew 4:18-20).Imagine with me that you are in Galilee and you are a fisherman by trade. You are Jewish and know the Old Testament very well, likely having committed most or even all of it to memory. From your studies, you know that God is going to send a Savior into the world, and you know from reading the Old Testament prophets that He will be showing up someday soon.
Evangelism
| March 1, 2018‘E-van'ge-lism’: the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness. To evangelize was the last commandment that Jesus gave before his departure. Go ye into all the world, and teach them to observe all the things that Jesus had taught over the last three years.I have felt that evangelizing is a weak area with many Anabaptist-type churches. Yes, there are individuals who are active in local ministries, thank God. And many support foreign missions. But to be active in local outreach has never been very strong.
God Wants to be Best Friends with You
| March 1, 2018As our world becomes more and more selfish and godless, it becomes harder and harder to stay focused on eternity and the return of Jesus Christ. Dads, moms and single adults are to the point of wanting to give up. They feel frustrated with Americanized Christianity. While we point our fingers at them, they point their fingers at us – it's the same blame game that started in the Garden of Eden and is now devouring our government and news media. Some shout: we need another reformation! Others, are just going through the motions, hoping that somehow things will make a turn for the better or Jesus comes back and removes us from the chaos.
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 6 of 8)
| March 1, 2018For God to take us from pride to humility is the working of the cross by the power of the Holy Spirit. This takes a lifetime of walking with the Lord. One cannot go from pride to humility by one’s own power or might. Pride came when Adam partook of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. Man came into knowledge of good and evil. Man ate of the wrong fruit. The fruit of pride and every evil thing is what Satan is and represents. Pride is the opposite of humility, just as darkness is the opposite of light.
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 5 of 8)
| January 1, 2018First Peter 4:17: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? Judgment and suffering go hand in hand according to the will of God. First Peter 4:19 says: Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.What is the house of God? Is 1 Peter 4:17 saying that God is mad at the church and is going to judge us because we failed in some area in our lives? No! Judgment begins because we are His children!First Corinthians 3:16: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? When we are born again (or born from above or born of the Spirit), we have the Holy Spirit in us. We also still have that which fights the Holy Spirit within us; it is called the flesh or sin nature. This is what has to be judged because our sin nature does not choose God or His ways. The first Adam represents this.
Do Not Harden Your Heart
| January 1, 2018The Bible clearly warns, “Today, if you can hear his voice, do not harden your heart as they did in the days of provocation.” (see Hebrews 3:7-8) In other words, do not ask as Israel once did in her unbelief, “Can God furnish a table in this wilderness?” (see Psalm 78:19).Do not question the Lord’s integrity or his commitment to you, even though you find yourself constantly battling in your mind. God told you that he would raise you up to be a testimony. He told you that he has allowed certain things in your life but that all things work together for good because you love him and are called according to his purpose.
Love for the Lord Jesus
| January 1, 2018If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22)I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to love the Lord Jesus. Everyone wants to be loved, and Dwight L. Moody once said that if you can convince a man that you love him, you will win a friend for life. Think about it. If you can convince a man you care for his soul, he will be open and honest with you, but in no other way will he do so. If you are in business and you demonstrate that you genuinely love your customers, they will be loyal to your business. If you show love to your children, they will readily want to listen to you and obey you – little convincing with a stick will be needed. If you genuinely love your spouse, he or she will be delighted to be in your presence, and will be your best friend forever.
