Faith Bible Blog

Information and Reflections for the FBC Family

December 13, 2011
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Posts: 46

Reflections: The Leper Within

CC image by Sean MacEntee on Flickr

Most of the time, I find technology amazing. On Sunday, though, I wished one of our friends was a little more low-tech. Chris’s sermon on Sunday was on Jesus healing the leper at the end of Mark 1. We sat with another young married couple, and the husband had his iPad with the Bible on it. When Chris described in detail the horrors of leprosy, our friend decided to do a quick Google image search of the disease… Yikes!

So when Chris went on to say we as Christians need to “imitate the leper,” all I could think about was the images of oozing skin sores. That didn’t look like something I wanted to imitate! Continue Reading →

December 12, 2011
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Posts: 25

The Real Value of God’s Grace

Imagine having one-carat diamond valued at $5,000 and someone offering to purchase it for $1.89. After a semi-polite chuckle, you decline the offer, saying, “Sorry, I am giving the diamond to a missionary in Uganda to help fund his work.”

A year later you are traveling to Uganda, but your plane goes down over the Sahara. You are injured, but alive, trekking through the blistering heat. The hot winds pelt your exposed skin with sharp granules of sand as the moisture from your body is literally being sucked out by the elements.

You are weak and delirious with thirst, when you come upon a nomad atop his camel. He has several canteens of water, but he is shrewd and wants to trade. Your paper and plastic currency mean nothing. Reluctantly, you reach into your pocket for the diamond. You watch as he rides off holding it up to the sun, admiring the clarity with a toothless grin. Continue Reading →

December 8, 2011
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Posts: 1

Pursuing Godly Encouragment and Unity

Lately I have been loving Philippians 2:1-4 because encouragement is so important in the Christian life. To give encouragement and receive it is such a blessing. Sincere, heartfelt encouragement. The Bible charges believers to help, to come alongside, to counsel, to exhort and to encourage one another.

This is what Jesus does for His own, like what happens in John 14:22-26 when Jesus answers Judas Iscariot’s question, “Lord, what then has happened that you are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” He answers, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.  These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” Continue Reading →

December 6, 2011
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Posts: 46

Reflections: Prayer Time Like Jesus

I am so thankful for Jesus’ sinless life, aren’t you? This time of year, many are celebrating the birth of Christ, and in the spring we will celebrate His death and resurrection. It seems to me that there should be a third holiday between those two to celebrate the 30-plus years that Jesus walked the earth as a man.

In his sermon on Sunday, Chris offered another glimpse into Jesus’ earthy ministry, through Mark 1:32-39. The account details Jesus healing many people, then instead of basking in the people’s adoration, He retreats for a time of solitude and prayer.

Prayer is a discipline that God has been working on in my life recently, helped both by the counsel of women I consider mentors and being driven to my knees by difficult situations. Continue Reading →