Faith Bible Blog

Information and Reflections for the FBC Family

November 17, 2011
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Posts: 94

Finding the Gospel in Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is now just a week away. Doesn’t it seem like Thanksgiving was just here?  A year can go by so quickly, and the holidays can prove to be nothing more than highway mile markers on a long road of life.

It truly is living in the “here and now” that brings the big picture of life into focus.

Instead, we tend to dwell on the past or constantly plan for the future, which can cause us to miss out on the journey of the moment. The sweetest of these moments is spending time with those we love.  Continue Reading →

November 16, 2011
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Posts: 46

Reflections: Becoming Discerning

Near the end of his sermon on Mark 1:21-22, I heard Chris say, “Christians who desire to follow God’s Word must grow to be discerning and teachable.”  He referenced Hebrews 5:14, which says that mature believers “practice to have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

Afterwards, I was thinking, “How do you do that? What kind of training would change a heart and mind, so that both were able to tell the difference between right and wrong.” Many people I know would say that all Christians need to do is “trust their gut” in order to tell the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. Earlier in my walk, I believed something similar. Continue Reading →

November 15, 2011
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Posts: 26

Everyone Has A Scarlet Letter

Editor’s Note:This is a real account regarding the pain of being a victim of sexual abuse as a child. What is written is not graphic or descriptive, but if you are a victim, please consider whether you are ready to read a story like this as it may trigger intense emotions or memories.

We are grateful for the courage it took to share this and hope it will give a picture of hope and healing for you or those you love and care for. For those who haven’t been harmed in this way, we believe it’s important for you to see and hear how the gospel can radically transform any heart and any situation.

It took years for the State of California to put my biological father on trial. Ironically, it took longer to get him into the courtroom than it did for him to pay for his crimes. A childhood full of abuse was paid for in just 3 short years! And as I searched for his status on the Megan’s Law website last week, I discovered he lives only 18 miles away from me! A man capable of committing such heinous acts against his own children is free! And yet instead of anger at his sin, I find myself broken over my own sin. Continue Reading →

November 14, 2011
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Posts: 303

Don’t Confuse Justification and Sanctification

For YouIf you’re part of FBC, you hear this all the time — God’s people are called to a lifestyle of obedience (John 3:36).  Jesus “became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9).  Sure, believers may disobey God for a time, but no true Christian will lastingly ignore or disobey their Savior (Hebrews 12:4-11).

Now–get this because this is where it often gets messed up — Salvation does not depend on such obedience, but rather springs from a love for the Redeemer. To be changed and changing is the Spirit-empowered lifestyle of every believer from the time of salvation until Jesus returns.

Isn’t it amazing then that, as the days and years of a Christian’s life continue, our way of thinking often begins to change? Continue Reading →