Faith Bible Blog

Information and Reflections for the FBC Family

August 11, 2015
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Posts: 2

Thoughts from a Rookie Grandpa

I was asked to write a blog, and if you know anything about me, writing isn’t one of my gifts. As I was doing odd jobs around the house during my “staycation” last week, I began brainstorming ideas for this blog. What could I possibly have to say that would be of value to anyone?!

Happy momentsThe grandkids had just been over, so I was reflecting on how they have impacted my life. My wife and I have been blessed with 4 beautiful, full of energy, grandkids (so far!). Parents today are so much better off when it comes to raising their children than when we were raising ours. Thinking back to who was writing about parenting when we were starting our family, the only name that comes to mind is James Dobson. Today there are so many more resources thanks to the Tripps, Lou Priolo, and many more I am not even aware of.

When I was a young dad I didn’t really have time for my small kids. Continue Reading →

July 28, 2015
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Posts: 54

Words Matter

Most of us remember the old schoolyard rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Cute, but not quite true. This oft-quoted saying, while trying to make the claim that physical attacks can be injurious but verbal attacks are not if one is indifferent to them, is fantasy. It does not square with real life. Sadly, in reality, all of us have experienced that words can and do injure us. Sometimes very deeply. The truth is words are all too frequently horrifically painful and destructive. I dare say each of us has either been the source or recipient of painful, destructive words! A more accurate rending of this rhyme would be, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can deeply hurt me.” On a personal level, words can wound, destroy, and cause life–long injury. More broadly, words can ruin friendships, marriages, businesses, societies, international relationships[1] and yes, even churches.

Perhaps the single most shocking expose´ highlighting the power-source and destructiveness of our words is found in James 3:6…

The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

Ouch!! This verse says our tongues are like flame-throwers ruining us and everything in its wake and its power source is hell itself!

The Lord Jesus tells us our tongues are directly connected to our hearts and reveal what’s in them: Continue Reading →

June 27, 2015
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Posts: 4

What Should Christians Do About Gay Marriage?

As Christians and also Americans it should be no shock to us that our supreme court, by a slim majority, has legalized homosexual marriage. As a country we are concerned first with the rights of man. We believe that government exists to up hold the human rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I am abundantly thankful for this objective of our government. But it misses a key role of government that I believe comes first. The Government is first called to uphold truth and justice. (Romans 13:1-7) And justice and truth can only be clearly defined by God, who is without sin.

Rainbow ApprovedWe learn from the book of Romans that government is instituted by God, no government exists without His allowing. As Christians we are called to submit to God. His sovereignty over government demands us to submit to the authority of government. Paul writes that if we do not do so we are resisting the authority of God. There are times when government clearly resists the will of God, and we have biblical description of how the apostles (Acts 4) and Daniel (Daniel 6) resisted authority, and honored God. These examples have become ever more important to us as our laws change.

But now as Christians I think we need to reflect on the realities of what has happened in our country.

We should not be shocked!

This is not the first failure of society, or the worst society has ever been. ( Just a few examples: Genesis 6:5, Judges 17:6, Ezekiel 23, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11,Titus 1:12-13) Humans are fallen, corrupted by sin and confused about justice because of sin. This is true even in your own life. Continue Reading →