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Questions & Timestamps:

  1. @ 9:58 – In verse 4 in New King James it says Moses killed the kings of Amorites and the king of the Bashan, I the English Standard Version it says defeated. If a person did no know that God told Moses to kill everyone when going into battle. I would think that if some one was using the English Standard Version only they would be getting confused if listening to someone is teaching out of the New King James. ( kill and defeated have deferent definition). My personal thought is the Jame James and New King James is the closest to the correct translation.
  2. @ 18:51 – Simon of Cyrene was credited as being the black man who helped Jesus with the cross. But wasn’t he an Arab or Jew with dark skin? Or was he what we consider black in the U.S.
  3. @ 20:49 – Are other churches that are not teaching like we do wrong?
  4. @ 28:11– Mark 14:7 says “The poor you will always have with you” What is this saying? It seems so negative and hopeless.
  5. @ 31:44 – What is it about Deuteronomy that makes it like other treaties from the time of Moses?
  6. @ 38:00 – This morning I read Matthew 7. It speaks of judging others and self righteousness. And then, later in the chapter, it says “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” and ” Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” I’ve TRIED not to judge but I judge CONSTANTLY. This chapter fills me with dread because, then, I’m not doing the will of my Father in Heaven. It sounds like He isn’t going to let me in.
  7. @ 46:40 – Why does the author you mentioned not believe in freewill? It sure seems like we have freewill.
  8. @ 52:24 – Pastor Rick Wiles says the corona virus was sent by God to purge the world of sin. And that Christians won’t get it. Isn’t there some truth in that God is allowing it?
  9. @ 59:02 – Matthew 8:12 refers to “the sons of the kingdom” that will be “thrown into outer darkness”. Who are the sons of the kingdom? How can I know I don’t belong to that group?
  10. @ 1:01:29 – I’ve been reading through Isaiah for a long time. I read most of chapter 47 this morning. There was an excerpt that seemed to really apply to what I had just been praying about. Is that the wrong application? It really felt like clarity. I’m currently having some money troubles and while I thought I had been looking at it rightly, I’m now seeing that I may have been way off. The whole chapter didn’t feel like it applied to me but I got a “sense” of being corrected, that I have been a lover of money, a “lover of luxury” because of how anxious I’ve been to never be uncomfortable. I hope this makes sense!

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I saw a bumpersticker recently that said, “Jesus is coming! (And boy is he angry).” Except angry was another word, which I don’t need to post here (but it rhymes with kissed). I was reminded of the sticker, when I read Jesus’ words in Matthew 18, this morning.
 
“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
                                                                                                       – Matthew 18:11 

I think it is true that Jesus will one day return, and certain passages in the Bible reveal that His wrath will be poured out on everything that rebels against Him. But it is critically important that we understand God’s ultimate purpose in the world is not condemnation, judgment and punishment. His primary goal is to seek and to save that which is lost

This weekend I know I’m going to hear all about how the Green Bay Packers lost, this last Sunday. Something else newsworthy from Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, are his recent comments about his departure from Christianity, on an interview podcast with his girlfriend, Danica Patrick. In a clip released on Patrick’s YouTube channel, Rodgers says, “I don’t know how you can believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet, to a fiery hell. What type of loving, sensitive, omnipresent, omnipotent being wants to condemn most of His beautiful creation in a fiery hell at the end of all this?”

His question is valid. But it reveals his lack of knowledge about the whole of Scripture. God is just, and He will be no means clear the guilty. But He is also the fullness of love, grace, mercy, and compassion. 

This Sunday we are beginning a study in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy. It speaks a lot of law, and clearly communicates the consequences of not obeying God’s law. But it also reveals God’s grace, and desire to bless. A full understanding of the whole nature of God is necessary, or people—like Aaron Rodgers—will misunderstand God’s works. 

If you’re a listener, or subscriber, give us a shout-out and send us a text (and text more questions) to (760) 814-1223.

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Questions & Timestamps:

  1. @ 16:53 – Tax collectors of the bible. Were they reps of the Roman govt. or were they an early version of the Mafia who worked thru extortion.
  2. @ 24:16 – I was just reading Isaiah 45 1-7. I know this is prophecy (fulfilled?) but I am struggling with verse 7. You always say God brings order from chaos, but here it says “I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity…”. Ugh, I thought it was the devil that did these things. Have I been guilty of trying to whitewash our Lord, or am misreading the text or misapplying it?
  3. @ 31:06 – Is there a difference between sex and gender. There’s a lot of talk about gender identity. What does the Bible have to say about this?
  4. @ 43:22 – You’ve mentioned the creation of Adam and Eve several times over the last few weeks. Two questions. Do you believe in a literal 6-day creation and young earth, or a different view? Second, when God made Eve, did he make her less than Adam, or place Adam above her? It seems like the Bible could endorse sexism?
  5. @ 59:06 – In the message you said that God doesn’t intend for us to be alone or in isolation, and that life is better together. But I’m an introvert and would rather not be around people. I feel like I could do just fine alone.
  6. @ 1:01:24 – Sin brings brokenness, division, and separation. If I am separated from a family member, what is the best way to deal with that?
  7. @ 1:08:56 – I was a member at a church that had home fellowships, and we had Bible Studies. Why don’t you do a Bible study at the Connect Groups?

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Over the holiday I ran in the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon. It was 15 years ago that I ran my last half marathon, and though I’d trained for the few months leading up to the race, it became clear as I ran that I wasn’t 100% prepared for the entirety of the race. Physically, I knew I could run 13.1 miles, and mentally I was mostly prepared, but at mile 7 I began to feel more tired than I’d expected. My energy tank was getting low. 

Thankfully, just before mile 8, I came to a water station that also had a table piled high with honey energy gels. Over the next mile of the race, I slowly consumed the 1 ounce gel, packed with carbohydrates. As I did, I was reminded just how essential energy is for endurance. I’m not sure if the small pack of vanilla flavored honey was the difference between finishing or not finishing the race (I did finish, by the way), but it sure seemed as though it helped. 

The Bible describes our Christian life as a race, and exhorts us to run well, with endurance. To do so, we need supernatural stores of energy. I’m convinced that one of those essential stores is the sweet honey of God’s word. 

King David of Israel reveals how important God’s word is, when he writes the following in Psalm 19:
 
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
                                                                          – Psalm 19:7-11

You have a race to run today. Make sure you’re well prepared to run with endurance, by consuming a well balanced diet of God’s Word. I’m certain that you’ll be glad you did. 

If you’re a listener, or subscriber, give us a shout-out and send us a text (and text more questions) to (760) 814-1223.

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Questions & Timestamps:

  1. @ 21:57 – Is Christianity a religion? Or a relationship with our creator?
  2. @ 25:05 – What other evidence for transcendence is there, in addition to the five evidences for transcendence you shared on Sunday?
  3. @ 31:29 – Is our personal experience valid as evidence for transcendence, or is that to subjective?
  4. @ 38:11 – Do you think Near Death Experiences are real?
  5. @ 41:24 – My Granddaughter said the Bible tells me to love my enemies and Satan is my enemy. What am I supposed to do?
  6. @ 43:33 – Is transcendence connected to transcendental meditation? And, is it bad to meditate, to experience a transcendent experience?
  7. @ 51:36 – Have you had any other transcendent experiences, besides the one you shared on Sunday?
  8. @ 1:10:13 – Have you personally experienced a miracle?

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In 2004, rapper Kanye West released a hit entitled “Jesus Walks.” When it came out, I would loop it frequently when I’d go on a long run, even though the lyrics (at the time) weren’t the best. In 2004, West was anything but a Christian role model, and the song far from “Christian.” But in the last year, Kanye West has experienced a significant conversion.

God has clearly done a work in the rapper’s life in an inspiring way. One of the evidences of this transformation is the shift in the once “explicit” song. “Jesus Walks” has changed, and the song that once ended “I want to talk to God, but I’m afraid because we ain’t spoke in so long,” now ends “I wanna talk to God … I ain’t afraid no moreI ain’t afraid no more” (watch the song played here at City of Refuge Church last month). 

I ain’t afraid no more…” That’s what God’s love and grace does in our lives. I bring this up because 2020—the year of chaos, as I see it—has begun with a lot of fear. Fear generated (this last week) by the geopolitical happenings in the Middle-East. Fear amplified by politicians, the news, and social media. But “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). “Perfect love casts out fear!” (1 John 4:18). 

If you (like many in our nation) are troubled by all the happenings in this world, remember that Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). He calls upon us to cast all of our cares and anxieties upon Him (1 Pet. 5:7). He exhorts us to bring everything to Him in prayer, and He promises to guard our hearts and minds with His peace which surpasses our understanding (Phi. 4:6-8). 
 
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33

If you’re a listener, or subscriber, give us a shout-out and send us a text (and text more questions) to (760) 814-1223.

Download MP3 Audio

Questions & Timestamps:

  1. @ 9:09 – Do you think climate change is real? Is it “manmade?”
  2. @ 15:51 – Do you think the stuff happening in Iran is connected to Bible end times prophecy, like in Ezekiel and Revelation?
  3. @ 18:15 – If humanity began literally with Adam and Eve, and they had children, wouldn’t have there been incestuous relationships to grow the population?
  4. @ 20:29 – Is there no longer “choice” when we get to heaven like there was for Adam and Eve when they were initially created?
  5. @ 24:15 – How long do you think Adam and Eve were in the garden before they ate of the tree?
  6. @ 24:49 – I’m in some need of spiritual minty freshness. In my daily bible reading I’ve been going through Revelation, and honestly? I’ve found it deeply disturbing. 1. How are we sure they aren’t talking about the crazy world we live in now OR 2. Why would we want unbelievers that we love and care about to go through all that? When I hear people say they want Jesus to come right now I want to say Nooo wait, I want to give some people some extra time. Am I looking at this all wrong? Is what I really need actually some cold blooded love?
  7. @ 31:55 – In Genesis several times the scriptures speak of God saying “we” did, made, etc. I interpret this to reflect the triune of The God-head. John 1 declares that Jesus is the Word and was with God before creation. The Holy Spirit being the third we? Is this a reasonable interpretation?
  8. @ 33:10 –  Question on 2 Corinthians 2:12-14. Paul went to Troas and found the place to be ripe for preaching the Gospel. There was an open door. But he was worried about the Corinthians because Titus had not come to Troas to give him a report. So Paul left the mission field God prepared and went to Macedonia to find Titus. Is this ok to leave God’s work to satisfy human emotion?

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