Forgiven by Jesus

3051) The Healing of Memories

       Cindy and Cathy are identical twins.  Their parents were alcoholics and the girls had a dreadful childhood.  Their dad died while they were still in high school when he rolled his car after a night of drinking.  Their mother took an overdose of pills and died when the girls were away at […]

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3049) Leo Tolstoy, Jesus Christ, and Al Quie (2/2)

Pictured above are Al Quie and Chuck Colson ***************************     (…continued)  This idea of Jesus as our substitute has been illustrated in many ways.  One of the most famous illustrations is of a judge who hears a case, is informed of the guilty verdict by the jury, pronounces the death sentence, and then comes

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3048) Leo Tolstoy, Jesus Christ, and Al Quie (1/2)

Pictured above:  Leo Tolstoy in peasants’ clothing, 1897. *********************************     Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a man of huge contradictions.  He was born into the wealthiest class in Russia in the 1800’s; and though he took advantage of all the benefits of his privileged life, he despised his wealth and was envious of the simple

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3047) “Go See Joe”

The Meeting With Joe, by Gary S.  (source lost)      One cold winter morning as I looked out my bedroom window at the gray, bleak landscape, I wondered, What is my life worth?  Where do I fit into the scheme of things?  I felt completely overwhelmed by rejection.  I couldn’t see any hope in

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3040) Open Your Heart (3/3)

Painting above:  Paul and the Jailer *******************************      (…continued)  In his book Radical Son, David Horowitz confessed his sins to the whole world– but how about to God?  Did Horowitz ever pray that prayer of the tax collector, “God be merciful to me a sinner?”      It doesn’t look like he did.  Horowitz

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3039) Open Your Heart (2/3)

Painting above:  The Pharisee and the Publican, James Tissot, 1894 *******************************      (…continued)  There is still another factor to add, and that is the influence of God and the devil.  “I can’t help it,” said a popular comedian many years ago, “the devil made me do it.”  The Bible does indeed talk about how

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3037) Why Do I Need to Repent?

From The Word for Every Day, by Alvin Rogness, page 63, © 1981 Augsburg Publishing House      Let me say at the outset that I don’t always feel the need to repent and be forgiven.  I believe I need to be; I know I do, because the Scriptures say very clearly that I do.

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3006) Funeral Sermon for Roger

From my sermon for the funeral of Roger, who was once a member of the church I was serving, but had long ago moved away.  I knew Roger’s brother Mike, but never met Roger or any other members of the family.  Mike told me that Roger was at one time a hard worker and a

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2967) “Me– A Pharisee?” (2/2)

Pictured above:  Manuel Noriega  (1934-2017) *************************      (…continued)  On December 20, 1989, United States troops invaded Panama to remove their outlaw leader Manuel Noriega from power.  The invasion was controversial.  But there was widespread agreement that Noreiga was a corrupt, murderous thug, engaging in drug trafficking throughout the Americas, ruling with fear and violence. 

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2966) “Me– A Pharisee?” (1/2)

Matthew 9:9-13:  As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.  While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.  When the Pharisees saw

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