temptation

2176) The Best Things in Life Aren’t Things (a)

Life Without Jesus / / ,

From “Ten Ways Materialism Brings Us to Ruin” by pastor and author Randy Alcorn, (adapted from his book Money, Possessions, and Eternity), posted December 13, 2019 on his blog at:   www.epm.org ———————- ‘materialism’ [muh-teer-ee-uh-liz-uhm] noun. 1. preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, […]

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1967) Assuming the Worst

Life Without Jesus / / , ,

By Joshua Rogers, at http://www.joshuarogers.com, August 25, 2018.      I was standing across the counter from the lady at the hole-in-the-wall dry cleaners and I was getting irritated.  She had lost my pants and I was sure of it, but I couldn’t find my ticket to prove it.      The woman kept insisting

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1510) Now or Later?

Forever With Jesus / / ,

By Rick Warren, at his Daily Hope blog, May 28, 2017 (www.pastorrick.com/devotional) —————————      We rarely evaluate our values or question our perceptions until we have a crisis.  Once we’re in deep pain, we begin to examine what we’re basing our lives upon.  Whether it’s materialism, feeling good, or looking good, we instinctively realize

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1275) The Temptations of Middle-age

Life Without Jesus / /

C. S. Lewis’s classic book The Screwtape Letters is an imaginative and powerful look at temptation.  Lewis creates two characters, Screwtape and Wormwood, who are demons in the service of Satan.  Their job it is to tempt a certain Englishman so they can corrupt him, destroy his faith, and win his soul for the devil.  Screwtape is

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1170) Resisting Temptation

Following Jesus / /

C. S. Lewis on resisting temptation in Mere Christianity:      You may remember I said that the first step towards humility was to realize that one is proud.  I want to add now that the next step is to make some serious attempt to practice the Christian virtues.  A week is not enough.  Things

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1092) David (part two of two)

Trusting Jesus / / , ,

Above:  David, 1623, Gian Lorenzo Bernini  (1598-1680) ——————-      (…continued)  King Saul reluctantly allowed David to fight Goliath, offering him all the best armor and weaponry.  David declined everything, taking only his slingshot and five smooth stones.  Goliath was irritated to see David coming at him with not much more than the shirt on

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1024) Jealousy

Following Jesus / / ,

I Samuel 18:5-9  —  Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.  This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.  When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine (Goliath), the women came out from all the towns

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1016) The Test (3/3)

Suffering With Jesus / / , , , ,

     (…continued)  It would have been easy, of course, for God to explain this all to Job, but God chooses not to do that– not for Job, and not for us, either.  There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that God is always making such deals with Satan and that is what leads

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1015) The Test (2/3)

Suffering With Jesus / / , , , ,

Above:  Job Rebuked by His Friends, watercolor by William Blake (1757-1827)      (…continued)  Job, however, has a very different view of the situation.  While agreeing that it is indeed God’s business to punish evil and reward goodness, Job is quite convinced that God is making a big mistake in his case.  Job certainly admits to not

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1014) The Test (1/3)

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Above painting:  Job, 1880, by Leon Bonnat  (1833-1922)      Job was a good man, and as the story told in the Old Testament book of Job begins, it would seem that his goodness was well rewarded. He was not only a good man, but he was a wealthy man; ‘the greatest man in the

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