Eternity is a Long Time

  As we read the Gospel accounts of the Crucifixion, we notice Jesus said more than one thing during His time on the cross. In fact, He made seven statements when you add them together from all of the Gospels. Seven represents completion (e.g. a week is 7 days long) and when Jesus says His seventh statement, He dies. His earthly ministry, in His earthly body, is completed. The seven statements are: 1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. Luke 23:34 2. Today, you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43 3. Behold your son: behold your mother. John 19: 26-27 4. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Psalm 22                      5. I thirst. John 19: 28 (cf. John 4: 4-26); Psalm 22:15; Psalm 69:21 6. It is finished. John 19:30 7. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23: 46; Psalm 31:5 The exact order is not known as no one Gospel has them all, although “It is...

  In a November 6 post on X , Candace Owens stated: The doctors who are performing these irreversible surgeries and prescribing these puberty blockers to children are going to burn in hell for an eternity. As will every person who has been complicit in or directly benefited from these satanic practices. No, Candace, these horrible doctors will NOT burn in hell because of prescribing puberty blockers and the rest. The only way you burn in hell is if you are not born again of the spirit ( John 3:5-8 ) and refuse to believe in Jesus as your savior ( John 3:16 ). THE. ONLY. WAY. That means if a doctor who has mutilated children, given them puberty blockers and done other horrible things repents, humbles himself to God and believes in Jesus then that doctor WILL BE in heaven. Jesus died once for all including those who do vicious, terrible things. Anything we do can be covered by His blood as long as we repent. I know that's hard for some people to deal with - but it is the truth. It is...

  Shakespeare's 29th Sonnet - When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd, Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings. William Shakespeare’s 29th sonnet is a wonderfully concise picture of a person who is mournful about their situation and then realizes, probably not for the first time, that there is great joy in the Lord.   This was not what I expected when I first read the sonnet.  I had never considered Shakespeare to be religi...

  As we enter this Advent season we naturally focus on the birth of Jesus. However, Luke’s story of the birth does not start in chapter 2 but in chapter 1 of his Gospel and it highlights one of the most vivid contrasts of “heart attitude” among the faithful.   This is represented in the responses of Zecharias and Mary to the angel Gabriel. A quick read of what each of these people said to Gabriel seems similar. But when you look at the way it is worded, and what God expects from His people, you see why the Gabriel deals differently with them.   Zecharias was an older man who had been a priest in the Temple for many years. His knowledge of Scripture was immense – easily dwarfing our own. Mary was a teenager who, likely, had no formal training in the Scripture . Knowledge, as we will see, does not equal faith.   When Zecharias went into the Holy of Holies to exercise his priestly duty, Gabriel appeared to him with an appearance that must have almost stopped Zecharias’...