NCarolinian

The right relationship is important.  The Samaritan woman of John 4 knows this all too "well". This woman had gone through five husbands and was working on number six when she met Jesus.  No, Jesus did not marry her or anybody else.  However, by the time Jesus patiently worked through all that had to be worked through to reach her, she and and a whole town believed Jesus to be "the Savior of the world" (John 4:42).  The woman's first falter was allowing cultural stereotypes and traditions (the non-association of Jews and Samaritans, especially Jewish male with Samaritan female) to get in the way of helping a fellow human being with a simple need (receiving some water for being tired).   John 4:9  says,  "'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?'" In the next instance I am sure I would have behaved and said the same kind of things she did that day.  Not counting the Lord's words -  "Will...

Many social media sites have a window called - "Status Update" - where you insert your latest thoughts, feelings, or life-events that you wish to share with close friends or the world.  The following Status Update I would love to share with the world and will do my part while I still draw breath. First I must inform the world of the original status or condition that influences everyone.  Because of the disobedience of one man, humanity fell out of love with God and in love with themselves.  In addition, all of humanity's tendencies since this mistake have been self-centered.  We have a nature that wants what we want, when we want it, and how we want it.  Therefore, because of this rebellion a colossal chasm resulted in the relationship between humanity and God.   The leader of this rebellion is a spirit that was named Lucifer.  Many call him Satan, Devil, or Adversary now.  I call him stupid.  His future is the eternal Lake of Fire....

There are many words that Biblical teachers emphasize to Believers in Christ which help in the growth or maturation process.  The following are Not Just Words , they are important, foundational concepts that I feel must be understood in order to progress nicely in one's walk with the Lord Jesus Christ (getting off the baby food and onto solid food - 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2 ).   Law - Is the perfect God-set standards for humanity to keep in order to redeem their relationship with God.  One failing of the law equals total failure. Works - Attempt at salvation by self. Grace - Is the unmerited favor of God. Faith - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."   Hebrews 11:1; " And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."   Hebrews 11:6 Deeds - Actions, not out of obligation, that ma...

I like the song "His Grace Is Enough" and sing it every now-and-then, in and out of church.  I am currently scraping the tip of the iceberg of Grace and Grace being enough.  Anytime Grace has been announced in song, sermon, or conversation, I automatically receive the ultimate image of unmerited favor in my mind - Christ's sacrifice for me on The Cross.  However, what I am learning is - what my Lord did for me at Calvary was Grace shown and poured out for me above-and-beyond just my salvation! I am learning that His Grace, my undeserved favor, reaches into every aspect of my life.  There is a verse that ministers to me in this vein and is one of my favorites.  Consider Hebrews 4:15-16 - "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find g...

I do not have to look hard or far for a hamburger joint near me. Tribeca Tavern   Red Robin   Backyard Burgers Chargrill Burgers Fat Daddy's Two Guys Grille Five Guys Grille McDonalds  Wendy's Burger King Hardee's What is the difference with all these locations?  To me, the last four could be classified as just fast food .  Backyard, Chargrill, Two Guys, and Five Guys tend to be going for the out-back-at-home burger.  Fat Daddy's cooks it up nice and allows you to add your toppings at a topping center .  Tirbeca Tavern and Red Robin offer gourmet burgers on their menus. How these locations prepare their meat is one difference and how they present themselves is another.  Tribeca Tavern has nice wood tables, carpet, and t.v. monitors everywhere for sporting events to be seen.  Red Robin caters to the youth or young at heart with a mini game room, t.v.'s on a cartoon network, and decorations that are colorful.  Two Guys...

Everything changed when the NCAA launched an investigation into improper benefits in the football program in 2010. That soon expanded to academic misconduct involving a university tutor, then got worse with findings of fraud and no-show classes in an academic department with significant athlete enrollments. "We don't have a commission that tells us not to trust the dean of medicine to run the hospital, but we do have a commission that tells us not to trust the ADs to run athletics," he said. "It doesn't make any sense." – Holden Thorp Murray Sperber, a critic of commercialization in college sports, wonders why presidents don't stumble more often when it comes to overseeing a realm that is often foreign to them. Most come from the academic side and make their way through the administrative ranks that exist as separate worlds from athletics on a college campus, he said. The idea of presidential control in athletics took hold with the recommendations of the...

Whenever you hear or read  Ephesians 6:17 -  which says - "... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. " - know the meaning because it will make the difference for you and others. Let us talk swords.  The Roman soldier had five kinds of swords available for use.  The  gladius  or two-handed, long, heavy broadsword was a sword you might see in the movie Highlander or Braveheart.  Next, a shorter version of the  gladius  (17 in. long, 2.5 in. wide) was a lighter option.  Thirdly, a dagger-like sword was in the line-up for consideration.  Fourth, there was the long, slender cavalry sword, which was not good for hand-to-hand combat.  However, it was the  machaira , that Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, described as  " the sword  of the Spirit". According to the original Greek ( machaira ), the Roman equivalent of the  " sword  of the Spirit" is a double-edged weapon w...