"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15 When is the last time, if ever, that someone who did not follow Christ …
Author: Dan Lacich
What the Lord of the Rings can Teach Christians About Community Pt 2
"For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" Ephesians 6:12 What is it that binds people together into the type of community that the Bible refers to as "koinonia - a …
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What Can Lord of the Rings Teach Christians about Community? Pt 1
The classic trilogy written by J.R.R. Tolkien has been dissected countless times as people have sought to plumb its philosophical and theological depths. There have been volumes written on the world view presented by Tolkien, on the nature of good and evil, on the place of sacrifice and honor, on courage and fear, and a …
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Provocative Bible Verses: Nobody is Perfect, But They Should Be!
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 Nobody is perfect is one of the few remaining truisms that has nearly universal agreement among people of every cultural milieu, philosophical system, or religious ideology. It is the standard way of accounting for our short comings both major and minor. We may want …
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Saying “Uncle” to God
"the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." Romans 8:7 One of my favorite shows when I was growing up was The Three Stooges. It is a sign of my wife's love for me that she married me in spite of this fact. She …
Provocative Bible Verses: Mom and Dad; I Love Jesus but I Hate You!
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26 What in the world are we supposed to make of these words from Jesus? It seems to be a pretty clear and simple statement …
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Provocative Bible Verses: Rejoice in the Lord Always
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice" Philippians 4:4 How in the world does the Apostle Paul expect us to always be joyful? Does he really intend that we are to be like some Christians and walk around life as if we are on some spiritual cloud nine, totally oblivious to …
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Provocative Submission: The Lure of Islam
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Hebrews 12:9 Any discussion about a life of submission in the 21st century has to take into account the growing popularity of Islam. The reason is …
That First Christmas, What Jesus Sacrificed for Us.
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" Philippians 2:5-7 We usually think of the Cross as the sacrifice that Jesus …
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Hey, I’m Published!
Okay, shameless self promotion time! Recently I was asked to write an article for Church Solutions Magazine about the use of the internet in Christian ministry. The article has been published as part of their online magazine and will appear in the print version in March. So here is the link to the online version. …
Provocative Bible Verses: Love Your Enemies
When love is seen as nothing more than a fleeting emotion that we can't control, that we fall in and out of, and that comes and goes in a completely arbitrary way, then it is impossible to obey the command of Jesus to love our enemies. So either something is seriously wrong with our understanding …
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Provocative Submission: Is God Really Your King?
Recently I was witness to evidence of that amazing transformation from Communism to Democracy that has been experienced in Ukraine. As a former Soviet Republic the people of Ukraine spent seventy years under communist domination. Since the break up of the Soviet Union there has been a great deal of political turmoil in Ukraine as …
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Would You Give Up Your Wedding Ring for Jesus?
Imagine being convinced that God wants you to make a difference in the lives of other people by giving up your wedding ring. My friend Ali Eastburn was faced with just that situation. Ali learned about the desperate need for clean water in western Africa. People were dying every day because of unclean water when …
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Newsweek Magazine and the Case for Gay Marriage
The cover story for the upcoming December 15th issue is titled, "Our Mutual Joy". The subtitle contends that the Bible is actually supportive of gay marriage and that opponents of gay marriage don't understand what the Bible teaches. While I will admit that many opponents of gay marriage don't understand what the Bible teaches, after …
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Provocative Worship pt 3: What the Father is Looking For
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23 & 24 When Jesus had a conversation with the …
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The Provocative Christian 