Luke 15: 11-24
This parable is about the prodigal son. He wasted his substance with riotous living. He took everything his father (God) had given him, his inheritance and used it for his own pleasure. He said give me my inheritance. He did not ask his father humbly, but demanded his inheritance. His attitude was wrong. God gives us all things; talents, gifts and abilities. These were given to us to be used for God's purpose and for his glory, but sometimes we take these abilities and use them for our own purposes.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Sunday, July 7, 2013
A New Vision of Globalization
Undoubtedly, one of the most important events of 2009 was the long-anticipated release of our previous Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI's third and final encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth). This was the first social encyclical to emanate from the Vatican since Pope John Paul II published Sollicitudo Rei Socialis in 1987. Pope Benedict's first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love), drafted by John Paul II a few months before his death, had been completed and released in December 2005 within the first year of the new pontificate. Two years later in November 2007, Pope Benedict had issued his second encyclical, the first written entirely by him, Spe Salvi (Saved by Hope). This led some observers at that time to wonder whether a reverse pattern of the theological virtues was being set: with the new pope's first encyclical on love and a second about hope, would the third deal with faith? The late Father Richard John Neuhaus said in an EWTN interview with Raymond Arroyo that he did not think this would be the case. Although Father Neuhaus did not live to see the release of our present Holy Father's third encyclical, it turned out that he was correct. (However, Pope Benedict did declare a Year of Faith from October 2012 to November 2013, and he did begin drafting a fourth encyclical on faith that may soon be completed and published by Pope Francis.)
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Are You Simple Minded?
Proverbs 7:1-27
1. My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows. 15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
1. My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words. 6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows. 15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. 16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. 19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. 26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Beyond Laziness Is Blessing
Taking the initiative to go to church on a Sunday morning can be demanding for many of us, particularly those who face the economics of living in a place like the USA where holding two jobs is a norm, and not the exception. Therefore, even on the occasional free Sunday morning, resting, sleeping, or catching up on domestic chores take priority over seeking God's face. Some suggest that salvation, and not the works of faith leads to heaven. Therefore, since they can obtain forgiveness through a clean heart with God, they can safely avoid going to church. The implication is that church attendance is secondary to salvation. This is not true because faith and salvation are not supplementary concepts; rather they complement each other for a true Christian life.
America's Parallels to Egypt Imply Impending Calamity
Since historians and many people believe "history repeats," here are some similarities between Egypt then and America now.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Bible Lesson on a New Creation in Christ
What is Sin?
If you have accepted Jesus into your heart, you should not keep carrying on your sinful lifestyle. Sin happens when you disobey against God's commandments in the bible. Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Immediately after taking a bite from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they became able to discern between right and wrong. They saw their own nakedness and they felt ashamed sir quickly sew fig leaves to clothe themselves.
If you have accepted Jesus into your heart, you should not keep carrying on your sinful lifestyle. Sin happens when you disobey against God's commandments in the bible. Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Immediately after taking a bite from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they became able to discern between right and wrong. They saw their own nakedness and they felt ashamed sir quickly sew fig leaves to clothe themselves.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Bible Study Lesson on Tithing
Not Paying Tithe is Robbing God
Tithing is giving a tenth of your income to God every month. Many Christians think it is unnecessary to pay tithe. They have many excuses when coming to give the ten percents of their incomes to God. Some Christians think they don't need to pay tithe because the church already have enough money to cover the expenses including utility bills and workers salary. This is a wrong concept because tithing is a commandment of God. Not tithing is sinning against God. It is robbing what should belonged to God.
Tithing is giving a tenth of your income to God every month. Many Christians think it is unnecessary to pay tithe. They have many excuses when coming to give the ten percents of their incomes to God. Some Christians think they don't need to pay tithe because the church already have enough money to cover the expenses including utility bills and workers salary. This is a wrong concept because tithing is a commandment of God. Not tithing is sinning against God. It is robbing what should belonged to God.
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