A lot of us are standing at crossroads in our lives right now. We are trying to make decisions about jobs or other plans for the summer. We are looking for direction about what next year holds, whether with jobs or school or relationships. We are asking questions. We are looking. We are standing before …
The Case for Teaching the Bible
Here's an interesting article on Time Magazine's online journal making a case for why the Bible should be taught as part of the curriculum for public schools and colleges. Why? Because it is the 'bedrock' of Western civilization. It's worth reading if you're interested in education or the connections between biblical literacy and politics.
The Voice of the Evil One, Part 2
But, we may ask, how do we distinguish the voice of the evil one from the voice of God? The key to distinguishing the voice relates to the character or spirit of the voice. Have you ever been approached by a salesperson at your home or at a store who is asking you to consider …
The Voice of the Evil One, Part 1
What about hearing the wrong voice? How do we determine if the voice or voices we are hearing are God's voice, our own voice, or, much worse, the voice of the evil one? It is an often ignored reality that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers …
The Shema of Jesus
Last night at The Ave, we continued our series "Charity Case" by looking at our love for God. You can download the message and presentation slides here. I spent quite a bit of time talking about the Shema, which is the Jewish prayer beginning with Deuteronomy 6:4-5 that Jesus references in Mark 12:28-34. Some of …
Matthew Erickson 