In the 30’s and 40’s and 50’s, so many inventions were becoming possible because of advances in technologies of both materials and manufacturing that some people started to believe that they could design a “perpetual motion machine.” That concept meant that once you started the engine, whatever it was, that it would not only do some sort of work, but that it would create enough power to run itself. The […]
Author Archive: Douglas Thomas
Freed Slaves
The descendants of Israel who had become enslaved by Egypt were liberated from that slavery very dramatically. When they faced the difficulties and responsibilities of owning their lives, they preferred slavery, though (Acts 7:39)! In John chapter 8 (read verses 30-47) Jesus was talking to some Jews who believed Him. He told them that if they continued in His word, they would know the truth, and the truth would set […]
More Manure, Please
And He told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’ “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year […]
Fixing Ulcers
Dr. Henry Cushing, a surgeon, is quoted as having advised, “Don’t operate on the stomach of a man for stomach ulcer – operate on his head.” His assessment was based on the thought that stomach ulcers are caused by anger and fear, not a weakness in the stomach.
Trusting Human Strength
This is what Yahweh says: Cursed is the one who trusts in adam, who makes human flesh his strength and turns his heart from Yahweh. He will be like a juniper in the Arabah; he cannot see when good comes but dwells in the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land where no one lives. Blessed is the one who trusts in Yahweh, whose confidence indeed is the […]
Being Like Jesus
Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him. Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He […]
Entering and Inheriting
“The kingdom of God is like this,” He said. “A man scatters seed on the ground; he sleeps and rises—night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows—he doesn’t know how. The soil produces a crop by itself—first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head. But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29 […]
12 Steps or 2 Steps
Always a sinner, or dead and resurrected? Always an alcoholic, or healed and delivered?Romans 8:2 – the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Religion would have me believe that it is proper humility to call myself a sinner, saved by grace. Twelve Steps programs would have me confess at each meeting that I am a slave […]
Wrong Concerns
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to You!” But He turned and told Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s.” (Matthew 16:22-23 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©) How can we tell the difference between God’s interests, and man’s? Peter thought that he was keeping Jesus safe… […]
Freedom Through Discipline
On days we are learning great new things that we can do to serve Jesus; we are studying Spanish one day: when we get to the translation of “ice cream,” we decide to take a break and get some ice cream. Our habits become the style that looks for the next break rather than the next breakthrough. We need to set our minds on things above, so that everything in […]