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Genesis 3: (The Fall) Everyone knows the story. God creates boy and girl, boy meets girl, girl meets snake, and everything goes off the rails. The first man and woman lived in a perfect harmony with God, and there was only one rule. "'You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die'"(Genesis 2:17). The serpent ...
Keep ReadingMatthew 9:35-36 What does it mean to be outwardly focused as Christians? From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus showed us that living our faith meant caring for our neighbors. When Jesus surveyed the throngs of people, their collective distress moved him to action, to be outwardly focused. "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed ...
Keep ReadingActs 4:32-34 Sharing doesn't come naturally to us. Just look at toddlers. I think of my 3-year-old granddaughter and how she will grab things, sometimes out of my hands, and declare that the item is "my special _______ "(you can fill in the blank with anything here!). At present, it seems like most things are her "special things" and I must coax her to be more generous, t...
Keep ReadingWhen they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life" (Acts 11:18). I have a friend, I'll call her Jane, who is an atheist. She is a committed follower and goes to weekly atheist meetings and "game nights" in Raleigh. She likes the open atmosphere of support and non-judgement...
Keep ReadingJosiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites,and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God (2 Chronicles 34:33). "Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better" (Maya Angelou). This week, our study focused on Josiah, the 16th king of Judah. During his rule, "he did what was ri...
Keep ReadingLeave your simple ways and you will live: walk in the way of insight (Proverbs 9:6). Years ago, I set up a meeting with my stepdaughter several months after her wedding. Weddings are wonderful but also terribly stressful even in the best of situations. Blended families are challenging to navigate, and sometimes big family events, like a wedding, can topple an already deli...
Keep ReadingProverbs 8:22-36 If you were to ask me to define wisdom, the first word that comes to mind would be creativity. Britannica defines creativity as the "ability to make or otherwise bring into existence something new". A high level of knowledge, ability or understanding is the springboard for creative individuals. Steve Jobs, Einstein and Michelangelo all used their expertis...
Keep ReadingMatthew 21: 1-11 I love Palm Sunday. I have never been to a Palm Sunday service that failed to uplift my spirit. The Bible verses, the wild exuberance of the music, the palm fronds waving in the congregation-it all comes together in a celebration of Jesus' victorious ride into Jerusalem. To me, it also represents a "pause" in time of just one beautiful day, before the Jaw...
Keep ReadingWelcome to our newest CD writer, LynneHunt! She is a retired UNC faculty member, lives in Briar Chapel and enjoys taking classes (art, writing), her book club, and playing with her two little granddaughters. John 11:1-44 Have you ever found yourself frustrated as you waited on God? You pray and pray and pray and it turns out God's answer and timetable often look radicall...
Keep ReadingJohn 4:4-42 I am not very good at talking to unbelievers about Jesus. My infrequent efforts seem awkward and tentative. There is also a good deal of what might be considered overthinking in the mix. But what if it is fairly simple? This week's passage of the conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well just might hold the key I have been seeking. She was th...
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