Do we really know where Jericho is? If so, do the archeological remains support or oppose the account found in scripture? This video from Joel Kramer talks about that. youtu.be/C27CmsSGx5Y?is=II1_…

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you have had a great day! I’ve noticed among churches there is phrasing that sounds like a synonym, but aren’t actually synonyms. These words are “follower,” “disciple,” “Christian,” “apostle,” “saint” and “ecclesia.” So what are the nuances and how are they different? “Followers” have chosen to put their faith in Jesus and follow his teachings. “Disciples” study his teachings and help followers become disciples by guiding them. “Christians” has become a loose, broad term that requires qualification to understand what a person claims to believe about Jesus. All saints could be Christian but not all who say they are Christians are saints/ followers/ disciples (see below). “Apostle” is one called by God to build churches and guide them, they also had the authority to write scripture. Some charismatic and Pentecostal churches still use the term, but overall, most recognize it as only applying to first century church fathers. “Saints” is used to describe one who has the Holy Spirit. Saints can be found among all churches and make up the Church. “Ecclesia” (or the Church) is the assembly or gathering of saints and who up the Body of Christ of which Jesus is the Head. There is overlap among terms but they are used to convey a particular understanding when used versus another word being used. Disciples and followers are understood to be saints, and saints understood to be followers and disciples. All saints make up the Church of which Jesus is the Head, his ecclesia upon which he used apostles to build up and guide, that his Kingdom would grow as a mustard seed. Have a wonderful week everyone!

"For spiritual nature, like bodily nature, will be served; deny it food and it will gobble poison." - CS Lewis

In the popular anime series Danmachi (Is it Wrong…) a their, Lily encounters the the main protagonist, Bell, she plots to steal gear from him so she can pay off her debt and leave here abusive familia (followers of a chosen Greek deity). Ultimately, she pretends to be his friend and supporter, but she plots to lure him to a dangerous place filled with high level monsters. She swipes his knife, and with a trap set to keep him occupied (or kill him) she abandons him to the monsters and flees. A short while later she is ambushed by abusive members of her familia. They beat her, take her spoils, and leave her for dead to other monsters that begin feeling the room. At the moment she accepts she is going to die, Bell stands in front of her, not to attack her, but defend her. She can’t understand. Why? Why would he risk his life for her when she stole from him and left him for dead to fulfill her own ambitions? Bell kills the monsters, but then does the unthinkable. He asks if Lily is okay. He approaches her in love, gentleness and kindness. She becomes irritated, angry, and incredulously asks what’s wrong with him. Is he stupid? Doesn’t he understand she stole from him and abandoned him to die?! He hugs her and explains that he made up his mind not to abandon her. As he hugs her, her anger turns to weeping. Through this love she becomes undyingly loyal to Bell. As Jesus died he forgave those who abandoned him and those who were killing him. When he resurrected he returned to his followers and chose them to start his ecclesia, his assembly. When we sin we rebel against God, but when we place our faith in Him the Spirit will not leave us, He stays with us even when we stumble and fall. That is the kind of love he invites us to. No matter what we have done, all are invited to enter into a relationship with him and he will save us from eternal death. This is an example of the power loving your enemy can have. Who is our enemy? Who has mistreated us? How can we show love to them that that may glorify God? Does anyone else know of examples where they have found Christian principles acted out in anime?

In his book A Grief Observed, CS Lewis penned, “We cannot see anything properly while our eyes are blurred with tears.” As we move past or away the sorrow of one’s passing, the fond memories are remembered more clearly and often.

A question I was asked recently I’d like to share with my Christian brothers and sisters: If someone was to define Jesus by how they see you live, what would they think of Jesus? When we proclaim we follow Jesus and live according to our desires, and respond as the world would, we dishonestly represent Jesus to the world, and tell them through our words and actions, “this is what Jesus is like.” We as Christians may be the only example of Jesus someone has ever seen. Is it no wonder then there are so many different interpretations of who Jesus is, when we as his followers act as ambassadors but don’t represent who he was. If our actions are not reflecting who scripture reflects Jesus to be, we need to ask ourselves how we might better live out Jesus so that others who don’t know him, might know him.

Never forget the innocents and the first responders who lost their lives because of the cowardly actions of a few evil, and hateful men 25 years ago. As we look to the future, let’s continue to support those who stand as bastions between the innocent and the evil that might try to harm them. May America become a place where the innocent find peace and where the terrorist become terrified to act. God bless America! May we as a nation continue to flourish under God.

Found this article for dealing with doom scrolling through a Christ-centered world view. I found it to be a great article backed by scripture, reason, and insight which provides practices that may change how we as Christians might approach social media in order to maintain a healthy mind and spirit, and recognizing but not being afflicted by the despair and evil in the scrolling. ibelieve.com/christian-livin…

“We might have theological knowledge... But if our actual identity is built on our careers, our reputations, our accomplishments, our family names, or our social positions, we'll be just like Nicodemus.” coldcasechristianity.com/wri… via @jwarnerwallace

Just saw these limited edition Neon Genesis Evangelion keyboards. So cool!

Happy Independence Day!!! Celebrating 250 years of freedom!!!

Happy Father’s Day to the father’s here. For those whose loving fathers have passed away, use this day to celebrate their memory. For those fathers who didn’t have good fathers or know their fathers, use this day to think about becoming the father you wished your father had been for you. And finally, take comfort in knowing there is a Heavenly Father who loves us and made a way for us to be reconciled to him.

youtu.be/h1IgvRGJyio?si=Z-M3… Sean McDowell interviews daughter of Billie Jean!

Some gave a little, some gave a lot, and some gave everything. Take a minute to remember those who gave everything and thank those who gave anything.