Monday, April 21, 2014

Knockout Punch


I love the sport of boxing and several weeks ago I watched a ten-round championship boxing match. The challenger convincingly won eight out of nine rounds and then was knocked out in the last minute of the tenth. I love pulling for the underdog, so I was in shock!   It looked like he would definitely win, but he didn’t see that knockout punch coming.

Within days of entering the ring, Jesus was betrayed.  He was delivered over to the religious leaders.  His disciples abandoned Him.  He was unjustly tried.  He was whipped and beaten. He was mocked.  He was spat upon.  He was crucified.  He died and was buried. It appeared that the challenger had Jesus on the ropes and hanging up His gloves.  He was put away.

Yesterday was like that tenth round!  Easter is the celebration we look forward to each year but celebrate every day of our lives.  Jesus has risen! He is the Victor!  He has overcome the enemy! Satan is knocked out! 

Monday, April 7, 2014

God's Not Dead!

A church slogan today that is popular in seeking to reach a different generation is "This is not your parents' church." So many of our children head off to campus universities that we must honestly recognize "This is not your parents' university." Parents and church leaders would be naïve and irresponsible to ignore the reality of secular institutions of education disproportionately favoring a stance that God is dead. There are awesome books written to help understand faith in Christ and how to defend one's faith--even if for self-preserving faith:  Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend, by Ravi Zacharias; Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics, by R. C. Sproul; Faith Has Its Reasons, by Kenneth Boa, Robert M. Bowman Jr.; and the Apologetics Bible as well as Rock Solid Faith Study Bible are a great resource for knowing what a Christian believes and why!" Hope this helps!
Coach/PJ
Go see the movie...Awe Inspiring!