1786 results for tag: Greg Albrecht
Bargaining with God by Greg Albrecht
Friends and Partner Letter from June 2014
The chief object of education is not to learn things; nay, the chief object of education is to unlearn things. – G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
The first serious conversation most of us ever have with God is when we realize we are in a world of hurt. Our back is against the wall – we have painted ourselves into a corner and we desire to have a heart-to-heart talk with God so he will get us out of the mess we’re in. Typically, the first time we wanted God to really listen to us was also when we offered him a bargain.
Do you remember? Perhaps the first serious discussion you had with God was ...
Is It Possible To Be … Spiritual But Not Religious? Greg Albrecht and Brad Jersak
GREG: Is it possible to be … Spiritual But Not Religious?
I’ve previously addressed this topic in sermons and we’ve touched on it in shorter articles as well. But the question is huge because it goes to the morphing of what it means to be church and do church.
Typical 'spirituality surveys' demonstrate that many North Americans believe one can be spiritual without necessarily being religious. Of course, definitions of both words must be considered when this question is pondered. Does ‘spiritual’ refer only to one’s own inner life, or does it acknowledge a spiritual world (including a God) ...
Question: Women in Pastoral Ministry – Greg Albrecht
QUESTION:
I spent some time in two church organizations both of whom believed women should not be involved in pastoral ministry. But I now question this view.
I did make a sort of peace with the idea over the fact that I'd rather hear a woman speak truth than hear a man speak nonsense. In spite of that though, I'm still a bit troubled by the Epistles of Paul on this issue. I'm aware of the argument that Paul's statements were directed to a male dominated culture but that raises the question that if the culture were wrong, why did God cater to it?
What I want to understand is the theology of this issue. I don't ...
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
What've I got to do to make you love me? What've I got to do to make you care?
—Sorry Seems to Be The Hardest Word, Elton John, 1976
Unrequited love normally brings to mind memories of romantic, "puppy love" that failed to hear an echo. But teenage infatuations that end in agonizing, emotional dramas are surpassed in intensity by the crushing heartbreak experienced when, for some reason, a parent or child fails to respond to each other. This is a story of a girl and the relationship she yearned to have with her father.
Like many others in her generation, Karen grew up in a home ruled over by an authoritarian veteran of World War 2. Karen, ...
Is God Disappointed With You?
There is no doubt the "disappointed God" must be included in the Top Ten Misunderstandings of God. Here's the heavenly picture this erroneous stereotype creates: the "disappointed God" sits, slumped forward on his heavenly throne, head in hands, peering down, sighing and frowning, disillusioned and frustrated with you and me. This misconception of God presents God as dismayed and despondent because of our seemingly never-ending failures. The "disappointed God" wonders whether you and I will ever learn.
Of course, dissatisfaction exists in our relationship with God, but the frustration is on our part, not that of God's. The disenchantment we feel ...
Who Am I — Who Are You?
Chances are you have asked yourself one or more of the following questions: "Why am I living?" "Am I making a real difference?" "How can I be successful in my life?" "When all is said and done, will my life be regarded as significant or insignificant?"
As we try to answer these questions about what is truly important and how we can be a significant person, our world at large offers counterfeit solutions which lead us through a maze of meaningless activities. A famous musician flying in a private jet is worshipped as an idol—and accorded the ultimate honor of being called a "star" —while a farmer who works the land and produces crops for ...
He is Taking Us to Be With Him – Greg Albrecht
Friends and Partner Letter Dated June 2021
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am (John 14:1-2, my emphasis).
Where will we “go” after we die? What will happen to us? How will we “get” to heaven? If and when we arrive, will “they” let us in? How do we know if we are headed in the right direction so that we will finally arrive? Do we have a “chance” of ...
The ‘WORD’ of God and the word of God
Many Christians speak of the Bible as the word of God. Some even capitalize word (Word) as a term that is synonymous with the Scripture – the Bible. In this context Bible students are motivated by pastors and teachers to “be in the Word.”
I believe the Bible is inspired by God. However, I also believe there is, by design, a substantial human component it the writing, editing, translating, preservation and publishing of the Bible. You have heard the boast made by processed food manufacturers – “untouched by human hands.” The Bible has been touched by many human hands and is therefore fallible and less ...
The Devil and the Problem of Evil – Greg Albrecht
Question:
Some time ago you gave a sermon and talked about Satan, and asked how “real” is he and how “symbolic” is he. I think he is real, and I have many Scriptures that support my conclusion. Of course, I know that there are many references in the Bible which are true but not literally so. Can you elaborate?
Answer:
Some brief thoughts, perhaps if I enumerate them they might be a bit more logical!
The question of the devil, and how “literal” biblical references to his existence are, and how symbolic, is an ongoing discussion – has been for many centuries.
Excuse the ...
The Stretch Marks of a Mother’s Love by Greg Albrecht
Several years ago, an ad agency created a campaign for their clients to impress upon the public at large how important mothers are. They created a set of calculations to help everyone determine how much they owed their mother.
The first measurements were all about the time and effort a mother invests in her growing baby during her pregnancy and during her labor when she gave birth.
The calculations asked each person to include the time their mother spent in labor delivering them—the amount of weight she gained carrying them and the diet she voluntarily followed while she was pregnant to ensure her new baby was as healthy as possible.
...
He IS Our Light and Life – Greg Albrecht
Friends and Partner letter dated May 2021
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven,not built by human hands. Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life... For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, ...
Salvation by Faith Alone? – Greg Albrecht
Question
How can you justify saying that salvation is by faith alone or as you often say “faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone” when James 2:14-20 says something different?
Answer
Some suggest, from the passage in James 2:14-26, that works or deeds in some way conditions of God’s acceptance of us. By way of response:
1. If this passage can be perceived to say such a thing would one passage (a proof text if you like) invalidate the gospel of Jesus Christ and the many passages in the New Testament that emphatically teach that salvation is by Christ alone – faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone? This ...
Just What Do You Mean … The Narrow Gate? – by Greg Albrecht
By Greg Albrecht—
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.—Matthew 7:13-14
This passage is often preached from the perspective of how hard it is to obey God and keep his laws—how hard it is to "make the grade" to get into heaven—how relatively few souls will be counted worthy of heaven while the broad majority will end up in hell.
Matthew 7:13-14 is one of those passages that is regularly preached to mean something altogether different than the meaning that God ...
Getting Caught Up In a Religious Show
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"), sold a field he owned and brought the ...
Downward Mobility
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me ...
You Are Loved
Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you."—Isaiah 49:13-15
This week is Mother's Day here in North America, and we extend a huge thank-you to all mothers, as we celebrate their role in our lives. Having said that, in the midst of all our Mother's Day celebrations we should remember that the outward trappings of ...
May 2021
CLICK HERE to read now
(PDF Format)
Articles:
What Is and Who Is the Church? – pg. 1
Break It Up – pg. 2
My Two "Moms" – pg. 5
Buzzy – pg. 7
Quotes & Connections – pg. 8
The All Star Game of Faith – Greg Albrecht
Baseball season is in full swing, and, as always, this season includes controversy and arguments – not always about the game played on the field. Once again this year politics are creeping into Mom, Apple Pie and Baseball. Reacting to political decisions made by the state of Georgia, the hierarchy of MLB has decided to award the All Star Game, previously scheduled for Atlanta, to Denver, to be played on July 13.
While I have my opinions about this year’s MLB All Star Game, I will not here enter the swamp of political debate about this decision, but rather propose a far more interesting game in which two teams play an All Star ...
Unwavering Faith? Greg Albrecht
A friend of mine, enduring some painful struggles, asked me to continue to pray for him. He was particularly concerned, as he said, that “my faith doesn’t waver.”
I started thinking about “unwavering” faith. Everything human wavers – love, commitment, trust, honesty, fidelity, patience – it all wavers. Human faith wavers. We are not the rock – Jesus is. Jesus is the unmoved mover. He is always here for and with us. Jesus never walks away and abandons us. He is perfectly faithful.
It may well be the most faithful ...
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