CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
The Lamb of God — Part 1
From the very beginning before the boundaries of our physical lives, time and space — before planet earth — before all that we know — Jesus' birth as the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world was determined.
It All Comes From God – by Greg Albrecht
Here in the United States this is the time after Thanksgiving. It's a time of the year when it can be so easy to forget that what we are eating and enjoying is what God has given us, for every good and perfect gift is from above…(James 1:17). Here in the U.S. we just experienced Black Friday—the day after Thanksgiving, a day when many people are off work and flood the shopping malls, trying to get a head start on Christmas shopping.
Another year of Christmas hype is in full swing. It's a time when Christmas decorations, advertisements, and promotions urge us to buy ...
CWR Video – Our Incarnated Lives – by Steve McVey
https://player.vimeo.com/video/115914372
One Week in December – by Greg Albrecht
Friend and Partner Letter from December 2024:
On Monday, a couple signed divorce papers. The end of 32 years together – now a fractured family, with three children, in-laws and many friends. What will happen now? Does this divorce matter to God? So this is Christmas?
On Tuesday, a husband and father left work, got on a bus to go home to his family. Two young people appeared, demanding his money, cell phone and wedding ring. He resisted, was beaten and stabbed and left to die as the teens left the bus. Where was God?
On Wednesday, a 60-year-old woman visited ...
Good Tidings to You – Ed Dunn
This Month at PTM - December 2024
Watch a short video and the message on "Good Tidings to You" by Ed Dunn as he updates us on the latest from Christianity Without the Religion and Plain Truth Ministries.
https://vimeo.com/1029396634
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
November 30, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“Another year of Christmas hype is in full swing. It’s a time when Christmas decorations, advertisements, and promotions urge us to buy and spend, and during such a time it’s so easy to forget that anything and everything we have – physically or spiritually – is from God. In his book Jesus: The Man Who Lives, Malcom Muggeridge commented on the Christmas shopping season, saying that it is ‘a mighty exercise in salesmanship, a gala occasion in the great contemporary cult of consumerism, an act of worship ...
The Golden Rule
A form of the golden rule is used by many parents to teach children how to think of the needs and concerns of others, but it's usually not the Golden Rule. It's a variation of it and a powerful illustration of how humans often turn the gospel of Jesus Christ into religion.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0287.mp3
5 Books Now Available in the “WONDERS” Series
The latest book now available - Wonders of His Joy.
Consider all the wonders of God, the beauty of all creation and wonder at how he adorned this earth with his extravagantly exquisite, delightfully amazing created order, reminding us of his undying love. These are beautiful books to display on your coffee table.
Consider a Christmas gift of a beautiful book in the "Wonders" series.
Beautiful coffee table display books:
Wonders of His Grace, Wonders of His Love, Wonders of His Peace, Wonders of His Word and the latest Wonders of His Joy.
Order a ...
The Peace of Thanksgiving – by Ed Dunn
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful – Colossians 3:15
Thanksgiving just gets me all warm and tingly and all kinds of wonderful inside - Willard Scott
There is something magical about a Thanksgiving Day morning. Maybe it’s the fact that Thanksgiving Day is a guaranteed holiday (and the next day too) for most people from the rigors and routine of normal workplace demands. Maybe it’s the sense that if you wake up early enough, life as we experience it in the day-to-day seems to ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
November 28, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“From a Christ-centered perspective Thanks-Giving is aptly named, for giving thanks is one of the most inevitable characteristics evident in those in whom the Master lives and works.
Sadly, it seems giving thanks and being grateful is increasingly becoming extinct in our world. The plight of many today, particularly the younger generation, is that their spiritual senses have been overwhelmed by the ultimate goal of self-gratification. Many find themselves enslaved and captivated by passive distractions, with their ...
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving sneaks up on people and presents a unique dilemma: though united in celebrating Thanksgiving there is much disagreement about giving thanks and to whom to give it.
Christian Gratitude
Thanksgiving is a time for Christians in particular to pause and reflect. Greg talks about Christian gratitude -- a kind of gratitude that transcends normal human appreciation -- that reaches beyond materialistic and surface happiness into a deeper and more profound spiritual joy.
Generosity Without Expectations – Greg Albrecht
A youth group from a prosperous North American suburb volunteered to help a pastor serve meals in an inner-city soup kitchen. Before this experience, most of these young people had only seen homeless people through their car windows as they and their family happened to drive through a poor part of town.
It was just before Thanksgiving, and the young people served a hot meal of beans, turkey, mashed potatoes and yams to a long line of people. As they filed past these young people filling empty plates with generous servings, few of the homeless people made any eye ...
Women Pastors – Greg Albrecht
Question:
Do you have a response to address the issue of women ordained as pastors or church leaders? Some denominations permit and others prohibit. Your take?
Response:
Thanks for your question. I believe there are several considerations of this question and they deserve an answer and an opinion:
1. Must any denomination ordain women as pastors and priests? According to the biblical record, no. There is no requirement to ordain women.
2. Asking from a different direction, there is no explicit biblical requirement that requires a denomination ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
November 26, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“Accepting God’s love makes all the difference – all the difference between a stale, mechanical, going-through-the-motions relationship with a religious institution, and an up-close-and-personal intimate relationship with God. Accepting God’s love is connecting with God. Connecting with God usually means we must lose our religion – we must unplug from religion in order to connect with God.
God loves us because of who he is, never because of who we are or what we do. I believe God’s message to you and me goes ...
In All Things — Give Thanks
Have we forgotten the blessings we've been given and the God who makes them possible? Thanksgiving is rooted in the gratitude we have to God because he is the giver of every good and perfect gift.
December 2024 – CWR magazine
CLICK HERE to read now:
Brad Jersak Sometimes, Waiting Is Hard – pg. 2
Laura Urista Great Gifts in Small Packages – pg. 4
Greg Albrecht Believe Him & Receive Him – pg. 5
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An Attitude of Gratitude
Thanksgiving is not just a national holiday -- it's an important part of being a Christian. When we truly understand the reasons for being thankful, we can't stop ourselves from expressing our appreciation to God.
Q&R: “Vengeance is Mine”? Brad Jersak
Romans 12:9 says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” How shall we read that?
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"Thank You for Accepting Me"
We give thanks for the substance expressed by the words of Paul Tillich: "You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you. Simply accept the fact you are accepted!"
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