category: grace

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what is a Christian?

Posted by tim gustafson on November 14th, 2011 | 8 responses

Under “religious views” on her Facebook profile, my wife lists the simple phrase “Jesus-follower.” She uses that explanatory term to avoid political and cultural connotations associated with the word Christian. In... read more »

no condemnation

Posted by Jeff Olson on November 5th, 2011 | 7 responses

As an avid angler, I find the stories of Jesus and fishing particularly compelling. In one account, along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus appeared to His disciples for the third time following His resurrection (John 21:1-23).... read more »

boring

Posted by tim gustafson on November 3rd, 2011 | 9 responses

The gospel of Matthew contains the most important news the world has known. Why then, is its beginning so . . . boring? Genesis starts with epic majesty: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In... read more »

rules and order

Posted by pohfangchia on October 27th, 2011 | 4 responses

As you step into the room, you’re greeted by a cacophony of noise. Everyone is talking, but no one is listening. For a moment, you think you’ve stepped into the New York Stock Exchange—but it isn’t that loud, lively... read more »

one big family

Posted by pohfangchia on October 17th, 2011 | 4 responses

Malcolm is a 9-year-old boy who lives in a single- parent home. John is 80 and recently widowed. And then there’s Iris. She recently gave birth to a pair of twins, so now she’s the mother of five girls! Yes, my church is... read more »

why me, Lord?

Posted by an odj community member on October 5th, 2011 | no responses

Romans 8:10-17: Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.... read more »

free

Posted by mike wittmer on October 2nd, 2011 | 3 responses

There are different kinds of free. Some things are free because they’re cheap, like the plastic toy in a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Some things are free because they’re part of a “buy-one-get-one-free” offer. And some... read more »

there you are!

Posted by tim gustafson on September 26th, 2011 | 5 responses

“There are two kinds of people,” said advice columnist Abigail Van Buren. “Those who walk into a room and say, ‘There you are!’ and those who say, ‘Here I am!’” The one Person who could have rightly... read more »

give up

Posted by mike wittmer on September 21st, 2011 | 7 responses

Wildlife officials in my town tried in vain to save a duck that had an arrow sticking through its breast. She flew away whenever their nets came close. It’s hard to blame the frightened fowl. She didn’t understand that... read more »

living the new life

Posted by an odj community member on September 20th, 2011 | 3 responses

Romans 6:1-4: Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we... read more »