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Author: pete.stohlman

An Emergency Without Urgency?

An Emergency Without Urgency?

The words “urgency” and “emergency” would seem to have much in common.  They’re both nouns.  They sound so very similar, and no wonder—their last two syllables are identical. But that’s just the beginning. Situations repeatedly arise, in which both words are applicable in the same place, at the same time and for the same reason.  It would be a challenge to name many other words more closely related in terms of proximity, causation, duration, and proportion.  Both urgency and emergency can trigger powerful emotions and great…

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Mourning The Messiah

Mourning The Messiah

Believe it or don’t, Jesus Christ is coming again.  Let that sink in.  Like it or not, He is returning.  Regardless of whether you expect it to happen, it will.  It’s a fact, not a fantasy—a truism, not a belief or a wish or even a fear.  It’s just reality. Oh, you can argue, you can protest, you can swaddle yourself in great swirling clouds of self-delusion and denial—but only until His arrival.  This date with destiny is on its way.  It is on schedule.  It is roaring toward us…

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Emmanuel In Reverse

Emmanuel In Reverse

It’s Christmas Eve 2021 as I write this column.  Naturally, the Nativity is on my mind.  Let’s read together the brief account in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 18-25.  I’ll share a few thoughts as we go. 18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Mary was “found [to be] with child.”  The child was not Joseph’s.  He and Mary were…

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A Kingdom For The Asking

A Kingdom For The Asking

The religious and political upper crust of first century Jewish society thought that they were finally getting just what they’d been wanting for ages.  Money had changed hands.  A secret arrest had been made.  The man at the top of Jerusalem’s ‘most wanted’ list could not rightly be called public enemy number one, because he wasn’t an enemy of the public—just a threat to the power structure.  But he had been hauled in and now stood bound before them.  After the skullduggery it had taken…

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Time Capsule

Time Capsule

Have you ever contributed items for inclusion in a time capsule or been in attendance when one is placed or opened?  If not, have you watched or read stories about the discovery or planned exhumation of a time capsule on an anniversary date or at the expiration of a specified interval?   What most intrigued or inspired you about the experience?  What sparked your curiosity or fueled your imagination? As everyone knows, a time capsule cannot be swallowed and does not contain any time. It…

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Knowing and Being Known

Knowing and Being Known

If I did not know Jesus Christ and did not expect Him to return for me and for all who trust in Him, I would not, could not know love, peace, joy and hope.  I would know crushing disappointment, seething hatred, suffocating panic, and utter despair. Think about a Christ-less world for two minutes.  What do you see? Your very existence the result of an inexplicable series of accidents, a product of random chance, without meaning, purpose or intrinsic value.   No answer to existential…

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A Most Unusual Servant

A Most Unusual Servant

One of the greatest of the ancient Hebrew prophets was a man named Isaiah.  Chapter 52 of the book of the Bible that bears his name introduces us to someone popularly known as “the suffering servant.”  He doesn’t start out that way. In verse 13, we learn that this servant is unique: “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.”  Prudent (judicious, wise, shrewd).  Exalted (elevated, of greatly superior status). Extolled (praised, glorified, lauded). Very high (extraordinarily or…

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Let Save And Live

Let Save And Live

The venerable phrase, “Live and let live” is a familiar one.  It should be, having been around for about four hundred years [originally a Dutch proverb, it’s first appearance in English dates from around 1622].  The idea seems to have been, ‘live as you see fit and allow others to do the same.’  Expressed as a negative, it would be, ‘Don’t interfere with others, lest they interfere with you’ or ‘Leave others alone, so they’ll leave YOU alone.‘  It is not the Cold War’s strategic…

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The Last Shall Be First

The Last Shall Be First

This is my 36thcolumn for this blog (Correspondent for Christ).  For some time now, I have ended most of them with a simple list called, “Some Key Truths.” It’s intended to reinforce the themes that I write about and as a reference for those looking for more information from the Bible on God’s plan for saving people.  It can also serve as a memory aid for those who want to share their newfound faith, but don’t yet know God’s word well enough to…

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Wishes, Dreams And Substance

Wishes, Dreams And Substance

At special times such as celebrating one’s birthday or favorite holidays, the subject of wishes arises of itself.  Those close to us are suddenly keen to know what would please us—what we might like, feel want of or desire.  Some ask our preferences because they are interested in our thoughts on how to enhance the pleasure of the whole family or group on the occasion at hand.  Such curiosity is somewhat rare.  Human beings as a rule, are not often asked for their wishes…

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