Blogs – Church of God Independent Ministries, Medina, Ohio

DO YOU REFLECT CHRIST IN YOUR LIFE? – BLOG 60

A question sometimes comes up in our lives about our merciful Savior’s sacrifice. Do you know what it is? It goes something like this: Do you live your life reflecting and being mindful of the sacrifice that Jesus made for you?

For a Christian, this question matters. We should, without a doubt, live our lives appreciating the cost that Jesus paid for our sins. As Christians, we should live to honor Jesus with our every word, thought, and action. However, it goes deeper than that… or at least it should.

THE TIMES OF THE SEASONS BLOG 59

Here in beautiful Western North Carolina, in my beloved “Upstate” of South Carolina, we experience four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. These seasons have been set from the beginning by God specifically for his people to assemble for worshiping him.
“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:”
-Genesis 1:14

CONTENDING WITH CONSPIRACY THEORIES -BLOG 58

Interestingly, the term “Conspiracy Theorist” is surrounded by a conspiracy theory of its own, concerning the origin of the “term.” Many think the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) originated it, but surprisingly, it was used in the 19th century. As early as 1863, Charles Astor Bristed of the New York Times mocked and accused the British Elites of arranging the circumstances of the American Civil War for profit. However, the phrase meant nothing more than the “idea about a secret plot.” It was simply regarded as a news story. It was not considered a derogatory label until the 20th century.

SHOULD WOMEN PREACH? – BLOG 57

The question of whether women can give sermons in church keeps coming up. As a Christian woman, I hear it discussed among congregations, Bible studies, and online conversations. Many churches are now ordaining women as pastors, bishops, and elders. Some branches of Judaism even have female rabbis.

Salome: The Mother of Boanerges – BLOG 56

We are introduced to the Zebedee family in Mark 1:19-20. They are in the fishing business and are in their boat, mending their nets. Jesus comes walking by after calling both Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him, and says to James and his brother John to follow Him as well.

Apparently, we are told they left their dad immediately, who was in the boat with the hired servants, and followed Jesus. This appears to be an odd situation. Clearly, who just leaves their family business (which was large enough to have hired help) when asked by what appears to be a stranger, and to follow Him (Matt. 4:21-22)? It doesn’t seem to make sense unless, perhaps, Jesus wasn’t a stranger? This will become clearer as we proceed.

HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY AMERICA – BLOG 55

Many have called this nation the “American Experiment!“ Considering the many challenges this nation has faced in its journey, it’s a miracle that it survived the obstacles that tested its resolve and determination. Frankly, when considering the odds against winning its independence from the world’s greatest military at the time, with a ragtag militia, you would suspect there is more here than meets the eye.

DID CHRIST REPLACE AND END THE LAW? – BLOG 54

Most of Traditional Christianity believes Christ came to do away with the Law. The teaching goes that He “nailed it to the cross!” They will quote: “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believes” (Rom. 10:4). Are we to understand Jesus’ statement, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law…” (Matt. 5:17) is abrogated by Paul’s comment? Therefore, Christians are now released from any obedience to the Law?

HUMAN WOMEN, ANGELS AND SEX! – BLOG 53

I think it’s fair to say that most of us have been exposed to the idea that many people believe that angels have been sexually involved with human females before the Noachian Deluge, and produced hybrid creatures from these sexual encounters. The Book of Enoch claims this to be true and labels these creatures as “Nephilim.”

SO WHAT ABOUT 1JOHN 5:7 – BLOG 52

There is a lot of debate about the authenticity of the Bible, specifically the King James Bible, which comprises 66 books in both the Old and New Testaments. Currently, there is a surge of interest in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Bible and its 81 canonized books. Questions emerge about why and how did this happened? People want to know whether we are using the complete Bible or whether additional books should be included.

GOD’S ULTIMATE GOAL – BLOG 51

Those of us in God’s Church who observe the Sabbath and Holy Days as required just completed the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. These Holy Days have deep and rich meaning for our understanding of God’s “Plan of Salvation” and the key components that form its foundation.