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the sanctified muse
Tag Archives: grace
Confronting Calvin
An evening Bible study with some friends turned into an intense discussion recently. Sparks flew. There was the potential for unpleasantness, but no one said anything they would have to apologize for later. It ended just the way a discussion … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Arminian, Arminianism, Calvin, Calvinism, death, eternal punishment, everlasting torment, free will, God's wrath, grace, hell, judgment, mercy, predestination, redemption, salvation, sin, suffer, T.U.L.I.P., the second death, TULIP, wrath
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Reflections on Psalm 119
Psalm 119:1-8 (א Aleph) There are potent rewards for obeying God’s law and seeking Him earnestly, which come to all who put off the sinful nature and resolutely submit to God.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged choose, compassion, disobedience, divine, evil, God, grace, idolatry, Jesus, judge, judgment, law, love, mercy, obedience, patience, rescuing, salvation, Savior, sin, submission, surrender, wandering, waywardness, wrath
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Friendship with God
From God to Us Some would argue that not everyone seeks friendship from God. What about atheists? What about people who just want God to leave them alone to live their lives the way they see fit? First, I don’t … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged belief, calling, crucifixion, faith, friend, friendship, gift, giving, God, grace, heaven, identification, Jesus, love, lovesick, partner, relationship, sacrifice, sharing, suffering, trust, truth
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The Kindness of God
A close friend sent me an article that posed the question: Does our sin prevent the Holy Spirit from moving in our lives? The question is a difficult one. The answer is bound to lie somewhere between two cultural extremes.
The Hotel McCutcheon
It has taken a long time for me to write this story. For many months, ever since my sister, Erica, died, I have made half a dozen false starts. More than once, I got several paragraphs down only to lose … Continue reading
Posted in Kindness
Tagged bereavement, camaraderie, death, fellowship, food, friendship, fun, generosity, grace, Grief, hospice, hospitality, hotel, kindness, lodging, loss, mourning, passing, wake
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A Pointed Reminder
I just got corrected by God. It wasn’t a harsh correction. To the contrary, my own conscience supplied all the bite. A member of my family came forward to apologize for hurtful things he has done and said. I admit, … Continue reading
Posted in Faith
Tagged anger, apology, blood promise, charity, commitment, contempt, contrition, faith, faithful, Father, forgiveness, gentleness, grace, grieve, Holy Spirit, hope, hostility, indifference, invalidation, kindness, love, patience, secure, tears
2 Comments
Stream of Consciousness
I’ve had an article nearly completed for about a week, but I can’t finish it. The part that is holding me up is what I call the “heartswell” portion.
Posted in Grace
Tagged blessing, confession, discovery, divine, enlightenment, grace, growth, law, legalism, liberty, license, love, patience, power, speech, stream of consiousness, truth
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Doomsday Gospel
“Westboro Baptist Church targets Taylor Swift,” the headline read. The article had a flavor of outrage, and rightly so. Fred Phelps, WBC’s leader and tireless purveyor of damnation, is at it again. This time, as chronicled by Pop Spy’s Jennifer O’Dell, … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity in Politics
Tagged condemnation, damnation, debauchery, decadence, evil, forgiveness, fornication, Fred Phelps, God, Gospel, grace, heathen, immorality, Jesus, kindness, love, lust, mercy, patience, politics, press, promiscuity, sexual immorality, sin, Westboro Baptist Church
2 Comments
Diverging Paths
I got a text from an old friend yesterday that put the last 20 years of my life in a whole different light. I had an insanely demanding day yesterday and wasn’t able to read Richard’s text until this morning
Posted in Grace, Love, Suffering
Tagged choices, confinement, corrections, crime, deliverance, diverging, fork, fortune, God, grace, incarceration, institutions, jail, justice, juvenile, life, locked up, mercy, path, prison, punishment, redemption, road, salvation
9 Comments
Portable Sunshine
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.” –Hebrews 11:1 It’s a beautiful day. I’m gritting my teeth as I write this. Declaring this day beautiful is roughly the equivalent of looking around … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Trust
Tagged assurance, belief, carping, cheer, complaining, confidence, ebullience, entitlement, exultation, grace, gratitude, negative, optimism, peevishness, petulance, positive thinking, sunshine, trust, visualization, whining
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