Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
As we stated last week, El means God. Bethel means House of God. El Bethel means house of El or House of God. Bethel is also a place mentioned in the Bible. The first mention is in Genesis 12:8 as a place near where Abram pitched his tent.
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Last week, we discussed what a hypocrite Judas was. Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. {Luke 22:1-2} Once again, we are reminded Passover is approaching. The chief priests and teachers are […]
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Philip was the second mentioned of the seven deacons. After Stephen, he is the best known. The name Philip is Greek and means friend of horses. Philip is listed several times in the book of Acts. He is first mentioned as being chosen as one of the seven deacons. The deacons were chosen to attend to the poor of the […]
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Jesus death on the cross represents the highest form of love, called agape or “unconditional” love. Jesus died for you and for me on the cross, unconditional. He allowed himself to be offered up as a sacrifice for us, but it is up to us if we are willing to accept his gift.My Savior’s Love was written by Charles Gabriel, […]
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This year we will take a look at names of God beginning with El. So, before we begin let’s take a look at the meaning of El. Many of the names of God begin with the suffix El. El originates from the Canaanite language.The word Ēl means God.So, let’s explore some of the names of God beginning with Ēl. Now, to […]
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Judah Iscariot is one of the disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus, however before we discuss this momentous moment, let’s look at what else we know about him. Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. {John 12:1} Judas has been with Jesus for three […]
Read more In Acts 6:1-6 we find mention of seven deacons. However, only two are well know. These two are Stephen and Philip. Acts tells us these seven men were selected as men of good standing and full of the Spriit and wisdom. They were appointed to care for the community, particuarly the widows and hungry. Tradition states these seven men are […]
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When trials come into our lives it is easy to question the circumstances and ask Why Me, Lord? The classic country gospel song, Why Me, Lord? was written by Kris Krisofferson. The song was inspired by Larry Gatlin’s song Help Me Lord. Kristofferson attended a church service where Gatlin’s song was sung. “As Kristofferson explained that the pastor asked, “Is […]
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Anyone who has seen Sister Act 2 remembers the transformation made during the hand clapping rendition of O Happy Day. Philip Doddridge was an 18th Century English Clergyman. He wrote the hymn O Happy Day, that fixed my choice and set it to a melody made by J.A. Freylinghausen in 1704. In the mid-19th Century, Edward F. Rimbault wrote a […]
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Jeremiah 8:22 says “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wounds of my [God’s] people?” {Gilead also mentioned in Jeremiah 46:2,11 and Jeremiah 22:6} It is believed this passage inspired the spiritual There Is a Balm in Gilead. The song emphasizes the comfort found in the Lord God, […]
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is a well-known and popular African American spiritual. The song was written by Wallis Willis, a Choctaw freedman in the old Indian Territory in what is now Choctaw County, near the County seat of Hugo, Oklahoma sometime after 1865. Historians believe he may have been inspired by the sight of the Red River, near where he […]
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Deep River is an African-American spiritual with unknown origins. The song was first printed in the 1876, The Story of the Jubilee Singers: With Their Songs, by J. B. T. Marsh. In 1917, Harry T. Burleigh completed the last of several influential arrangements. The song became very popular in recitals of the early 20th Century. The song was used in […]
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Ira Sankey wrote “Mr. Bliss said to me once, not long before his death, that he hoped that he would not be known to posterity only as the author of Hold the Fort, for he believed that he had written many better songs. However, when I attended the dedication of the Bliss monument, at Rome, Pennsylvania, I found these words […]
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Do you ever have days when your heart is heavy? Do you feel no one cares? We all have times when we are lost, floundering, struggling to understand the difficult times, feel lonely and all alone. No One Understand Like Jesus was written by John W. Peterson. John W. Peterson was born on November 1, 1921 in Lindsborg, Kansas. After […]
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A great and mighty wonder is a little-known Christmas Carol. The hymn is German in origin. The hymn was written by St. Germanus I. He was born in Constantinople of a patrician family in 634 Greece. He was ordained in Constantinople and subsequently became bishop of Cyzicus. He was present at the Synod of Constantinople in 712, which restored the […]
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The Wise Men have worshiped at the feet of the Christ child or baby Jesus. They then bestow three gifts to him of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When they leave, they probably planned to head back to Jerusalem and inform King Herod of the child’s location as he requested. “We do not find that the wise men promised to come […]
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As with Gladness Men of Old is considered an Epiphany hymn more than a Christmas hymn. William Chatterton Dix wrote the hymn on January 6, 1859 while recovering from an extended illness. He was bed bound at his home in Glasgow, Scotland and unable to attend that morning’s Epiphany service at church. While reading the account of the Epiphany or […]
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After a long journey, the wise men have finally arrived at their destination. Can you imagine the commotion as they ride up and tie their camels to the hitching posts? “We may well imagine their expectations were raised to find this royal babe, though slighted by the nation, yet honourably attended at home; and what a disappointment it was to […]
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There’s A Star in the East is a Christmas Carol. Reginald Heber is credited with writing the song. He was in 1783 England and named after his father. He professed his admiration of the hymns of John Newton and William Cower and one of the first High Church Anglicans to write his own hymns. In 1811, he was appointed Bishop […]
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Bethlehem Morning was written by Morris Chapman. The song was made popular by Sandi Patty. Chapman was born in Mississippi in 1940. He served as pastor to several churches in Texas before becoming CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1992-2010. The song takes one to the morning of Jesus birth. Merry Christmas!
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