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Showing posts from 2022

Free Book Offer: Family Devotional / Time Book Recommendation / Tips

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I'm so excited to offer a free devotional book for families from Bible Visuals International. This is a helpful tool help you to have a consistent family devotional time. Watch for a code for a free book offer for our YouTube channel listeners. New book on Philippians: "Have this mind..." https://biblevisuals.org/product/phil...

Giving Thanks When Life is Rough - Gospel Centered Thanksgiving

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I’m a cup half-full type of person (or at least I hope so). But even the optimist can struggle to  find life’s silver lining. Is there hope for the pessimist?  Society doesn’t help us find the good in the bad, the diamond in the coal, the flowers after the storm. The noise of news and media mania only points our eyes to the coal, the storm, the bad. And then the positive is an afterthought, 20 seconds of copy at the end of the program. But God reminds us that the new-heart gives thanks for all things, the storm and the flowerfull effects. “Always giving thanks for all things  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ  to God, even the Father” (Ephesians 5:20). Giving thanks for all things is done in Christ Jesus. “In Christ Jesus” puts the Gospel in our Thanksgiving and allows us to thank God in all things. Case in point, Paul is writing from prison! And so, considering we’ve been redeemed; we can thank God in all circumstances.  I love the perspective of Pastor and Bible teacher, Matthew H

The Beauty of the Military - NYC Veterans Day Parade 2022

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Happy Veterans Day! Special shout out to David, a good friend from seminary who's deployed right now. Get back safe, brother!

Reincarnation or Resurrection the Path of Hope from a Hindu Temple / Hinduism or Christianity

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Until then, I never considered how stark the difference is between reincarnation and the resurrection, Hinduism and Christianity. Join me at the largest Hindu Temple in NYC (just up the road in Queens, of course), as we consider this together. Recently, I was able to take part in a funeral of a young lady from our church who passed away suddenly. That is never an easy life experience to navigate. And especially because there was no warning for Tara. As I took part in the funeral we found out that most of Tara's friends and family were Hindu whereas she chose to follow Christ as her Savior. And so, this was a way to introduce many to Christ for the first time. What a hope there is in the resurrection!

Book Recommendation from a Writer's Coffee Shop on the West Side - A Gospel Primer for Christians

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Join me at a pastry shop in Manhattan that is known for its ambiance for writers. We'll take a look at a hornets nest on Noah's ark, a huge church building and a one of the best devotional books of the last 50 years. This is a book that you need to read. In "A Gospel Primer for Christians," Vincent keeps us remembering the Gospel in a way that strengthens us as Christians. Order the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Primer-Christians-Learning-Glories/dp/1885904673 Article on Hungarian Pastry Shop: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/t-magazine/hungarian-pastry-shop-new-york.html

Resting in God's Good Works: God causes all things to work together for ...

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Some encouraging words for your morning: “God works all things together for good!” Join me in front of Grand Central station to consider God’s working together all that is in our lives. Words of Grace in front of Helmsley Building in Manhattan.  The works of a clock often flow opposite from the direction of the face. But the designer knew how to make it all work together for good. So our great designer works His good in our lives, even when we feel like the cog is headed in the wrong direction. #encouragement #PositiveThoughts #PositiveVibes #GodIsGoodAlways  #SovereignGrace

Rejoice brothers and sisters, you are "in Christ."

 All the blessings to us in Christ are more than we can count, but let's just name a few of them to encourage us in the faith: In Christ we have Redemption (Romans 3:24). In Christ we are dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11). In Christ we have the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). In Christ we have no condemnation (Romans 8:1). In Christ God the Holy Spirit has set us free from the law of Sin and death (Romans 8:2). In Christ nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39) [ The love of God to you is never based on your works, before or after salvation. Your standing in the love of God from salvation through sanctification to glorification is only and solely in Christ. In Christ we are connected to one another in the church members one of another (Romans 12:5). In Christ we are approved (Romans 16:10). In Christ we are sanctified (I Corinthians 1:2). In Christ we receive the grace of God (I Corinthians 1:4). In Christ we have wisdom from God, righteousness, sanct

Teddy Roosevelt and the Revelation of Space from Sagamore Hill

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Join me at Teddy Roosevelt's family beach on Long Island as we consider the glory of God in space.

The Meaning Behind the Mass: The Roman Catholic Church and the Sacrifice...

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Join me at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs as we consider one of the primary differences between what the Bible teaches and Roman Catholic Tradition.  Why is there a daily priest, sacrifice, altar and propitiation at each church when Christ obtained this as the perfect Priest, Sacrifice on the cross?

Why do you have a hard time getting along with some people at church? Fr...

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There are some people in churches that you get along with very well, while others you may have a difficult time connecting with. Why is that and what should you do about it?

Most Important Lesson for Surviving Life's Storms

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We all face storms of life's circumstances that can overwhelm us. And yet, we know that God leads us into these storms and often "the clouds we so much dread are big with with mercy and will break with blessings on your head." But how do you make it through? How do you survive those waves crashing on the shore of your faith? Matthew 14 shares Peter's lesson of faith during a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Join me as we walk through this rich story and find one primary lesson for surviving your life's trials.

When does the Bible say that life begins? Look at five Bible passages.

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What do Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism have in common? Let's find out. Join me in a park in Briarwood to look at an answer to that question one of life's first questions... when does life begin? We all may have a hunch or about this question, or perhaps some strong opinions, but let's take a few minutes to find out what the Bible says about when life begins.

God is working in ways you can't see: "My ways are not your ways." A Les...

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We all wonder at times, what is going on in our individual lives, or in the world at large. And, it appears that some things are out of control. But the Bible teaches that God is working in ways that we cannot imagine or even see. Let's look at this lesson from a spot in Briarwood. "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8–9) What an encouraging text for us! The way God uses to bring us to Him is still the same, His Word. But He also orchestrates other things into our lives that make us receptive to His Word. Consider taking some time to read Isaiah 53-55 and let His Word draw you to Himself. Consider this text written 700 years before Jesus was born! Isaiah 53:1–6 1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

Best Coffee in Queens + An Apple's Proof for God: Food for Thought for N...

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Take a tour of Forest Hills as we consider an argument for the existence of God. Proving God? Well, it still takes faith. But IMO, it takes more faith to not believe in God and I'd like to share with you a few reasons I say that. So... a new playlist. In this new playlist we'll look at some of the common-sense reasons to believe in God. And we'll use illustrations from the world of food. Along the way, I'll recommend a great spot to eat in NYC. Today, we walk the streets of Forest Hills from Forest Hills Gardens and try a great cup of coffee. Thanks again to Dino B for filming this one. We walked around quite a bit and he did a great job!

Wisdom Calling from the Rooftop: Discerning God's Will - Fifth Pillar: W...

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Our fifth and final pillar is so important. Join me on the rooftop in Forest Hills for a view into God's important principle for wise decision making. "Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 'How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.'" (Proverbs 1:20-23). Often life's biggest decisions are ones that are not exactly right and wrong decisions. Who should I marry? What should I do for education or work? Where should I live? These also can be some of the most difficult decisions we face. So we need to add wisdom principles to our decision making tool belt. Let's learn from Scripture how God would have us make these decisions in a way that

A Few Modern Women - Mother's Day Book Recommendations

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Happy Mother's Day! For Mother's Day let me recommend a few biographies of a few modern ladies that the Lord has used and continues to use in their testimony of Faith. #MothersDay #BookRecommendation #GospelWomen

Harmony of Jesus' Trials - 7 Phases from Arrest to Sentencing

Turns out if you want to put someone to death legally, you have to jump through quite a few hoops and layers of red tape. And so, as the Jewish leaders put Jesus to death, they go through several phases. Each author, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John chooses which scene to develop in their Gospel. Luke’s is the most full. John picks up a couple things the others do not. Mark’s account is the briefest. And yet the both include the primary sentencing from the religious arm (the Sanhedrin) and the secular arm (Pilate). Along the way they go through six different trials or we could say questionings.   Of course, if you want to murder Messiah you have to do so according to the Law. Perhaps one of the saddest sentences in this whole Bible is that the Pharisees would not go into Pilate’s house because that would cause them to be unclean. And so the trials literally take all night long as they try to gather the Jewish Senate together to put Jesus to death legally. 1.      Arrest in the Garden

Wise Words from a Wise Woman to King David: Life is short, reconnect.

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  A wise woman uses a great illustration to appeal to David to put the past in the past and reconcile to others in the future. Let's learn from 2 Samuel 14:14 woman in 2 Samuel 14.

A Harmony of the Gospel Accounts of a Woman Worshiping at Jesus Feet

Each account of this event from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John has small differences. Matthew and John were there, and yet Mark probably heard firsthand from Peter and Luke took firsthand accounts from many eyewitnesses, so it’s not difficult to consider that each person wanted to bring out different parts of the event as they shared it. And yet, these differences do not contradict; they give a fuller picture of what happened as you look at the big picture. By taking all four Gospels as the inerrant Word of God, we gain a four-dimensional, stereo-sound quality to the event. But it is very important, also to harmonize the accounts to know exactly what happened.   1. How often did this event occur?   Question Raised: Luke gives very different details from Matthew Mark and John that appear to contradict.   Answer: As you read Luke’s account, these differences point to an entirely different event. It is in a different house, time frame with major characters as different people present. So