On the Assembly reflections website we have an excerpt from Peter Kreeft’s very, very helpful book, Making Sense out of Suffering. Even better, on his website there are MP3’s of his very listenable lectures available free of charge, including one on this same subject, and another entitled Shining Light on the Dark Side. Three [...]
Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category
Peter Kreeft….
Posted in Apologetics, Books, C. S. Lewis, Evil & suffering, Faith, Website recommendation, tagged Books, C. S. Lewis, Evil & suffering, Peter Kreeft on July 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Jesus Interrupted….
Posted in Apologetics, Books, Faith, tagged Apologetics on April 20, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Ben Witherington has a great series of posts on Bart Ehrman’s latest book, Jesus Interrupted: Revealing the hidden contradictions in the Bible (and why we didn’t know about them). Dr. Witherington approaches it on a scholarly level, eschewing any fundamentalistic emotional rant on inerrancy. He deftly teases out the weaknesses in Ehrman’s arguments and brings [...]
“Why should I believe in Easter when life is so difficult?”
Posted in Devotional, Faith, tagged Devotional, Faith on April 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Dave Sable first posted this on Facebook.
“I admit that when I am hit with my occasional bouts of depression that it is hard to really get into the “He is Risen!” spirit. Resurrection Life seems a really cool concept, a neat idea. But the reality feels a million miles away from my experience. Over Passion [...]
The Bible Jesus Read teaser intro….
Posted in Books, Devotional, Faith, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, tagged Christmas, Devotional, Faith, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on February 23, 2009 | 2 Comments »
The Old Testament, from the Assembly point of view (as taught by G. Geftakys based on 19th and early 20th century Exclusive Plymouth Brethren writers) is to be read mainly as an allegory of the Christian life–i.e. Christians can wander in the wilderness as Israel did; but only a few will enter the promised land [...]
It’s not about me….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, Grace, Legalism vs grace, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, Works-based Christianity, tagged Devotional, Faith, growth, Legalism vs grace, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on February 2, 2009 | 4 Comments »
p>Michael Spencer’s posts on grace (here, here and here) gave me an “aha!” moment about what was off-base, spiritually speaking, in the Geftakys Assembly, and other legalistic groups. That kind of perfectionistic performance-based teaching invokes a schema that is all about the individual. Do I have the right attitude – “Are you rejoicing, sister?” Am [...]
An atheist believes Africa needs Christian faith!!
Posted in Faith, The Assembly experience, tagged Faith, Geftakys Assembly on January 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The article As An Atheist, I Truly Believe Africa Needs God has been making the rounds in the Christian blogosphere. It’s a remarkable point of view deriving from the author’s experience growing up in Africa. Well worth reading!
The author argues that far beyond the works of charity done by missionaries, it’s the Christian faith that [...]
“How do I know I am a Christian?”
Posted in Devotional, Faith, The Assembly experience, spiritual abuse, triggers, tagged Faith, growth, spiritual abuse on August 25, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Dr. Eric Thoennes answers the question this way: “For those who question their salvation, the best evidence is not the memory of having raised a hand or prayed a prayer. Nor is it having been baptized or christened. The true test of the authentic work of God in one’s life is growth in Christ-like character, [...]
The deep things of God….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, Grace, The Assembly experience, The love of God, tagged legalism versus grace on August 24, 2008 | 1 Comment »
“Oh dear friends, the time is almost up, and I’ve only just scratched the surface of all the Lord has shown me – the deep things of Gawd!! You must press on to see these things, friends, strive to enter in! I tell you, you’re not going to hear these things anywheres else! If you knew what [...]
Psalm 147 – An incredible sandwich….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, Grace, Joe Sperling devotional, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, tagged Devotional, Faith, Joe Sperling, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on August 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Joe Sperling over on the Assemblyboard posted these thoughts on Psalm 147:
Praise ye the LORD: for [it is] good to sing praises unto our God; for [it is] pleasant; [and] praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel, v.1-2.
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their [...]
Our children….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, The Assembly experience, tagged children of bible-based cults, Geftakys Assembly, spiritual abuse on August 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
After five years of post-Assembly recovery, it seems that quite a few former Assembly members have regained some sense of stability in their lives and the beginnings of restored faith. But the parents among them may still be watching their children struggle with life. Many of us who left long ago – maybe even most [...]
A different concept of God….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, Grace, Spiritual abuse devotion, The love of God, Wisdom, Works-based Christianity, tagged Faith, legalism versus grace, love of God, Spiritual abuse devotion on January 26, 2008 | 2 Comments »
No, I’m not back yet, but I want to pass on this quote from Michael Spencer:
Why are Christians the most incomplete, frantic, “wretchedly urgent” and religiously imbalanced of human beings? Could it be that our conception of God is, “What can he do for me? What must I do for him?” rather than, “The God I worship [...]
God is gracious and full of compassion….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, tagged Grace on August 28, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Joe Sperling shared this thought on the Assembly bulletin board today:
“He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant” - Ps 111:4, 5.
Verse 5 reminds me of Matt. 6:26 where Jesus [...]
That old enemy….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, The Assembly experience, tagged Devotional, Faith, Joe Sperling, Spiritual abuse devotion on August 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Joe Sperling posted this devotional thought on the Assembly bulletin board this morning:
“Our enemy, as always, seeks to alter our perception of God. He seeks to turn Him into a Judge, with “consequences” for every wrong. Thank God he has “not rewarded us according to our iniquities”—
10He hath not dealt with us after our [...]
Faith is incomparably valuable….
Posted in Devotional, Faith, The Assembly misc., tagged Faith, growth on August 7, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
This morning in my reading in I Peter chapter 1 (my listening, actually – “The Word Becomes Flesh” New Testament recorded by Mercy Ministries), I was struck by Peter’s concept that faith is something more precious than gold, and suffering grief in all kinds of trials refines your faith and proves it genuine. Peter’s urgent [...]
