Abram had messed up. He had doubted God's promise to give him a son from his own body. Instead of remembering that the two shall be one and waiting patiently on the Lord, the patriarch acted in response to his wife's misgivings -- that the promise only applied to him, not Sarai. So through polygamy Ishmael was born. Not only did he set a false precedent for God's people having multiple spouses; he also created a controversy that is warred even in our time in the beautiful land of Palestine. This is the Abram whom God approaches thirteen years later in Genesis 17, to whom He says: "I am the Almighty God. Walk before me and be perfect, and I will establish My covenant with you." First, God declares Who He is. To Moses He said, "I am that I AM." A speaker at GYC paraphrased it this way: "Pure existence." To Joshua, The Lord said, "As Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come." He is the General, the Commander-in-chief of the heav...

In one week, my mom and I will be attending the 2013 convention for Generation of Youth for Christ. Do you know what a miracle that is? God is doing and will continue to do marvelous things. I praise Him for His faithfulness in spite of my neglecting His work (like this ministry). The focus of GYC 2013 is "Before Men and Angels." It is based on 1 Corinthians 4:9, which describes the universal impact of the Great Controversy between God and Satan. 1 Corinthians 4:9   For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. That is going to be the PlugIn2God theme for 2014. Our role in the Great Controversy is bigger than accepting Jesus' death on the cross. It goes beyond the cross. Only when we recognize this will we be fit to bear the cross and appeal to other to take up their cross and follow their Savior. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21   For the love of...

Is it not peculiar to ask a Christian if he knows God? So why am I asking that on this a Christian blog? I want to present a challenge to you, and I hope that you will take it.  One day in the very near future, all will see God in all of His glory. Those who have beheld Him by faith will soon behold Him face to face. Those who have rejected Him will be slain by the brightness of His coming, as they are unaccustomed to His glory. Now here's the challenge: Prove God. Some of you have decided that you don't need to take God seriously. That's okay. That comes with age - choosing which concepts stay and which go. But there is a responsibility that comes with this brain sorting. You have an obligation to seriously evaluate everything that stays and everything that goes. I will not promise you that you will accept or reject Christianity; I can only promise you that you will be able to make an informed decision. And you will certainly come to know God. Just t...

Embracing the Cross: It's Not Fair... : Wait a minute. Christians aren’t supposed to be worried about their lives being fair. Or are they? Often when we think about something ...

One of the beauties of the gospel is found in its simplicity. I tend to be a very complicated and convoluted person. But I am easily frustrated when things are not simple. If I cannot understand it; if there are too many definitions; if it must be twisted and turned in order to fit, I deem it to complicated and either challenge it or leave it alone. But the gospel - God's good news, His true message - is true round about. Among the various writers of the Bible; among the different readers of the Bible; all those who are searching for truth and sharing the truth will have the same truth. "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation . For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy ...

My new favorite statement. It is so powerful, and fills me with awe and wonder that God would be so serious about His people. What does it mean to be so close to God? It means that we will be the first ones who He examines before taking us to glory. And should we not be ready? Should we not afflict our souls that we may be found worthy of the bounties of heaven? This little graphic depiction of Scriptures helped outline for me all of the parables that were going through my head. "And begin at my sanctuary..." My mind was flooded with different portions of Scripture; and here they all are for YOU . I believe that no Scripture is of any private interpretation. Is my parallel accurate? Are there any discrepancies? Does it match all the way across the Bible? I pray that this work will be a result of God's Holy Spirit; and I also pray that this work will reach and touch your heart, and guide you into all truth. "And Begin at My Sanctuary..." by Gab...

Our smoothies are back! Take a glass from the life-giving springs! "Jesus answered and said to her, ' If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, "Give Me a drink," you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water' " (John 4:10). "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17). Okay, maybe that does not convince you. Perhaps this will: "In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was  the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree  yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were  for the healing of the nations " (Revelation 22:2, emphasis added). "Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all  kinds of  trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Th...