MIRAGE

  PANCAKES!!             As I pen this correspondence, we have just started the Lenten season and our approach to the realization/celebration of the Cross of Calvary. Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday has just passed. As I reflected on the Scriptural basis of these two dates on the Christian calendar something came to mind…PANCAKES!             It is traditional that on Shrove Tuesday (derived from the word shrive meaning absolution for ones sins) church organizations have pancake suppers. Do you know why they do this?             In the Old Testament, as the Israelites left Egypt, God commanded them to make bread without yeast for their journey. Why?             As it is with God often, He has multifaceted reasons for teaching us life lessons from the Word o...

  THE DUST OF THE RABBI Jesus Christ-the Mediator Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV) With so much conflict and division in our world today it is important for Christians to exercise Biblical principles in conflict mediation, resolution to conflict, peace and unity. Jesus Christ is the example to us for conflict mediation. Q: Have you ever been, or felt like, you were completely misunderstood? Q: Are you dealing with a conflict in your life right now? Jesus understood and addressed conflict!  John 2:13-16: Jesus clears the Temple. Money changers were charging God's people a years wages to make their sin offering and to celebrate Temple festivals as instructed by God. Jesus moved into action because it was a disgrace for God's people be be price gouged to worship in obedience to God, exercising their faith.  John 7:53-8:11: A sinful woman was brought out into the street where a crowd, including Pharisees, awaited to prosecute her for her sinful behavior. Jesus tells the angry mob,...