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Hiding in the temple
In Nehemiah 6, one of the ways the enemy tried to trick him was to try to convince him he should go hide in the temple. It seemed innocent enough. The temple should be a safe place and a strong refuge. But it was a trick. Nehemiah’s enemies had hired Shemaiah. The plan was to…
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Wait…Isaiah 58 isn’t the “fasting” chapter
Seriously. I’ve been wrong for years. I’ve called Isaiah 58 the “fasting chapter” for as long as I can remember. But recently, I was asked to join someone in fasting a day a week. I suggested that they read Isaiah 58, since it’s the “fasting chapter.” But when I got up the morning of the…
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Do We Have It Backward?
Gone are the days of hell-fire preaching. Today’s pulpit has to be careful not to be too judgmental or critical. Have we gone soft? Or is this an improvement? Perhaps it’s a little bit of both. Thank God sermons are not used to browbeat us into submission and conviction anymore. I just hope we haven’t…