Hello!
I hope you had a great weekend.
This devotional message celebrates 10 years of weekly devotionals! Since 1997, we've been sending these devotionals every week and we are now one of the longest continually running devotional ministries in the world. Thank you for letting us email you. We hope you've been blessed. If you've missed any of our devotionals, you can hear them or read them in our archives. If you'd like my e-book on how to create a successful organization or business, please click here.
Last week, we launched a new debate forum. I've started a forum for The Evangelical Debate Society and they now have a mail list on Yahoo where people can freely sign up and post messages. There are lots of intellectuals on there; some saved believers, some Jehovah's Witnesses, and some that deny the trinity. Click here if you'd like to visit!
Have you read Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species"? I have an electronic copy in .pdf format and I'd be happy to send it to you if you want. Just reply to this message and let me know where to send it. Of course, we know Darwin was wrong in many respects, but I know that some may want his book, so they can critique it and such.
On June 29, the Dead Sea scrolls are coming to San Diego, California. They will be seen in the Natural History Museum. Click here if you'd like more information.
My wife, daughter, and I saw the Evan Almighty movie. It was very good. There weren't any bad parts and it portrayed faith and belief in God in a positive way, so we recommend it.
Welcome to the new readers of this message! Here is your Devotion, A Moment of Introspection, JCSM's Challenge, the Word of the Week, a faith-builder from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained," and the Quotes of the Week. Have a fantastic week and God bless you!
Love in Christ,
Jason Gastrich, Ph.D.
Contact Us: http://jcsm.org/contact.php
JCSM's Weekly Devotions (click here to listen!)
1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all
run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it."
James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift
you up."
Romans 12:1, 2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God."
Romans 5:1-5 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by
faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of
God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that
tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character,
hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
James 1:12-14 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."
Insight: After knowing God's will, we have to be determined to continue doing it. Hardships and temptations will arise. We'll be attacked by the Devil or his minions. However, we need to keep God first and do His will.
Prayer: "Dear Lord, bless us and make us like You. There is no God like You. Praise You for being good and holy and pure. Praise You for being worthy of our time and devotion. Forgive our sins and lift us up. Help us to stay the course. Help us to remain in your will. Thank you for speaking to us and loving us so much. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Articles of Confederation November 15, 1777, were proposed and signed. They constituted the government in America during the period between the end of the Revolutionary War and the writing of the Constitution. The Articles were finally ratified by the states on March 1, 1781:
...on the fifteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven.
And whereas it has pleased the Great Governor of the world to incline the hearts of the Legislatures we respectively represent in congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual union.
If you'd like to have the citations for the footnotes above, please email us. If you'd like to see more quotes from those who framed and founded America, please click here: http://jcsm.org/AmericasFounders/.
Have you ever asked God what you should do to honor Him?
Ask God to give you a vision for your ministry. He will direct you and help you. Be prepared for His answer and do what He says. You may launch the next Christian ministry that reaches people for Christ and His kingdom!
May God richly bless you as you meet this week's challenge!
yawshab (Hebrew, see Psalm 9:7): properly to sit down; by implication to dwell, to remain, causatively to settle, to marry, abide, continue, dwell, endure, establish
The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained
"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible" claims:
Exodus 22:19 - "Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death." Is it really necessary to kill such people? Couldn't we just send them to counseling or something?
"The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained" responds:
This was recorded in the Bible. God is a holy and pure God and wanted His people to remain holy and pure, too. The Israelites were to bring the Messiah into the world and their lineage needed to be unpolluted and they needed to stay morally pure.
(This explanation came from "The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained", by Dr. Jason Gastrich. This book is on CD and gives over 4,000 answers to alleged Bible errors, regarding the entire Bible at http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.org. There is also a 300 question workbook that accompanies the CD-ROM.)
Until you choose to believe in the Creator, you won't be able to understand the truths about the Creator.
If you'd like to read more quotes, you'll want a copy of Dr. Gastrich's book called, "10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings"! It's the largest collection of Bible-based quotations in the world.
P.O. Box 9297
San Diego, CA 92169
Jason Gastrich, Ph.D.
Executive Director
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