“I am a child of God. I know it. I live it. I love it.” Meme

What kind of relationship do I have with God? Do I feel close to Him, or is He like a distant relative or just a stranger? I have always been impressed that of all the terms that Jesus used when He spoke to God, Father was His favorite. Do I feel comfortable enough to call Him Dad? I pray that the Spirit of Jesus affirms in our soul that we are in fact His children, and that realizing it, that we live like sons and daughters of our loving Father.  

“For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” Rom.8.16 Conversations Within” ts 8/4/2020

“He changed sunset into sunrise.” Clement of Alexandria

“I am... the bright and morning star.”

Throughout history people have said some staggering things about Jesus but none are as captivating as the things that Jesus said about Himself. Who in their right mind would call themselves the “bright and morning star” if such a statement were not true? Perhaps a supreme egotist would, or someone literally gone quite mad. What is amazing it that in light of these incredible claims you would think that there would be scores of people who regarded Christ narcissistic in the extreme but (and this is the telling point) there are very few who do. The truth is that there are countless people from every nation who give to Christ more than just reverent respect, they offer Him worship given only to a God. But wouldn't we expect such devotion to someone who defeated man's greatest enemy, who changes winter back into spring, and sunset into sunrise. Jesus is mankind's answer to our hope of everlasting life. 4/21/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)

“He changed sunset into sunrise.” Clement of Alexandria

“I am... the bright and morning star.”

Throughout history people have said some staggering things about Jesus but none are as captivating as the things that Jesus said about Himself. Who in their right mind would call themselves the “bright and morning star” if such a statement were not true? Perhaps a supreme egotist would, or someone literally gone quite mad. What is amazing it that in light of these incredible claims you would think that there would be scores of people who regarded Christ narcissistic in the extreme but (and this is the telling point) there are very few who do. The truth is that there are countless people from every nation who give to Christ more than just reverent respect, they offer Him worship given only to a God. But wouldn't we expect such devotion to someone who defeated man's greatest enemy, who changes winter back into spring, and sunset into sunrise. Jesus is mankind's answer to our hope of everlasting life. 4/21/2011 Conversations Within ts (Oak Mountain, AL)

“A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world.

... It was a perfect act.” Mahatma Gandhi

“I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” Jo.10

Some undoubtedly regard Christ's death as a kind of defeat or at best the act of a martyr, even if it was for His own cause. And, it would be little more than that if He principle claims were not true. We do well to remember that Jesus never claimed to be a good moral teacher only telling us to love each other, to turn the cheek and forgive our enemies. He told us those things, but He also told us that He is resurrection and the life; the light of the world, the way, the truth and the life, that He is the great “I Am.” If these things are true, then His death is as astonishing His resurrection, even punctuated by it! It means that the God of universe entered our world, suffered the penalty of our rebellion so He could erase all charges against us and in the process transform death into life. 4/19/2011 Conversations Within ts (Birmingham, AL)

“A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world.

... It was a perfect act.” Mahatma Gandhi

“I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” Jo.10

Some undoubtedly regard Christ's death as a kind of defeat or at best the act of a martyr, even if it was for His own cause. And, it would be little more than that if He principle claims were not true. We do well to remember that Jesus never claimed to be a good moral teacher only telling us to love each other, to turn the cheek and forgive our enemies. He told us those things, but He also told us that He is resurrection and the life; the light of the world, the way, the truth and the life, that He is the great “I Am.” If these things are true, then His death is as astonishing His resurrection, even punctuated by it! It means that the God of universe entered our world, suffered the penalty of our rebellion so He could erase all charges against us and in the process transform death into life. 4/19/2011 Conversations Within ts (Birmingham, AL)

“They gave him a manger for a cradle, a carpenter's bench for a pulpit, thorns for a crown, and a cross for a throne....

... He took them and made them the very glory of his career.” W.E. Orchard

“I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones...” Lk.22 ESV

I suppose Christ was “dealt a hand” so to speak, just as everyone is. Of course it is God, not random chance who deals the cards. Christ played the hand dealt Him and did so without complaint. He made the most of every hardship placed on Him and turned them into Glory. If we listen to Him He will teach us how to do the same. 4/18/2011 Conversations Within ts (Birmingham, AL)

“They gave him a manger for a cradle, a carpenter's bench for a pulpit, thorns for a crown, and a cross for a throne....

... He took them and made them the very glory of his career.” W.E. Orchard

“I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones...” Lk.22 ESV

I suppose Christ was “dealt a hand” so to speak, just as everyone is. Of course it is God, not random chance who deals the cards. Christ played the hand dealt Him and did so without complaint. He made the most of every hardship placed on Him and turned them into Glory. If we listen to Him He will teach us how to do the same. 4/18/2011 Conversations Within ts (Birmingham, AL)

“The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities:

'a virgin's womb and an empty tomb'. Jesus entered our world through a door marked,'No Entrance' and left through a door marked 'No Exit.'” Peter Larson

"I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Rev.1

“I have the keys of Death” you say? What a claim! But if we accept the validity of the virgin birth, all the other miracles are reasonable even sensible. We would expect a miraculous life to follow a miraculous birth. If anything about the life of Jesus is supernatural, and by that we mean outside natural law, we may properly assume that He came from outside our world. Not surprisingly, that is exactly what He told us. “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” If anything about Christ is miraculous everything about Him is miraculous. 4/17/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)

“The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities:

'a virgin's womb and an empty tomb'. Jesus entered our world through a door marked,'No Entrance' and left through a door marked 'No Exit.'” Peter Larson

"I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” Rev.1

“I have the keys of Death” you say? What a claim! But if we accept the validity of the virgin birth, all the other miracles are reasonable even sensible. We would expect a miraculous life to follow a miraculous birth. If anything about the life of Jesus is supernatural, and by that we mean outside natural law, we may properly assume that He came from outside our world. Not surprisingly, that is exactly what He told us. “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” If anything about Christ is miraculous everything about Him is miraculous. 4/17/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)

“I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center..

“I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” H.G. Wells

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” Phil.2 NIV

We date our calendars around the life of a man crucified between two thieves. Everything in history is dated B.C. which is the abbreviation for “Before Christ,” and A.D. which some might think is the abbreviation for After his Death. Actually A.D. translates “Anno Domini” and means in the 'Year of our Lord.” We live in the Year of our Lord 2011 which is another way of saying in the 2011th year since His resurrection. It is the resurrection of Christ that gives Him center place in history not the manner of His death. Untold numbers have been crucified or have sacrificed their life for others but only one person in all history claimed to have beat death and proved it not only to the complete satisfaction of His original disciples but countless billions who trust Him today. 4/16/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)

“I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center..

“I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” H.G. Wells

“God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” Phil.2 NIV

We date our calendars around the life of a man crucified between two thieves. Everything in history is dated B.C. which is the abbreviation for “Before Christ,” and A.D. which some might think is the abbreviation for After his Death. Actually A.D. translates “Anno Domini” and means in the 'Year of our Lord.” We live in the Year of our Lord 2011 which is another way of saying in the 2011th year since His resurrection. It is the resurrection of Christ that gives Him center place in history not the manner of His death. Untold numbers have been crucified or have sacrificed their life for others but only one person in all history claimed to have beat death and proved it not only to the complete satisfaction of His original disciples but countless billions who trust Him today. 4/16/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunterhill, AL)