Tag Archives: hope

Empires and Systems

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Don Merritt

There was a time when the greatest and most powerful empire of all time sat astride the known world and ruled with an iron fist, but that empire’s rule was different that those that had gone before it, because they … Continue reading →

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Reaching Out

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Don Merritt

You need not venture any farther than WordPress to notice that we Christians don’t always have the best reputation as a group.  Why is it that the larger community has a poor impression of us? It could be many things, … Continue reading →

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Unity, Debate and Leadership

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Don Merritt

I’ve really enjoyed the response to several of my recent posts, including the ones related to yesterday’s post about unity, and the new round of comments on my older post about debating. Most of the comments are supportive, some take … Continue reading →

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Life’s Cycles

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Don Merritt

There’s an order to life that is at the same time both simple and profound.  It is simple in its predictability; it is profound in its impact. We know, for example that one season follows another, that winter comes before … Continue reading →

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Unity

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Don Merritt

I was reading a story the other day about a man back in the early 19th century who felt compelled to unify the church in America.  He had many great ideas, and he was a driving force behind a movement … Continue reading →

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Light of the World

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Don Merritt

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to … Continue reading →

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New Testament ‘Hesed’… Part 3

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Don Merritt

Breach of Covenant According to Jesus, love of God and love of one’s neighbor was the foundational basis for all law.  Failure to love God and one’s neighbor is therefore the foundational basis of all law breaking: sin. Under the … Continue reading →

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Sunday Class Notes: December 8

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Don Merritt

The Shoot from the Stump of Jesse Isaiah 11:1-16 Chapter 11 is the beginning of the concluding portion of the first section within the Book of Isaiah which runs from chapter one through chapter twelve.  Here, the prophet takes a … Continue reading →

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The Fourth Christmas Lesson Returns

Posted on December 7, 2013 by Don Merritt

Christmas and Eden Q:  What do Christmas and the Garden of Eden have in common? A:  Nothing. …and everything! Christmas as a celebration, tradition and season have nothing to do with Eden.  Christmas as in the birth of Jesus Christ … Continue reading →

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The Third Christmas Lesson Returns

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Don Merritt

O Come O Come! This is a Christmas carol that contains the essence of the yearning of a people for a savior.  “O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel” Hold on, wait!  Ransom…? Yes, Ransom. Israel was in slavery to sin; so are we.  … Continue reading →

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