Posts
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What Does it Mean to Trust Christ?
Do you trust Jesus? This is the most important question one will answer, for how one answers is of eternal significance. If one trusts in Jesus, eternal glory will be the destination; however, if one does not trust in Jesus, eternal condemnation awaits on the other side. With that in mind, shouldn’t we want to…
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We Had Boldness
“But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”(1 Thessalonians 2:2) Is it good to be bold? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It certainly depends on the situation—and depends even…
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Self-Sovereignty is a Mirage
“Run away from the seductive delusion of self-sovereignty.” (Paul Tripp) The autonomy of self rules the day. From “my body, my choice” to expressive individualism in all forms and fashions, it’s safe to say society is concerned with one thing and one thing only: itself. People want to be sovereign, they desire to be fully…
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What is Justification and Why Does it Matter?
Doctrine is extremely important. It separates sheep from goats, believers from unbelievers. Even so, many downplay it to the point of it being unnecessary. Christians need to stand firm on the doctrines of the faith. Can doctrine sometimes cause division within the church? Sure, of course. But that doesn’t mean the doctrine is less important.…
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What is Eternal Life?
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Recently during our church’s Wednesday evening Bible study, my pastor spoke briefly about eternal life. What he said was so insightful that it made me want to write about it. What is eternal…
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Is He Your Brother?
Division seems to be at an all-time high among brothers and sisters in Christ. Every way we turn there is more strife, increased hostility, and over-the-top bickering. And it doesn’t appear that it’s getting any better. At this point, any thoughtful Christian must ask the question: what can we do to stop this? May I…
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The Wisdom of Listening
“A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15) A couple years ago I asked for a meeting with my elders. I wanted to discuss my path to pastoral ministry and what I was missing. Was it my character? Was it my ability to teach or…
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Talking About Race
The topic of race—or ethnicity—is likely the most contentious topic of our day. So much so that many people may not have even opened up this blog to read simply due to the title. That’s okay—it’s simply that controversial, although it shouldn’t be. Talking about the “race issue” is extremely difficult because there are so…
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Let’s Stop Stirring the Pot
Imagine with me for a moment. You have an unbelieving friend, Johnny. Johnny is a known atheist who in his spare time enjoys mocking the Christian faith. One day, Johnny posts a status on Facebook that is clearly a cry for attention. He posts: “God is just as much real as the tooth fairy. You…
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I Didn’t Want to go to Church
Recently it took everything within me to drag myself to church (for Wednesday night Bible study). My body was tired, my mind exhausted, and my heart fatigued. Further, it meant bringing both children who, for one reason or another, always decide to act wild on those nights. Long story short, I went to church that…
Blake Long 