PAIN
And only in Christian theism is love preexistent within the Trinity, which means that love precedes human life and becomes the absolute value for us. This absolute is ultimately found only in God, and in knowing and loving God we work our way through the struggles of pain, knowing of its ultimate connection to evil and its ultimate destruction by the One who is all-good and all-loving; who in fact has given us the very basis for the words good and love both in concept and in language. --Ravi Zacharias, Slice of InfinityAUTHORITY
Cultural preferences don't diminish the authority & nourishing power of God's Word. --Michael Zeigler, The Lutheran Layman, Summer 2019CALLED BY GOD
While the idea of being called by God to a new & vibrant life may seem alien in the 21st century, God's been doing it from the beginning. He's in the business of transformation--a complete renovation of the human heart, done from within & evident without. There is no one not in need of this divine touch of forgiveness. No one is excused from the sin in their life. "For there is no distinction: for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God, & are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:22b-24), & again, "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness & transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:13-14)As we can see here, God's calling isn't merely an invitation to a better life. It's His declaration to us that the ransom has been paid: the doors have been flung open; the chains have been loosed; we are free to go. No longer captive, because of Jesus we are God's people now--redeemed & set apart. "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). This is truly good news . . . --The Lutheran Witness, Summer 2019
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