Last week Pastor tackled a crucial, yet often misunderstood, aspect of the Christian experience-forgiveness.  After licking my wounds from last Wednesday’s REfresh, I was ready for a lesson that was easier to digest.  I wanted one of those ice cream and cupcake lessons.  But that’s not what I received.  I got an okra, rutabaga, and kale salad lesson.  Full of every nutrient that I need for my Christian walk but not as easy to swallow.   Pastor challenged our spiritual maturity concerning reconciliation. Jesus came to earth on assignment.  His mission, His purpose, and His calling was to reconcile a sinful world with the perfect God.  Wednesday night’s Bible study came…

Wednesday night’s REfresh Bible study centered around a life changing topic.  Forgiveness.  I’ve dealt with this topic in previous blog posts because it has transformed my attitude in many ways.  Bible Study Brother’s licensing sermon focused on forgiveness and how important forgiveness was in the life of all believers.  Forgiveness saved our lives and guaranteed us eternal life.  Forgiveness. My understanding of forgiveness has increased with age, and my pastor furthered expanded my knowledge of a common passage that is used to illustrate the concept of forgiveness.  Whether you’re saved or not, I’m sure you’ve heard of “turning the other cheek.”  For most of my life, that meant that if…

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, Timothy 3:16 Back in the olden days (when I could go to work Monday through Friday…ya’ll remember those days?), I looked forward to attending Bible study at my church on Wednesday evenings.  Learning more about the Word of God was just what I needed to make it over the hump.  As the senior saints would say, I could run on a little while longer.  Here lately, the days meld into each other.  Yesterday’s Wednesday REfresh made an incredible impression on an otherwise long day. Pastor taught about II Timothy…

Wednesday night’s Bible study began to lay the path for us as we draw closer to Resurrection Sunday.  In all this uncertainty, it can be easy for us to take our eyes off the celebration of Jesus’ death, burial, and ultimate resurrection.  Pastor came from Luke 22:43-44 primarily.  Let’s set the scene. Jesus has gone to the garden of Gethsemane for prayer, but He didn’t go alone.  He brought Peter, James, and John with Him.  He decides to go a little ways from them but advises them to pray so that they don’t fall into temptation.  Jesus kneels and begins to pray. And this is not just any prayer.  It’s…

Are you one of those super serious Christians?  Is it hard for you to laugh and smile in the sanctuary?  Does it make you uncomfortable when others joke around with you because nothing is funny?  Bless your heart.  You would not have been a fan of Wednesday night’s online Bible study then.  Although my pastor addressed the serious concerns that face us today, I logged off with a smile on my face and happiness bubbling in my home. Wednesday night REFRESH was conducted in a question and answer format.  Viewers typed in their questions and pastor responded.  And his answers were rather candid.  The topic of fear and anxiety was…

Adam and Eve lived in paradise.  They didn’t have to clock in and out on a job to put a roof over their head or food on their table.  Everything around them was good.  And yet, Eve was still deceived by Satan.  Wednesday night’s Bible study continued to refresh my mind and help me press on towards true victory. In the 2nd and 3rd chapter of Genesis, we see God provide clear instruction, and then we see Eve being led astray.  God tells Adam that he can eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  That shouldn’t be too hard, right? …

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 When I know that I’m on my way to get Bible teaching, I pray that God gives me a Word that I’m able to live out in my day to day life.  I don’t want to just go and hear about Biblical principles.  I want practical ways to make those principles alive in my life.  This Wednesday night Refresh at church gave me a key ingredient to living a life of victory. Pastor opened Bible study by reading…

Ya’ll know I go to Bible Study on Wednesday nights to get refreshed.  The good Lord did not disappoint. God met me there and gave my pastor a mighty Word that I’m passing on to you today.  The teaching came from II Kings 2:9-13. Elijah, a prophet and mighty man of God, is talking and walking with Elisha, his mentee and son in the gospel.  That’s a churchy way of saying that Elijah was a mentor to Elisha.  He spent time with him and helped him develop.  Elijah knew that his time remaining on earth was limited, so he asked Elisha if there was anything that he could do for…