503 results for tag: blog

The Mother Side of God – by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from May 2023 We all have an intimate relationship with mothers – we are sons and daughters of mothers and grandchildren of grandmothers. We are husbands whose wives were/are mothers. We are parents of daughters and even granddaughters some of whom are themselves mothers. Breaking news! Remember, you heard it here first!! It’s obvious, I know, but for the record, let’s remember we all had a mother. Some are blessed to still have a living mother… if you do, take advantage of the time you have with her. Many of you are mothers, may you hear and know that you are cherished and loved by your children. Mothers are ...

Jesus: More Than a Man – by Greg Albrecht

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:13-15).        More than two thousand years ago, Jesus asked his closest disciples the same question that he has asked humans ever since. Who do you say that I am? The answer his disciples gave then, and that you and I give today, radically determines the direction of our lives.        Even those who have ...

Think On These Things – by Ed Dunn

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8). When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change – German Theoretical Physicist, Max Planck (1858-1947). There is an unmistakable importance to mindfulness, or presence, to use a different word. The thoughts we hold closely within our hearts and minds do indeed matter. The terms, Mindfulness and Presence, are ones we may hear ...

Worrying, Wondering and Wandering – by Greg Albrecht

Not all those who wander are lost. – J.R.R. Tolkien (of  “Lord of the Rings” fame)  There’s a scene in Stephen Spielberg’s movie Saving Private Ryan that I’ll never forget. During World War 2, a squadron of soldiers was sent to find and “save” Private Ryan. Their efforts were successful, but only at great cost. Some of the soldiers gave their lives to “save” Private Ryan. In fact, the best efforts of the Captain resulted in his fatal wound during a skirmish. As the Captain died in Private Ryan’s arms he whispered in Ryan’s ear, “earn this.”  The end of the movie fast forwards many years beyond ...

Q & R: After Easter: Is Death Now Our Friend? Brad Jersak

Question: I read that because of Easter, death can now be our friend. What do you think? Here is the actual statement: "Easter is God’s 'victory over death.'  Death is no longer the curse that it was.  It is no longer the power that rules.  It is no longer the enemy to be feared.  But here’s the twist.  In doing so, Jesus also reclaims death and befriends it – not death in its perverted form, but death in its state of grace. Jesus reclaims death as a natural blessing to the rhythm of life and shows us that it is possible to befriend ...

CWR Video – Living a Resurrected Life – by Steve McVey

https://vimeo.com/115868680 McVey-Living a Resurrected Life from Plain Truth Ministries on Vimeo.

Take Away the Religious Rocks – by Greg Albrecht

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. —John 11:38-39 Religious rocks create barriers in our relationship with God. Notice the "red letter" words in our passage in John 11:39, the four words in this verse that Jesus actually spoke. Take away the stone.... The background for our passage begins in the first verse of chapter 11 of the book of John. Lazarus was sick. As the chapter unfolds we discover that Lazarus eventually died. His sisters Mary and Martha were overcome with shock and grief. Our message begins at the house of mourning, in a place where ...

You Ain’t Got No Easter Clothes – by Greg Albrecht

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."—John 11:43-44 Welcome to the party! Easter is the annual celebration Christians around the world anticipate and long for. Once again we savor victory in Christ. As Christians we are celebrating the most triumphant and victorious day in all history.Let's begin with the words of Peter, who tells us, in 1 Peter 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new ...

I Am Making Everything New – by Greg Albrecht

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"—Revelation 21:5 God making old things new is one of the great themes of the Bible—and is one of the powerful themes of the gospel.In the Bible we learn:• God gives us a new name.• God gives us new wine.• We sing a new song.• God gives us a new heart.• Jesus gives us a new commandment.• We become new men and women in Christ.• God makes a new covenant with us.• God gives us new life—life that never ages or wears out—eternal life. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 …if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new ...

It’s Not Over Until It’s Over – by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from April 2023 Christmas, at least in its popular celebrations, centers on the birth of a baby. Who doesn’t love and adore babies? What’s not to like about feasting, music, decorations and presents? But Easter? In large part Easter is celebrated with eggs, chocolates, bunnies, flowers and Easter bonnets because that’s the way the secular world has dolled it up. But by contrast with the warm, fuzzy and heartwarming story of Christmas, the deeper meaning behind Easter involves the haunting specter of a cross, with agonizing suffering, eventually death… and then there’s that dead body in a tomb.  Birth ...

A Jesus Kind of Church — by Greg Albrecht

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." —Luke 4: 18-19 No Country for Old Men Out in the endless, desolate desert of west Texas, a hunter looking for antelope stumbles on a crime scene. Abandoned cars and trucks are pock marked with bullet holes, and a half dozen or so dead bodies are scattered around.   In that odd and somewhat glib euphemism used by the media, it's apparently a drug deal "gone wrong" (if indeed there was ...

Trimming the Roses – by Laura Urista

A person who is good at reviving dead plants (or keeping plants healthy and vibrant) is often known as a “green thumb.” If there is such a nickname for someone who’s not very good at taking care of plants, I suppose it might be a “brown thumb.” That would come closer to describing my ability (or rather, inability) to take care of plants, bushes and flowers. My husband teases me that I have trouble just keeping silk plants alive!      But here in Southern California even a “brown thumb” like me can somehow manage to keep rose bushes alive, so that each spring we enjoy beautiful, vibrant rose blooms in front of ...

Bitterness and Resentment – by Greg Albrecht

Remember the older brother, the third major character of the parable of the prodigal son? As he witnessed the extravagant love and forgiveness of his father, lavished on his younger brother when he came home from wasting his inheritance, the older brother was eaten alive by jealously, envy and bitterness. The older, unforgiving brother refused to join in the festivities and celebration. The older, responsible, hard-working brother felt that he was a faithful and diligent son, always trying to earn his father's favor. But the celebration and festivities—the barbecue, the music and the dancing—were not in honor of all his hard work. ...

The Intersection of Hate and Love – by Greg Albrecht

To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unforgiveable. Faith means believing the  unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless. – G.K. Chesterton The intersection of a vertical pole/stake and a horizontal crossbar on the Cross of Christ reveals its earthshaking, far-reaching significance. This intersection of two pieces of lumber reminds us of the cosmic collision at the crossroads of the vertical love of God and the horizontal hatred of our world.  The Prince of Peace came down from the eternity of the kingdom of heaven and responded to human hatred and violence with non-violence – ...

Q&R – Which Religion is Right? – by Greg Albrecht

Question: How can we know which religion is right, and further—if Christianity is the only right “religion”—will only Christians go to heaven? Response: In our postmodern society, it seems that every belief system is afforded equal weight. Well-meaning wishful thinkers like to point out that world religions share many things in common—and if everyone would just focus on these commonalities, perhaps we could “all just get along.” Yet even a brief survey of world religions reveals huge contrasts and contradictions. How can so many contradicting ideas, philosophies and doctrines all be right? Of course, logically, they ...

No Carry-on Baggage Allowed – by Greg Albrecht

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are born by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." —Isaiah 46:1-4 If you have flown commercially lately, for business or pleasure, you know ...

Self Sacrifice – by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from March 2023 Finally, after a long winter, spring is on the horizon. As warmer days arrive and nature comes alive, resurrected as it were, from the cold darkness of winter, we Christ-followers focus on the Cross of Christ and his Resurrection. At the same time many also look forward to the promise of another season of baseball! Baseball, you say?  What does the crack of the bat and a fastball popping in the catcher’s mitt have to do with our faith in Christ?  What in the world does baseball, hot dogs, popcorn and singing “take me out to the ballgame” have to do with the Cross of Christ and his ...

What’s So Bad About Cults? – by Greg Albrecht

If PTM.org wants to get lots of letters from readers, all we need to do is publish an article explaining and defending Christ-centered-Christianity against some wrong teaching or biblical misinterpretation.  Defending and explaining biblical doctrines is called apologetics. An apologetic article in The Plain Truth or CWR magazine usually results in a tidal wave of letters and emails, pro and con. The cons often go something like this:  "Why are you so critical of other Christians? Why don't you just leave other people alone and let them believe what they want?" Most Christian denominations were originally formed because they disagreed ...

Wrath or Love – by Greg Albrecht

The nature of God – who he is, and how he is – is without doubt the most misunderstood topic within all of Christendom. If God is filled with wrath and retribution, then any number of Christ-less teachings and practices make sense – but God IS NOT wrath. God IS love.  Love is the one-word definition of God. God is love, he is not filled with wrath, therefore: God the Father was not looking for payback from God the Son on the cross;  There is no such thing as eternal conscious torment in hell;  God is not mad at you and me, and  God does not expect us to do the impossible, which would be to earn and ...

Religiosity is Adapting – Brad Jersak

In our long-term quest to pursue Christianity Without the Religion, we’ve noticed that Christless religion can adjust itself to shifts in popular culture. In other words, religiosity is quite capable of adapting to new forms and expressions, while continuing to wander far from the Jesus Way.