1784 results for tag: Greg Albrecht

October 2021

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Laura Urista: The Gospel According to Pooh-Bear– pg. 2 Brad Jersak: Of Heretics, Kings & Foxes– pg. 4 Greg Albrecht: How Far Will God Go for Love? – pg. 7

Counterfeit vs. Genuine Love by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from September 2013: Where is love? Does it fall from skies above? – Lyrics from “Where is Love?” from the stage musical and film “Oliver!” – based on the 1839 novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. Ten-year old orphan Oliver Twist sings the haunting refrain “Where is Love?” after being banished to the cellar of a funeral parlor. After enduring most of his early life in a “workhouse,” Oliver is assigned as an apprentice in a funeral home, which turns out to be another slave-like exploitation, where he serves an undertaker. Just before Oliver plaintively sings about the whereabouts of ...

Response to Your “Gospel of Non-Violence” Message

Dear Greg Albrecht, I’ve been listening to your messages for some time now, and 100% agree with your Christianity without Religion teachings. I love and support the work you are engaged in and find it both necessary and a blessing. It is the recent Unplugged Podcast titled “The Gospel of Non-Violence” that troubled me. Link to "Greg Albrecht Unplugged" Audio Podcast of "The Gospel of Non-Violence" As a Black American of a certain age, I’ve lived through a climate of volatile race relations and social injustice before. In fact this feels very much the same as it did in the 60’s, complete with the subtle and not-so-subtle stoking ...

Is the Bible ‘the Word of God’? Q&R with Greg Albrecht

Question: Some people call the Bible “the Word of God.” Is it? What is the Bible exactly? Some say it is inspired, and then some even say it is infallible and inerrant.

Q & R: “Do I need to be rebaptized?” Greg Albrecht

Greg Albrecht: President PTM Question: I was baptized when a baby in the Catholic Church.  I came to see that many of their teachings and practices left a lot to be desired (and I still feel that way).  So later, as an adult, I was baptized in the Worldwide Church of God.   I later came to see that many of their teachings and practices left a lot to be desired (and I still feel the same way).    Do I need to be baptized again? Response: No, you do not need to be baptized again.   If you wish to, that’s entirely up to you, but you are not obligated to.    If you ...

18 Prominent Biblical Passages – and Why

  Recently I was asked to provide a list of my top ten verses in the Bible. The request specified that each of the ten selections be restricted to just one, or at most, several verses and no more. I tried, but I could never boil my list down to just ten brief passages, so I decided to respond by expanding on the original request. I set out to make a list of top ten passages. At first I thought that I could come up with my top ten passages in the Bible if I allowed for "passages" to be more than simply a verse or two but a chapter or even an entire book of the Bible. But then, after working on that plan, I was still stymied. I couldn't ...

What is True Fellowship?

  What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you read or hear the word fellowship? Within a Christian context the word usually calls to mind something to do with companionship and community. For some people fellowship is just another religious thing they have to do or (so they believe) God won't be happy with them. In many cases, fellowship means going to places to spend time with others who are also members of their church. Fellowship has also come to signify a spiritual atmosphere that will soothe and secure a person from the life they live. Given this meaning, fellowship can become something like "hot-tub religion"—a place ...

“If God loves everyone, what do I tell those who ignore him?” Greg Albrecht

Question: Greg, I am afraid that I have given my brother the wrong idea about the gospel, and about God’s love. Years ago I told him I'm convinced God will save everyone in the end. I still believe that but maybe it's become for him easy to ignore pursuing a relationship with Jesus and the consequences of that. What do you suggest I do? Response: Your question is superb because it goes to the heart of the gospel, at least as I perceive it. Here are some similar questions, observations and even objections to the gospel that are often voiced: 1) Why should I try hard if God is going to save me no matter what! 2) If what I do ...

No to Wrath and Yes to Love – Pt 2

  "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to ...

No to Wrath and Yes to Love – Pt 1

  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who are being saved it is the power of God…—1 Corinthians 1:18 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.—1 Corinthians 2:2 Many, if not most, Christians when they are asked, "Why did Jesus die on the cross?" will give an answer something like this: To die for our sins. This of course, as far as it goes, is a biblical answer. But the answer doesn't end there. Most Christians will continue to explain why Jesus died on the cross by parroting back phrases they have been taught, such as: •...

Christ is Our Strength Within – By Ed Dunn

Friend and Partner Letter from September 2021: Just as his insights graced our September 2020 letter, Ed Dunn returns to write our letter for September 2021. Ed is one of our key staff members, and he wears many hats. He contributes as a Board Member, a blogger, writer, and most recently, as the host of our monthly video This Month at PTM. He works with electronic and digital systems in our fulfillment center, and is one of the voices those who call 1-800-309-4466 hear. Ed is an uplifting co-worker who enriches our office team and a fellow Friend and Partner with all of you, another team member who shares this ongoing work with you. We ...

September 2021

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Articles: Remembering 9-11 in the Wake of 2020 – pg. 1 We Believe – pg. 2 Think on These Things – pg. 5 Forgiveness and Apologies – pg. 7 Quotes & Connections – pg. 8

Love Thrives in Tough Times by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from August 2015: The popular idea of love, particularly among the young, is of a rapturous, eternal, sun-soaked, care-free day at the beach. Two young people who are head-over-heels “in love” dream of having children and a family, but give little thought to sleepless nights and dirty diapers. Smitten by infatuation, young people can only imagine the future as being picnics in the park and endless passion in their bedroom. It doesn’t take long for two people who are in love to realize that this thing called love encompasses all the days and times and moments of their lives – love shares joy and sorrow. ...

How Far Will God Go? – Greg Albrecht

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ...

Name It and Blame It

  Many churches and ministries today claim that God heals everyone who requests relief of physical afflictions, as long as they ask in faith. This assertion is made on the assumption that Jesus' death on the cross, his atonement, was for both "spiritual" and "physical" sins. Further, some even claim physical healing is a "right" that one who is doing all of the things that God commands and demands might "claim" from God. Some call this claim a "prayer of positive confession." Others who have reservations about this practice believe it to be naive and perhaps superstitious and thus call the practice "name it and claim it." Of course, ...

A Lion and A Lamb

  Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, ...

A Great Grace Give-Away

David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" Now there was a servant of Saul's household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" "At your service," he replied.  The king asked, "Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet." "Where is he?" the king asked.  Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar." So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of ...

How Far Will God Go?

  Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own ...

In the Name of Jesus by Greg Albrecht

Friends and Partner Letter for August 2021: ...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.—Matthew 25:40, my emphasis At five years of age, Joseph Merrick (1862-1890) started to display strange bodily disfigurements. His head slowly became more and more swollen and contorted, as did his right arm and hand. His skin became lumpy and felt like leather—its texture and color like that of an elephant causing him to be known, later in life, as “The Elephant Man.” Merrick’s mother died when he was eleven, signaling an end for him of being loved for who he was in spite ...

August 2021

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: God Is Not Fair– pg. 2 Irene Frances: My Desire to Be Like Jesus– pg. 5 Richard Rohr: God's Creatures Great and Small– pg. 5 Brad Jersak: Was Jesus a Racist? – pg. 7