Most fairy tales begin with the words, “Once upon a time … ” For many people today, the story of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is about as “real” as the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. It’s a nice little myth that points to the hope of some sort of life-after-death. The kind of “hope” that only weak-minded people really need. So, why, after 2000 years are there still 2.2 billion people who believe this? Are they all just April Fools?
Which Is the First Easter Myth?
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What Jesus Really Taught About … Drinking
In the late 1800s alcohol began to take the blame for no end of social ills. Overcrowded prisons, swelling poorhouses, rising crime, widespread corruption, and general poor health were all laid at alcohol’s feet. In 1869 Welch began selling Dr. Welch’s Unfermented Wine for communion services. Shortly thereafter, the church jumped on the anti-alcohol bandwagon and leveraged its, then considerable, weight to push the 18th Amendment, Prohibition, through congress. The church also joined culture in vilifying alcohol consumption, suggesting that the Bible prohibited Christians from drinking. Even though Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Christian Prohibition continued to be the norm for many. Since then, there has been a lot of misinformation disseminated about what the Bible says about drinking. This week’s Conversation will explore what Jesus really said about drinking.
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What Jesus Really Taught … About the Poor
The plight of the poor has been addressed by every generation since Moses … and probably before. That’s over 3200 years that the collective of humanity has not been able to put an end to systemic poverty. Perhaps it’s no wonder that Jesus observed “The poor you will have with you always.” Was Jesus just having a bad day, or was he really that calloused to the impoverished? In this week’s Conversation, we’ll take a look at what Jesus actually taught about the poor.
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What Jesus Really Taught … About Marriage
For years the acid tests for a faithful Christian included church attendance, giving, and a rock-stable marriage. Then the divorce tsunami swept across the nation and Baby Boomers led the charge to the lawyer's offices. The younger generation looked askance at their parents and grandparents and began putting off marriage - or skipping it altogether. Today, the church faces all that plus same-gender marriage, a practice that flew in the face of a couple thousand years of tradition. So ... this week's Conversation asks, "What did Jesus really teach about marriage?"
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What Jesus Really Taught About … Money
“The love of money is the root of all evil,” or so the saying goes. Everyone knows that’s not literally true, but on the other hand, everyone knows it’s mostly true. Whether it’s a military war over who controls the oil, or a trade war over who controls the steel, it seems like there’s a lot of evil going on that’s being fueled by the desire of greed and avarice. Jesus said “Blessed are the poor,” but then he also spent significant time with wealthy people … and he didn’t tell any of those he hung out with to give it all away and go be poor. This week’s Conversation will take a bold look at what Jesus really taught about money.
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What Did Jesus Really Teach About … The Government
Government. Can’t live with it; can’t live without it. And with the rise in the practice of “separation of church and state,” especially with the threat of taxation retaliation from the IRS, the church has become increasingly disengaged from government on many levels. It used to be religion was the chief taboo topic of conversation, but if you want to start a vociferous war of words, Facebook post your thoughts on government sometime! Government … what did Jesus actually teach about it? Join us for this week’s Conversation to find out.
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What Does the Bible Say About Women?
From the beginning, women have been the backbone of the church. It was a group of women who were first identified as Jesus’ financial backers. After his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to women and he entrusted them to spread the good news. But within just a few years, the role of women in the church was relegated from commissioned church leaders to passive church members. The question is, what does the Bible actually say about women?
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Never Give Up: Doing Good
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Never Give Up: Hope
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Never Give Up Celebrating
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Which Is the First Easter Myth?
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What Jesus Really Taught About … Drinking
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What Does the Bible Say About Children?
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What Does the Bible Say About Men?
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If Suicide’s the Answer, What’s the Question?
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If Suicide’s the Answer, What’s the Question? Part 02
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If Suicide’s the Answer, What’s the Question? Part 03
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If Suicide’s the Answer, What’s the Question? Part 04
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If Suicide’s the Answer, What’s the Question? Part 05
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Living the Abundant Life: Part 01
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More Pages to Explore .....
