Growin' Up Gregory

My generation has seen some of the most dramatic advances in technology, information, communication, medicine, and more over the past 20 years or so.  One would think that with all the changes we have seen in these areas that there would be a significant change in the behavior of people as well.  And while some may say that there has been a lot of change, a letter written around A.D. 55 actually suggests otherwise. Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthian church around this time to address multiple issues going on in the church.  Keep that in mind - this letter was not written to the secular world, politicians, criminals, or non-believers, it was addressed to the church a/k/a the "good people."  But the world today is eerily similar to these Corinthians.  Lawsuits and litigation amongst believers (and non-believers) is high as it was in those days.  And sexual immorality which was celebrated back then even in the temple is glorified by main-stream media toda...

There is a lot of talk about living like a Christian, walking the walk, being an example, etc.  But what does it really look like to live that out?  What did it look like in the Bible and what does it look like today to truly live a Christian life?  This is a topic that could go on and on, but I want to look at just 5 verses that give us a good example of how to live like Christians. In Acts 18:24-28, we are introduced to Apollos as an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures, and having been instructed in the way of the Lord.  He is also described as being fervent in spirit and teaching accurately of the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.  One day while speaking boldly in the synagogue, Priscilla and Aquila heard him and then took him aside to explain the way of God more accurately.  Later on, when Apollos wanted to go to Achaia he was encouraged by his friends and they wrote to the disciples there to welcome him.  On...

Here we are.  Moses is up on the mountain getting instruction from the Lord.  Meanwhile, the Israelite people have rebelled and turned their back on God asking Aaron to build them an idol to worship.  They have completely tossed Moses and God to the side and bowed down to a golden calf.  God is furious at the people to say the least and has told Moses that He plans to destroy them and start over and "make a great nation of you (Moses)." (Ex 32:10)  If you are one of these Israelites, you just turned your back on God.  He knows.  He's mad.  What do you want to happen next?  Moses begins to plead with the Lord, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?  Why should the Egyptians say, 'With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume (destroy) them from the face of the earth?'  Turn from your bur...

Who do you think would love you more? The person you gave $1 - $100 - $1,000 - $10,000 - or $100,000? Now before we get into the whole "you can't buy love" discussion, yes I am aware of that.  This is merely to prove a point. If I gave you $1 you would likely be thankful but could easily forget the gesture.  If I gave you $100 you would probably think I had lost my mind.  If I gave you several thousand dollars you would likely want start being best friends.  But if I gave you $100,000 or more I imagine that for most people they would feel forever indebted to the giver.  I know I would.  I would feel obliged to answer when the call, help when they ask, and check in with them regularly always having time and energy reserved for when they may need me. I wonder if that's why some of us love God more than others.  If you've lived a very good moral and holy life committing very few sins, you perhaps received $100 worth of forgiveness.  But if yo...