Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
First Page - Now launched! All the stories are true, or based on real events. Unlimited reading for $4.99 / month. No downloads. Read on your phone, tablet or computer.
La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
The Top 5 Reasons to Leave Your Church
By: Edward Mrkvicka
Too many churches in America, in exchange for putting more paying customers in the pews, have ceased to be the earthly representative of God.
As opposed to standing for Christ, they have made an unspoken deal with a society headed for destruction that says you support us and we will hide and protect you from God’s truth and your own sin. That’s why certain subjects are seldom preached from these pulpits. Sadly, instead of leading, there are churches who simply follow present secular trends; which is why so many church services are a feel-good session orchestrated to give people comfort in their spiritual rebellion.
Now more than ever our nation needs to know God, and churches need to turn from going along to get along. Churches need to stand for something, not merely sit by in silence as God is removed from our government, schools, and everyday consciousness.
On a personal level, find a church that reflects undiluted biblical truth, and run from those that interpret God’s Word, for if God’s Word needs worldly interpretation to be preached in His house, it’s not worth the paper it’s written on. And it’s certainly not worthy of praise, worship, and obedience. But those of true faith know God’s Word is worth that and more. Many churches today don’t seem to understand that.
Here’s how to know if your church is one of them.
5. The truth about evil is never addressed - instead, every sermon is devoted to making us feel good, to emotionally recharge us for the week to follow. There is no talk of abortion, adultery, divorce, cheating, or stealing. Every word spoken is to assure us that we will be forgiven for our disobedience.
But that head-in-the-sand view of good vs. evil makes us vulnerable. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV) that we should know the enemy “lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Simply put, we either know the enemy or we will be consumed by the enemy.
4. Repentance is a dirty word - part of making the flock feel better about their sin presupposes a continuation of #5, which is, if we don’t discuss evil and sin there is no reason to discuss God’s commands regarding how to elevate ourselves from our fallen position. The implication being, I’m OK, you’re OK, and there’s nothing to be concerned about. But there is!
Jesus said, “I tell you, nay; but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3.) And so there is no misunderstanding, repentance is far more than saying “I’m sorry.” It is turning from our sin, and then making right what we have made wrong.
3. Unrepentant sinners are welcomed - the secular definition of a church is that it is not a hotel for saints, but rather a hospital for sinners. On its face, that sounds charitable and somewhat holy. Unfortunately, it is in direct conflict to how God sees His church.
In 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 we are told, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not know that a little leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye unleavened.”
It is not love or true fellowship to sit silent and thereby tacitly condone open sin in a house of worship. For example, if each Sunday we sit next to Bob and his pregnant live-in girlfriend.
The church is to ask the unrepentant to repent. If they will not, they are to be asked to leave. Not to harm them, but in the hope that through their discipline they will see their spiritual error and seek to be restored.
2. There is no teaching - many church services have turned into little more than the equivalent of a TV rerun. We sing hymns. We say the Lord’s Prayer. Collection is taken. And the pastor says as few words as possible so everyone can go home and get on with their day. Each week is pretty much the same.
What a waste, as services should have biblical teaching at their core. Bible scholars spend their entire lives studying the Word of God only to die knowing they had barely scratched the surface. That’s why each week, in addition to praise and worship, you should learn something new at church that you didn’t know.
1. You feel comfortable - the surest sign that you should run, not walk, from your church is that it makes you feel comfortable. Encouraged, fortified, uplifted, excited, energized -- yes -- but in a true house of the Lord, since we are all less than perfect, no believer can ever feel comfortable.
“But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” (Isaiah 64:6).
How can we feel “comfortable” in a holy church? We should instead be convicted and inspired to do better.
“...because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:16)
About the Author: Ed Mrkvicka
Ed Mrkvicka is an award winning Christian author, lay minister, lifelong Bible student, and retired bank president. His religious writings have been awarded Best Christian Book of the Year (2007) (2010), Best Christian Study of the Year (2008), named a National Best Book Awards finalist, and a winner in The Christian Choice Book Awards, as well as being awarded the prestigious Faith Writer's Seal of Approval.
His work to save marriages and help children has earned him a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition "in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community."
Ed lives with his son, Eddie, and daughter, Kelly, in rural Illinois.
He can be contacted at: www.EdwardFMrkvickaJr.com
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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