God

A Visit From the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, & Future

The Good News
1 Dec 2015
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Marley was dead. That’s an odd way to begin a Christmas story, but it’s how Charles Dickens opens “A Christmas Carol.” Written to pay off a debt, the story of Scrooge being haunted by three ghosts is one of the world’s most enduring Christmas tales – perhaps second only to the original story of Christmas (the one with the wise men and shepherds). The story is universally known, having been played out in dozens of movies and TV specials. (Some insist that the 1938 film with Reginald Owen is the definitive version, while purists like myself prefer the 1962 version […]

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Being God-Clingy

Julie Woodley
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I am filled with funny stories of my humanity. Sometimes it’s so difficult to be a human – truly human and truly alive. The great thing is God is strong in our weakness. Isaiah 40:29 says: “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless” (NLT). Two years ago, I spent some time in Chicago with my granddaughter who had a bad case of the flu. I knew I might catch it, but I just couldn’t stay away from kissing her. She loves to be kissed, and I love to kiss her. The next day I caught a […]

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The Rest of the Hanukkah Story

Dr. Susan Michael
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  The story of Hanukkah takes place during the period in-between the Old and New Testaments, when Antiochus IV Epiphanes became the King of the Hellenistic Seleucid empire. While the Hellenization of the region, including Judea, already threatened the survival of the Jewish religion, Antiochus seemed obsessed with ensuring the demise of the Jewish faith and the future of the Jewish people. He not only murdered the High Priest, Onias III, but he slaughtered 40,000 inhabitants of Jerusalem. All sacrifices, the service of the Temple, and the observance of the Sabbath and feast days were prohibited. The Temple was dedicated […]

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Oh Come Let Us Adore Him

Dr. Tommy Boland
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(Scroll down to leave a comment on how you adore Baby Jesus) Truly it is the most wonderful time of the year when we fix our focus on celebrating Christmas and the coming of our Savior as a baby born in a manger. The season leading up to Christmas Day is called Advent. The Latin word adventus means “coming” or “visit,” and that is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ did. He came into this world on a voluntary visit to conquer both sin and death so that we might have eternal life. This baby was born to die. Now […]

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Pastors on Peace

The Good News
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On the first Christmas, angels appeared to the shepherds and announced…. “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14) Yet today’s world seems far from peaceful. This Christmas, how is this message of peace relevant to a world that seems to be in chaos? We asked several local pastors to answer this question, and here are their replies.   Pastor Todd Mullins Christ Fellowship, Palm Beach Gardens You could read Luke 2:14 and think to yourself, “Peace?  If Jesus came to bring peace on earth I sure don’t see it. It seems like […]

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Unplanned Parenthood in the Christmas Story

Jeremy McKeen
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The Christmas story is a story about how the unplanned pregnancy of an unwed teenage mother was God’s plan for the world. Think about it; Mary wasn’t planning on having an angel tell her that she would miraculously be with child at a young age. And in a culture of honor and shame, you can just imagine the questions that went through her head: What are my parents going to say? What are my friends going to think? What will my fiancé Joseph do? It’s important to remember that Mary was impoverished, and her only hope for financial security was […]

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Watch Out For The Grinch

John Hawkins, Sr
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“How The Grinch Stole Christmas” is an annual Christmas program popular with children and even some adults. Have you ever wondered why? Christmas stories and the spirit of Christmas bring hope to earth for a short season. Hope that perhaps peace on earth and good will towards men is a real possibility. For a few days the world becomes a better place. However, as in any story there is always a bad guy trying to ruin everything. Enter the Grinch with his cold heart ruining Christmas for Whoville. With hope shattered is redemption possible? Can an evil person be changed […]

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Urban League to Host 10th Annual Community Prayer Breakfast

Shelly Pond
25 Nov 2015
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People from all walks of life, cultures and faiths will gather for the Urban League’s 10th Annual Community Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, December 5, at the First Church of the Open Bible in Lauderdale Lakes. Focusing on the theme of thanksgiving, the Urban League of Broward County invites community, business, educational, religious and political leaders, including state legislators, mayors and other public officials, to convene in the spirit of prayer, peace and unity as they close out their 40th Anniversary year. Urban League Talk Rev. Henry “Trae” Green, III, pastor of Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, West Palm Beach, […]

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New Prayer App Invites God into the Action

Steve Davis
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This may shock you, so hang on. According to many theologians, Biblical research reveals that prayer does NOT change things. Now, please catch your spiritual breath and allow for a short explanation. Praying goes beyond a presentation of problems and troubles. Praying does something else. Biblical prayer asks for God to come on the scene and activate His goodness. The first request of The Lord’s Prayer is “Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Without asking for His will to be done, God is shut out of the game and kept on the […]

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Authenticity – When Image Matches Reality

John Hawkins, Sr
12 Nov 2015
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Every public figure has an image. On a regular basis there is a news story about some public figure where the image is found to not match the reality. No profession is immune to this disappointing and disillusioning event, be it politician, pastor, business person, teacher or whoever. It has been said, “You impress people from a distance but you impact them up close.” Most of us would like to be a better person and have a positive impact on others, especially those we care deeply about. Why is it we so often can’t measure up to our own ideals? […]

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