woman in field

Powerful Words of Truth

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“For I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.”

— Luke [21:15]

POWERFUL WORDS OF TRUTH

Frederick Douglass was born a slave in 1818. As a youth he became obsessed with learning to read. Thanks to the wife of his slave owner, he was able to. Later he would read the New Testament to the other slaves, teaching them the Gospel. When his masters discovered this, they broke up his activity and he was sold to another master. Frequently subject to beatings, he desired a different life. A free black woman, Ana, met Frederick and used her life savings to help him escape dressed as a sailor. They moved to New York and were married for over forty years. They had five children. 

Frederick Douglass said, “Right is of no sex—Truth is of no color—God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren.”

Frederick was not satisfied with just his freedom. He became a leading orator in the anti-slavery movement. His oratory compelled many to turn against the practice. He was universal in his views of human rights. Frederick Douglass said, “Right is of no sex—Truth is of no color—God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren.” While a great supporter of the anti-slavery movement, he also fought for the right of women to vote and many other humanitarian causes. Later his oratory gave him access to American presidents. He pressed Lincoln to move faster on abolishing slavery. He traveled to Europe to speak about human rights. But many were against him, falsely using the Bible to justify slavery, creating images of slaves as inferior. Frederick Douglass spoke against all this, and is now long remembered, while his adversaries are long forgotten. 

“Truth takes longer to brew, but is always a lasting brew.”

Many times in our business lives we see a different way. Perhaps we see corruption or something that causes harm to our customers. It is in these times that Jesus says he is there to help. He will give us the words to say. Words that seek truth. Words that lead others to see a better way. Words that promote a different view. Speaking these words requires conviction and a sense of love for our opponents. The truth is hard to contradict without opponents indicting themselves. Truth takes longer to brew, but is always a lasting brew. This is Jesus’s promise, that we will have the words. Our hearts and minds have to be ready for the words. Our courage, ready to speak the words. Jesus has the words. We have to ask.

Frederick Douglass was successful in his cause because he was singular in his fight. But his words were of universal freedoms. His words were spoken truthfully and not colored by agenda. His heart, too, was directed universally. Frederick Douglass’s color symbolized a great specific injustice, but his voice became that of all injustice. In our business world injustice exists as well. Maybe not to the degree of slavery or the right to vote. But it does affect our customers and fellow workers.

There is a way to speak the truth. The right words. They exist. Jesus gives us these words. Jesus gives us our love. Combined they create truth and change.

 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

Where in our lives could we use the words of Jesus?

How do we speak them?

What can become the outcome?

 

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waiting for harvest

Rebuilding the Stones of Life

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“As for these that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon the other; all will be thrown down.”

— Luke 21:6

REBUILDING THE STONES OF LIFE

Jimmy Carter, our former president, in the late seventies, left office defeated by Ronald Reagan. Upon leaving, he went home and slept for twenty-four straight hours, exhausted from his four years as president. He had endured chronic shortages of gasoline, uncontrollable inflation and interest rates, and the healing of the nation from the Watergate scandal. His last year was mired in the tragedy of hostages held in Iran against their will. In spite of all his efforts, they were not released until after he left office. What had promised to be a presidency of change and national renewal ended with failure. 

“In 2002, Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of untiring efforts to find solutions to international conflicts.”

Jimmy Carter, a soft-spoken Christian, was well known for his honesty and ability to find difficult solutions to most problems. Jimmy Carter turned his life to helping other nations and the poor of our country. Future presidents would use him to help with difficult negotiations in foreign affairs. He became a driving force in Habitat for Humanity. Using the Carter Center as his platform, he got involved in numerous humanitarian efforts. He became one of America’s most successful former presidents. In 2002, Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of untiring efforts to find solutions to international conflicts. 

“Our most important assets are our God-given abilities, our experience, and our faith.”

Jesus points out that change is inevitable. Very seldom do we stay in the same place. Many times change strips us of who we were; it bares us to a life of uncertainty. We are left without a past we can count on. At this crossroads we have to decide to try another way. Go in another direction. Our most important assets are our God-given abilities, our experience and our faith. From here we can either try to regain the past or move forward to a new life. The stones of the past have been thrown down. Our lives are begun anew. 

“With God in our lives, our future lies in front of us and our past becomes a forgotten road.”

Jimmy Carter always dreamed about being a great president, but ended up humiliated and beaten when he left office. With the encouragement of his wife, Rosalynn, and his deeply rooted faith, he struck out again to try another way. His new way worked. Many times we have to try a new way. Our lives that seem permanent are not. Many times God puts us at these crossroads. It is here that we have to try a different path, ignoring the bad from the past and remembering our gifts. With God in our lives, our future lies in front of us and our past becomes a forgotten road.

The stones of our life become rebuilt.

 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

How permanent is today?

How do we and can we change?

What qualities, given to us by God, help in this transition?

 

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people connected

God of the Living

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“Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”

— Luke [20:38]

GOD OF THE LIVING

Daniel Ornellas, a worship leader for a church in South Africa, tells a story of the youngest of his three daughters, Frankie. On any road trip where Frankie was having a hard time, Daniel’s wife would play on her phone, “Spirit of the Living God.” For the most part it would soothe Frankie. Over time it became a family worship song and lullaby. It drew the family closer.

The second stanza of “Spirit of the Living God” frames the meaning.

                                                          When you come in the room
                                                   When you do what only you can do
                                                             It changes us, it changes
                                                      What we see and what we seek

The spirit of the living God changes us. It makes us look into different places and through different lenses. We become able to see what we should see. For Frankie, it is a soothing of the soul. For others, a new direction. 

“Jesus implores us to seek God out in our lives, whether we’re a family on a trip or a person looking for meaning in day-to-day life.”

This profound message from Jesus in today’s verse, extends God’s presence beyond just salvation. Jesus implores us to seek God out in our lives, whether we’re a family on a trip or a person looking for meaning in day-to-day life. It creates a different point of view. A point of view that is less worldly and more spiritual. It helps us to see that the latest fashion trend pales in comparison to the living God. It reframes our lives.

When we let the spirit of the living God in, it begins to slowly seep into our vision. We begin to see things differently. It acts like a powerful vapor that over time creates differences. We begin to be kinder to strangers. We begin to hold doors, even when we don’t have to. We begin to not get frustrated while standing in line.

“When we begin to see events of lives connected to God, the random events of our lives become connected.”

When we begin to see events of lives connected to God. The random events of our lives become connected. We begin to connect the events of our lives to God and become thankful for God’s presence. We become more aware of the answers to our prayers. 

We begin to know Emmanuel, “God is with us.”

 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

What song brings God to your surface?

How does the spirit of the song open your soul?

How does the song soothe you? 

 

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time passes

Our Temple

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“Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer”; but you have made it a den of robbers.’”

— Luke [19:46]

OUR TEMPLE

Jesus was near the end of his earthly ministry when he and his disciples entered the great temple of Jerusalem. He spotted money changers exchanging coins for visitors who needed them to make their Passover offerings. Similarly, he saw merchants selling doves for many times the going price. These merchants and money changers had descended on the great temple  to take advantage of the many visitors there during this period of Passover. In turn, they handed over to Caiaphas and others who controlled the temple part of the excessive profits. 

“In one quick act, Jesus changed the paradigm and the temple rulers were exposed.”

With the help of his disciples, Jesus overturned the tables and drove the merchants out, thus setting up the deciding event when the religious elite began planning his demise. Things had changed. Jesus saw that over time the great temple of Jerusalem had disintegrated into nothing more than a get rich quick scheme. In one quick act, Jesus changed the paradigm and the temple rulers were exposed. The masses had known they were being duped, but they had no power. Their faith required them to buy shekels for their donations and livestock for their sacrifices.

In our own lives we see this as well, a situation we know is bad, but that we have to live with. We feel it is beyond our control. Sometimes we feel that we have to go along to get along. 

“Our act of giving in can have a terrible price. It is at this point we need to cleanse our temples.”

Sometimes we receive a benefit that we know we shouldn’t and continue. Over time things get worse and our compromises lead us farther down the trail, until there is a crisis. Our act of giving in can have a terrible price. It is at this point we need to cleanse our temples. We need to change the paradigm. 

“When we embrace Jesus’ ways and look back, as time passes, we will see a different point of view.”

What are these habits we have fallen into, that we know compromise us? Is it gossiping about a neighbor? Is it overeating? Is it looking the other way when we shouldn’t? Is it our own enabling behaviors? It could be many things. They start slowly. Over time, we let them creep in, and soon we are part of the problem. It is at this point that we need a dramatic change. A turning over of the tables. A clear and decisive move. We have to give up the benefit we receive and potentially lose friends in order to get our temple in order, to get on a different path, one we know we should be on. When we embrace Jesus and look back, as time passes, we will see a different point of view. One that is clearer and not colored with compromises. 

Our temples will have been restored.

 

 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

What behaviors or actions do we have that need cleansing?

How do we radically shift away?

How far do we have to go?

 

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above the clouds

Being Full of Light

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“If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”

— Luke [11:36]

BEING FULL OF LIGHT

An upcoming young executive came to me and stated, “I don’t like working with Jack, he is so slimy.” Later in the conversation I noticed her also complaining about how dumb our customers behaved. I noticed that she mostly turned her emotions to the negative aspects of her job. She ignored how fast she was learning her job, that sales in her area were up, and that people were impressed with her work ethic and insights. She indexed to darkness.

“On her current trajectory she would eventually flame out from the stress of her job.”

Many of us get annoyed when we encounter situations that make our job harder. I quickly noticed that I had to start re-framing the young executive’s point of view. Pointing out the positives and minimizing the negatives. On her current trajectory she would eventually flame out from the stress of her job. Sure, we can all see the negative in the workplace; it is harder to stay focused on the positive. Life is like that. 

“Jesus wants us to be a beacon of light for others.”

In today’s verse, Jesus implores us to focus on that which is good. He is insisting that we fill our whole body with light. He wants us to avoid the darker sides of life. This is a practical re-framing by Jesus of what we focus on. Problems become opportunities to overcome. Difficult people,  become people to win over by shining example. Gossip, something to be redirected to accentuate the positive. Jesus wants us to avoid the natural tendency to be fearful, frustrated, or anxious. Jesus wants us to be a beacon of light for others. By doing this we emerge vibrant and satisfied. We avoid the burnout caused by negativity. 

“Looking at life dimly burdens us and penetrates our soul.”

This approach invigorates us and sends our spirit higher. But it requires discipline in avoiding darkness, which shows up in what we read, say, and view. When we watch uplifting videos on YouTube or read passages of inspiration, it re-frames how we see life. Looking at life dimly burdens us and penetrates our soul. 

Today let us ask God to show us things of brightness.

 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

What do we read or watch, is it positive or negative?

Do we engage in gossip?

Can we see the brightness in other people?

 

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walking reflection

Which Way Does Our Mirror Point?

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“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

— John [4:24]

WHICH WAY DOES OUR MIRROR POINT?

One of my clients was debating about starting a partnership and was seeking an opinion. From hearing about his potential partner from my client, I told him I believed it would be a fruitful relationship. The potential partner was smart, had good experience, and would help with the initial required working capital. However, while these are great starting points, they are not the final answer. The answer lies in which way his mirror points. In other words, when you engage in a conversation, does what you say come right back to you or are your partner’s responses thought through? Will differences of opinion with this partner end up right back in your lap? Does the other person take a shared accountability for the relationship or just turn the mirror back? 

“Everything always starts out well in partnerships, but the inevitable disagreements will arise. It is this part of the partnership that determines success.”

All partnerships will have disagreements. Marriages, friendships, and business arrangements are all partnerships. Everything always starts out well in partnerships, but the inevitable disagreements will arise. It is this part of the partnership that determines success. When we have a partner who takes our input, reflects on our point of view, and responds with logical conclusions, we feel that we have a voice, even if our partner doesn’t agree with everything we say. But when our concerns are just pointed back to us, we don’t feel like we have a voice. We ask for a conversation and we get back criticism. The conversation has generally ended at the point that the mirror is turned back. The conversation becomes one of deflection, not resolution. When this happens, the truth gets buried and the trust bank gets a withdrawal. 

“When we communicate with God in the back of our minds, it is easy to be truthful.”

Jesus points this out in the Book of John. If we want to have truth in our relationships, it must come from a spirit of being truthful. When we communicate with God in the back of our minds, it is easy to be truthful. This strengthens our partnerships. Our mirror is then always pointed to ourselves. When we deflect difficult conversations back to the other person, we aren’t searching for the truth, we are searching for our way.

As my client and I discussed his potential partner’s mirroring ability, he came to the conclusion that his partner had his mirror pointed the right way. In their past, conversations had been mutual. Disagreements were resolved without getting personal. They focused on the issue and not the person. There was an interchange searching for the truth. His partner usually responded by first telling my client what he agreed with and then where he was concerned. In turn he would ask my client for his thoughts. This process would go back and forth until they reached an agreement. Both parties had a spirit of searching for the truth. Neither had a mirror of deflection.

“Any work that is meant to help others and gives glory to God has sacred value.”

Hard work is important. It is better than plans that are left undone. But hard work whose purpose is to help someone else is more meaningful. It makes our businesses stronger. Our customers will notice this subtle difference. The attitude seeps into our work and becomes the light of that work. Hard work that is done with thought of giving glory to God inspires us to not miss any detail. It makes our work more sacred. It makes us try harder. We are doing our work  in a holy manner. Any work that is meant to help others and through our efforts give glory to God has sacred value. Like John’s samples, it serves to inspire.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

Who do we work for?

Do we work harder when our work is for someone else and for God? 

 

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mountains

Hard Work That Inspires

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“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

— Matthew [5:16]

HARD WORK THAT INSPIRES

I had just completed my book proposal and sent it off to my agent. I was proud of my hard work and was sure that this was going to be an easy path. John, my agent, is a kind man and very thoughtful. But his response back was not what I had expected; he felt I had to work harder. The e-mail was enlightening and revealing. It stated: “Excellent work, but here are some sample proposals you might want to look at.” I opened up the Word files and looked at the samples. At once, I saw why mine fell short. In the samples, I saw a little more depth, a little more work, and a better product. But I had been so sure that mine was perfect. That all my hard work was the best it could be. I hadn’t considered the reader. My work didn’t inspire, it was just okay.

“They reminded me that the goal wasn’t just to work hard. It was to consider my customer and to give glory to God.”

After a few moments of self-pity, I began to think. How kind of John to send me a present. I am sure he felt I had worked hard, but the samples showed me I could work harder. The samples shed light on where I could improve. They moved me from self-pity to being inspired. They gave me confidence. They reminded me that the goal wasn’t just to work hard. It was to consider my customer and to give glory to God. Using the samples, I rewrote the proposal with a different attitude. Not an attitude to prove I was the best and could work hard, but an attitude that my work was to be complete. To remember that my job was to inform and be accurate. To remember that the work wasn’t for my glory, but for God’s. With this new attitude, I completed a second proposal. The one that eventually got accepted by my publisher.

“Jesus reminds us that when we work, our goal is to inspire others and to give glory to God. That our work is sacred.”

Today’s passage is part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’s introductory sermon on living a faithful life. Jesus reminds us that when we work, our goal is to inspire others and to give glory to God. That our work is sacred. That our work isn’t to show how good we are, but to be a shining example for others. He wants us to be great, but with a different purpose than our thinking too highly of ourselves. We work for two reasons. The first is to inspire and help others. The second is to honor and give glory to God. I have found that when I take this attitude, my work goes smoother. It seeps into my effort. Others see that this is my goal. It makes what I do be received with acceptance.

“Any work that is meant to help others and gives glory to God has sacred value.”

Hard work is important. It is better than plans that are left undone. But hard work whose purpose is to help someone else is more meaningful. It makes our businesses stronger. Our customers will notice this subtle difference. The attitude seeps into our work and becomes the light of that work. Hard work that is done with thought of giving glory to God inspires us to not miss any detail. It makes our work more sacred. It makes us try harder. We are doing our work  in a holy manner. Any work that is meant to help others and through our efforts give glory to God has sacred value. Like John’s samples, it serves to inspire.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

Who do we work for?

Do we work harder when our work is for someone else and for God? 

 

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Pasadena United Methodist

The Peace of Christ

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“Peace be with you.”

– Luke [24:36]

THE PEACE OF CHRIST

C.S. Lewis, the great English writer of the twentieth century, had spent his late teens and early twenties angry at God. As he stated, “I was angry with God for not existing.” An atheist for an extended period of time, he continually wrestled with God. He found the church boring and religion a chore. His belief was that if God existed, he would not have designed a world “so frail and faulty as we see.”

One of my favorite things about going to church is the “passing of the peace.” When we lived in Pasadena, California, we went to the Sierra Madre Methodist Church. We had selected the church because of its openness and its pastor. The pastor, Richard Lashure, was a former engineer. Rich had left the engineering world to pursue a path in ministry. Richard encouraged those attending church each week to “pass the peace”. 

“We would greet each other by saying, “Peace be with you.” It was community time.”

When it came time for the congregation to pass the peace, he would allow it to go on for many minutes. We would greet each other by saying, “Peace be with you.” It was community time. A time to reconnect with our neighbors. It was a time when, for those moments, life was settled. We were removed from the world, but with each other. When the local bishop came to our church to participate in worship, he would remark, “That is the longest and sincerest passing of the peace I have witnessed.”

“The words, “The peace of Christ be with you” symbolize our deep commitment of faith. A commitment to our Christian beliefs.”

Later in life, when we were at another church, one of the congregants would say, “The peace of Christ be with you.” Each Sunday, I sought him out just to hear him say those words. In turn, I began to say them to others. The words “The peace of Christ be with you” symbolize a deep commitment of faith. A commitment to our Christian beliefs. An affirmation of the holiness of the passing of the peace. This deeper expression extended for me a more powerful meaning to the passing of the peace.

Jesus made this statement of “Peace be with you” after he rose. He made it to a group of people who were struggling with the events of his crucifixion. They were huddled in a small house, terrified and startled. Both by the recent events and by Jesus’s sudden reappearance. With these words, their terror slowly turned to joy. Jesus had risen. The events of the previous days began to make sense. They were alive again. They felt blessed. The word began to spread. 

“The passing of the peace is not just a greeting we share at each service. It is also a blessing we share with each other. We are praying for each other. “

The passing of the peace is not just a greeting we share at each service. It is also a blessing we share with each other. We are praying for each other. We are asking God to give peace to others. We also share in the initial moments of Jesus’s post-Resurrection ministry. He no longer was, but is. We cross over the threshold of our everyday world into a world of royal priesthood. We are empowered at least for that moment to be Christians.

The peace of Christ be with you. 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

How deeply we do express our peace?

How comfortable are we in expressing “Peace be with you”?

 

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camel crossing

Being Born from Above

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“Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

— John 3:3(NRSV)

BEING BORN FROM ABOVE

C.S. Lewis, the great English writer of the twentieth century, had spent his late teens and early twenties angry at God. As he stated, “I was angry with God for not existing.” An atheist for an extended period of time, he continually wrestled with God. He found the church boring and religion a chore. His belief was that if God existed, he would not have designed a world “so frail and faulty as we see.”

Lewis was a member of the Oxford University community, surrounded by people like Yeats and Tolkien. He wrote his own conversion story, where it states: “You must picture me alone in Magdelen [College, Oxford], night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him who I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted God was God, and knelt and prayed; perhaps that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” The searching had ended. Encouraged by his friends, like Tolkien, he was changed and reborn. 

“The acceptance of God comes from something done within us through the compelling force of God.”

Nicodemus, a leader of the ruling class, came to Jesus late at night to talk about faith. As a member of the ruling class, Nicodemus went at night so that his associates wouldn’t know about the visit. Jesus changed the paradigm for Nicodemus, by talking about being born from above. What Jesus was talking about was starting over, being different, desiring to be different, and accepting God. The acceptance of God comes from something done within us through the compelling force of God. This new birth is from God, unmerited but generously given. Jesus asks us to accept it, without benefit, this new way, this committed heart. 

“Many nights during World War II, C.S Lewis spoke to the people of London on the radio to soothe their hearts, while bombs rained down.”

Both Nicodemus and C. S. Lewis went on to become strong Christians. Lewis wrote Mere Christianity and was instrumental in helping the English people during the bombing of London in World War II. Many nights during World War II, C.S Lewis spoke to the people of London on the radio to soothe their hearts, while bombs rained down. Nicodemus came out of the closet and acknowledged Jesus publically. He was at the Crucifixion and worked with Joseph of Arimathea to provide the burial tomb and spices.

“God pursues us. We fall and fail, but God’s chase is never ending.”

Life gets in the way of God, as it did with Lewis and Nicodemus.  God pursues us. We fall and fail, but God’s chase is never ending. Once we give in to our gift, we are quickly whisked to life as another being. We are still “frail and faulty,” but our lives have changed. 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

How does God pursue us?

What has been our journey in faith?

Why does God love us?

 

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Jesus and the marketplace

Christ is Christ

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“Are you a teacher of Israel. And yet you do not understand these things?”

– John [3:10] (NRSV)

CHRIST IS CHRIST

I had just received my grades from my last semester, and one of the notes from my professor,  said, “Good luck with your fledgling ministry.” The professor knew that I was involved in marketplace ministry and he thought this was a revolutionary idea. In relating this to my wife, she quickly picked up on the professor missing the point. She stated three truths, “People need to pay their bills. They need to work to pay their bills. People want a faith life.” There it was in three simple sentences. Almost everyone has to work at some time in the marketplace. In fact, at any one point in time over half of our population is in the workforce to pay their bills. This is where people are for a good deal of their lives.

Jesus went where the people worked and it was not a “fledgling ministry.”

Jesus was a marketplace worker and minister, prior to his three-year ministry. He was a carpenter. In the early Judean marketplace, they were considered artisans’. Of the forty-nine parables, more than forty relate to the marketplace. Of his one hundred and thirty-two public appearances, well over one hundred were associated with the marketplace. His ministry was where the people worked. He dined with tax collectors, helped farmers, instructed day workers and had fisherman as his Apostles. Jesus went where the people worked and it was not a “fledgling ministry.”

Jesus came to change the way the world thought about God.

In Today’s  verse, Jesus is continuing his discussion with Nicodemus, who is still struggling with the concepts Jesus was explaining. Jesus challenged this great religious leader, by asking him how he couldn’t understand. But Nicodemus was surrounded by religious and academic leaders daily. They concocted ways of thinking about God that supported their relevance. Under this onslaught of theories and doctrine, that were designed to support the self-interest of the religious elite, Nicodemus was weakened. To maintain his position, he had to somewhat agree with the religious elite of the first century.  He had arrived to talk with Jesus late that night, under the burden of theories designed to support the existing power structure. Jesus knew Nicodemus wanted the real truth and began to instruct him on the real ways of God. This was Jesus’s purpose, not just with Nicodemus, but for all humankind. Jesus came to change the way the world thought about God. 

But the most obvious truth remains, Christ is Christ, not a theory.

The simple truth is people work to live.  Jesus knew this and that is where he ministered. None of his twelve Apostles were from the religious elite. Jesus knew where the action was and where to be. Jesus didn’t use fancy doctrine or overly complex theories. He used simple words and stories. His ministry was where God’s people worked. Jesus’s ministry wasn’t a “Fledgling Ministry.” Over the last two thousand years theologians have discussed and analyzed every facet of his existence. Many difficult to read books have been published and careers enhanced by being able to speak eloquently about Jesus. But the most obvious truth remains, Christ is Christ, not a theory.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

PARTING THOUGHTS

Can we see Jesus in the marketplace?

What does the Bible tell us about who he met with?

Why did Jesus pick twelve everyday people to be His Apostles?

 

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