An Appearance of Godliness: Case Studies in Evil (Part 16)

2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  (2)  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  (3)  heartless,...

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An Appearance of Godliness: Case Studies in Evil (Part 9)

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. In these now 38 years of pastoral ministry I have met a long list of the kind of people the Apostle Paul is warning...

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Do Not Pity the Wicked – Pity is Their Ploy

But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities, then the elders of his city shall send and...

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Good Friday: A Remembrance of Our Lord’s Passion on Calvary

Every Good Friday our church here in Tillamook holds a special service in remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross. We have followed exactly the same format for many years now, ending with everyone departing the sanctuary in silence as...

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How I Learned About Abuse Victims being Blamed Instead of the Abuser

1Ki 18:17-18  When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?”  (18)  And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of...

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Signs of the Dark Kingdom

I have often, as you have guessed if you have read many articles on this blog, thought that abuse is demonic to one extent or another, varying most likely from case to case.  Thinking about this brought to mind the...

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The Abuser as Esau — A Sobering and Freeing Truth for Victims

This is a sermon delivered by Jeff Crippen at Christ Reformation Church.  It presents a realistic view of the abuser who has persisted in abuse without repentance for many years all the while claiming to be a Christian.    ...

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The “Christian” Abuser: Couldn’t He be a “Carnal” Christian? (Part 3)

In his article “Rethinking a Much Abused Text: 1 Corinthians 3:1-15” Brian Borgman provides a great summary of the background and elements of the “carnal Christian” teaching.  I will provide you with just enough material from his article to whet your...

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