Former location of "The Kingdom of the Heavens" blog, written by an incurable fool who is trying to become a holy fool!
Health and weather permitting, I will be present at the corner of Sardou Ave. and Porubsky Dr. in Topeka, displaying my “I Exist” sign (pictured above) from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the following dates:
Tuesday, November 25
Wednesday, November 26
Tuesday, December 2
Wednesday, December 3
Thursday, December 4
When the battle comes to us, we are commanded only to “stand” our ground together. We are to have prepared each other beforehand by arming ourselves for the battle. The first item mentioned is “truth.” We are to have fastened the “truth” securely all around us… The “truth” which holds us together as a Body, and which holds our armor together, goes far beyond never telling a lie. It is a sincere mind and a character which continually listens to God’s truth and rejects even the thought of speaking on its own, without God directing, or of being deceptive. It is this truth as a frame of mind that we are to fasten all around ourselves before battle…
We, together, are the salt of the earth. We season our world, making it taste good to God. And individually we are to have salt in ourselves–the salt of peace within and among ourselves. Salt is something we are, not something we do. And salt that has lost its flavor is sand in the saltshaker, It was never salt in the first place.
When I have offended another believer, I must seek reconciliation quickly, before they have had time to form a final judgment against me and form a grudge. I must not procrastinate. Once a grudge forms, I will be imprisoned outside of their lives, unable to give or receive the things God wants to give us through each other, unless and until God intervenes to change their heart toward me.
I will now, in my own heart, become a hypocrite because others in authority say I should. I must overlook the continued existence of a justified grudge another believer holds against me and return to ordinary service in the church. But I will not cover up my hypocrisy. I hereby declare my hypocrisy openly.
Amarguita. Un poema — una soneta triple. Una personalización de Mateo 18:23-35 siguiendo la manera de Franz Kafka. por Ian Bruce Johnson, 11 de Abril de 2025. ¿Me pasa solo un muy mal sueño, /Que por mi mal eres atado conmigo? /Quiero huirnos de la cárcel contigo /Pero ¡la llave te cierras en el puño!
In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus gives what appears to be a simple command, though one that is almost never obeyed: before I may offer worship to God before other people, I must see that any offenses which I am aware that others hold against me are being reconciled and have been reconciled at least to some degree. This post quotes and discusses commentaries on this passage and its subject.
In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus gives what appears to be a simple command, though one that is almost never obeyed: before I may offer worship to God before other people, I must see that any offenses which I am aware that others hold against me are being reconciled and have been reconciled at least to some degree. This post covers Jesus’ extreme example of this—the need to interrupt even a Temple sacrifice ritual to go and be reconciled.
My human nature, people around me and even the world’s “experts” tell me that I should insist on my “rights,” hold grudges forever, cut people off, deny all mercy and all forgiveness, particularly when I have been hurt badly. But God’s wisdom tells me to show his grace, mercy and forgiveness, and to set people free. Jesus promised—and warned—that I will receive back even more of what I give, good or bad. But becoming like Jesus is a learning process I am still far from completing.
choosing not to forgive, Discipline or Correction, Divisions in the Church, Forgive as we forgive, Forgiveness and Unforgiveness, God's purpose for us, Love each other, Repentance, Repentance in community, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, To live in unity, What is sin?
The theme verse of this installment is Philippians 4:2-3, in which Paul first exhorts Euodia and Syntyche to put their differences aside and agree with each other, then encourages one of the other leaders in Philippi, who he calls his “true partner” to help the two women come into agreement: Philippians 4:2-3 (WEB). This appears to be a request by…
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