12 June 2016
Two-Minute Features | 19 June 2016 | 05 June 2016

How Do We Respond to Evil in Our World? We Pray (TMF:430)

Friday, June 17, 2016
Peace to Live By: How Do We Respond to Evil in Our World? We Pray (TMF:430) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       We as Christian leaders cannot back down and are not going to back down on saying homosexuality is wrong, not now, fifty years from now, or a hundred years from now. God doesn’t change his Word. And hopefully we will stay true to this regardless of the consequences, whether they infringe on are own personal peace or rights to freedom. But what do we, as Christians, do about the scares and evils in our world? In its most basic sense, we are to pray. That may sound like a simple answer, but prayer can and does make a difference. The Apostle Paul gives us a good rule to go by. He said in Philippians 4:6-7: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (ESV). If you read the verse correctly, God says here that we are not to worry about anything—anything at all. This verse, undoubtedly, is very hard to comprehend in its true essence.

Many Want to be Tolerant and Silent about Evil (TMF:429)

Thursday, June 16, 2016
Peace to Live By: Many Want to be Tolerant and Silent about Evil (TMF:429) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Many, however, want to be tolerant of evil and not speak out against it. This concept has even run rampant in many churches of our day. Many churches don’t want to speak out against certain things like adultery, homosexuality, whatever—because they feel that it’s not peaceful (and they are afraid of losing their tax exemption from the government). But one cannot love others without telling them the truth. Let’s take an example of what this might look like. Surely, the day will come when we are penalized for saying homosexuality is wrong or we may perhaps even be locked up in jail for saying it. But that is a consequence for speaking the truth that we will will have to face when the day comes. Practicing homosexuality is something a person can change, and is not like the color of a person’s skin. People often link these two areas together in talking about civil rights. God creates people with the color of their skin in his own image, but God doesn’t create people to practice sexual immorality—to be sexually perverted. Now, I understand that many people don’t feel homosexuality is wrong—I get that. But God says that it is, and God loves us as people and wants what is best for us.

Our Beliefs, God's Ways, are Coming Under Attack (TMF:428)

Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Peace to Live By: Our Beliefs, God's Ways, are Coming Under Attack (TMF:428) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       To be sure, though, not only is the world having more problems, but our own beliefs, as Christians, are coming under attack. Really, the ways God says are right are truly what is coming under attack. Whether it be in a circle of friends, at the workplace, or in our own families, in our own homes, beliefs will differ. Not everyone follows the truth, and this causes friction. Some who disagree will persecute us, as Jesus warned us repeatedly that they would. But seeing all the immorality in our world, and other evils, we don’t have to fret, as Christians. We don’t have to worry or give up. Remember, our home, our citizenship really isn’t here on the earth, but rather it belongs in Heaven. We should not let our emotions be shaped by the things going on in our world, by the seemingly scarily things that are reported to us daily. In view of the evils in our world, I believe, like some others, that a more severer form of persecution may be coming here to the States—both from individuals who would wish violence upon us and perhaps someday from our own government. As, society becomes more immoral, for instance, and we as Christian leaders do not back down on God’s truth—on reality—we will undoubtedly face persecution.

Often We Have to See Something to Believe It, Part 2 (TMF:427)

Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Peace to Live By: Often We Have to See Something to Believe It, Part 2 (TMF:427) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       And I think many of us are like Thomas. We just wont believe God for what he says. Sometimes God has to do miracles to get his point across, but then often we still wont believe it. For Thomas, Jesus had to appear to him. It is recorded: “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:27-29 ESV). We should agree with King Solomon when he says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8, ESV).

Often We Have to See Something to Believe It, Part 1 (TMF:426)

Monday, June 13, 2016
Peace to Live By: Often We Have to See Something to Believe It, Part 1 (TMF:426) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       But part of our problem as people is that we don’t really believe God for what he says. Many a times, I don’t think we really believe that God is in as much control as he is in control. We may see something bad happen in our world and think, “Hmm. Is God really in control?” The Bible, though, tells us that God is in control, and we should believe him when he says this. But I think many of us suffer from having to see something to really believe it. Many of us have Thomas’ problem. Remember what is written in John chapter 20. The disciples had just seen Jesus risen from the dead, but it is written of Thomas: “But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25, ESV). And I think many of us are like that. We just wont believe God for what he says. Sometimes God has to do miracles to get his point across, but then often we still wont believe it. For Thomas, Jesus had to appear to him. It is recorded: “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”