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Written by Graham Maxwell
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 What We Believe -- A message from Graham Maxwell I believe that the most important of all Christian beliefs is the one that brings joy and assurance to God's friends everywhere -- the truth about our Heavenly Father that was confirmed at such cost by the life and death of His Son.
God is not the kind of person His enemies have made Him out to be -- arbitrary, unforgiving and severe. Jesus said, "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father." God is just as loving and trustworthy as His Son, just as willing to forgive and heal. Though infinite in majesty and power, our Creator is an equally gracious Person who values nothing higher than the freedom, dignity, and individuality of His intelligent creatures -- that their love, their faith, their willingness to listen and obey may be freely given. He even prefers to regard us not as servants but as friends. This is the truth revealed through all the books of Scripture. This is the everlasting Good News that wins the trust and admiration of God's loyal children throughout the universe.
Like Abraham and Moses -- the ones God spoke of as His trusted friends -- God's friends today want to speak well and truly of our Heavenly Father. We covet as the highest of all commendations the words of God about Job: "He has said of Me what is right." |
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Matthew's gospel chapters 1 and 2 now posted |
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Written by Jonathan Gallagher
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Wednesday, 24 December 2008 14:21 |
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Matthew's gospel chapters 1 and 2 now posted in the Freedom Bible Version section. The rest of the gospel will be posted shortly. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 December 2008 14:25 )
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More Cooperation Planned between United Nations and World Religions |
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Written by Jonathan Gallagher
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Thursday, 18 December 2008 11:46 |
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[I was invited to attend the meeting "Advancing cooperation between the United Nations and World's Religions" held at Labouisse Hall, UNICEF, United Nations, New York on December 16. Wanting to talk to those involved in this dramatic development, and to hear the presentations and debate, I braved the snowy weather to attend! The day-long conference provided some marvelous opportunities to dialog on very significant issues of religion and government with religious leaders, ambassadors, and UN officials. Here's my report.] More Cooperation Planned between United Nations and World Religions
New York, NY, USA… [December 16, 2008] Representatives from the United Nations and religious leaders met together with non-government organizations in New York Tuesday to promote greater cooperation between the UN and religious groups worldwide. The intent in the words of the organizers is “to explore new ways and means to advance cooperation between the world’s religious communities and the United Nations.” |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 28 December 2008 16:31 )
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Atoning for the Atonement |
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Written by Jonathan Gallagher
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Monday, 19 May 2008 06:12 |
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What’s in a word? Surely the meaning is obvious to all. Especially in matters of religion, where language has been developed and refined over the years into creeds and catechisms, definitions and formulas.
Take a simple, essential word like “atonement.” Everybody knows what that means, right? A shorthand expression for “the vicarious sacrifice of Christ by which payment for transgression was made so that justification can be imputed.” Just saying that gives pause for thought. Take any one of those “technical” words, and consider. What is the real meaning here? Or has the very repetition of such terms made them seem essential to faith, religious clichés that are as much belief as the word of God? |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 September 2008 12:50 )
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Written by Jonathan Gallagher
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Saturday, 06 December 2008 17:48 |
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"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him,
Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man accept the traditional reformationist theory of the atonement in which representative satisfaction is provided through blood appeasement for forensic justification so that the penal demands and requirements of divine justice can be absolved and wrath can be fully assuaged, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Not John 3:1-3). If that was what Jesus meant, why didn't he say it? |
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Written by Jonathan Gallagher
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008 06:27 |
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The snow had come, unlooked for and unwanted. Bright white beauty all around, even woods “lovely, dark and deep,” and yet I knew I had many miles to go before I could even think about sleep. So much to do, and here was another unwelcome delay in the day. The snowstorm swirled around me as I left the safe warmth of the house and trudged out to the car. Thick it came, and fast, wrapping me in its fierce coldness like a mantle of ice.
“No, not today. Not anyday like this. Why? I just don’t need this. I need to do so much. I’m too busy. Enough already!” |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 December 2008 06:37 )
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