Tom Skeie

Conviction Of The Truth

“The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!””  Luke 17:5 ESV Reflection: how can you know what you truly believe in?  I was listening to a pastor the other day making a very interesting observation. Paraphrasing, he said something like this: “Christians tend to be in a continual learning mode. They study and study […]

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An Accounting Error

“and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.””Luke 17:4 ESV Reflection: are you keeping “records of wrong”?  Yesterday we touched on the topic of restoring and maintaining relationships. That it is a 3-step process, and not just up to

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The Road To Forgiveness

“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,” Luke 17:3b ESV Reflection: is repentance necessary to receive forgiveness?  In these few words, Jesus unveils the secret to restoring and maintaining relationships.  OK, with such a massive topic, I might have to write several days on it depending on where the Lord

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Traps And Trappers

“And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!” Luke 17:1 ESV Reflection: what is a “temptation” to sin?  Before trying to answer that question, let me ask – How do we define what is sin? Violating the Ten Commandments may quickly

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Character And Destiny

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,” Luke 16:19-20 ESV Reflection: why does only the poor man have a name? Areas of this country have recently been hit with

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To Enter By Force

“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.” Luke 16:16 ESV Reflection: how is it possible enter the kingdom of God by force?  For centuries, a conflict between Western and Eastern Europe has been going on.

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A Simple Pattern

“The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:14-15 ESV Reflection: how can we know

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A Wise Investor

“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9 ESV Reflection: what value does money have for you? In a way, how we invest and spend money is a reflection of what we actually believe. Some

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Lost By Choice

“It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”” Luke 15:32 ESV.  Reflection: how can something that is lost lose its value?  As Jesus is talking about sons and daughters of the kingdom of heaven, he gives three parables to describe

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