Damon J. Gray

Jesus is our Jubilee. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. He is the cancellation of our debt owed to God. In Christ, the slate is wiped clean.

This week's blog posting: Our Jesus Jubilee

https://damonjgray.org/our-jesus-jubilee/

New to the faith? Young in faith? Needing to put down a solid foundation?

Great for individuals and small-group studies:

https://www.amazon.com/ROOTED-First-Steps-New-Christ-Followers/dp/B0DHR1B819/ref=sr_1_1

The floodwaters prevailed, and they prevailed, and they prevailed. The waters prevail even today, though differently. The same water that has the terrifying power to take life now gives life. The lethal waters have become the living waters.

This week's blog posting: Wells & Fountains

https://damonjgray.org/wells-and-fountains/

I'm saddened and a bit more than just surprised that there isn't more interaction here. I scroll through this "My Community" feed every morning and try to find something that's asking for interaction so I can respond and converse, but that's not what I find. The posting here is predomoninently unidirectional. It's like fifty radio stations broadcasting but no one is listening. Everyone is preaching but the pews are empty.

Why are we here? Why are YOU here? What is your role in making this a place people want to be?

Christ-follower, there are things you see that others do not see. There are things you know that others do not know. There are things that make perfect sense to you that other do not have the capacity to understand.

This week's blog posting: Hidden in Plain View

https://damonjgray.org/hidden-in-plain-view/

We say, "God is omnipotent!" (all powerful) and he is!
We say, "God is omniscient!" (all knowing) and he is!
We say, "God is omnipresent!" (everywhere at the same time) and he is!

But there are things God chooses not to know, or to remember no more. And there are places God chooses not to be. That's frightening. And that's something I want to address today - A Surefire Plan for Making God Leave Us Alone:

https://damonjgray.org/a-surefire-plan-for-making-god-leave-us-alone/

I occasionally hear (or read) someone ask for prayer, but then say it is an "unspoken" request. I cannot pray for such a request, and I explain why in this blog posting: "I Cannot Pray for Your 'Unspoken' Request."

Feel free to share your feedback.

https://damonjgray.org/i-cannot-pray-for-your-unspoken-request/

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is far more than a great miracle. It is the ultimate validation of who and what he is. Jesus is God.

This week's blog posting: Putting Jesus on Trial (Part 7)
https://damonjgray.org/puttin-jesus-on-trial-part-7/

There is a cliche in Christianity that produces a cringe within me every time I hear it vocalized or see it in print. Some well-meaning man or woman will say something like, “Well, you just need to make God ‘first’ in your life.” I completely disagree.

Here's why . . .

https://damonjgray.org/stop-putting-god-first/

This week, we arrive at Day Three following the death of Jesus. Something astonishing is about to happen. The third day is repeatedly presented to us in scripture as a day of profound significance.

This week's blog posting: Putting Jesus on Trial (Part 6)

https://damonjgray.org/putting-jesus-on-trial-part-6/

Too many choose not to read or study their Bible because they are frustrated from prior efforts and have become intimidated. Don't! You CAN read and understand your Bible

Download the FREE "Bible Study Basics" eBooklet.

https://mailchi.mp/859e63c69851/bible-study-basics

New to the faith? Young in faith? Needing to put down a solid foundation?

Great for individuals and small-group studies:

https://www.amazon.com/ROOTED-First-Steps-New-Christ-Followers/dp/B0DHR1B819/ref=sr_1_1

The crucifixion is complete. Jesus' followers, terrified of Rome, are hiding, and paralyzed by divine Sabbath law. Despite that Sabbath law, Jesus' enemies, are busy, mobilized by their own lust for power. Both groups are interested in Jesus' body staying exactly where it is, undisturbed. The "What now?" question has to be haunting both sides.

This week's blog posting: Putting Jesus on Trial (Part 5)

https://damonjgray.org/putting-jesus-on-trial-part-5/

Wow . . . the last 20 seconds of the Kentucky Santa Clara game in regulation time were borderline unbelievable!!

There's an interesting exchange in Mark 6 that starts out saying, "The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught." All that THEY had done and taught...

I can picture their excitement as they unrolled the adventures for Jesus, with grins as wide as that of a Cheshire Cat. "Yeah, we did this and then we did that and we said this, and we said that, and it was all just so cool!!" Jesus' only comment was, "Come away for a while and rest up." Not more than three verses later, they seem a bit less eager to dive and with their "doing."

"And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, 'This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.'"

This comment . . . after relating to Jesus all that THEY had done and taught. So, Jesus' response to them is, "You give them something to eat." (verse 37)

It is the epitome of arrogance for us to get all enamored with ourselves thinking it is US doing and teaching all these things. If that's the approach to ministry I am going to take then I can fully expect Jesus to say to me, "YOU give them something to eat since this is all about YOU."

No . . . not I but through Christ in me. Christ in me. It is all about Christ in me, the hope of glory. ~ Colossians 1:27