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Before The Pumpkins: Faith In The Flames

...er of the Holy Spirit. As the fire was lit, the witnesses recorded something extraordinary! The flames, they said, curved around him like the sail of a ship filled by the wind, refusing to touch his body. Those nearby claimed his flesh glowed like bronze in a furnace, and a sweet scent — like incense or baking bread — filled the air. Finally, when a soldier pierced him with a sword, such a rush of blood poured out that it extinguished the fire. The fire of faith burns hotter than any earthly flame. Polycarp’s calm in the midst of terror testifies that death could not defeat him, because his life was already hidden in Christ. It is mentioned at th...

Lent: Day 8 - Ignatius to the Romans

...Day Eight: St. Ignatius of Antioch: Letter to the Romans (full text) Who: Ignatius converted at a young age and later became Bishop of Antioch. A friend of Polycarp and fellow disciple of John, there is a long standing tradition that Ignatius was the child that Jesus held in his arms and blessed in Mark 10:13-16 What: A challenging letter in which Ignatius pours himself out to the Roman church about his impending martyrdom. Why: Ignatius wrote a series of letters to the churches in Asia Minor whilst en route to Rome to face martyrdom by wild beasts in the Colosseum around 108 AD. When: Around 107-108 AD On reading the introduction to this letter my first th...

The Temptations of Jesus: Complacency

...have the Holy Spirit in us – the comforter! God’s very own Spirit is here with us through it all, helping us and convicting us to lead us back out of our complacency to the narrow path, focusing our minds back on Christ and his example. And while the devil may come and go, and wait on those “opportune times” to get at us, we shouldn’t fret or worry because God has said he will never leave nor abandon us – no matter what, God loves us and is daily conforming us into the image and mind of Christ (Rom 8:29; 12:2; Deut 31:6; Heb 13:5). Keep running the race, working out your salvation with fear and trembling and go with the love of God. Amen....

Coffee With Jesus: Luke 22–23

...ecost and Holy Spirit outpouring clearly point towards this new reality of the Kingdom of God, but its fullness and present reality is still to come when the King returns to claim his place of power and rule in the world! Further Reading What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Minas? | GotQuestions.org Why did Jesus first refuse, and then drink the vinegar offered at the cross? “They Offered Him Wine-Vinegar”: Reexamining the Gospel Accounts of Jesus’ Last Drink. | The Ancient World  ...

How many apostles are there in the New Testament?

...Often in any discussion on the gifts of the Spirit and whether they are still active today (Cessationism vs Continuationism), the topic of Apostles comes up and whether the gift/office is still active today in the Church. Detractors of the Continuationist position will often quip that ‘if there were modern-day apostles, they would be world famous!’ – though I’m not sure why. Even the original Twelve weren’t “world famous” in the sense that they mean. But I digress. This isn't a question of practice, or opinion, but to examine the Scriptures to see what they say about the gift. Scripture gives us an indication that this gift, or role, wasn’t jus...

Lent Day 29: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 81-94

...Day Twenty-nine: St. Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 81-94 Who: Bishop of Alexandria; Confessor and Doctor of the Church; born c. 296; died 2 May, 373 AD. He was the main defender of orthodoxy in the 4th-century battle against the Arianism heresy. Certain writers received the title “Doctor” on account of the great advantage their doctrine had on the whole Church, Athanasius especially for his doctrine on the incarnation. What: The biography of Anthony the Great’s life, which helped to spread the concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe. Why: From the letter’s own prologue: “The life and conversation of our Holy Father,...