Author: joshnmarda

Pastoral MinistryLeave a comment

How you think about Jesus…

joshnmarda

How you think about Jesus matters. One reason it matters is because there is an actual Jesus. It doesn’t really matter what you think when I say when I say Winnie the Pooh because there is no real Winnie the Pooh. But there is a real actual Jesus. He is not a fictional character. There’s lots of ways we could demonstrate that. If we just take the introduction to Luke as an example. Luke’s writing around 63 or 64 ad. So this is early. Obviously it doesn’t have a date in the verse so you might wonder how we know … Continue reading How you think about Jesus…

Pastoral MinistryLeave a comment

Q and A podcast

joshnmarda

This is a new podcast we are doing where we are seeking to think together about applying Scripture to life. ——- 0:00 start of Q&A Podcast0:38 Josh’s intro1:05 Isaiah’s intro2:00 Question: How do you know if you are living in accordance to the truths of the Resurrection (*correction: passage is 1 Cor 15)2:27 Answer – “Yes, But How?”4:42 “then you die…but then you’re raised from the dead”6:25 how do you scare somebody who is going to rise from the dead?8:20 reflection of resurrection positively & negativelywhen would it be better to cut off your hand?9:45 evaluating if you’re living according … Continue reading Q and A podcast

Devotions, Eternity, Pastoral MinistryLeave a comment

Death is defeated…

joshnmarda

Is death an enemy? It’s terrible, that’s for sure. It wasn’t part of the original design for the world. It’s a consequence of sin. There’s something in us that says it’s not natural, even though it is everywhere we look. God’s ultimate plan is to swallow up death forever. Satan holds people in bondage to the fear of death. And you can see why people are afraid, right? Finish any sentence with, “and then you die” and see how exciting it sounds. You become president of the United States, and then… You own the whole world, and then… So yes, … Continue reading Death is defeated…

Health and HealingLeave a comment

Truly Healthy

joshnmarda

The phone rang. It was the end of a long week. It was someone I had never met. And at first, I could barely understand what he was saying. But finally, I figured out he wanted me to come to the hospital to visit him. To be honest, at first, I didn’t want to go. It was in the middle of town. Traffic, you know! I was tired. All kinds of selfish reasons. When I got there, he was lying on the bed, partially paralyzed, with a brace around his neck, and his wife quietly crying beside him. Apparently, he … Continue reading Truly Healthy