Ask John to Speak for Your Event

John is available to speak at your next event! Whether it is a youth group, bible study group, retreat, men’s group, or book clubs, John brings to each engagement a zest for life, a flair for making difficult ecumenical themes easily accessible, and a wealth of experiences that make him relatable and approachable.

Topics include:

  • “Discovering the Bible through “Holy Terror” – a review of all the Bible story Easter Eggs in this book.
  • “Discovering the Bible through the book, “Holy Terror – A Deeper Dive” – looking beyond just the Easter Egg stories in the book, but rather, looking at the plethora of scriptural references it contains, and the Greek language it contains.
  • “Standing in the Gap” – your youth is an advantage in being a Christian, not a hindrance – 1 Timothy 4:12
  • “Letting Go and Letting God” – trading peace for payback – Romans 12:21
  • “My God’s a Big God” – God is God, and we are not – Isaiah 55:8-9
  • “Giving Thumos the Boot” – remember, Thumos is a fictional character, and we don’t want vigilantism; instead, we need to be good citizens by helping and protecting each other, being silent in the wake of crime is no longer an option.
  • “I Can Choose My Response” – finding a path to overcoming violence in our society
  • “The Myth of ‘Control’” – coming to grips with the fact that outside of one’s own self, control is an illusion
Contact John Today for More Information

God Has No Grandchildren

I once heard someone say, “God has no grandchildren”. I think this statement was in reference to the concept of the “first generation” Christian, and how this particular group of Christians seems to have the most
enthusiasm. By the time second, third, fourth generations come along, some of the most basic principles and truths held dear by the 1st generation Christians, grow less and less significant to subsequent generations. Although I do not believe this to be an absolute idea, I do fear it to be often times true.

This kind of problem is not new or unique to Christianity. Even in everyday life, values and norms seem to constantly change. But Israel of old comes to mind as a people who had a problem with perpetuating God’s laws from one generation to the next. On more than one occasion were they punished for forgetting God => II Kings 17:13-18; Amos 6:6. God never intended to have any “grandchildren of Israel”, only “children of Israel”. His
relationship with generation after generation was that of father and child, not a relationship that grew more distant with the years: grandfather, great grandfather, etc.

The same principle applies to Christians. No matter how many generations of my ancestors have been Christians, God is still “Father” to me. I’m afraid many people are Christians for no more reason than “Mom and Dad were Christians, and their parents before them”. It’s no wonder that second and third generation Christians have become just that – generations apart from God, with no close relationship to Him. My relationship with God is not through my parents or grandparents, but through my own faith and obedience to Him. The relationship we should have with God should be extremely close. Notice Romans 8:15; Paul says “…by which we cry out ‘Abba Father!'”. “Abba” is a word denoting intimacy – we have the right to call God “Father” – a
tremendous privilege! We all need to strive for the zeal of a “first generation” Christian. To such a Christian, the Gospel is a precious treasure, never to be treated as anything less. His relationship with God is one of intimacy and of utmost priority. His attitude toward fellow man is one of concern: physical, but mostly spiritual, trying to share the “good news” with him. God has no grandchildren, only children – isn’t it time for us all to act as such?
Galatians 3:26-29.

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