BTZ Blog

Men, give women the honor due them. And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how His body was laid. (Luke 23:55) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren. (Acts 1:14) It is well documented how ancient Israel viewed women before Jesus came. The Jews did not regard women in a good light as do some societies today. Jewish women were not allowed to receive an education. Hence, they were largely uneducated. Their only training was in how to raise children and keep house. Something like the modern day philosophy that a woman's place is in the kitchen and pregnant. Women were also largely excluded from worshiping God. In the temple, there was a special court that stood on the very outside. It was called the court of the Gentiles. The Gentiles could go into that court, but they were limited to that area alone. Five steps above the Gentiles court w...

In Acts 11:25 we are told that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. We are not told whether the term carried negative or positive connotations. If it was used negatively then it may have meant something similar to being called a “Jesus Freak” today. If it was used positively then it meant that they were “Christlike” in character and action. But, what does the word mean today? I would suggest that it depends on your culture and religious beliefs as to how you interpret its meaning. To some it means those who are the scum of the earth, to others it means anybody who is not Muslim, Buddhist or Islam etc. To some it means those who attend some church on a regular basis. To some it means that one time they repeated what is known as the sinner's prayer regardless of their lifestyle now. Depending on where they live or what their religious experience is, it means different things to different people. In spite of what we think any particular word should mean, it actually...

Many believers have said, “I just can't live the Christian life, I try to reach a certain expectation and I succeed for a time and then I fall flat on my face again. It seems that God is a God of expectations that demands perfection.” In one way or another most Christians are trapped in this endless cycle of attaining and failing to maintain or perform up to the expectations they have been told that God expects of them. Far to often these expectations are set because leaders are distorting such scriptures that teach we should "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect." In Mark 10:17, we encounter a scene that shows us the futility of expectations. We find out that God is not a God of expectations! This young man had always been able to defined himself by his being able to measure up to the standards expected of him. He was successful when measured with the measuring stick of talent and performance. It was a scale he did well on, and one he also relied on to define hi...

By Dr. Richard J. Krejci "Faithful to my Lord’s commands, I still would chose the better part; Serve with careful Martha’s hands And loving Mary’s heart." John Wesley Romans 12:1-3 1. SPEAK TO PEOPLE. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting! 2. SMILE AT PEOPLE . It takes seventy-two muscles to frown, only fourteen to smile. (Besides, you may be on ‘Spy TV’) 3. CALL PEOPLE BY NAME . The sweetest music to anyone's ear is the sound of ones own name! 4. BE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL . If you would like to have friends, then, be friendly! 5. BE CORDIAL . Speak and act as if everything you do were a genuine pleasure! (If it is right and good, it really should be.) 6. BE GEUINEIY INTERESTED IN PEOPLE . Empathy means involvement! 7. BE GENEROUS WITH PRAISE and cautious with criticism! 8. BE CONSIDERATE WITH THE FEELINGS OF OTHERS . It will be appreciated. 9. BE THOUGHTFUL OF THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS . There are three sides to controversy--yours-'--...

The greatest hindrance to our freedom in Christ is not legalism, tradition nor religious obligation so prevalent in institutional religion today. As binding as those things can be, a more powerful tyrant holds us captive from the true depths of Father's life and joy.....SELF! We can be free of all the others and we should be, yet remain captive to this one that matters most. Many people are discovering just how much bondage organized religion has become in our day. While it promises a dynamic relationship with the Living God, it too often only offers a program of behavioural conformity that leaves many empty, manipulated and disillusioned. Watching God set people free from that bondage is always a joy. However, freedom from those things without also finding freedom from the tyranny of self only becomes an excuse for greater bondage to the flesh. Paul warned the Galatians just how true that is. Our greatest captivity is not to any other person or system; it is to self. And the great...

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 James 3:2 says that we all fall in many ways. It's true, isn't it? No one could ever say, "Well, I've never failed the Lord." But what do you do when you're confronted with your sin? When God by a messenger, a circumstance or His Word holds up a mirror to you and you are made aware of some fault what do you do in that critical moment? Because we all are prone to fail the Lord, the issue then becomes, how do I respond when my sin is revealed to me? That is the great dividing line in all of humanity. In 1 Samuel 15, the life of King Saul is under the microscope. We meet him at a pivotal moment when he is confronted with his sin. Tragically, rather than admitting what he did was wrong, he attempts a major cover-up. First he blamed it on the people. Then, he rationalized, "Yeah, I did most of that, but then I sacrificed to the...

“Find out what pleases the Lord.” Ephesians 5:10 If you do not know what pleases the Lord then find out what pleases Him. Some of the greatest pain that we know in life is brought on ourselves by attempting the impossible: pleasing other people. Just think of the effort and anxiety we extend every day trying to get others to like or approve or affirm us. Don’t be fooled-people-pleasing is a dead-end street. Whether the people you crave recognition from is your boss, your parent, your friend, your pastor, your denomination or someone from your past-when you position them as judge and jury over your life, you’re putting yourself in bondage. Jesus came to set you free from this painful pattern of living. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed,” (John 8:36). May I suggest two things that will help you to please the Lord: #1. Minimize your focus on what others think of you. Paul faced the temptation to people-please. Notice his response to people comparing his and Apollos’ ...