Author Archives: shepherdbryan

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About shepherdbryan

My passion is to disciple and see men discipled in every area of their life to see the multiplication principle actually work in a 100 year generational blessing. As go men in the church, so goes the church. As go men in the nation, so goes the nation. Fortunately, because men have often not taken their spiritual role to the limit, God has raised up many godly women to carry the torch where men have laid it aside. May God rapidly raise up men for the next generation of leaders to the Fourth Generation of spiritual leaders! As men lead in a godly way, women will follow in a godly way and that people will be blessed of the Lord.

Suffering: Who is the God who allows Suffering? Part 2

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This is part two of our series answering the question, “Who is the God who allows Suffering?’ it is part of a larger project seeking to answer the question “Why does a loving God allow Suffering?”

God is Eternal Life

There is no beginning or end to God; He is eternal life. God is transcendent beyond time, for He exists outside of time. Time began when God created the universe and He will continue beyond the moment when He destroys the universe as we know it, when time ends. Jesus said, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.” (John 5:26 NKJ) The Father has eternal life that is not measured in the same way we measure time. He created time for us finite creatures! Moses wrote, “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Ps. 90:2 NKJ) God knows every moment of time perfectly well. He knows when people suffer, when their suffering will be over and how they will respond to it. If God is eternal life, then He is not limited by the length of time a person will suffer. He could prevent its duration if He were to choose, IF He is eternal life. Continue reading →

Suffering: Who is the God who allows Suffering? Part 1

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This is part one answering the question, “Who is the God who allows Suffering?” This is part of a project to answer the question, “Why does a loving God allow Suffering?”

One of the most prominent questions throughout history is “How can a loving God allow suffering?” You will hear it today in the media when there is a disaster. You will hear it on secular college campuses that question “religion.” You will hear it from those who question the existence of God. You will hear it from both religious and atheistic people. “If God is loving and good, how can He allow so much suffering?” is the basic question. Some allow the reality that evil and suffering exist to give a reason why they want to reject the Lord. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Lie: Evolution/Millions of Years by Ken Ham

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“The Lie: Evolution/Millions of Years” by Ken Ham is a must read reality check.  Having read the first edition fifteen years ago, the 25th Anniversary Edition was a tremendous refocus on the essence of the battle raging in America. Most of the issues Christians seem to fight are merely symptoms of the real issue, which is the bombardment and destruction of the foundation of Christianity –God’s Word. Continue reading →

MSG: Train Your Replacements: How to Mediate 1 Timothy 2:3-7

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This message was presented on January 19, 2014 as part of the series on 1 Timothy.

In 1988, I planted a church in Minneapolis, Minnesota called Heritage Bible Church. Our average age was 35. After 15 months, there was an opportunity to merge with an older congregation, whose average age was 65.  My young church didn’t like the idea at first. The older church was afraid the young people would take over their church building.  I was the mediator. How could I help the young people see the benefit of this merger and the older people see that they would continue to have a strong say.  Continue reading →

Suffering: What Kinds of Suffering from man’s perspective does God Allow? Part 3

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This is part three answering the question, “What Kinds of Suffering do We Suffer in What God Allows?” It is a part of the project answering the question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?”

The fifth category is spiritual suffering.  This results from the unseen spiritual conflict of angelic warfare and the turmoil of sin itself. People suffer spiritually as a result of trying to proclaim the name of Jesus, which is seen in the persecuted church.2 The early church endured incredible persecution (1 Pet. 4:12-17), as does today’s church is suffering persecution in many countries around the world. Continue reading →

Suffering: What Kinds of Suffering from Man’s Perspective does God Allow? Part 2

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This is the second part answering the question, “What Kinds of Suffering do We Suffer in What God Allows?” (See the first part posted on Jan. 16, 2014) It is a part of a series of questions following the overall question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?” Portions of each week will address answering that overall question.

The third category is emotional suffering.  This can result from fear of the unknown, living in a relationship where a lack of trust was established, or even a physically induced condition like a woman’s monthly cycle.  Emotional suffering can build over mounting debt, failure to forgive, or resentment building over jealousy that a friend received credit for a job that you did. This is difficult to measure, like mental suffering, because it is not seen, except for the consequences.  Feelings can be used in a positive and negative way. Continue reading →

Suffering: What Kinds of Suffering from Man’s Perspective does God Allow? Part 1

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This is the first part in the question, “What Kinds of Suffering do We Suffer in What God Allows? It is a part of a series of questions following the overall question, “How can a loving God allow suffering?” Portions of each week will address answering that overall question.

Suffering might seem obvious. All people suffer to a certain degree. Different kinds of suffering might be apparent. And to look at this from man’s perspective might seem pretty man-centered and introspective.  Yet, there are several reasons why this question should be answered. Continue reading →

Book Review: Why, O God edited by Larry Waters and Roy Zuck

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“Why, O God” is the most engaging volume on suffering and disability. Suffering strikes home to nearly everyone in a multitude of ways, although many people face its reality more acutely than others. Suffering likely connects more conversations than sports, business or hobbies. We grow up asking why there is so much suffering, until we grow up learning that God can be trusted with a plan far beyond our finite comprehension. Continue reading →