Nathan Mates' Christianity Page

Various Christian writings/work I've done

Everyone Did As He Saw Fit. That was the lament centuries ago. How did that happen, what were the results, and how does it apply today? 3/27/04

Good Replacements Getting rid of something is only the first step; we need to consider what we replace it with. 1/24/04

What are you arguing? Watch what's going on around you first. 1/17/04

Dealing with Scaffolding. We are under construction in our lives, and scaffolding initially helps, but can ultimately get in the way. How do we deal with this? 10/25/03

Failing to Pray. More of a problem than we may realize. 6/14/03

A Balanced Approach. We tend towards the lopsided. But, God calls us to be balanced. 2/9/03.

Undivided Interests. Does marriage really seem to split one's attention away from God? 1/18/03

Why we worship God alone. Some thoughts on this subject, responding to that question asked to me. 9/15/02

Thoughts on Spiritual Community. Originally published in University Presbyterian Church's One Purpose journal. 7/13/02

The Truth is Critical. It doesn't matter what the packaging is, God's truth remains the same. 4/29/01

Limited Discipleship. There's more to this process than one might believe. 4/28/01

Be an Internet Berean. Think before you send email! 4/22/01

A Useful Custom. Yet another habit of Jesus that we can and should learn from. 4/19/01

Right Advice, Wrong Time. Can what is said be truthful, but not helpful? 3/25/01

Peace to Some. Despite what the popular culture says, parts of the Christmas season aren't universal. 12/18/00

Asking for Gifts Text of a talk I gave at Hope Chapel Singles Alive. Christmas is the season of gifts, but other humans aren't the only one we could ask for gifts from. 12/9/00

Follow the arrows In respose to recent controversy, I try my hand at a cartoon. Enjoy! 11/11/00

Increase our Faith! A cry by the disciples 2000 years ago is often echoed to this day. What can we learn about faith? 11/9/00

The First Supper Something Jesus did 2000 years ago will be repeated. 10/26/00

The Sacrifices of Being a Leader The job isn't always what it's envied to be. 10/16/00

The Third Soil Prosperity has come the last few years. Has it affected the American Church? 10/15/00

God's Style The fingerprints of God are in how he treats us. 10/15/00

The Carpenter What exactly did Jesus do, growing up? 10/10/00

Wild Animals Examining Jesus's temptation in light of some verses in Exodus and Deuteronomy. 10/9/00

Be an Example Like it or not, you're one. Are you being a good one? 9/28/00

Releasing Hindrances to Joy Expanded text of a speech I gave at a church event. 9/24/00

Well After the Fact Centuries go by, and people want to do something. Is this Biblical? 8/21/00

The Issue of Condemnation Some react very negatively to pointing out things. 8/14/00

Junior Leaders The oldest and firstborn are always the leaders, right? Nope. 8/13/00

Religion vs Relationship One works. One don't. Which one are you following? 5/8/00

What is Unequally Yoked? That phrase comes up a lot around believers... 5/4/00

Worship is a Living Sacrifice. Text of my talk at the Hope Chapel Singles Alive Night of Dynamite, 4/29/00

Praying in Public. Can we even do this, or is it forbidden? [4/9/00]

Work on Small Things. Not just the big problems in our lives, the smaller things need work too. [4/9/00]

Datafile: Samaritans. Who are these people so disliked by some in the New Testament? [4/2/00]

Waiting for Years. While God's told you things to do (see next article below), it may be a while before things happen. [3/27/00]

Not Waiting First. Get going, God's already told you things to do [3/16/00]

Asking For Big Things. Sometimes we set our sights way too low. [3/13/00]

Politics & Religion. How do they mix. How should they mix? [3/2/00]

Why We Should Worship. It's not just for the music team and choir to do. [2/27/00]

As Goes the Leader ... so do the followers? [1/16/00]

Behind Enemy Lines. We're not in friendly territory, that's for sure. How should we behave? [1/15/00]

Working through Nonbelievers. Is this even possible? Does their unbelief stop things? [12/24/99]

Absence of Accountability. A wise and prosperous Biblical character messes up. Why? [12/5/99]

Datafile: Calendars. The current system is buggy, but still it's used. [10/31/99]

Datafile: Gifts. God gives so much to those who believe in him. [10/26/99]

Very Productive Time. Time that the world would have you think is pointless is powerful in God's hands. [10/10/99]

Earn Your Keep. God's gifts aren't exclusively spiritual... [10/7/99]

Almost Father of the Nation. A few mistakes pulled this guy out of the running to be a big Biblical figure. [8/30/99]

A Descendant Always on the Throne. God promised this to David, but how did it really play out? [8/22/99]

Datafile: Pharisees. Where these Pharisees came fram, what they did wrong, what they did right. [8/22/99]

The Cain Factor. Cain and Abel's story is longer lasting than just a chapter in Genesis. [8/21/99]

"Teach us to pray". Jesus's disciples had to ask for help with prayer. We can learn from them and other examples of starting a prayer habit and how to pray. [8/2/99]

Prosperity Not Guaranteed. We may be blessed materially, but that's not something to count on. [7/29/99]

Financial Discipline. Quite necessary in our lives; the whys and hows. [7/25/99]

A Unified Whole. We're more than just intellectual and spiritual beings... [7/19/99]

The Dangers of Overemphasis. Gifts: can there be too much of a good thing? [6/30/99]

Know Know Thy Enemy. We have one as Christians? [5/31/99]

No Inheritance in this Land. First seen applied to some in the Old Testament... is that it? [5/27/99]

Practical Support. A continuation of ideas presented in 'One Church, Many Functions' below with suggestions of how to do things. [5/24/99]

31.7665N, 35.2338E. What's the title mean, and what are all the references to some Bible verses? [5/16/99]

One Church, Many Functions. We're not a colony of insects; humans specialize-- so don't mistreat others. [5/11/99]

Fully God, Fully Human. That's Jesus's character; those who believe otherwise are missing the point. [5/10/99]

Worshiping Idols. Any skeletons in your closet? [5/3/99]

Having Righteousness. Another God-given quality we should have. [4/29/99]

Confusing Words.What's said by one is not necesarily understood by another. [4/28/99]

Not Medical School. Read the Bible, pass medical school? Sorry, things don't work that way. [4/26/99]

Whiners and Complainers. Yep, people in the Bible have been that way. Are they commended at all for that? [4/20/99]

Dealing with Media. A few thoughts on dealing with something that's nearly unavoidable, and normally not very Christian. [4/19/99]

Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Analysis of a certain claimed disaster, and its message from "Christians" [4/18/99]

Get Wisdom and Discernment. Another thing Christians should be striving for. [4/18/99]

Field Guide to Prophets. A bit of a field guide to this unfortunately rare species. [4/15/99]

Be Accountable. Are you accountable to someone? You should be. [4/12/99]

Not Yet the End of the World. Millennial madness, with a bit of a damper put on it. [4/6/99]

The Ultimate Upgrade. Jesus had this happen first, and it's something other Christians will get to experience. [4/5/99]

Zero Hour. It's approaching. You ready? [4/3/99]

King David's Crucifixion. Centuries before Jesus, did King David know and speak of Crucifixion? Take a look at the evidence [4/1/99]

Grafted In, Grafted Out. Not corruption, but something more theological [3/29/99]

The Problem of Leaders. Problem? Definitely, if they're not according to God's plan. [3/24/99]

Radiant Glory. One dark night on the middle of a lake... [3/22/99]

Don't Wait For Elijah. Like Godot, you could be waiting a long time [3/21/99]

Datafile: Temples Info on the various temples in mentioned in the Bible. [3/20/99]

The Wages Are The Same -- for different amounts of work. Is this possible or right? [3/17/99]

When Big Miracles Don't Convince. Tough break, but sometimes this happens. [3/15/99]

You're Not Alone. [3/14/99]

Don't Shoot the Messenger. It's a tough, lonely job, but somebody's got to do it... (Title subejct to change) [3/13/99]

Casting Shadows. A short work of fiction. [3/11/99]

Praise Report or Prayer Request. Got one? Or the other? Take a read. [3/8/99]

The Third Gift. Some commentary on the entire Christmas season. [11/22/98]

The Embarassment in Chief commentary on the president of the United States and how Christians should react to the mess. [9/18/98]

My unification of the 4 gospel's writings on Jesus, from the Last Supper to the burial

Notes for a Bible Study I helped lead on Sin and Repentance

"Magic, Miracles, and Christianity"

"What you don't see may still happen"

Just an hour a day...

"If you believe this, don't buy Swampland (err, Real Estate) in Florida!"

Not condemned, but not condoned either

Favorite Bible Verses

(Short list of many)

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you gave, get understanding.

2nd Corinthians 3:4-5

⁴ Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are completed in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

1 John 2:5-6

⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Psalm 46:10a

"Be still, and know that I am God"

Jeremiah 7:22-23

²² For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, ²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.

Others to be announced later.

Links to various places:

http://bible.gospelcom.net The Bible, many versions, with nice search and lookup functions.

10 Reasons to Believe.

Christian Computing Magazine, with tips, news, and the like on how to use your computers in the service of God's Kingdom.

Harvest Crusade. Get thee to a free concert, or at least watch/listen for free online.

Echo Central. One of my favorite electronic Christian group's webpage.