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Articles by Erik Guzman
Love Hurts - Key Life
Enjoy this classic blog from Erik Guzman! My love of drinking is no secret to anyone who knows me. The taste, the laughter among friends, the lack of self-consciousness… each are parts of a whole that have had me smitten since the first few clandestine beers out in the woods with my mates. When I got older, I found scotch. Oh, baby. I remember our first time. Her name was Glenmorangie. She was 15 years old, finished in a Sherry cask after being matured in American white oak soaked in bourbon.
Steve’s Devotional – Is the World Coming to an End?
What is going on? What does the future hold? Is the world coming to an end--really? I don’t know about you, but I take great comfort in God’s sovereignty. We don’t get a vote (I don’t want to be in charge anyway) and all this is way above my pay grade (I can’t even fix me). The fact is, like it or not… God is God. Our King goes wherever he wants, and does whatever he wants, and whenever and however he wants. So what do we do? We trust him. And rest assured.
God's Not Mad at You
ASSURANCE OF SALVATION GOD GRACE JESUS If anyone told you that you have to get dressed up to go to Jesus, they lied to you. Take one minute to watch this video and get a little something to think about that will brighten your day, give you a bit of hope and make a big difference. If anyone told you that you have to get dressed up to go to Jesus, they lied to you.
Should I Halloween? - Key Life
In years past, really religious people were always trying to make me be less joyful. My humility restrains me from being too frank, but I was rather delightful. As difficult as it is to believe, some people hate delight in all its splendiferous forms.
It's Still the Good News - Key Life
For years, I’ve been saying that I’m a sinner. But I don’t think people have really believed me. When I say that, I’m not giving you a half-smile and a wink. No, I need the new nature that Christ has given me, the Holy Spirit forming me into his image. I need the resurrection work of God, because I am just as apt to fall to temptation as anyone else. And I often do. To be clear, I want to please God. I want to love more. I want to forgive more. I want to think more of you than I do of myself.
You Have Been Reported For Copyright Content - Key Life
CHARACTER OF GOD CHRISTIAN LIVING PRACTICAL THEOLOGY / Articles / You Have Been Reported For Copyright Content Recently, Key Life got a message from one of the big, snarling social media dogs saying we’d violated some copyright law and needed to fix it or be forever cast into the lake of fire… or have our page suspended. I can’t remember which. Either way, it turned out there was only a toothless, wiry mutt behind that false warning.
Root & Fruit - Key Life
I recently started a garden. I’ve been growing tomatoes, peppers, green beans and squash. Well, I’ve been trying to grow those things. I thought I should probably have some idea how to produce my own food just in case the manure continues to hit the fan here in the good ol’ U. S. of A. If it does, the most important thing I’ve learned from gardening is that I’m going to starve. It’s not that I couldn’t grow anything, it’s just that I couldn’t grow much.
Root & Fruit - Key Life
I recently started a garden. I’ve been growing tomatoes, peppers, green beans and squash. Well, I’ve been trying to grow those things. I thought I should probably have some idea how to produce my own food just in case the manure continues to hit the fan here in the good ol’ U. S. of A. If it does, the most important thing I’ve learned from gardening is that I’m going to starve. It’s not that I couldn’t grow anything, it’s just that I couldn’t grow much.
Keep Swimming in the Love of God for You - Key Life
/ Articles / Keep Swimming in the Love of God for You The entire message of the Bible is a message of grace, hope, forgiveness, and love—all unearned, ill-deserved, and completely without condition! The love of God is reckless, pervasive, and unstoppable. The love of God knows no limits or boundaries! Thus far, though billions have tried, none have been able to stop the work of God. The love of God is not reserved for just the rich or just the poor.
Why is God So Unpredictable? - Key Life Original
Some people do believe that in fact God is unpredictable! That makes them feel: Small Insecure Fearful Out of control Angry Hateful of Him Determined to assert themselves and stay in control. All of the above More than the above Why do people feel that God is unpredictable? Counselors tell us that people sometimes take their earthly father issues and project them on God: their earthly dads were unpredictable and so God, the ultimate father, must be unpredictable too.
Steve’s Devotional – How to Go to God - Key Life Original
A man once called me to talk about some very difficult problems. After he finished his story, the man said, “Please pray for me…I’m not on speaking terms with God.” My first reaction to that was, “Oh, come on now, you don’t have to be on speaking terms with God…he loves you. You just talk to him the way you talk to a friend.” While what I said was true, it is not as simple as that.
If It’s Not Jesus, It’s Skubalon - Key Life
BIBLE STUDY GOD JESUS MINISTRY / Articles / If It’s Not Jesus, It’s Skubalon The other day I told God I was willing to be a tool in his hands. Instantly, an image of a plunger appeared in my mind. I snickered and wondered what, if anything, it meant. I thought, Maybe that means my job is to keep the content flowing at Key Life. Ha! Then I thought about what plungers dislodge. You know what I’m talking about.
Why Jesus Wants You to Lose Hope - Key Life
In Mark 10, a young rich man eagerly comes to Jesus. He is a winner who does not want to give up trying to win. The good thing about him is that he has a desire for something more, something beyond worldly winning. He asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” It is good to ask about eternal life, but his question reveals a deep flaw. You see, as Robert Capon notes, while he wants something more, he can’t imagine pursuing it in any other way than doing through more winning and striving.
On The Inside Looking Out - Key Life
It’s strange—for most of my life I felt like an outsider looking in. Maybe you know that same uncomfortable feeling of not being sure that you fit in anywhere, but desperately want to, I mean, somewhere. I’m a Californian but I live in Florida and have lived here a very long time. I miss home, still, after all these years. Florida is beautiful and there are never-ending adventures here: trails to ride and hike, animals to track, sunrises and sunsets to absorb, waves to ride, lakes to fish.
Fifty Days of Good News - Key Life
“But Easter’s over!” exclaims the obnoxious media addict, Mike Teavee, observing the geese who lay golden eggs in Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. “They don’t know that!” his long-suffering candy-making host quickly replies. Here we are, after Easter Sunday, but some of us don’t want to hear that it’s over. Because it’s not. Easter is a fifty-day season that is all about good news. Really good news. Let’s celebrate it, even if the world thinks we’ve misread the calendar.
Steve’s Devotional – You Have a Bright Future
If God is in charge of the future (and he is)…then we can dream. After all, God has built the very foundations upon which the future sits. God controls the future (Revelation 1:8, Psalm 135:13, Psalm 145:13). God didn’t ask permission from me, of course, but I’m glad he is in charge. It isn’t a job for boys. God controls your future. Not only does God control the future in general, but he controls your future in particular (Psalm 91:1-4, Mathew 6:25-26).
Jesus Has Everything You Need - Key Life
In John 20:19-23, the disciples gathered together in the upper room thought that Jesus of Nazareth was dead. (Mary said that she had seen him alive; but, after all, she was upset and loved him…and love sometimes sees what it wants to see.) These disciples were together since misery loves company. Their future was uncertain. They would never again hear his laughter, know his wisdom, or share in his mission.
Eat, Drink & Be Merry - Key Life
The triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem (Matthew 21 and Luke 19) always seemed strange to me. On the surface, it looks like just another party. There are the same smiles, excitement and celebration. But there is more going on here. In the midst of celebration, Jesus is preparing to die. He is going to be mocked, scourged and crucified. He knew it. His disciples knew it. When you realize what is really happening here, it just about takes the fun out of the party.
Going On and On About the Love of God - Key Life
Over the past couple of years I've often been asked whether or not I believe in repentance or the pursuit of holiness because I talk so frequently about the love, grace, and compassion of almighty God. Questions about whether or not I’m being faithful to the entire witness of Scripture pop up, and I find myself giving the same answers again and again. I thought it might be helpful to put a few thoughts down here.
Steve’s Devotional - We Live in Two Worlds - Key Life
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4). There are two worlds—two realities—and we cannot find our identity in both. Maybe it’s a good time to be reminded of who we are and how we can live.
The Natural Disaster That Saved My Life - Key Life
I want to tell you a story about me -- specifically, a season and an event in my life. Is it about a natural disaster? Yes. But here’s the thing: I can’t tell this story accurately without revealing some kinda seedy episodes in my past. In one sense, it’s garden-variety stuff — I didn’t kill anybody — but there’s a chance it will change how you see me. So if you’d like to continue thinking of me as a decent guy, well, this is your exit. I was in my late teens and I had come into some money.
Stop Trying to Get Better - Key Life
Are you working at getting better? Any progress? If you’re struggling, I’m here to help. I have a friend whose family gerbil, “Jerry,” got lost in their house. They looked everywhere for Jerry to no avail. Two days later when my friend was preparing for bed, he was astonished to find Jerry sitting on his pillow. Jerry was dirty, hungry and tired…but there he sat. My friend said that Jerry wanted to be found. He knew where to go to be found and by whom. As a Christian, you’ve already been found.
Good Deeds? Ha! Good Luck! - Key Life
I saw an info-graphic type deal today that, to sum it up, said you don’t have to be a Christian to have ethics. That’s a fact. But the fact that the argument has to be made at all shows that we Christians are somehow proposing that only Christians can be truly ethical. That’s just not true. And it’s fairly easy to empirically show it’s not true.
Giving Up Liver, Okra & Booze - Key Life
I’m not that big on Christian holy days…but I do like Lent and Easter. The pagans haven’t taken them over yet. They tried, but Easter bonnets aren’t high on the fashion agenda; the Easter bunny, for some reason, has never reached the PR level of Santa Claus; and unless you’re a believer, you probably aren’t big on fasting or giving stuff up for Lent. Are you giving up anything for Lent? I am. I’m giving up liver, okra and booze. I know you’re impressed, but don’t be.
Parenting: The Father's Father - Key Life
GOD THE FATHER MARRIAGE & FAMILY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD STEVE'S SERMONS / Articles / Parenting: The Father’s Father There is a direct correlation between how you view God and how you will father and mother your children. That’s why it’s so important to get the doctrine right about our Father in heaven. God is not a monster or a child abuser. The father in Luke 15:11-23 had two sons—one who hung out with prostitutes and pigs, the other who was an arrogant twit.
Love and Convictions - Key Life
How in the world can Christians love one another when we don’t agree on anything but Jesus, don’t think the same way, don’t look alike, or don’t share a common cultural and political understanding of the way things ought to be? And then how can we love one another without selling out our convictions? The short answer is that Jesus makes everything else look small by comparison and if we can get that right, we can probably love one another and make room for our convictions.
Church: More Like a Pub and Less Like a Country Club - Key Life
/ Articles / Church: More Like a Pub and Less Like a Country Club The Church is not a gated country club, surrounded by rolling green hill golf courses, adorned with perfectly manicured ponds, dotted with foliage, landscaped to perfection - filled with members sipping cocktails at happy hour because they have paid their dues to be there. The Church is more like Chuck’s Hop Shop in Greenwood with the food truck parked out in front.
Run to Jesus - Key Life
Do you want to be forgiven? Do you want something more in life? The fact is we can live lives of forgiveness, meaning, joy and real freedom…but not on our own terms. If we really want something better, we must always start with God. Peter reminds us of what God did for us in Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:21-25 is an incredible message of hope…but we have to respond.
Faith Like a Child - Key Life
Look at the birds of the air… are you not of more value than they? ~Matthew 6:26 My daughter caught a bird when she was six – a perfectly healthy bird. Now people don’t just catch perfectly healthy birds, but Abby is pretty special. Several months before, she had asked me to pray that God would help her catch a bird, and her request sent me into an inward tizzy. (There are so many things parenting books don’t prepare you for.) I did it, of course.
Steve’s Devotional | It Isn’t Always a Wonderful Life - Key Life
It’s really true. Every day the world rolls over on someone who was just sitting on top of it. Are you sitting on top of the world? Or are you squashed under its weight? If you’re wounded, suffering and in pain, this is for you. In Psalm 88, the psalmist understands and identifies. The psalmist articulated the right problem. I love the psalmist because he’s honest about the pain in the world. He didn’t say everything is wonderful. He said, “Lord, it hurts and it hurts bad.
Happiness vs. Joy - Key Life
What does the Bible say about joy? There is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness doesn’t last; joy lasts forever. Happiness is related to present circumstances; joy is related to Jesus Christ. Happiness is transient and fleeting; joy is constant simply because God is constant. So what does it say? “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).
Friendship: Real Wealth - Key Life
Over the summer at Redemption Church, we decided to take a focused look at a few selected Proverbs. This week we learned a few things about what Solomon has to say about the ever so important subject and experience of Friendship. Friendship is a gift that God has given to humanity and obviously isn’t something unique to the Church alone. Regardless of faith, age, race, gender, and so on – the gift of friendship is available to be had by all human beings.
Steve’s Devotional - Waiting in the Dark - Key Life
I’ve been thinking a lot about Simeon. He was as old as dirt and I am too. So I understand him better now than I did when I was younger. You’ll find Simeon’s story in Luke 2:25-35. If you were a Jew in Jerusalem in the early part of the first century, you would most likely visit the temple on several occasions and notice an old man hanging out near the main entrance. “Who’s that old man?” you might have asked a friend. “I’ve been to the temple every day and he’s always here.” “Oh, him.
Getting Better by Not Trying Harder - Key Life
I’ve been reading a lot of stuff about New Testament ethics lately because of a new book I’m writing. Far from what a lot of highly worried religious folks think, we grace people do have a deep affinity toward ethics. We just don’t lie down and take the petty, authoritarian, moralistic silliness some people try to say is integral to the Christian faith.
Silence in Seattle - Key Life
Silence in Liturgy Nearly every week in our corporate worship gatherings at Redemption Church we intentionally place a time of silence into our liturgy. Yes, a moment of to be completely silent, with no agenda before Almighty God. Why on earth would we do this? Isn’t church already the most awkward hour of our lives?
Forget Trying to Be Fully Understood! - Key Life
At least from people. Here’s some grace reality therapy for the day: God is the only one who is capable of fully understanding you, and He does! Check out Psalm 139 and you’ll see that the only One who really can appreciate you and understand you is the One who made you, and, if you’re a Christian, rescued you, and pulled you back home.
How to Get Better and Better Every Day - Key Life
You’ve probably heard me say it often. I’ve never met a Christian who didn’t want to be better than they were. In fact, I think that a good definition of “Christian” is what a Christian sees and not what a Christian does. Seeing the truth about ourselves isn’t a pretty picture. But a part of that seeing is God’s incredible grace and forgiveness. A Christian is a person who sees the truth…even if they can’t do a thing about it. Can we really get better and better every day?
Living in the In-Between - Key Life
I’ve been thinking about death a lot lately. In the span of two weeks, there have been four deaths in my orbit: my sister’s mother-in-law (who I’ll always remember for her sweet, ever-present smile), my best friend’s husband (they were married for 28 years and he was loved deeply), my childhood friend (she was the first kid who was kind and welcoming to me as an 11-year-old after we moved from Boston to Miami in the middle of the school year), and my cousin (so beloved, especially by my mother).
Where is God in Our Pain? - Key Life
You never get used to it. Starvation, war, suffering, persecution, sickness, pain, death. You never get used to it. I’ve been doing this for a lot of years. I’ve cleaned up after more suicides, buried more babies, stood by more deathbeds and watched the pain of more people than I can even remember. And each time it’s fresh and horrible.
Steve’s Devotional | The Problem with Religion - Key Life
Do you sometimes grow tired of religious people? Do you ever want to just grunt, scream and spit? I know I do. Sometimes I just want to say something shocking. And once that’s done, I’ll think, There, I did it and I’m glad! I try to stifle those feelings because, of course, no real Christian would even think such things. That is what I thought until I read Christ’s words in Matthew 6:1-8 and 16-18.
What To Do When You Just Can't Do Church Anymore - Key Life
If you read the title of this post and immediately identified with its sentiment, you may not be surprised to know that there is a growing number of church people out there who just cannot bear the thought of involving themselves one more time in a church community. We identify with that red-blooded hero of American independence, Tom Sawyer, who quipped, “I’ve been to the circus three or four times—lots of times.
Steve’s Devotional | Obedient for the Wrong Reasons - Key Life
I suspect you’ve probably tried to follow Jesus' example for most of your Christian life with little success. After all, you aren’t Jesus and you can’t be expected to do what Jesus did. Right? Wrong. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father” (John 14:12). I don’t know about you, but that frustrates me. We’ve tried so often and failed so miserably.
What's Your Name? - Key Life
He can find you, too. He can free you. When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son;” and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death.
Is Suffering Spiritual? - Key Life
We Christians have a weird relationship with suffering. We, whether we would be able to admit or not, associate it with sin. If a parent dies, I receive a Cancer diagnosis, or my car won’t start when I have an important meeting, I scour my conscience for why God might be punishing me. If I can figure it out, perhaps I can make amends and the flow of good things will rush back into my life. But, living in a broken world, physical and psychological suffering is a given.
Looking for a Joyful Family? There’s Only One Way to Find It - Key Life
She had nine daughters when I met her. Petite and spunky, she thought nothing of approaching a hurting young visitor to the church her husband pastored and hugging the heck out of her. Never mind the micro-mini skirt and heavy-handed make-up job; Donna saw past the outward cries for worth and value and straight into the heart where the deeper need was crying out for Jesus to fill the empty spaces. One afternoon I remember calling their home, and Donna could barely speak as she answered the phone.
The Apostle's Creed (in 90 Seconds) - Key Life
The Apostle’s Creed (in 90 Seconds) AUGUST 1, 2024 / Articles / The Apostle’s Creed (in 90 Seconds) Many churches affirm the Apostles Creed. But who wrote the Apostles Creed? Check out this short video from Dr. Ryan Reeves. You'll hear how the Apostles Creed was written in the early centuries of the Christian church. VIDEO The Apostles Creed is one of the core doctrines of the Christian faith. So, what exactly is the Apostle’s Creed? Got 90 seconds? Ryan Reeves Ryan M.
What If Everyone Ended Up In Heaven? - Key Life
What if everyone ended up in Heaven, would you be okay with it? Not from a theological point of view but on a more personal, emotional level? If you found out today that God in His kindness and grace is allowing everyone into His presence and that no one will be suffering an eternity of darkness, what would the look be on your face? Would it be a grin, would it be a scowl, would it be a cheek to cheek smile, or would it be filled with rage?
Multiplying Freedom - Key Life
Can we talk? You and I both know that so often the church is probably the last place in the world where people are really free. We talk about freedom, we preach it and offer it to those who have not found Christ. But if you take a long look around the average church you will find people who seem to be cut from the exact same mold. Most of us look, act and talk the same way.
Life Coach Jesus - Key Life
Jesus as “life-coach” type of Christianity has a mood that is not always easy to identify. Often, the environment includes a good bit of talk about Jesus. But the takeaway of the message is most definitely not “Jesus paid it all.” After a message like this is delivered, you’re probably confused by the time you get to your car. Here’s how it goes: You go to a church service. The pastor is well spoken, knows the Bible, and loves the people in the pews.
Jesus: Friend of Sinners & Saints - Key Life
A look to our Lord Jesus and the friends he kept and keeps. JESUS: FRIEND OF SINNERS In two places in the gospels (Matt. 11:19 and Luke 11:34) we read that Jesus was a “friend of sinners.” Jesus introduced an upside down Kingdom and part of the upside down-ness is the fact that he befriended the last in line, the least of these, the not-good-enoughs, the throw-aways… the sinners. Of course, as God incarnate, he didn’t have any options.
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