An Evangelical Free Church in Cary, NC

Posts by Jim Folk (Page 7)

Why I Love Him

I want to tell you about my best friend.  I met him when I was 12 years old.  We have known each other for 35 years.  He knows everything about me, and yet I am still getting to know him more each day. He is simply amazing.  Let me try to describe him with three words: Love, Truth, and Grace. First, his…

Theology Matters

EFCA Midwinter Conference related to the Doctrinal Survey of 2018 This February, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School will be hosting the Midwinter Theology Conference: Contending for the Faith–7 Critical Contemporary Doctrinal Challenges: A Biblical, Theological and Pastoral Response. Though the topics of the theology conference vary from year to year, this session will focus on core areas of theology that have long lasting…

Prayers for Renewal

The disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1) What follows is known as the Lord’s prayer (Luke 11:2-4).  In many ways this prayer is a model for how we pray to God on a regular basis: begin with adoration, move to confession, then thanksgiving, and finally supplication (or requests).  The Lord’s prayer…

The Four Promises of Forgiveness

One of the best resources I have encountered on conflict resolution, peacemaking, and forgiveness is the book Peacemaker, by Ken Sande.  This fall the children’s elementary class is learning from the booklet The Young Peacemaker, by Corlette Sande.  One of the reasons these resources are so valuable is because Ken and Corlette Sande emphasize the goal of peacemaking in relationships: reconciliation and…

Book Review- The Suppression of Depression

A pastor friend of mine, Maurice Wright told me that his brother, an MD from UNC-Chapel Hill, wrote a book on depression. Since depression is part of my personal story and I am interested in helping people through depression from a Christian perspective, I got the book and read it in a couple of hours. (it is only 55 pages) Marion Wright,…

Put on your Armor…

[13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of…

T2 ≈ Thursday Thoughts

It’s Thursday, so I would like to share some thoughts with you as you go throughout your week.  I probably won’t post something every Thursday, but hopefully this will be the beginning of a ongoing dialogue and time of encouragement for both of us.  This song we sang on Sunday really encourages me… The message last Sunday was from John 1:12-13, becoming…

Cults & False Teachers- Christian Science

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons…” This is exactly what Jesus does in Matthew chapter nine and in the other gospel accounts of Mark, Luke, and John. But some cults and false teachers use the miracle accounts of Jesus to justify their beliefs, and then they add to scripture with their own authoritative books or doctrines. Christian Science, or…

What about healing & faith?

Jesus healed many people instantaneously in his earthly ministry. Here are some broader principles on faith & healing in the Bible: This song by Shane & Shane helps me process the suffering that I and others experience now: 1. Evil, pain, suffering, sickness & death are real, and part of life in a fallen world.  These things are physical and also a…

Ways that parents verbally corner their children—and what you can do differently.

But often instead of speaking the truth in love, we unintentionally corner our kids with “no-win” statements, or questions that are impossible to answer. For example, who hasn’t asked their child in a moment of frustration and exasperation, “HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO… [insert favorite pet peeve here]!”