Grace Community Chapel

– A Christmas Reminder –

by Ted Kalivoda

Who can understand the nature of a Supreme Being who is without beginning and end? The concept is mind-boggling. Everything must have a start and a finish, we insist - a judgment based on human birth, death, as well as a number of other events we witness on earth. Continue reading…

by Ted Kalivoda

Do I want Christian joy? I've got a pretty simple solution — develop an attitude of trust in God Almighty. I know that sounds simplistic. But some things in life are just that. I've got to decide whether I'm going to believe that God is trustworthy in what he says.

Like what? He talks continually throughout the Bible about the link between belief and its resulting benefits - joy - and then its cousin - peace. Those are qualities I'm seeing as critical in coping with problems that negatively affect me in daily living. Continue reading…

by Ted Kalivoda

You believe in him, and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy - 1 Pet. 1:8

Everyone wants joy. Yet daily circumstances often interfere. One day we are happy, the next day sad. Our emotions move up and down like a yo-yo, manipulated by a host of happenings of which we have no control.

Christianity provides an antidote. The first step, of course, being born into Christ, reflects a joyous experience, one entirely unmatched by anything the world can give. That's because it settles the greatest preoccupation of mankind - what will happen to us when we die. Continue reading…

By Ted Kalivoda

Statement #1: "Trust in the Lord!"

Reply: "You don't know what I'm going through."

Statement #2: "God knows your suffering."

Reply: "Well then why doesn't he do something about it?"

Statement #3: "Talk to him in prayer!"

Reply: "I tried that. He doesn't answer." Continue reading…

By Ted Kalivoda

Wanting heaven? Of course! The older I get, the more I yearn for it. My body helps put me in that mood . . . with all its aches and pains . . . and organs that refuse to work right. I can't help thinking about the new body I'll get. The Bible talks about it, I remind myself. No more pain, crying, mourning or death. Everything's new; nothing wears out. Eternal joy. Life without end. Continue reading…

(This is the second in a series of two articles on heaven by

Dr.Ted Kalivoda.)

A Wedding in Heaven

While in our present earthly life, we glory in Jesus and acknowledge his love in rescuing us. But when in heaven, face to face with Him, we will be filled with the reality of our salvation like never before. We will actually experience our new status rather than merely look forward to it. Then a beautiful event follows: The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready (19:7). Continue reading…

by Ted Kalivoda

Having been introduced to the gospel message of Jesus Christ, I can readily attest to how one gets to heaven. Through the Bible I even have indications about who will go, and why. Scripture clearly defines those interrogatives; it talks about them over and over again. But my mind is fuzzy about other aspects of our eternal home, like where it is. The location is a mystery simply because scripture is silent on it. But we are confident of heaven's existence because the Bible clearly defines it as a crucial component of God's final plan for humanity. But then we also ponder what heaven is like, and once again we are left somewhat in the dark because biblical descriptions are sparse. Continue reading…

by Theodore Kalivoda

Unity

In our two previous discussions we got a glimpse of how attitude toward one another signals our seriousness as Jesus' disciples. If we treat each other out of respect for our positions in Christ — holy temples, children of the Father, spiritual brothers and sisters, and recipients of the Spirit's mark guaranteeing eternal life — we certainly will be more prone toward loving one another as Jesus commanded. And that will have its favorable effect on onlookers. Continue reading…

by Theodore Kalivoda

"Ladies and gentlemen," the pastor announces. We have a special guest worshipping with us this morning - the United States Senator from ___. Please welcome the Honorable ___."

We recognize special people in our midst. It's a common courtesy to show our esteem for their position and accomplishments. We would do it for Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, or anyone else whom we recognize as extraordinary servants of God. They are special, and they deserve acknowledgement for their selflessness and love for humanity. Continue reading…

By Theodore Kalivoda

Did you know that God considers Christians very special people? Oh sure, he will take us to heaven one day, and in the meantime he cares for us. But have you ever thought about its implications on how we view one another? I'm suggesting that since God considers us special and treats us accordingly, shouldn't we carry the same sentiment toward fellow Christians? Continue reading…

(Editor's Note: This is the eighth in a series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on the shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)

Thomas

The resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples and gave them great joy. Thomas wasn't with them at the time. Upon hearing the news, he was incredulous, declaring the need to see Jesus personally in order to believe in his resurrection. It underscored the human trait of demanding a visual in place of faith. The apostle Paul warned against doing that. We are to live by faith, not by sight, he said. In place of requiring visual proof we are asked to accept God's declarations as trustworthy, to depend on him to stand behind what he says. Continue reading…

(Editor's Note: This is the seventh in a series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on the shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)

I deviate from major characters to discuss Demas, a minor New Testament character. Mentioned in only three verses –Colossians.4:14, Philemon 24, and 2 Tim.4:10, his story holds an important lesson for us. It is the latter reference in which he stands out: "Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me," Continue reading…

New Testament Characters

(Editor's Note: This is the sixth in a series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on the shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)

It's a new ball game as we look at characters in the NT. That's because these people had a different type of communication with God compared to that of OT saints. The latter received oral messages direct from God, a powerful incentive to follow His instructions. Christians, on the other hand, have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit - a part of the triune God — to serve as counselor (John 14:16). Yet like OT saints, first century Christians failed their Lord at times. Through their blunders we will learn valuable lessons. Continue reading…

(Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on the shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)

Propelled from shepherd boy to King of Israel, David oriented his life around walking in God's ways . . . until he caught a glimpse of Bathsheba. He then succumbed to sexual impulses by committing adultery with her and murdering her husband on top of it. Continue reading…

(Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)

Job underwent horrible suffering, an experience he endured with only occasional wavering. We sympathize with him because of the anguish he had to undergo. Continue reading…

(Editor's Note: This is the third in the series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on the shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)

Moses had a spectacular encounter with God — hearing God speak through a burning bush. That message directed him to go to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of captivity (Ex. 3:10). One would think that with such divine communication Moses would have responded without wavering. Continue reading…

(Editor's Note: This is the second in the series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on the shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)

Scripture touts Abraham as a man of faith. And indeed he was. He is said to have believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Gen.15:6). In spite of his great faith, however, he succumbed to deception rather than to trust God. It had to do his wife Sarah. Continue reading…

We don't have to go far in the Bible to see blunders of major people. The first two inhabitants on earth made devastating decisions that affected all people thereafter. What can we learn from them?

Adam and Eve were blessed with an earthly paradise, but at the same time they insisted on exerting independence. God gave them everything needed for joyous living. Yet they wanted more, so they yielded to the serpent's temptation. All they needed to do was to eat the forbidden fruit, Satan told them. And why not? they thought. It would open up a whole new era of existence, making them like God. The disobedience, of course, turned out to be the most momentous in all of history; its consequences were passed on to all human life, including yours and mine.

Continue reading…

We are pleased to have Dr. Theodore Kalivoda, Professor Emeritus join our writing staff as a contributing author for this website.

(Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles on Bible characters. Written by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda, a new article will appear weekly for your encouragement in the Christian faith. Articles are written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel's website.)

Continue reading…