http://www.daniellitton.com/index.htmlRadio Two-Minute FeaturesenenDaniel Litton© 2013-2019 Daniel Litton. All rights reserved.2026-05-22T07:00:00-04:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Wed, 3 Sep 2014 23:10:59 -0400Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-22T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2880.html#unique-entry-id-3051http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2880.html#unique-entry-id-3051Peace to Live By: The Delivery of the Good News, Part 2 (TMF:2880) - Daniel Litton
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       Think about it. God wants the delivery to be clear. A great deal of churches (again, using other verses to back up why they do what they do), have worked toward this, making the message modern and sometimes they say “relevant.” And that does seem good, that it be appealing to those in the common culture. It’s not that it should be immoral or something like that—nobody hopefully would agree with that—though some do want to water-things-down, or even change things to match the current societal persuasions. We know this and it is seen and heard about from time to time. On the other hand, the Evangelical church seems to have overall done this really well—presenting the good news clearly—and on top of that, presenting it in a light that most can understand. There are numerous ways this is accomplished. Through using modern examples and illustrations, through using modern themes, modern tie-ins, and not using language that isn’t current with our times.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-21T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2879.html#unique-entry-id-3050http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2879.html#unique-entry-id-3050Peace to Live By: The Delivery of the Good News, Part 1 (TMF:2879) - Daniel Litton
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       Just as against the Gospel is the power of Satan, so is power that carries along the Gospel the power of God. So, it is power versus power. Opposition toward the Gospel doesn’t only come from man’s heart, it comes with Satanic and demonic activity against it. Finishing up the verse, “on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak” (ESV). Yet the prayer request goes further. It isn’t simply that Paul asks for prayer as pertains to actually proclaiming and spreading the good news, but it is actually also that it may be made clear, which he says, “is how I ought to speak.” This verse doesn’t seem to be brought up much as others as pertains the methodology behind proclaiming the Word of God, but really, at the end of the day, it’s a verse that can give us keen insight into what God desires as pertains to how that message is proclaimed.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-20T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2878.html#unique-entry-id-3049http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2878.html#unique-entry-id-3049Peace to Live By: Events Not Going God's Way, Part 3 (TMF:2878) - Daniel Litton
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       We need not forget the fact that the mystery, the message of the Gospel, can sometimes lead to imprisonment or worse. Unlikely here in the United States, but elsewhere in the world, we know that it is true. That’s what speaking the truth can do because, after all, people who are “following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience,” as Paul told the Ephesians, those persons often don’t want that message to advance. That’s partly due to their heavy sin, and that’s partly because the power of Satan is at work within them. Recall, Paul told the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, ESV). Just as against the Gospel is the power of Satan, so is power that carries along the Gospel the power of God.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-19T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2877.html#unique-entry-id-3048http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2877.html#unique-entry-id-3048Peace to Live By: Events Not Going God's Way, Part 2 (TMF:2877) - Daniel Litton
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       And then, some would say God wanted to establish the earthly Kingdom for the Israelites first while Jesus was here on the earth, but then he was crucified. That certainly can be debated. But the point is that events don’t always go God’s way, as Paul was now in prison, and he asked the Colossians to pray for him to be released so that he could go around and proclaim the good news. If God wanted Paul to be in prison, then why would the Colossians pray any further. If the message would automatically be spread, then the Colossians didn’t need to pray. Even if one says they had to pray for obedience’s sake, the message still would have been spread until under mindset, if God had foreordained it. In actuality, it seems best to understand that the prayer would affect the future, and failure to pray for Paul and his companions could bring unsatisfactory consequences, and individuals might not be saved that otherwise would have been. That’s why the prayer is asked for.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-18T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2876.html#unique-entry-id-3047http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2876.html#unique-entry-id-3047Peace to Live By: Events Not Going God's Way, Part 1 (TMF:2876) - Daniel Litton
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       Satan is reaping havoc on things, on the world, and people are choosing the wrong path. Paul and his companions are being persecuted. Nonetheless, it happened to Jesus first. He rode into Jerusalem on the donkey. He should have been crowned as King. Yet he wasn’t. He was crucified instead. While God said this would happen, it wasn’t his first plan. Not at all. His first plan, going all, all the way back, was to have Adam and Eve reside in the Garden sin-free, and then populate the earth sin-free. God never wanted them to sin. Sin is never what God wants. And then, some would say God wanted to establish the earthly Kingdom for the Israelites first while Jesus was here on the earth, but then he was crucified. That certainly can be debated. But the point is that events don’t always go God’s way, as Paul was now in prison, and he asked the Colossians to pray for him to be released so that he could go around and proclaim the good news.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-15T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2875.html#unique-entry-id-3046http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2875.html#unique-entry-id-3046Peace to Live By: The Mystery of Christ in You, Part 2 (TMF:2875) - Daniel Litton
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       In Genesis 12, we see a small glimpse into this, when God says to Abraham, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, ESV). This is merely the beginning of the whole foreshadowing. And it tell us, had Israel not rejected the Messiah, had things gone differently (for, again, God does not foreordain sin and individuals have freedom), if things had gone differently, God still would have blessed the Gentiles and included them. It shows the beautiful hand of God in the whole thing, how from the very beginnings he planned to bless everyone, to take care of everyone. But circumstances in the world are different from what God had planned, and from what the Apostle Paul himself even wanted, for Paul says he is “in prison” on account of the mystery. In prison? Wow, that doesn’t sound like things are going the direction they should. It’s particularly sad.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-14T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2874.html#unique-entry-id-3045http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2874.html#unique-entry-id-3045Peace to Live By: The Mystery of Christ in You, Part 1 (TMF:2874) - Daniel Litton
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       “…that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison” (Colossians 4:3, ESV). What is this mystery of Christ that Paul wants, desires, to proclaim to others? If we recall, he discussed this in chapter 1. There he said, “the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26, 27, ESV). So, the mystery is “Christ in you.” “Christ in you.” We talked about this at length in chapter 1. It’s not only the Jewish people, then, who can, do, and will have Christ live in them (through the Holy Spirit), but it also includes the Gentile peoples. Unquestionably, God prophesied this all the way back toward the beginning.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-13T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2873.html#unique-entry-id-3044http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2873.html#unique-entry-id-3044Peace to Live By: Asking for Prayer, Part 3 (TMF:2873) - Daniel Litton
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       But he wants there to be opportunity. This is something that has to be brought before God. The implication then is that if the church doesn’t pray for this, that in not fulfilling Paul’s request he could actually be delayed, or that there could actually come no opportunity at all. Paul certainly believes that prayer affects the future in the way one wants. Otherwise, he wouldn’t ask the Colossians to pray. And we’ve already gone over the fact, early on in our study, that raising our petitions to God does produce a difference in our lives and in the lives of others, that we can genuinely sway God’s hand when it comes to things. It’s not that everything is already predetermined, or that God’s will is always done, or that what happens is automatically God’s will, as many, many will state. No, prayer can and does have an effect, and it matters whether or not we pray, and what we pray for.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-12T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2872.html#unique-entry-id-3043http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2872.html#unique-entry-id-3043Peace to Live By: Asking for Prayer, Part 2 (TMF:2872) - Daniel Litton
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       In this case, Paul has asked that the church in Colossae pray that God would open a door. Specifically, a door that the Gospel may be spread. That seems best how to understand what the word “word” truly represents because it is what he has been talking about in this entire letter in one way or another. Thus, opportunity to evangelize is what he requested. Notice that the prayer is that God “open to us a door.” At the moment Paul is writing this, there apparently isn’t opportunity, but he wants there to be opportunity. This is something that has to be brought before God. The implication then is that if the church doesn’t pray for this, that in not fulfilling Paul’s request he could actually be delayed, or that there could actually come no opportunity at all. Paul certainly believes that prayer affects the future in the way one wants. Otherwise, he wouldn’t ask the Colossians to pray.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-11T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2871.html#unique-entry-id-3042http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2871.html#unique-entry-id-3042Peace to Live By: Asking for Prayer, Part 1 (TMF:2871) - Daniel Litton
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       “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word” (Colossians 4:3, ESV). Paul asks for prayer. Asking for prayer. An important element of the Christian life, and one which we seem to do a good job at practicing. That’s why we shouldn’t ever be alone. This is just one verse of many verses that can be pointed to establish that fact. How can a Christian ask other Christians to pray for him or her if they are living their life independent of a group of believers? Even if you can’t find a church you completely agree with (for who truly can?), one in which you at least half agree with is better than none at all. You don’t have to agree with everything a church states in order to go there, to attend there, to fellowship with other believers. So, we can and should pray for each other—pray for the needs that we have, those which we actually present to each other.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-08T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2870.html#unique-entry-id-3041http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2870.html#unique-entry-id-3041Peace to Live By: Being Thankful in Prayer, Part 2 (TMF:2870) - Daniel Litton
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       If we are entitled, all we are thinking about is what we don’t have, and how God has greatly offended us because he hasn’t helped us with whatever it is. We may be bitter. We are stuck in our likes and dislikes, in that part of the mind that torments us. We don’t have a thankful attitude, and we not making a list of the whole host of things that we already have, the whole gamut of people, circumstances, and possessions which God has given us. It would take pages and pages to create the list, and yet, a lot of people don’t write it out. They don’t even recognize it. They are altogether stuck on getting the next thing. And when we do obtain what we desire, when we have asked righteously, and when God has been able to make things go our way, do we properly thank him for whatever it was? Coming to mind is the famous account of the ten lepers.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-07T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2869.html#unique-entry-id-3040http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2869.html#unique-entry-id-3040Peace to Live By: Being Thankful in Prayer, Part 1 (TMF:2869) - Daniel Litton
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       Let’s not forget that last part of the verse, which says, “being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (ESV). So, thanksgiving. Let’s not forget thankfulness. While the conversation has been somewhat dreary at this point, though, at the same time hopefully encouraging and perhaps even enlightening, let’s not fail to remember that all of us, no matter who we are, have many things to be thankful for—an abundance of thankfulness in fact. So much we can’t even count it, and this really no matter where we find ourselves in our current lives, in whatever our life circumstances are. Of course, if we aren’t surrendered, we probably won’t see things this way. We probably won’t realize all there is that we have to be thankful for. If we are entitled, all we are thinking about is what we don’t have, and how God has greatly offended us because he hasn’t helped us with whatever it is. We may be bitter. We are stuck in our likes and dislikes, in that part of the mind that torments us.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-06T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2868.html#unique-entry-id-3039http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2868.html#unique-entry-id-3039Peace to Live By: Praying Surrendered, Part 5 (TMF:2868) - Daniel Litton
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       We know him as Satan, and we know that he, with those beings who work under him, work and reap great havoc on the earth. That’s why he does what he does, because he can work to accomplish things that God does not want—he can work to destroy lives, and to destroy Christian’s lives. That’s one reason we are praying in the first place. And speaking of us, we through disobedience, through not following God’s out laid out prescription of how we are supposed to live, through following our own sinful selves instead, we too, in the same fashion as Satan, can reap havoc in our lives, and in the lives of others. That also is a factor. And finally, there is the element of the world just being the world, where the earth, because it is under the curse, causes bad things to happen from the natural order of things. Sometimes random events happen that nobody brought on.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-05T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2867.html#unique-entry-id-3038http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2867.html#unique-entry-id-3038Peace to Live By: Praying Surrendered, Part 4 (TMF:2867) - Daniel Litton
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       In the same way as we, in our watchfulness in prayer, do not always get everything that we want, so God himself does not always get everything that he wants. There are theological systems that will lead you to believe he does—that will argue and say confidently that he does. There are Bible teachers that will paradoxically say he does. But, if we dive deep within ourselves, we certainly cannot believe that he does. Look at the totality of the evil on the earth. We know there are other beings in this world. One of those beings, the Bible calls the god of this world. We know him as Satan, and we know that he, with those beings who work under him, work and reap great havoc on the earth. That’s why he does what he does, because he can work to accomplish things that God does not want—he can work to destroy lives, and to destroy Christian’s lives. That’s one reason we are praying in the first place.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-04T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2866.html#unique-entry-id-3037http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2866.html#unique-entry-id-3037Peace to Live By: Praying Surrendered, Part 3 (TMF:2866) - Daniel Litton
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       Can God just do anything even when he wants to? The Scripture tells us, for instance, that God wants all people to be saved—to come to a knowledge of the truth, all to choose him. Does this happen, though? We know it doesn’t. So, does God himself get everything he wants then? We would have to say, “No, I don’t think so.” So, why then should we expect to get ‘everything’ we desire, or even believe that God can indeed give us everything we desire? Going back to the earlier examples, can God just ‘make’ that guy or that girl to like you? Can he simply wave his hand, which changes their mind, and cause them to begin a relationship with you? Can God just wave his hand and make the people at the company you applied at give you the job? Or, do those people have free will, and are they considering numerous factors, and factors that might end up excluding you? You see, then, the folly in all this?

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-05-01T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2865.html#unique-entry-id-3036http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2865.html#unique-entry-id-3036Peace to Live By: Praying Surrendered, Part 2 (TMF:2865) - Daniel Litton
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       I pray for it, but if I don’t get it, I’m still going to be okay with that outcome.” The mind ventures to think that most people don’t think like this. Most people are not surrendered with things when it comes to praying for them, and most people have expectations of God which they often feel he does not meet. There can be a sense of entitlement that rears its head, and this is especially true with the younger generations. We expect God to do this or that, and when he doesn’t do it, we put him in the doghouse. Thus, God gets blamed when it is perceived that he doesn’t do what we wanted him to do. Nevertheless, let’s stop for a moment and ask, is it true that God can simply do anything he wants to do? Let’s presume for a moment (because we obviously don’t think it’s true that God wanted to) that God did in fact want to answer our prayer how we prayed for it. Can God just do anything even when he wants to?

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-30T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2864.html#unique-entry-id-3035http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2864.html#unique-entry-id-3035Peace to Live By: Praying Surrendered, Part 1 (TMF:2864) - Daniel Litton
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       Can we pray things to God without that strong desire within us where we feel we have to obtain whatever it is? Or, can we be free in that with what we present to God we have a loose grip? All kinds of examples can be brought forth at this point. When we go to prayer with God, for instance, can we say things like, “God, you know this is the person I like, the person I’d like to end up in a relationship with. However, God, I am surrendered about it. I pray that it goes in that direction, but I understand and will continue to be happy even if it doesn’t.” That’s kind of big, isn’t it? Or, take another example. Can we say, “You know, God, I really think this job I have applied for is the perfect job. The interview went well, and I thank you for helping with that. I ask that you help them to select me for the job, but, in the end, I am letting the situation go. I pray for it, but if I don’t get it, I’m still going to be okay with that outcome.”

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-29T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2863.html#unique-entry-id-3034http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2863.html#unique-entry-id-3034Peace to Live By: Our Likes vs. Dislikes in Prayer (TMF:2863) - Daniel Litton
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       What has been found to be most beneficial when it comes to prayers, and really to even living life in general, is that of the mindset that we decidedly bring to prayer. And where it all starts—where the beginning of the whole thing is—is with our likes and our dislikes, with what we want and what we don’t want. If we stop and think about it, that’s where all our requests from God begin, right? They begin with us presenting to God things that we would like to see happen, and things that we would prefer not happen. This kind of presentation of what we want from the mind is so instilled in us that we often don’t hardly notice it. It just comes forth from the inner-parts of our being. We even define ourselves at times by our likes and dislikes. And, what is being said here is not that our likes and dislikes are bad—that’s not actually where this is going. Rather, it is more our attitude when it comes to those likes and dislikes, that are we truly surrendered when it comes to what we want and what we do not want.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-28T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2862.html#unique-entry-id-3033http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2862.html#unique-entry-id-3033Peace to Live By: Being Watchful in Prayer, Part 2 (TMF:2862) - Daniel Litton
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       One thing that has been noticed in associating with different groups of believers over the years, is that there does seem to be a general consensus that prayer is more times often left unanswered for us than it is actually answered. In other words, a lot of believers seem to have a cynical attitude when it comes to prayer. Sure, they may pray, but truth be told, they think the odds are more likely at the end of the day, or end of the year for that matter, that the prayers will go largely unanswered. And then comes on the scene the laundry list of explanations that preachers will present to us, the reasons behind it and whatnot, as to why our prayers aren’t being answered. Sometimes the finger is sadly pointed at the pray-er, which surely, at the end of the day, doesn’t help the situation all that much, does it? It can bring discouragement where really we need hope. James did say, “You do not have, because you do not ask…” and all that stuff (James 4:2, ESV). So, not to be too harsh here, because there is some truth behind it at times.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-27T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2861.html#unique-entry-id-3032http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2861.html#unique-entry-id-3032Peace to Live By: Being Watchful in Prayer, Part 1 (TMF:2861) - Daniel Litton
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       “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2, ESV). We see in the second part of the verse that there is a watchfulness that is supposed to take place from us. And interestingly enough, if going through various Bible translations, trying to gain further insight wondering what this might mean, we find that the translators are kind of divided. Some seem to suggest that it is in our lives that we should be “watchful” for things of which we should pray. Makes sense. So, keeping alert as to what might need the special attention of prayer in our lives. Then some of the translations seem to place the emphasis on “watchful” as pertaining to the actual answers that come from our prayers. That is, looking for the answers to come after we have prayed. That also sounds interesting, and surely, the answers do come. Whatever approach, then, that we take as regards the word “watchful,” either way, we can benefit from both perspectives, that of being mindful of what should be prayed for, and that of expecting God to actually answer our prayers.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-24T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2860.html#unique-entry-id-3031http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2860.html#unique-entry-id-3031Peace to Live By: Being Steadfast in Prayer, Part 2 (TMF:2860) - Daniel Litton
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       It has been discussed in the past how a good mental state to be in is one of which one is in continual conversation with God. That’s because that kind of mindset can make it more difficult for us to sin. Think about it, It’s harder to sin if you are constantly keeping God in the forefront of the mind. But our verse today doesn’t necessarily mean we always have to be talking with God, every moment of the day. It simply means that we need to keep supplication to God as a priority, and not come to the conclusion that it really doesn’t matter whether we pray or not, that it really doesn’t affect much. Now let’s read the verse in full: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2, ESV). We see in the second part of the verse that there is a watchfulness that is supposed to take place from us. And interestingly enough, if going through various Bible translations, trying to gain further insight wondering what this might mean, we find that the translators are kind of divided.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-23T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2859.html#unique-entry-id-3030http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2859.html#unique-entry-id-3030Peace to Live By: Being Steadfast in Prayer, Part 1 (TMF:2859) - Daniel Litton
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       Colossians chapter 4, starting in verse 2. We pick up today with a study on the privilege of prayer—on the ability to bring things to God and have him hear us. Verse 2 states: “Continue steadfastly in prayer” (ESV). Our sentence begins with the word “Continue.” “Continue.” Paul certainly was aware, and certainly had been expecting, that the Colossian believers were faithful when it came to prayer—the practice of prayer. And so, they are instructed to “Continue steadfastly in prayer.” Coming to mind, as it probably is for many of us, is the scene of the early church at the beginning of Acts, where it says regarding the original Eleven Apostles, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:14, ESV). What we are looking at is a continual, steadfast process, one in which there is devotion. It has been discussed in the past how a good mental state to be in is one of which one is in continual conversation with God.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-22T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2858.html#unique-entry-id-3029http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2858.html#unique-entry-id-3029Peace to Live By: Earthly Possessions vs. Eternal Rewards (TMF:2858) - Daniel Litton
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       Whatever our earthly condition, all of us “are serving the Lord Christ,” as Paul stated. And he talks about Heavenly rewards in the passage, which is shifting our focus toward the life after this one, to those rewards that all of us will hopefully receive to some degree by our obedience to God here on the earth as we live out our lives. Important stuff. It appears often times we lose sight of this in our modern times. We are often so focused on what we can get in this life. We hear the phrase, “You only live once,” and even the speaker has said it to others at times. While that is true, it can, if we are not careful, imply that all that really matters is what we get out of this world. The implication can be that, “We better get all we can in the here and now because we won’t be coming this way again.” Paul presents us with a different perspective, a different view, the view that the good things that we do now accrue for us eternal rewards which we aren’t going to lose.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-21T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2857.html#unique-entry-id-3028http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2857.html#unique-entry-id-3028Peace to Live By: Paul & The Issue of Slavery, Part 2 (TMF2857) - Daniel Litton
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       The Spirit of God address slaves here since, undoubtedly, there were enslaved people who had believed in the Gospel and thus were part of the body of believers. The Apostle says elsewhere that in the body of Christ there is not distinction on whether one is enslaved in the earthly sense or not when it comes to one’s position in the church (see Galatians 3:28 for example). All were considered equal. Paul would also encourage elsewhere for slaves to become free if given the opportunity (see 1 Corinthians 7:21). Regardless, people in this bondage need also to act in ways which were proper the be a follower of Jesus, and thus Paul lays out his prescription. And the foundation of that is that slaves were to obey those who ruled over them (those who owned them) in everything. This certainly would not have included anything that was against the New Testament, against God, anything that was sin. Peter had said in Acts that man should be obeyed unless it contradicts what God wants, in essence.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-20T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2856.html#unique-entry-id-3027http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2856.html#unique-entry-id-3027Peace to Live By: Paul & The Issue of Slavery, Part 1 (TMF2856) - Daniel Litton
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       “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven” (ESV). First, let’s point out the common observation that is made when coming to this passage that Paul did not confront the issue of slavery when talking to the church. That wouldn’t have been conducive for the time, as God didn’t send him to abolish slavery in the physical sense, though, through his message spiritual slavery was abolished in anyone who believed, regardless of earthly conditions. The Spirit of God address slaves here since, undoubtedly, there were enslaved people who had believed in the Gospel.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-17T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2855.html#unique-entry-id-3026http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2855.html#unique-entry-id-3026Peace to Live By: Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 4 (TMF:2855) - Daniel Litton
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       But another way to tell if the father has been too overbearing, it has been personally observed, is that generally the male children will sometimes bully peers or siblings. This is unfortunate, and when it is seen, it is often also noticed that the father appears to be strict. Certainly, there would be others reasons that bullying by children could occur. And one more thing on this subject, it can be quickly noted that just as earthly fathers should not provoke their children, this would also mean that God does not provoke us, as his children. Some Christians feel God is strict, and constantly correcting them, but this verse goes to show us that isn’t the case. If one believes in internal promptings from the Holy Spirit, this would also mean that the Holy Spirit does not constantly correct with internal promptings or even external signs. These would be feelings generated by the old-self, and that old-self can lead people to believe God is correcting them constantly when he isn’t.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-16T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2854.html#unique-entry-id-3025http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2854.html#unique-entry-id-3025Peace to Live By: Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 3 (TMF:2854) - Daniel Litton
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       This seems to happen more often in a stricter church, where the father is strict. But again, it seems to be becoming less common in our current time. Also, it can happen when the father is over-ambitious in that he wants his kid to be the best, say, in a certain sport. Probably more common for us to understand. Whatever the reason for this kind of attitude on the part of the father, it is Biblically incorrect. And it has always boggled the mind that in stricter churches fathers have justified their strict upbringing of their children. Of course, it depends on one’s view of strictness in what one allows for their children. But another way to tell if the father has been too overbearing, it has been personally observed, is that generally the male children will sometimes bully peers or siblings. This is unfortunate, and when it is seen, it is often also noticed that the father appears to be strict. Certainly, there would be others reasons that bullying by children could occur.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-15T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2853.html#unique-entry-id-3024http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2853.html#unique-entry-id-3024Peace to Live By: Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 2 (TMF:2853) - Daniel Litton
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       What is meant is that generally the struggle in our day and age is the reverse, in that fathers are too lenient on their children. That is, they sometimes don’t discipline them enough, so that children become not as structured as they should be or could be. This has been the observation made in many instances. Obviously, this would be a result of fathers themselves not being disciplined, or caring too much about themselves that they don’t pay enough attention to their children. Of course, if the father is absent, that puts the burden on the mother for all the discipline that is needed. What happens when the fathers are unreasonably strict on their kids? The observation has been that generally the kids become rebellious as they get older, and sometimes this rebelliousness is in secret. This seems to happen more often in a stricter church, where the father is strict. But again, it seems to be becoming less common in our current time.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-14T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2852.html#unique-entry-id-3023http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2852.html#unique-entry-id-3023Peace to Live By: Fathers Not Provoking Their Children, Part 1 (TMF:2852) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 21 of Colossians 3: “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (ESV). The call from the Apostle Paul in this verse is for fathers (and really, this could be said for mothers as well), not to be excessively hard on their children. We know, or should know by now, that being unreasonably hard on children causes them to not want to try anymore. It appears, in our current time, that generally it doesn’t seem this is so much of a problem in our society. It definitely used to be, say anywhere from thirty years ago on back, but in the same way as the marital relationship has undergone renovations in many individuals minds, so has the parental relationship. What is meant is that generally the struggle in our day and age is the reverse, in that fathers are too lenient on their children. That is, they sometimes don’t discipline them enough, so that children become not as structured as they should be or could be. This has been the observation made in many instances.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-13T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2851.html#unique-entry-id-3022http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2851.html#unique-entry-id-3022Peace to Live By: Children Obeying their Parents, Part 4 (TMF:2851) - Daniel Litton
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       Let’s imagine for example that God showed up at your house one day, and he asked you, the child, how things were going. What are you going to say? “Well, my parents are just too overbearing. My dad makes me help cut the grass on Saturday mornings, and he doesn’t even pay me a fair amount. Sometimes he won’t let me go hang out with friends because he says there is work to do around the house. Then, on top of that, during the week my mom makes me sometimes spend two hours on my homework, not just one.” What do you think God would say to that? Aren’t they giving you everything you need to live? Don’t they sometimes let you see your friends? Isn’t your schoolwork important? Don’t you think you should do what they say? Suppose God asks another child what he thinks. Suppose that child responds, “Well, my parents really are fair to me. My dad only asks me to help him Saturday mornings, which isn’t even that much. He even pays me for what I do. Then, my mom helps me with my homework, and usually I don’t have to work on it that long, maybe an hour a night.” Which child do you think God will be happy with?

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-10T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2850.html#unique-entry-id-3021http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2850.html#unique-entry-id-3021Peace to Live By: Children Obeying their Parents, Part 3 (TMF:2850) - Daniel Litton
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       You will have a stronger work ethic than others, be more intelligent, possibly be accepted into more prestigious colleges, be able to take care of the animals, whatever it is, because of the work that your parents guided you to do as a child. That’s the beautiful thing. Even if God doesn’t necessarily have it in his plan that you do the same kinds of things your parents did, he can use whatever obedience you demonstrated toward other things. Besides, in general, doing what the parents want cultivates an obedient attitude when dealing with teachers or bosses, dealing with those in the outside world. It makes God happy as, after all, the last thing a father needs is to work hard during the day, and then to come home to children who are uncooperative, who won’t do what he says. The last thing a mother needs is to give her time toward the children only to have them disrespect her, and not treat her fairly when what she does is for the children’s good, for their best interests.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-09T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2849.html#unique-entry-id-3020http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2849.html#unique-entry-id-3020Peace to Live By: Children Obeying their Parents, Part 2 (TMF:2849) - Daniel Litton
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       Since it had been instilled in us as a child, the speaker and his brother, we were able to perform better as adults later in life. For the most part, the father had been obeyed in childhood and the work willingly done. What was seen at the time as hard, later brought about great results, and an easier professional work-life. And that’s why it is good when you children out there obey your parents. Even though it may not make sense right now in what they are asking you to do, whatever that is, working outside during the Summertime with the grass, or working longer on that homework, or helping with horses and other animals, whatever it is, you should do it. That is because later, when all is said and done, when you are older, you will be happy that you did. You will have a stronger work ethic than others, be more intelligent, possibly be accepted into more prestigious colleges, be able to take care of the animals, whatever it is, because of the work that your parents guided you to do as a child. That’s the beautiful thing.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-08T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2848.html#unique-entry-id-3019http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2848.html#unique-entry-id-3019Peace to Live By: Children Obeying their Parents, Part 1 (TMF:2848) - Daniel Litton
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       “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Colossians 3:20, ESV). When growing up as a kid, during the mid-90s, the earthly father often put the speaker and his brother to work during the late-Springtime and over the Summer. This is, we worked eight acres or so cutting grass and trimming trees. Often, on a given Saturday, ten or even twelve hours would be spent driving the tractor around. For sure, the speaker learned to use the John Deere around ten years of age. Whether it was the sweltering heat or whatnot, we’d be cutting the grass, working the fields. It was tuff work, especially at that young age. When an older age was reached, in the latter teens, and it wasn’t required to do the work anymore, it was concluded that that work had been too much. But then later, after college when working in the professional world, this belief was reversed and thankfulness ensued because of the ability of now being able to endure long, drawn out work.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-07T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2847.html#unique-entry-id-3018http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2847.html#unique-entry-id-3018Peace to Live By: Husbands Not Being Harsh, Part 4 (TMF:2847) - Daniel Litton
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       So, hobbies, if done by oneself or with guy-friends, can become an issue if done too excessively. Harshness doesn’t seem to be something that is as easily observed, as it seems it’s actually hidden in the shadows. Sometimes it might only occur within the walls of the home and no one really knows about it. It may come forth suddenly to the outside world when a separation occurs, when the woman separates and moves out of the house. It wasn’t that the problem happened overnight, but it happened over a long period of time. Harshness seems like it was a sin that men struggled more with in the past, say fifty or a hundred years ago. But it’s also true that drug and alcohol addiction could lead to harshness, wherein due to the addiction, the husband doesn’t act properly. Just because a couple might be church-going, or Evangelical, doesn’t mean there can’t be problems like a husband (in our focus right now) being addicted to a substance which leads him to be harsh.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-06T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2846.html#unique-entry-id-3017http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2846.html#unique-entry-id-3017Peace to Live By: Husbands Not Being Harsh, Part 3 (TMF:2846) - Daniel Litton
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       When attending the Amish-Mennonite church, a peer brought up this very concern, wherein he confessed to the speaker in a one-on-one conversation that he had been spending too much time hunting. He was a younger fellow, and had only been married a year. But he relayed he liked to go hunting on Friday evenings and also during the day on Saturday, leaving his wife home alone. And he felt bad about it, saying he needed to take into account his wife’s feelings, and spend increased time with her. And that’s what the speaker re-iterated to him, that he was correct in his assessment. Sometime later, perhaps a couple months later, the issue was brought up again, wherein the guy didn’t actually realize he was doing it again—that he was spending too much time away from his wife. And the speaker pointed that out to him, and it is believed he made the correction. For the relationship seemed to grow stronger after that. So, hobbies, if done by oneself or with guy-friends, can become an issue if done too excessively.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-03T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2845.html#unique-entry-id-3016http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2845.html#unique-entry-id-3016Peace to Live By: Husbands Not Being Harsh, Part 2 (TMF:2845) - Daniel Litton
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       A super-nice attitude can sometimes lead to rejection from the woman, and the men do not understand why. There needs to be a proper balance. Nonetheless, within the marriage relationship there is supposed to be genuine love from the husband, and love which is not harsh. Genuine love shows proper affection and also is understanding of the wife’s feelings. Not being harsh means not being unforgiving when mistakes are made and also not being jealous, like in the case of the mother’s love for the children. Marriage relationships have been observed where proper love is not shown, where the man is distant and unaffectionate toward the woman. Knowing what is known from psychology, it is known that some men naturally struggle with being affectionate and available with their time due to their attachment style. So, some men may have a greater difficultly with this versus others.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-02T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2844.html#unique-entry-id-3015http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2844.html#unique-entry-id-3015Peace to Live By: Husbands Not Being Harsh, Part 1 (TMF:2844) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 19: “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them” (ESV). Notice the contrast in the wife submitting to her husband. The contrast is that the husband should love his wife, which means showing actual concern for her well-being and feelings, not domineering over her and treating her harshly, as Paul pointed out. It is true that a man does need to have a certain level of firmness with a woman at least initially when courting or dating her. And really, even into the marriage relationship. This is what causes the woman to respect the man. If a man is super-nice to a woman from the start, often the woman will not show him a proper level of respect. Women think it is weird when guys are super-nice for no reason, and this is often not understood by men who are trying to show interest in a woman. A super-nice attitude can sometimes lead to rejection from the woman, and the men do not understand why. There needs to be a proper balance.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-04-01T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2843.html#unique-entry-id-3014http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2843.html#unique-entry-id-3014Peace to Live By: Marriage- Traditional Model or Not? Part 2 (TMF:2843) - Daniel Litton
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       We also know, in considering women, that elsewhere Paul laid out certain clothing prescriptions, and even suggested (depending on how one interprets it) that woman should wear a head-covering. Uh-oh. Hardly any women within the church wear head-coverings, at least of the younger generations. Things are getting more difficult, then, in this discussion. But not to get too carried off by this, and without going on any further, it will be stated that it is believed that still now, in our current day and age, that at the very least this model presented by the Apostle Paul is the best practice that God has prescribed for the marriage relationship. One can argue that it is no longer relevant and the wife doesn’t need to submit, but this is what God originally setup, and so this is the model in this relationship that is going to work out best. Whether or not God knew that society would elevate women to be more equal to men is up to debate—it depends on one’s view of time, and whether or not time exists or not.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-31T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2842.html#unique-entry-id-3013http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2842.html#unique-entry-id-3013Peace to Live By: Marriage- Traditional Model or Not? Part 1 (TMF:2842) - Daniel Litton
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       And so, the question becomes, now that woman are more equal to men in society, does that mean that the traditional model of marriage is to be thrown out as well? The views when it comes to this question will differ dramatically among those in the body of believers. People having differing opinions. We know many churches to a greater extent want woman to be ministers, leaders in the church. They lead in business, so why not lead within the church? This is what we see and what some of us experience. We know several verses from now that Paul is going to be talking about bondservants and masters, and we know and certainly believe that simply because he talks about this subject it isn’t meant that slavery should still be practiced. And one will certainly point to this fact and say, “See, just as slavery shouldn’t be practiced anymore, so the wife submitting to the husband doesn’t need to be practiced.”

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-30T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2841.html#unique-entry-id-3012http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2841.html#unique-entry-id-3012Peace to Live By: The Wife & Husband Relationship, Part 3 (TMF:2841) - Daniel Litton
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       So, the concept of a wife submitting to her husband can still be practiced in this day and age. It’s not impossible. Yet, obviously due to the influence of the more liberal American culture, surprisingly most among the Evangelicals don’t practice this model, especially considering the younger the couple. The American culture generally seems to teach that a husband and wife should be co-equal in authority, that the woman does not need to submit, and indeed, should not. Such a setup would be seen as archaic, out-dated, not for our times. It would even be seen by some as oppressive toward the women. To summarize, the common belief is that the woman should have equal power in all things as pertains to the marriage relationship. So, is the practice of the wife submitting to the husband still something that is to be practiced in our current times, or does it belong back in a world in which women were largely uneducated compared to the men?

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-27T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2840.html#unique-entry-id-3011http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2840.html#unique-entry-id-3011Peace to Live By: The Wife & Husband Relationship, Part 2 (TMF:2840) - Daniel Litton
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       The practice that is most common, let’s say 60 percent of couples from the personal experience, would be that of a relationship of co-equalness wherein the husband and the wife mutually submit to each other. That would leave the other 20 percent, on the opposite side of the spectrum, wherein the husband submits to the wife. Again, these are Christian couples—not couples who don’t know Jesus. So, in the final analysis, again it would seem most don’t practice Paul’s words here. In the time spent in the Amish-Mennonite world, that year or so spent there, things were quite a bit different. And remember, these people are living in our current time, in our current day and age. Time travel wasn’t utilized in the sense, at least, of using a physical time machine, like that in the form of a car. Nonetheless, in thinking about the married Amish-Mennonite women, most of them known were submissive to their husbands. It would be guessed well over 90 percent.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-26T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2839.html#unique-entry-id-3010http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2839.html#unique-entry-id-3010Peace to Live By: The Wife & Husband Relationship, Part 1 (TMF:2839) - Daniel Litton
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       “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” (Colossians 3:18, ESV). One could look at this verse from the Apostle Paul as being one of which is out-dated, one of which is no longer for our current day and age in twenty-first century America. Indeed, many have adopted that view, even in the Evangelical World. In scanning the recesses of the mind, and thinking of all the couples which are either currently known or have been known in the past (people of which are close to the speaker’s age—latter 30s), most do not practice this verse. Just to take a random guess, it seems it would be 80 percent or so. That is, maybe 8 out of 10 couples known don’t practice the concept of the wife submitting to the husband. That looks to be about right, as many of you can probably relate to for sure. The practice that is most common, let’s say 60 percent of couples from the personal experience, would be that of a relationship of co-equalness wherein the husband and the wife mutually submit to each other.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-25T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2838.html#unique-entry-id-3009http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2838.html#unique-entry-id-3009Peace to Live By: Having a Thankful Attitude, Part 4 (TMF:2838) - Daniel Litton
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       If we can’t thank God for a specific relationship in our lives, in spending time talking with that person, then something isn’t right. If we can’t thank God after watching that certain movie for providing the movie to us to watch, then something is wrong. If we can’t thank God after using that particular substance, then we better think again. It truly is this simple. Just try to give God thanks for everything as your day goes by and you will learn quickly what is good and what is not. You will learn where perhaps a specific thing, or practice, can be eliminated. We’re not striving for legalism, as Paul clearly combated that issue in the last chapter, toward the end of Colossians 2. Yet, it really is that simple in that if something is whole, we will be able to thank God for it. So, in what we say with our mouths to ourselves or to others, in what we do with our bodies, where we go with our feet, let’s keep watch to to see if they actually are good things, things which we can be thankful for.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-24T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2837.html#unique-entry-id-3008http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2837.html#unique-entry-id-3008Peace to Live By: Having a Thankful Attitude, Part 3 (TMF:2837) - Daniel Litton
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       Of course, this will likely be something that changes over time because when we first become saved, we might not be that strict. Or, on the other hand, we might become too strict. It can go to either extreme. But hopefully, eventually, we find that balance. It is as Paul said to the Ephesians, “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-10, ESV). It seems that “giving thanks” as Paul mentions is a good accountability test for us. What is meant is that when saying or doing something, or after speaking it or doing it, is it something that we can then thank God for? If so, then that ‘thing’ we are speaking or doing is good. If it’s not, then something is wrong. If we can’t thank God for a specific relationship in our lives, in spending time talking with that person, then something isn’t right.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-23T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2836.html#unique-entry-id-3007http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2836.html#unique-entry-id-3007Peace to Live By: Having a Thankful Attitude, Part 2 (TMF:2836) - Daniel Litton
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       The key word that Paul begins with is “whatever.” So, it is everything. He says, “whatever you do…” That’s absolute surrender, then. And that’s not what a lot of people want to see or hear. This is the call to the Christian life. It means that in everything we say and do, we do it to the glory of God. There is nothing that we want to be speaking or doing in our lives that we feel God would not be happy about. Whether we are hanging out with a certain person, watching a certain movie, putting a certain substance into our body, doing this work or that work, whatever it is, it means we ask ourselves whether we feel God would approve of this. If the answer is no, then it is not something we want to have in our lives. The answer is really simple. Of course, this will likely be something that changes over time because when we first become saved, we might not be that strict. Or, on the other hand, we might become too strict. It can go to either extreme.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-20T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2835.html#unique-entry-id-3006http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2835.html#unique-entry-id-3006Peace to Live By: Having a Thankful Attitude, Part 1 (TMF:2835) - Daniel Litton
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       A thankful heart to God. Recalling what God has done for us, and, of course, remembering his great gift for us. Recalling what God has done for us, and, of course, remembering his great gift for us, that of his Son Jesus Christ, who has made us whole before him so that we can freely approach him to begin with. So in that awareness we can have that continual fellowship with him that we have, that commonality which each of us shares. Verse 17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (ESV). In truth, the call behind this verse, which is the call for each and every Christian, is that of filtering everything we say and do through the Scriptures. The Colossians didn’t have what we have today, in the totality of the New Testament. We do, so we know what is expected of us, what the truth is, how we are supposed to act in our lives. The key word that Paul begins with is “whatever.” So, it is everything. He says, “whatever you do…” That’s absolute surrender, then.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-19T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2834.html#unique-entry-id-3005http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2834.html#unique-entry-id-3005Peace to Live By: Thankfulness in Our Worship (TMF:2834) - Daniel Litton
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       Regardless, if we take the thankfulness approach to this verse, that is an interesting approach to our worship to God on Sunday mornings, and one that we may not have thought about too much. That, when we worship, that we are coming before God with a thankful heart, an attitude of thankfulness, thinking of all the ways God helped us through the week, on a small picture, and then on a big picture, all the ways God has been gracious to us in helping us with whatever it has been. This remembrance of help from God stirs in our hearts an attitude of worship toward him. It brings to mind the good things he has done for us, making things different from what they could have been, and even from the way that our enemy wanted them to be. So this adds a special layer to our worship to God, a special pair of eyeglasses, and makes it more aware, more precise in its direction, more intentional in its focus. A thankful heart to God. Recalling what God has done for us, and, of course, remembering his great gift for us.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-18T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2833.html#unique-entry-id-3004http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2833.html#unique-entry-id-3004Peace to Live By: The Church & Music, Part 6 (TMF:2833) - Daniel Litton
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       “And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:9-11, ESV). So we see an element of holiness, as well as formality, within the worship of God. It is a more serious tone, with an emphasis on honor. Now if we think of what we just read, and consider worship in most modern churches, what do we think? Is the worship lining up with the model provided to us here in the Book of Revelation? It seems a lot of times it does, but perhaps for some it does not. And if it doesn’t, then is that something that needs to be addressed? The speaker is aware he is walking on egg-shells here, but this is some food for thought. Please don’t send hate emails.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-17T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2832.html#unique-entry-id-3003http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2832.html#unique-entry-id-3003Peace to Live By: The Church & Music, Part 5 (TMF:2832) - Daniel Litton
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       After all, when we are singing to God, we are lifting up our voices to Heaven, and those songs are being lifted up before his throne. In order to get this picture, let’s turn over to Revelation 4, and see what the Apostle John saw in Heaven. This seems to be an interesting set of verses into what we are talking about.[Go to halfway through verse 6]: “And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures… [John goes on to describe the creatures, but let’s move down to the last half of verse 8] and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:6, 8-11, ESV).

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-16T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2831.html#unique-entry-id-3002http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2831.html#unique-entry-id-3002Peace to Live By: The Church & Music, Part 4 (TMF:2831) - Daniel Litton
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       The final part of the verse “with thankfulness in your hearts to God” presents a particular debate about the use of the word “thankfulness.” That’s because the King James translators went with the word “grace.” So it says, “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” That’s a bit different, and it appears to be a point in the text where it could be translated either way. So, in understanding the grace part of it versus the thankfulness part of it, we might say that songs should be sang with a bit of eloquence, or a spirit of goodwill. What is interesting concerning this, and one thing we can look at to get an idea of music, is actually to see what it is like in the throne room in Heaven. After all, when we are singing to God, we are lifting up our voices to Heaven, and those songs are being lifted up before his throne. In order to get this picture, let’s turn over to Revelation 4, [the last half of verse 8] “and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-13T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2830.html#unique-entry-id-3001http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2830.html#unique-entry-id-3001Peace to Live By: The Church & Music, Part 3 (TMF:2830) - Daniel Litton
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       Though we need to be careful, and this is especially true in Evangelical church life, not to let the actual music become too glamorous to the point where it is indeed more important than the actual truth regarding what is being sung. It has also been noticed, and at more than one church, that some will hire outside sources to come in and actually do the music. That’s how important music has become, to the point where music has become competitive between churches. And, to take this one step further, it would be a shame if the people actually in front of the church weren’t true Christians who are doing the music, or were immoral people. Hopefully this doesn’t happen, but the mind fears that it does happen with those who are hired in. How could it not? But in this case hasn’t the whole meaning behind gathering together for church service, as a body of believers, been lost in the first place? Who cares what the other churches think. If the music isn’t the best on the planet, that’s fine; it’s the heart that matters.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-12T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2829.html#unique-entry-id-3000http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2829.html#unique-entry-id-3000Peace to Live By: The Church & Music, Part 2 (TMF:2829) - Daniel Litton
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       This would be what is most prevalent in our churches nowadays, where we sing custom songs written by various brothers and sisters, typically over the last twenty or thirty years which are sung to custom tunes. So, instruments. The use of instruments in the church service. Interestingly, there is no mention one way or the other by Paul as regards actual physical instruments. It doesn’t appear it would be incorrect to go about it either way, then, though we need to be careful, and this is especially true in Evangelical church life, not to let the actual music become too glamorous, to over-emphasized to the point where it is indeed more important than the actual truth regarding what is being sung. It has also been noticed, and at more than one church, that some will hire outside sources to come in and actually do the music. That’s how important music has become, to the point where music has become competitive between churches.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-11T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2828.html#unique-entry-id-2999http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2828.html#unique-entry-id-2999Peace to Live By: The Church & Music, Part 1 (TMF:2828) - Daniel Litton
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       In the secular world, music often defines a person. “What kind of music do you listen to?” is a common question when it comes to trying to get to know someone new. It’s how people are sized up. There’s, again, no question that this area has translated itself to the church experience. Even the speaker has particular tastes as regards music, for the older hymns are definitely preferred. This has been problematic in church going because often it seems in order to attend a church that specifically focuses on hymns, in most cases, one is surrounded by those twice the age. It’s not very popular among the younger folks, so to prefer hymns makes one in this day and age peculiar. But too it’s all in how one sees church worship, and how it should be. Apparently a practice of the early believers was to sing psalms as actual songs during a get-together, a church service if you will. Besides hymns, Paul notes they were also to sing spiritual songs.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-10T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2827.html#unique-entry-id-2998http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2827.html#unique-entry-id-2998Peace to Live By: The Christian & Music (TMF:2827) - Daniel Litton
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       The rest of verse 16: “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (ESV). Now we move into the area of worship via music, and, of course, it is an area that we are pretty familiar with as the modern church, one we might even be experts at. It doesn’t even need to be stated that a great emphasis has been placed on music these days during the gathering together of believers. It’s a big area, and really in some churches may be considered even more important than the actual learning of knowledge itself, the actual sermon giving that takes place. Music, music, music. And people have strong preferences when it comes to music, as the American society itself has strong preferences when it comes to secular music. In the secular world, music often defines a person. “What kind of music do you listen to?” is a common question when it comes to trying to get to know someone new. It’s how people are sized up.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-09T07:00:00-04:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2826.html#unique-entry-id-2997http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2826.html#unique-entry-id-2997Peace to Live By: The Word Dwelling Within Us, Part 3 (TMF:2826) - Daniel Litton
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       But teaching brings new things to light for us, as Christians, when we focus on the Words of Christ or any good words we find from the Bible. It also reminds us of those things we’ve already learned then in the past; it just depends on how long we’ve been a believer. But the Bible should be central to the focus of the teaching. It seems like that shouldn’t have to be said, but with all the modern-day innovations going on in church-going it’s probably a good idea to point that out just in case. Thus, we are taught and reminded of things, and then we are admonished, or counseled or advised to a specific degree in the Word, and this done with an earnestness. An importance focused on its significance to our lives. We are supposed to be using the Scriptures to model our own lives, and to make good, moral decisions. It’s not that we create our own way, but we try to do things God’s way. That’s what leads us to living successful lives, at least, in the eyes of God.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-06T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2825.html#unique-entry-id-2996http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2825.html#unique-entry-id-2996Peace to Live By: The Word Dwelling Within Us, Part 2 (TMF:2825) - Daniel Litton
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       Now what they had, it’s hard to say. We have the four Gospels, but it doesn’t seem likely that they had any of these Gospels. At least Matthew had been written by this point. But they had something, otherwise Paul wouldn’t have told them to let these words so dwell within them. This also goes to show that Jesus’ words are relevant for the church, though, it doesn’t seem a lot of people don’t think that they aren’t. But’s it not that because Christ’s words were spoken to the Jewish Nation that they have no relevance for the church; they certainly do. They are important to us, to all those who are Gentiles in the body. The indwelling of the word of Christ in us, as believers, then is gained from good teaching and even admonishing in all wisdom, according to Paul. Let’s note first of all, that the usage of the word admonish appears to be more along the lines of to counsel or to earnestly advise one another, rather than the idea of rebuking one another. That’s important because it changes how we may see the verse.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-05T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2824.html#unique-entry-id-2995http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2824.html#unique-entry-id-2995Peace to Live By: The Word Dwelling Within Us, Part 1 (TMF:2824) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (ESV). Speaking of the spiritual benefits we have received in Christ, we come roundabout back to Christ’s word, really, nowadays, the Word of God, and how we have that for our benefit. As we are aware, Paul talked a great deal about knowledge in chapters 1 and 2. For us now, in the twenty-first century church life, our knowledge of God and of Christ comes to us from the entirety of the Bible. The entirety of the Scriptures. The Colossian believers didn’t have that. The New Testament hadn’t been compiled yet. A lot of it hadn’t even been written by this point in time. But Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” It seems almost as if they had some kind of copy of at least some of Christ’s Words—things he spoke about years earlier during his earthly ministry. We know Paul would refer to what Jesus said in his other letters.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-04T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2823.html#unique-entry-id-2994http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2823.html#unique-entry-id-2994Peace to Live By: And Being Thankful, Part 2 (TMF:2823) - Daniel Litton
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       Being in American society, where most of us are already wealthy to a certain degree, at least compared with most parts of the rest of the world, it can be easy to just understand our new relationship with God as having ‘spiritual benefits’ but not much else. Perhaps it has brought us a new church family, but perhaps we were already part of the church when we were saved. For the Colossians, there was no church family before. There weren’t those around with the common beliefs in Christ and the love that brings about for each other. There weren’t the benefits that come from being involved in that group. The average American has many, many churches to pick from, and no real commitment is even required a lot of times. Churches serve people from various different directions. Indeed, for us, it can be easy to take it the sum total of this for granted, and lose the real spirit of thankfulness that we are supposed to have as a church body. And Paul is going to come back to a way to practice this thankfulness in a minute.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-03T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2822.html#unique-entry-id-2993http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2822.html#unique-entry-id-2993Peace to Live By: And Being Thankful, Part 1 (TMF:2822) - Daniel Litton
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       The final part of verse 15: “And be thankful” (ESV). Putting ourselves in the context of the average Colossian’s mind, the whole new religion that has been presented to them, the whole experience of coming to know God, has undoubtedly brought a lot of thankfulness to them. To have come to know the real God must have just brought sheer joy to their hearts, and to be helped along in the all ways they were through Epaphras and the Apostle Paul. For us, as modern day Christians, we probably aren’t as aware of all the tremendous benefits that Christ has bestowed upon us, interestingly enough. Being in American society, where most of us are already wealthy to a certain degree, at least compared with most parts of the rest of the world, it can be easy to just understand our new relationship with God as having ‘spiritual benefits’ but not much else. Perhaps it has brought us a new church family, but perhaps we were already part of the church when we were saved.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-03-02T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2821.html#unique-entry-id-2992http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2821.html#unique-entry-id-2992Peace to Live By: Letting the Peace of Chris Rule, Part 6 (TMF:2821) - Daniel Litton
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       In view of the body of Christ, certainly so. In view of the great truths we have been talking about, that when we treat each other the right ways, there is peace inside our minds. When we are focusing on the bigger picture, when we are focusing on what is eternal, there is peace. When we have this ‘knowledge’ in the forefront of our minds, all that knowledge Paul was referring to in chapters 1 and 2. So that is how we “let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts.” It isn’t that it automatically rules, but we have to “let it.” It will automatically rule if we are acting in the right ways and thinking the right things. But it’s not some mystical state of peace that just settles into our minds and rests there. We have to let it come in. And come in it will, when we, as Paul told the Romans, in chapter 12, are not conformed to this world, but are transformed by the renewal of [our] mind” (12:2, ESV). Notice the word “transformed” and the word “renewal.” It’s something we have to do.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-27T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2820.html#unique-entry-id-2991http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2820.html#unique-entry-id-2991Peace to Live By: Letting the Peace of Chris Rule, Part 5 (TMF:2820) - Daniel Litton
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       If we are arguing over the minuscule, pointless things as pertains to the Christian life, as pertains to service times, music in worship, what believers are to wear to church, what positions there should be… things like these, then we aren’t in a peaceful environment. We’ve lost focus of what is truly important. If we have to, it’s best to set aside our own personal preferences for the sake of peace. In fact, there are going to be times each and every one of has to do that in order to maintain an order of peace. In the discussion of this external peace, then, is there in fact an internal peace that comes about for the believer? When Paul said, “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,” is any of this ruling actually a feeling of peace for the Christian that he or she can count on in daily life? In view of the body of Christ, certainly so. In view of the great truths we have been talking about, that when we treat each other the right ways, there is peace inside our minds.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-26T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2819.html#unique-entry-id-2990http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2819.html#unique-entry-id-2990Peace to Live By: Letting the Peace of Chris Rule, Part 4 (TMF:2819) - Daniel Litton
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       We “were called” to this peace, then, “in one body.” We learn two things at this point. It’s something that we are supposed to be practicing, note, the higher calling. The peace is a call. It’s not something, again, that occurs without proper actions toward one another, without properly treating one another with the forgiveness and love. It’s a collective call, and one that will fall into place when we are doing what is right. But the second thing we learn is that we are supposed to be “one body.” Just one body, and not two, three, or more. We don’t want divisions among each other, like Paul talked about with the Corinthians, and we don’t want to be treating others as special and others as not, as James referred to as regards wealth. We want to be one body, having one mind, all striving in the same direction. This promotes peace obviously. If we are arguing over the minuscule, pointless things as pertains to the Christian life, then we aren’t in a peaceful environment.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-25T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2818.html#unique-entry-id-2989http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2818.html#unique-entry-id-2989Peace to Live By: Letting the Peace of Chris Rule, Part 3 (TMF:2818) - Daniel Litton
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       He told everyone, “as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” He also stated that the believers need to put on love because it “binds everything together in perfect harmony.” So with the forgiveness and the love then comes peace. When we are forgiving each other in the body of Christ for any offenses that occur, instead of holding things against each other, and when we are practicing love, helping each other out when the occasion arises, it only makes sense that there would be peace. The two preceding areas lead to peace, but this peace too is something that we have to “let… rule in our hearts.” With the letting of peace rule then must come the awareness that it is present. It is realizing the contrast that we have within the church walls versus the rest of the world. Because we are following God the way we are supposed to within the body, the peace is present. Elsewhere, where proper ways of treating each other aren’t followed, there is not peace. What we have then in unique, and characteristic of Christians.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-24T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2817.html#unique-entry-id-2988http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2817.html#unique-entry-id-2988Peace to Live By: Letting the Peace of Chris Rule, Part 2 (TMF:2817) - Daniel Litton
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       What is interesting regarding this is that really, if you stop and think about it, we were probably more enemies of God ourselves than he was of us. By that it is meant we were actually the haters of God. It was Jesus, after all, who died on the cross for our sins, who made a way for us to come into personal relationship with God. It is as Paul said in verse 8 here in Romans 5, just before the part we just read, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (ESV). It makes sense that Paul brings up peace in Colossians, and that peace ruling in the believer’s hearts. He just spent the last couple verses in chapter 3 of Colossians examining this whole concept, really. He told everyone, “as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” He also stated that the believers need to put on love because it “binds everything together in perfect harmony.” So with the forgiveness and the love then comes peace.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-23T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2816.html#unique-entry-id-2987http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2816.html#unique-entry-id-2987Peace to Live By: Letting the Peace of Chris Rule, Part 1 (TMF:2816) - Daniel Litton
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       Colossians 3, starting in verse 15: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body” (ESV). Before we dive into some of the specifics behind this oneness of peace within the church body, let’s consider a ‘big picture’ perspective of what Paul is talking about. Let’s think about how this peace that we now have, or are supposed to have, came about. And in order for us to do this, let’s look at a couple verses from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, namely chapter 5. Let’s go to verse 10: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (ESV). We understand, then, that at one time we were technically enemies of God, back before we were saved, before we were born again.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-20T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2815.html#unique-entry-id-2986http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2815.html#unique-entry-id-2986Peace to Live By: Fear- The Feeling We Let Go Of (TMF:2815) - Daniel Litton
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       In Colossians 3, all that anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from our mouths and related feelings that can be rooted deep within us. Those negative traits are often beloved by us, believe it or not, without us actually realizing it. People hold onto the feelings of hurt since there is pleasure found in being right, and in being a victim. And, often there is the fear that if we forgive a person of an offense, that somehow they won’t pay for what they have done. There is a ‘fear’ that comes up in all of this. Sure, we can hang on to that fear and therefore justify our feelings that they shouldn’t receive our forgiveness, or rather we can choose an attitude of love and realize that everyone should receive our forgiveness. Sounds bold, but everyone is important, and everyone should be extended that forgiveness. That’s what God has done for us. This is the way out. It’s the way that frees everyone from everything.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-19T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2814.html#unique-entry-id-2985http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2814.html#unique-entry-id-2985Peace to Live By: Love- The Attribute We Strive For (TMF:2814) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 14: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (ESV). That’s the cure. That’s the hope. That’s the attribute we can all strive for. Love. Putting on love. Remember, this is what Peter has told us. He said, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8, ESV). That’s how healing occurs. The only way that one can move on into the future in a positive way, and a positive way toward the offender, is to see things under a different light, to see circumstances in a new way. It means giving up those old character traits that Paul has been discussing in this chapter, in Colossians 3, all that anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from our mouths and related feelings that can be rooted deep within us. Those negative traits are often beloved by us, believe it or not, without us actually realizing it.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-18T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2813.html#unique-entry-id-2984http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2813.html#unique-entry-id-2984Peace to Live By: Forgiveness- Needing to Accept, Part 3 (TMF:2813) - Daniel Litton
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       And this line of logic goes for all kinds of life situations. The death of a baby, the fatal car accident, the house burning down, the money down the drain after good intentions, the school shooting, the soldier dying in war. God doesn’t want them. He doesn’t plan them; he isn’t the grand architect behind them. This error has lead so many people to misery, and so many, specifically in our context of today, to unforgiveness, to an unforgiving spirit. But the beautiful thing is, is that despite all these events that God doesn’t want to happen, even after they do happen, there is hope, and that hope is found in Jesus. God is on our sides, and he is the one who leads to healing in situations, whatever those situations are, and when healing isn’t still possible, he’s the one who allows for individuals to move forward in an attitude of love, forgiving whoever it is, and actually living a fruitful life.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-17T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2812.html#unique-entry-id-2983http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2812.html#unique-entry-id-2983Peace to Live By: Forgiveness- Needing to Accept, Part 2 (TMF:2812) - Daniel Litton
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       There are other beings in the Universe, namely, other people, like your ex-spouse, who can make bad decisions, and the great destroyer, who we know as Satan. These persons have free will, and they can make choices of which God himself cannot even prevent. God cannot always stop Satan from doing certain things, as is commonly believed. God didn’t allow this to happen so that you would learn something, or so that he could teach you something. That’s an incorrect viewpoint, and one that isn’t Scriptural. God didn’t want it to happen; it isn’t part of his plan. The Bible tell us that God hates divorce. It doesn’t say God allows and permits divorce to teach his children certain things. That doesn’t mean he won’t use the situation to bring about good, but he didn’t want it. He didn’t desire it. He didn’t put it is his plan. No, the leaving spouse and Satan desired it, planned it, and executed it.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-16T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2811.html#unique-entry-id-2982http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2811.html#unique-entry-id-2982Peace to Live By: Forgiveness- Needing to Accept, Part 1 (TMF:2811) - Daniel Litton
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       The only direction toward healing is to accept what has happened. A big hold up for people when it comes to forgiveness is the fact they often get upset with God for the circumstances they find themselves in. The person we are talking about might say, “Why didn’t God prevent this from happening? Why didn’t he help me? Why didn’t God change the other person’s mind?” So the blame shifts to God, and the person believes he is at fault, And many pastors will tell the person in these shoes that, “Oh, God has something for you to learn in life. That’s why this is happening.” Yet, this answer is so clique, and thankfully, isn’t the actual truth. In reality, God doesn’t cause evil to make good come about. Did you know that? Highly unlikely you do because barely anyone says it. There are other beings in the Universe, namely, other people, like your ex-spouse, who can make bad decisions, and the great destroyer, who we know as Satan.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-13T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2810.html#unique-entry-id-2981http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2810.html#unique-entry-id-2981Peace to Live By: Forgiving Others Their Offense, Part 4 (TMF:2810) - Daniel Litton
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       Where we can start is maybe you never wanted to be divorced, perhaps you didn’t want divorce as a part of your life story. If you’re a Christian, you probably feel strongly about this. However, now, since the person has left and you’ve gotten divorced, it is a part of the story. Now let’s say you also didn’t want to be a single parent—seems obvious—and you didn’t want to raise your children by yourself without the other parent. You were afraid it would damage their development. Yet, here is the situation. This is the way it now is. With both of these points of fact, the person is going to have a real difficult time forgiving the other person if they aren’t willing to accept these facts, to accept that circumstances have gone the way they have gone instead of the way they desired them to be originally. If a person isn’t willing to surrender to the situation, and to accept what has happened, and to work from there, then the person is going to constantly be looking back in time at what occurred or even what could have been—an alternate reality that doesn’t exist.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-12T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2809.html#unique-entry-id-2980http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2809.html#unique-entry-id-2980Peace to Live By: Forgiving Others Their Offense, Part 3 (TMF:2809) - Daniel Litton
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       Even if it’s big, we have to work through it. We have to forgive. It’s only right. And that doesn’t mean we have to be best friends with the offender, or even friends at all, but we have to forgive them. And the only way it seems to reach this state of total forgiveness is to become full of love ourselves. We freely love and forgive seeing that that is what we want to do, and actually, what we can do. God has enabled us to do that. If you are feeling you can’t forgive someone for something, whatever the offense was, it’s because you are not surrendered on something. You aren’t surrendered on a particular thing, and that’s preventing you from forgiving. Let us draw up an example of how this works, and let’s go ahead and use a common one, since this area appears to affect a lot of Christians. Let’s say your spouse has left you for another person. It just happened out of the blue one day, at least out of the blue to you. And now they are gone. Let’s say they left you and the three kids behind. That’s tuff.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-11T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2808.html#unique-entry-id-2979http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2808.html#unique-entry-id-2979Peace to Live By: Forgiving Others Their Offense, Part 2 (TMF:2808) - Daniel Litton
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       It can take people a long, long time to work through forgiving another if the offense is a big one. Paul tells us why we are to forgive, really, why that attitude is a must for a Christian. And that’s because, at the end of the day, the Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven each one of us our enumerable offenses against God. Those which we have done both externally and internally. Countless offenses. You see, if we are trusting in his sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead to hold us blameless before God, so that we are seen as perfect in his sight, then we have to be willing to do the same thing for others. It’s hypocritical, Paul is telling us, if we want total and complete forgiveness from God for everyone we have ever done wrong toward, but then aren’t willing to forgive our fellow person for the wrong they did, which is usually small. Even if it’s big, we have to work through it. We have to forgive. It’s only right.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-10T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2807.html#unique-entry-id-2978http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2807.html#unique-entry-id-2978Peace to Live By: Forgiving Others Their Offense, Part 1 (TMF:2807) - Daniel Litton
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       There will be times others offend us, and we will have a compliant against them. There will be times where we offend others, and generally this will likely be more inadvertent. Most offense doesn’t seem to come as a direct attack toward another, or if it is an attack usually the person has justified it within themselves so that they feel they have the right to attack, or should attack. We have all heard how we are supposed to deal with offenses, as Jesus dealt with in the Gospels. Interestingly, with the Colossian believers Paul doesn’t really get into the ‘how to’ in dealing with offenses, but rather focuses on the end result. He tells us how things are supposed to end after the complaint. And how they end is with genuine forgiveness, forgiveness from the heart wherein we no longer hold the person guilty for whatever we feel they did was wrong, or we feel they did against us individually. Depending on the offense, this can last five minutes, or it can last five years.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-09T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2806.html#unique-entry-id-2977http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2806.html#unique-entry-id-2977Peace to Live By: Bearing with One Another, Part 2 (TMF:2806) - Daniel Litton
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       Generally, these kinds of persons will not take responsibility for their incorrect behavior. And so, if the person identifies as Christian, this is a kind of person we are going to have to “bear” with. It could also be an unsaved family member or friend who acts like this, and if we have to keep the person in our life, we are just going to have to “bear” with them. Ideally, it seems best to distance oneself from those who refuse, whether realizing it or not, to take responsibility. However, depending on one’s situation, this isn’t always possible. But it isn’t reasonable to say we should always put up with another’s sin, or things like an attitude of self-pity or whatnot. All of us, no matter who we are, are at times going to have complaints against another. No matter how far one tries to run from this, or no matter how one tries to pretend it doesn’t happen, it certainly does. It would be nice if everyone at church could get along perfectly at all times, but if we are honest we know that’s not the way it is.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-06T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2805.html#unique-entry-id-2976http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2805.html#unique-entry-id-2976Peace to Live By: Bearing with One Another, Part 1 (TMF:2805) - Daniel Litton
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       Moving along. Verse 13: “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (ESV). “Bearing with one another,” “Bearing with one another.” Ah, a practice we probably aren’t too fond of. But, we know, if we really consider it, that it is necessary. Why? Well, not everyone is going to pleasurable to get along with. There will also be a few individuals that find us un-pleasurable. Since God has made us all as unique individuals, individuals with custom characteristics, we aren’t all going to act the same, or see eye to eye. Some of us are going to be more compatible with others, more comfortable around certain others. Unfortunately, and this has been the common experience, some people are set in their ways, and they aren’t willing to grow in their characters. They aren’t willing to identify areas where they can improve in how they act.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-05T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2804.html#unique-entry-id-2975http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2804.html#unique-entry-id-2975Peace to Live By: Having Patience in Life, Part 3 (TMF:2804) - Daniel Litton
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       To take another occurrence, it is good when we are able to apply patience to driving down the roadway. Let’s say, for instance, that someone in front of us is going at a slower pace than we would prefer. A person can ride the other person’s bumper, but what good does that really do? What good does this impatient attitude truly accomplish? It’s just a display of a poor attitude on the part of the impatient person, and it is probably making the other driver nervous. But, what would happen instead if the person just took a deep breath, backed off the car a little bit, and just enjoyed the drive? Why is there the need to get to the next place in the quickest manner possibly anyway? If we are always rushing from point A to point B, we will miss out on that part of life, that commuting time. But, we need to remember that patience is our friend because by being patient we usually get what we want in the end. It is when we are impatient, when we have to have whatever it is right now, when the flow of life isn’t correct, that we often find ourselves in trouble.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-04T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2803.html#unique-entry-id-2974http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2803.html#unique-entry-id-2974Peace to Live By: Having Patience in Life, Part 2 (TMF:2803) - Daniel Litton
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       But, we need to remember that patience is our friend because by being patient we usually get what we want in the end. It is when we are impatient, when we have to have whatever it is right now, when the flow of life isn’t correct, the timing isn’t correct, that we often find ourselves in trouble. There have been so many times in the personal experience, when, and many of you who practice patience as a habit will know what is being said is true, where, in waiting something out, what has been desired has been obtained. Just think about shopping. Many times, in waiting and waiting, sometimes for weeks on end, the correct price for something is found. There is something we want, and initially it’s not on sale, but if we wait for that sale to come (of which it appears it almost always does), we get the same product for twenty or thirty percent less, whatever it is. It feels good when we are able to obtain the same product and at the same time save that money.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-03T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2802.html#unique-entry-id-2973http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2802.html#unique-entry-id-2973Peace to Live By: Having Patience in Life, Part 1 (TMF:2802) - Daniel Litton
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       So what about patience? Patience is a character trait of which, unfortunately, isn’t much valued anymore in our modern times. It seems there are a few individuals still left who like patience and actually practice it, but it would seem that there is more on the non-practicing side of this, preferring to obtain what they want immediately, to obtain it right now. It is often referred to as an attitude of entitlement, and even the younger generations are thought of to have more of an entitled mindset. Yet, Paul tells us we are to “Put on… patience” (ESV). Thus, it’s fair to say that patience wont come naturally for anybody. It was something the speaker had to learn over time, even over the Christian journey. When becoming a Christian, it wasn’t that patience automatically came into play. Maybe in small ways, but with the bigger things in life, patience had to be learned over time.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-02-02T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2801.html#unique-entry-id-2972http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2801.html#unique-entry-id-2972Peace to Live By: Having Meekness Toward Others (TMF:2801) - Daniel Litton
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       And so, how is meekness different from humility, as meekness is next on Paul’s list for us? It appears that meekness is found further in how we actually deal with others, how we relate to them, versus that actual humble state of our being which we call humility. It is the idea of having good-will toward others, being ready to help. It brings to mind when Paul said to Timothy, “be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV). It can also be an attitude of submissiveness, of showing proper respect to authority. That can be God, in that we show proper response to him when he wants us to do something. It can be to the boss at work, in that we respect his or her authority, and try to make the person happy. It can be the wife having the meek attitude in the marriage relationship, in submitting to her husband, as Paul is going to discuss later in this chapter in Colossians.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-30T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2800.html#unique-entry-id-2971http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2800.html#unique-entry-id-2971Peace to Live By: Having Humility Toward Others (TMF:2800) - Daniel Litton
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       When we give the impression that we are somehow ‘better’ than others, that never goes over well. And if we stop and think about it, we know this truth from conversations that haven’t turned out how we’ve wanted them to in the end. If we brag as pertains to this and that, people are going to be turned off, and we are going to be basing our value toward others by referencing the externals—things we have obtained in the world. Certainly, we have more to give to our fellow bystander than bragging. The truth is, people take further notice of us when we display openness and honesty with them. One would think it would be the opposite, that if we try to impress others, that they in turn will in fact be impressed and truly turn out liking us. But we find this is not the case. All we really have to do to understand this better is to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. What do we like to hear from others when we are conversing with them? It will be found that what is truly valued is that sense of humility, not pride.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-29T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2799.html#unique-entry-id-2970http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2799.html#unique-entry-id-2970Peace to Live By: Having Kindness & Humility (TMF:2799) - Daniel Litton
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       That’s really at the heart of what Jesus talked about in the Gospels. In essence, there should be a difference with the Christian’s kindness and the world’s kindness. It should expand to everyone, regardless of external appearances. We show love toward others because we know, internally, that we are greatly loved. If we look at humility, for some of us, that’s going to be an issue right from the get-go. Pride is interesting as it has its own way of seeping out of our characters, making itself manifest in our speech without us often even being aware of it. Yet, as Christians, we are called to be humble—to display a humble spirit. There is nothing that will turn folks off more than perhaps that of pride—when we give the impression that we are somehow ‘better’ than others. That never goes over well, and if we stop and think about it, we know this truth from conversations that haven’t turned out how we’ve wanted them to in the end.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-28T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2798.html#unique-entry-id-2969http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2798.html#unique-entry-id-2969Peace to Live By: Showing Kindness Toward Others (TMF:2798) - Daniel Litton
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       Next on the list is kindness. Along with having a compassionate heart is naturally going to come the kindness. It can be supposed that the kindness of which Paul is discussing is a different form of kindness versus the general kindness that is seen in everyday life. Even the Lord Jesus Christ spoke about that general kindness when he discussed greeting others, noting that even non-believers in God also have the good habit of greeting their friends. Not only does kindness naturally support our friends, as we are all probably good at at least in some way, it more so supports those we don’t really have a close relationship with. It is through kindness that we begin new relationships, like in the instance of striking up that conversation with another while getting a cup of coffee or tea. Naturally then, if it is allowed to, it can flow out of our happy spirit, that underlying joy, which should be present in our lives because we are in relationship with God.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-27T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2797.html#unique-entry-id-2968http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2797.html#unique-entry-id-2968Peace to Live By: Having Compassionate Hearts, Part 2 (TMF:2797) - Daniel Litton
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       In the most basic sense, it is practicing that which Jesus taught us, right? It is loving our neighbors are ourselves because when we show compassion, we are showing that we care about the well-being of our fellow person. We are showing that it’s not just our own interests that matter to us, but we have concern for the interests of others within the body of Christ in that we want to help them where they struggle, or where they might have misfortune. We aren’t just there to judge, as might be a more common attribute among some, but we are there to provide comfort. Just as God comforts us in our affliction, as Paul told the Corinthians, so we comfort others. He would finish up that section to the Corinthians by saying, “For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2 Corinthians 1:5, ESV). Everyone suffers at one point or another; it’s just the way life works, even for the Christian. There’s no escape from suffering, so there is always the opportunity to provide comfort for someone.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-26T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2796.html#unique-entry-id-2967http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2796.html#unique-entry-id-2967Peace to Live By: Having Compassionate Hearts, Part 1 (TMF:2796) - Daniel Litton
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       The flesh becomes holy when we are Raptured out of this life, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in the sky to receive those of us who are his, or when we die, when we perish on the earth. Nonetheless, whatever the case, we are “beloved,” that is, we are loved by God. No matter what state we find ourselves in, we are surrounded by God’s love. For Paul says in Romans, “For I am sure that neither death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39, ESV). The first thing that Paul mentions, the first thing he lists for us, is that of having “compassionate hearts.” What is compassion exactly? In the most basic sense, it is practicing that which Jesus taught us, right? It is loving our neighbors are ourselves because when we show compassion, we are showing that we care about the well-being of our fellow person.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-23T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2795.html#unique-entry-id-2966http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2795.html#unique-entry-id-2966Peace to Live By: Acting Toward One Another (TMF:2795) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 12: “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (ESV). Within the diversity of believers within in the church, Paul then tells them how they need to act toward one another. It’s a very fitting moment, a fitting time for this statement to be put forth. Paul had just demonstrated how all are included, and therefore, how each should relate to the other (and this despite any prevailing societal prejudices) is laid out. Each of these groups is chosen of God, as all who believe are then chosen of God. That’s important because it shows that no one is included as a second class citizen, but all are noted as “chosen” on an equal plane. And those whom are chosen, are said to be “holy and beloved.” Everyone who believes is made holy in God’s sight, whether they are acting holy in this life or not. That born-again spirit makes them holy, and one day their flesh will become holy.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-22T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2794.html#unique-entry-id-2965http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2794.html#unique-entry-id-2965Peace to Live By: Within Christ, All are Equal, Part 3 (TMF:2794) - Daniel Litton
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       Christ died for everyone, and everyone who believes in his death on the cross and rising from the dead can have salvation. No one, or group of people, is seen as special as far as salvation goes, as far as the ability to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Within spiritual status, then, there is no separation. God deals with all the same. Paul brings up the “barbarian” in the verse, which seems to denote a group of individuals of which the Greeks saw as uneducated. It would be similar in the United States today to calling someone a hick, or a hillbilly. The “Scythian” was a person who was part of a tribe of people who often engaged in warfare, those of which resided in the wilderness. What would likely come to our minds, in thinking of American history, would be the Native Americans of old. They were a group of individuals who did things their own way. The Colossian mind wouldn’t even think of those in these other groups as being included with them, but Paul says all are included.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-21T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2793.html#unique-entry-id-2964http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2793.html#unique-entry-id-2964Peace to Live By: Within Christ, All are Equal, Part 2 (TMF:2793) - Daniel Litton
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       Christ doesn’t differentiate based on worldly conditions and circumstances, upon the makeup of one’s flesh, the flesh that he or she resides in as a spirit. Within the church, all have the same status as a new creation in Christ. We are used to this language nowadays, and this is how we practice. But back then, in the time of the Colossians, it would have been unheard of. While in the Old Testament times God dealt with the Jewish people, the Nation of Israel, those who were of the Jewish race, during Paul’s time, and now during our time, God offers the free gift of salvation to all. Everyone is included. Christ died for everyone, and everyone who believes in his death on the cross and rising from the dead can have salvation. No one, or group of people, is seen as special as far as salvation goes, as far as the ability to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Within spiritual status, then, there is no separation. God deals with all the same.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-20T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2792.html#unique-entry-id-2963http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2792.html#unique-entry-id-2963Peace to Live By: Within Christ, All are Equal, Part 1 (TMF:2792) - Daniel Litton
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       Colossians 3, beginning in verse 11: “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all” (ESV). Being new creatures in Christ is where we left off the last time, new creations, and Paul expands on that for us today. In this verse, he is telling us something revolutionary. Not so revolutionary to us, here in twenty-first century America, but a line of logic definitely new to the Colossians believers. People were used to being divided up in society. The Jews versus the Gentiles, which is the same as the circumcised versus the uncircumcised. And then there were the other groups among the Gentiles, all the way to those who were free versus those who were under the bondage of slavery. It is in that context that Paul says that, within Christ, all are equal, all are seen as the same.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-19T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2791.html#unique-entry-id-2962http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2791.html#unique-entry-id-2962Peace to Live By: Understanding Christian Growth, Part 4 (TMF:2791) - Daniel Litton
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       This spiritual milk causes us to grow, and then eventually, after a long time, we get into the spiritual meat. Peter didn’t even talk about that. But that seems to be a fair assessment. Going back to what Paul told the Colossians, the knowledge, as we learn it, actually renews us day after day into being in the image of our Creator, into the image of God, into the image of Christ. We are called Christ-ians, so we should resemble Christ in some manner, right? This can only be accomplished through learning knowledge about God things, whether that’s done through reading the Word, the Bible, or whether through reading some commentary, or a book discussing Christian things, or listening to or watching sermons. It’s getting us in line with the truth of God so that we can grow to “be imitators of God” as Paul told the Ephesians (Ephesians 5:1, ESV).

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-16T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2790.html#unique-entry-id-2961http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2790.html#unique-entry-id-2961Peace to Live By: Understanding Christian Growth, Part 3 (TMF:2790) - Daniel Litton
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       Peter has said in his epistle, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter, 2:2, ESV). Therefore, when we become saved, we are like newborn infants in regard to the understanding of spiritual things, in regard to the understanding of the Bible. And thus, we learn, learn, and learn, more and more regarding Biblical things, and we grow in knowledge. This spiritual milk causes us to grow, and then eventually, after a long time, we get into the spiritual meat. Peter didn’t even talk about that. But that seems to be a fair assessment. Going back to what Paul told the Colossians, the knowledge, as we learn it, actually renews us day after day into being in the image of our Creator, into the image of God, into the image of Christ. We are called Christ-ians, so we should resemble Christ in some manner, right?

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-15T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2789.html#unique-entry-id-2960http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2789.html#unique-entry-id-2960Peace to Live By: Understanding Christian Growth, Part 2 (TMF:2789) - Daniel Litton
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       Students learn knowledge in school by going through the grades. In first grade, they are taught this or that, and then in third grade something else, and then in fifth grade still something else. It all builds upon what was previously learned. Generally grade-schoolers aren’t put through suffering to get them to grow, but they are taught. Now, they may see it as suffering, but hopefully not. In the same way, God doesn’t want and desire for us to suffer. He will use suffering if it comes along to cause us to grow, but he doesn’t want it for us. Sometimes we may willingly put ourselves through unpleasant things in order to grow, but generally learning knowledge doesn’t include a whole lot of suffering, at least physically. Peter has said in his epistle, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter, 2:2, ESV). Therefore, when we become saved, we are like newborn infants in regard to the understanding of spiritual things.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-14T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2788.html#unique-entry-id-2959http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2788.html#unique-entry-id-2959Peace to Live By: Understanding Christian Growth, Part 1 (TMF:2788) - Daniel Litton
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       Going to verse 10, and reading part of verse 9 again, “seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (9, 10, ESV). The idea, then, we have come to, has the appearance of growth. Christian growth. And this growth we are talking about isn’t something that is to be dreaded. That’s often the feeling that comes on the inside. That feeling of dread. The feeling, “Oh, God is going to put me through this or that to get me to grow. He’s going to cause hard times in my life.” However, that doesn’t seem to really be the picture. Think about it. Paul used the word “knowledge” in our verse. Students learn knowledge in school by going through the grades. In first grade, they are taught this or that, and then in third grade something else, and then in fifth grade still something else. It all builds upon what was previously learned. Generally grade-schoolers aren’t put through suffering to get them to grow, but they are taught.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-13T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2787.html#unique-entry-id-2958http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2787.html#unique-entry-id-2958Peace to Live By: The Problem of Lying, Part 2 (TMF:2787) - Daniel Litton
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       Lying is what Satan did when he deceived Eve in the Garden. It’s almost as if lying is what signifies being in the old self versus the new self. The personal experience was right after becoming converted, lying was one the first things to go. It is so freeing not to lie, to not be bound by the slavery that lying produces. When we lie, it creates a domino effect where it becomes apparent that one lie leads to another lie. If a person tells a fib, they have to back that fib up with another fib. It creates a big mess. It’s amazing how much trouble can be avoided by just telling the truth from the get-go. Yeah, depending on the situation, it may sting for a moment, but then it is over. However, when we lie, we escape the initial sting, but then set ourselves up for a much bigger sting later. Besides, folks won’t trust us if we have a reputation of lying.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-12T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2786.html#unique-entry-id-2957http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2786.html#unique-entry-id-2957Peace to Live By: The Problem of Lying, Part 1 (TMF:2786) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 9: “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self” (ESV). It is interesting how Paul separates lying as the final sin on his lists. He singles it out. The mind is definitely wondering why that would be the case. Remember, Paul told Titus that God never lies (Titus 1:2). In contrast, Jesus stated in reference to Satan, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44c, ESV). In essence, and again violating a Ten Commandment, we are becoming more like Satan instead of God. Lying is what Satan did when he deceived Eve in the Garden. It’s almost as if lying is what signifies being in the old self versus the new self. The personal experience was right after becoming converted, lying was one the first things to go. It is so freeing not to lie.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-09T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2785.html#unique-entry-id-2956http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2785.html#unique-entry-id-2956Peace to Live By: People Don't Have to Stay the Same (TMF:2785) - Daniel Litton
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       We see this, though perhaps not so blatantly clear, with how politicians often deal with each other. We see it with people getting lawyers to sue others, say for example they were in a car accident with another. There are advertisements based on these so called ‘qualities’ of character. We see it, unfortunately so, when two people are getting divorced. It’s amazing to the mind that two people who once were ‘in love’ with each other can then, say, a few years later, be entangled in viciousness toward each other as if they are the worst enemies on the face of the earth. How does that happen? It has to be a trick of the mind—a trick brought about by the sin-nature that is in everyone and of which Satan plays off of. If two people were in love to begin with, they can remain in love. Certainly, people can start acting differently, or in evil ways (like we’re talking about), but they can always go back to how they were acting before. Just because bad character traits have brought themselves forth doesn’t mean they have to continue to do that. It boggles the mind.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-08T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2784.html#unique-entry-id-2955http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2784.html#unique-entry-id-2955Peace to Live By: The Second List of Sins, Part 6 (TMF:2784) - Daniel Litton
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       Number five: Finally, Obscene talk from your mouth. What first might come to mind is cussing, and while we should try to avoid cussing, this appears to be a deeper issue. It would be the general conversation of one’s mouth. Telling dirty jokes, making fun of people—Christian or non-Christian, criticizing others as a hobby, and things like these. This latter one, overly criticizing others, looks to be one that has become acceptable and normal in certain Christian circles. It can even be heard in certain podcasts or among certain Christian YouTubers. It is like having a toilet for a mouth, and it is not what God wants from us. If we stop and consider it, and as afore to pointed out, these sins really can be combined into one big, gargantuan sin wherein each of these five sins play off of each other. A person can get angry, have obscene talk from the mouth, then get malicious, slanderous, and wrathful. Sounds familiar, right?

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-07T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2783.html#unique-entry-id-2954http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2783.html#unique-entry-id-2954Peace to Live By: The Second List of Sins, Part 5 (TMF:2783) - Daniel Litton
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       Number four: Slander. Slander is a big sin, one in fact that was even alluded to in the Ten Commandments that were given to Moses in Exodus 20. There, God said to the Israelites, ““You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16, ESV). Why is slander so bad? Because if we say something that is false with respect to another, whether intentionally or even unintentionally, if it is on a big scale, it can permanently damage the person’s image when the person really didn’t do what was said. It makes one like a ‘reputation’ or ‘image’ murderer. Number five: Finally, Obscene talk from your mouth. What first might come to mind is cussing, and while we should try to avoid cussing, this appears to be a deeper issue. It would be the general conversation of one’s mouth. Telling dirty jokes, making fun of people—Christian or non-Christian, criticizing others as a hobby, and things like these.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-06T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2782.html#unique-entry-id-2953http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2782.html#unique-entry-id-2953Peace to Live By: The Second List of Sins, Part 4 (TMF:2782) - Daniel Litton
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       Number two: Wrath. So, wrath is something that is reserved for God. It’s not something that we are supposed to be practicing as part of our character. Wrath implies that we are certainly right, better than others, and that others therefore deserve our severe condemnation. The Scripture records for us that when the archangel Michael was warring with Satan, that “he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9, ESV). If we are not even to judge and rebuke Satan, then certainly not our fellow humans. Number three: Malice. This form of sin is the desire to do others wrong, or to get back at them, whether the action presents itself as justified or not. It is that internal, burning feeling that usually develops over time. It is due to incorrect thinking, again, usually over a long period of time, and it is a result of not forgiving another for their offense.

]]>Daniel Littonfeatures2026-01-05T07:00:00-05:00http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2781.html#unique-entry-id-2952http://www.daniellitton.com/2minutefeatures/files/tmf-2781.html#unique-entry-id-2952Peace to Live By: The Second List of Sins, Part 3 (TMF:2781) - Daniel Litton
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       Let us go ahead and define each of these sins in our second list here, just like we did previously, and try to gain a better understanding of them. Number one: Anger. Jesus has defined anger for us. Matthew 5:22 states, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (ESV). And, remember, Paul instructed, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-, 27, ESV). It’s not a sin to be initially angry about something, but it seems to become a sin if that anger lingers. Number two: Wrath. So, wrath is something that is reserved for God. It’s not something that we are supposed to be practicing as part of our character. Wrath implies that we are certainly right, better than others, and that others therefore deserve our severe condemnation.

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