Fraught. Complicated. Tenuous. On-again-off-again. Volatile. While these words might describe many teenage romances, they also aptly characterize the Apostle Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church. Scripture reports that Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, evangelizing and discipling (Acts 18:1-17), made one “painful visit” during which he dealt with ongoing sin issues (2 Cor. 2:1), and … Continue reading Is Your Heart Closed Off?
Author: Cindy Matson
You’re Responsible for Growing in Holiness
The clock may say zero, but the game goes on. If you’re a soccer fan, you know that a game isn’t over until the referees blow their whistles. Unlike basketball in which the play-clock stops when the ball goes out of bounds or for substitutions and other stoppages of play, in soccer, the play-clock never … Continue reading You’re Responsible for Growing in Holiness
Images of Hope
What do incense, letters of recommendation, and a blazing light have in common? If you answered (and I’m sure you did!) that they’re all metaphors that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 2 and 3 to help describe the Gospel, you win! Though Paul had spent much time in Corinth and written the church there multiple … Continue reading Images of Hope
What If Psalm 1 Isn’t Actually About You?
The Lion King is about lions; but it’s not really about lions. Remember the Titans is about football; but it’s not really about football. Titanic is about the Titanic; but it’s not really about the Titanic. The Life of Pi is about a guy on a boat with a tiger; but it’s not really about … Continue reading What If Psalm 1 Isn’t Actually About You?
“You Are Enough”…And Other Lies the Gospel Refutes
“Just do it.” “If you dream it, you can achieve it.” “Believe in yourself, and the world will believe in you too.” “Embrace yourself.” “You are enough.” Slogans like these came into vogue during the 1990s self-esteem movement, but they have proven to have significant staying power. They reinforce the most prominent idol of our … Continue reading “You Are Enough”…And Other Lies the Gospel Refutes
How Can You Have a Quiet Heart in a Noisy World?
Ping! You receive a “breaking news” notification. Another school shooting. Sighing, you open your phone and read the story. Tears fill your eyes as you learn about the victims of such a senseless crime. Ping! Another notification. A friend just texted you asking what time you’d like to meet for dinner. You begin your response. … Continue reading How Can You Have a Quiet Heart in a Noisy World?
Time: A Most Precious Commodity
October 21, 1985. A date that will live in…infamy? Okay, maybe not infamy, but box office glory, to be sure. In case you didn’t recognize it, October 21, 1985 is the date Marty McFly must get back to in order to get “back to the future” in the film of the same name. The Michael … Continue reading Time: A Most Precious Commodity
The Mighty Fortress
Death. Plague. Illness. Temptation. Anxiety. Tragedy. One of Christendom’s best-loved hymns was likely born out of a season of heavy trial. Though the exact details surrounding the writing of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” have been lost to history, scholars believe that Luther penned his most famous hymn sometime during the years 1527-28, a … Continue reading The Mighty Fortress
What Martha’s Problem REALLY Was
I doubt many stories in the Bible are more relatable than the account of Mary and Martha. However, the character with whom I relate has changed over time. As a kid, I heard the story, convinced that I would never struggle like Martha. Of course Mary did the right thing! Who would want to work … Continue reading What Martha’s Problem REALLY Was
The Dying Fruit of Patience
“I can’t wait to have patience, cuz patience is a wonderful thing! Hurry up, let me have, gotta get it now; I want it more than anything!1” Those words, sung on a cassette tape I had as a kid, still accurately describe my life. I hate waiting for anything. And, thankfully, I don’t have to … Continue reading The Dying Fruit of Patience
