When it comes to topics discussed in church and lyrics sung in worship, forgiveness in Christ tops the charts—and for good reason. The forgiveness found in the Gospel is knock-your-socks-off good news, and we shouldn’t be able to get enough of it. However, is it possible that we’ve skewed the emphasis of this glorious truth? … Continue reading Forgiveness Is Not About Me
Halfway-Point Favorite Books
Each year I like to give recommendations for books not only in December, but also in June as we close out the first half of the year. Maybe one or more of these will strike your fancy as something to dive into this summer. If you want a more in-depth look, I’m sure you can … Continue reading Halfway-Point Favorite Books
How to Respond to a World Gone Bananas
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and his Anointed One: "Let's tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us." These opening lines of Psalm 2 seem particularly apropos right now. The … Continue reading How to Respond to a World Gone Bananas
Be a Noble-Minded Student of the Word
I recently finished re-watching Downton Abbey, experiencing again the ups and downs of the Crawley family as they learn to adapt to the post-war world. For six seasons (or series, if you’re British like the Crawleys), Downton helped ratings on PBS soar. An Emmy magnet, the show garnered fifteen awards and many more nominations for … Continue reading Be a Noble-Minded Student of the Word
Are You Able?
Maybe I could call her the first helicopter parent, but I’ll just call her Mama Zebedee. I don’t know if she tagged along with Jesus’ band of disciples everywhere, or if she just showed up one day to make her bold request. She knew her boys, James and John, were part of Jesus’ inner circle … Continue reading Are You Able?
The Gospel Is the Power of God
I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise, that spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies. We sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; the moon shines full at his command, and all the stars obey.1 Mountains, stars, and seas certainly proclaim the omnipotence of our Creator. Who among us hasn’t … Continue reading The Gospel Is the Power of God
Be Faithful When Jesus Tells You to Stay
He was hardly the welcoming party any mayor would want a famous visitor to encounter first. In fact, he was the scourge of the entire town. But, of course, in typical Jesus-fashion, he was the first one the Son of God met when He came to the country of the Gerasenes. Scripture doesn’t record his … Continue reading Be Faithful When Jesus Tells You to Stay
Speaking Truth in Love in a Culture of Outrage
They stormed the walls of Jerusalem as if they were made of straw, and then proceeded to have their way with her, ransacking the temple and taking captive the strongest, most attractive, and most promising young men who would never again see the faces of those they loved most. The judgment of God upon His … Continue reading Speaking Truth in Love in a Culture of Outrage
God Always Uses the Right Tool
“If the women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.” If, like me, you watched The New Red Green Show in the ‘90s and 2000’s, you recognize these words as the catchphrase with which host Red Green ended each segment of “Handyman Corner” during the show’s fifteen seasons. While Red may … Continue reading God Always Uses the Right Tool
Screwtape’s Four Types of Humor
I’ve long been a fan of C.S. Lewis’s classic work The Screwtape Letters1. Lewis was uniquely gifted by God with a view of the world and theology distinct from the masses and an ability to communicate complex truths in simple ways. Such is the case with Screwtape, in which Lewis writes as Uncle Screwtape, a … Continue reading Screwtape’s Four Types of Humor
