What is Christmas for you?
Read More
It is important not to swear during a Christmas sermon!
Read More
God constantly calling—you might even say chasing humankind –- is a never-ending theme of the Scripture
Read More
What do we do when we find ourselves contrary to God’s design? We go to God and say we are sorry, seeking His forgiveness, knowing that He forgives AND heals.
Read More
What I am proposing is, over the course of every week, we each spend 15 minutes, about 3 to 4 times a week…and see where God might take us with His Word.
Read More
That definition sets a “high bar” for Scripture engagement. Attaining that high level requires understanding how, as adults, we each can best be drawn into the text. It is no surprise the “best” method varies based on the individual.
Read More
We are not reading Scripture to simply learn. We are reading to be changed by God. “Head knowledge”, understanding what the text says, is certainly a necessary step. Yet it is insufficient in the process of transformation by itself.
Read More
Just like marriage, the degree to which we “do things” is completely a function of the depth of our relationship with the other person. Therefore, the depth of our worship, etc., is a function of how well we know God.
Read More
I came across one definition of hesed I consider to be a good, working definition: “The consistent, ever-faithful, relentless, constantly-pursuing, lavish, extravagant, unrestrained, furious love of our Father God!”
Read More
The lure today is not worshipping the idols of old—no, we have new ones. We have governments, companies and policies that stand-at best in a vacuum, and at worst- against God’s design. We believe so strongly in them, that not only do we subordinate God and God’s Law to them, we don’t even bring any of this before God.
Read More
We won’t read the characters in Ruth asking this question. Be assured they will talk with God, and we will sense their pain, but even in a context in which their faith is challenged, our Author urges upon his readers – upon us – a certainty, and delight, in the security of God’s providence.
Read More
It means we do not find our full meaning in this earthly world. Nor do we live as if this world does not matter. We must learn to live with our feet firmly planted in the world God has placed us, all the while looking to the destination—eternity with God.
Read More
Is there something, some “freedom”, that indeed has boundaries, so that people should be saved from it, even if it does not affect anyone else?
Read More
Who are your heroes? Who do you look to for inspiration? Who, even though you know they are full of flaws, you think, “If I could finish the way they finished, it would be amazing.” In this age of self-realization, I think we need to look back to our heroes.
Read More
Keeping your promise: it’s a measure of your character. Some people make promises lightly and don’t keep them. Other people make them sparingly and are often resolute in their commitment. Have you ever heard of The Promise of the Father? It is a BIG Promise.
Read More
As we have come to end of reading the Gospel of Luke, I would love to get some feedback from you! It would be a great help to know what I can improve on and what you really enjoyed. Please complete this short survey!
Read More
It’s Christmas Eve, and for many little ones, the waiting is almost over. When I was growing up, Christmas Eve was when we put up the tree and more. Our tradition was born, in part, from celebrating Advent, that season of preparation, that season of waiting. Our tradition also helped to keep my parents sane. There were four of us, and our excitement about Christmas grew exponentially as December 25th approached. Filling Christmas Eve with a mountain of things to do kept us fully occupied until we rushed to church at Midnight. It was a good plan. Yet the waiting…oh, the waiting to get to Christmas was torture!
Read More
In Part One I joked about that Christmas classic, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” All kidding aside, as we seek to reach our loved ones for Jesus, we do not want them thinking, I got run over by a Christian! I doubt people truly seeking Jesus ever felt run over by him. Yes, the religious of his day—ever challenging him—got clobbered, but they were not truly seeking him. For those who seek him, his presence is grace-filled. Yet many may not be seeking him, and we want to invite them to meet Jesus. If your heart aches for those you love to meet Jesus, what can you do?
Read More
Christmas: it comes with gifts of all shapes and sizes and prices. It has its own genre of music, which somehow includes “Silent Night” and “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” As followers of Jesus, we sometimes lament how Christmas has morphed into any number of ideas, all of which seem to leave Jesus out. Phrases like “Keep Christ is Christmas” and “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” hit a sweet spot in our psyche. Beyond the slogans, there is a deep ache in our hearts; it is an ache for our family and loved ones who do not yet accept this child in the manger as Lord. That ache is magnified during the Christmas season. What do we do?
Read More
“David, what do you say?” I would answer, “please” followed quickly by “thank you.” I was taught to be polite. How about you? Better yet, how do you do when someone tells you to adopt a certain attitude? By now, you probably know that I don’t do well when I’m told what to do. When someone tells us what our attitudes are to be like, our first reaction is normally resistance. However, that is exactly what God’s Word instructs us in Colossians 4:2. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” So, what is up with this situation?
Read More