Disciples . . . and Citizens
The past months in the American political landscape have been stress-inducing, to say the least. News reports and social media posts have contributed to a tumultuous election season. Followers of Jesus are not immune from the pressure, the barrage of information,...
You Have a Part
I remember a stage show I was in with my wife and kids. It was quite a treat to perform together. One of the best memories of that experience was how the director helped us understand what it meant to be a cast--not just a gathering of individual actors. He helped...
Why Did He Want Them to Do That?
In the church calendar--the way that many churches reflect on the life and ministry of Jesus–this Sunday is Palm Sunday. That is the day that many Christians remember Jesus' "triumphal entry" into the city of Jerusalem shortly before His passion and death. His...
How Does Christmas Impact You?
Charlie Brown asked, “Does anyone know what Christmas is all about?” And Linus replied by rehearsing for Charlie Brown the account of the angels’ visit to the shepherds as found in Luke 2. It’s a sweet moment in a favorite holiday classic. And many people know that...
What Will You Store Away?
Although he was a fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes' observation about what one stores in one's "brain-attic" is quite insightful. "I consider that a man's brain originally is a like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you...
Don’t Give In To the Myth
There are a couple of prominent “myths” about reading the Bible that seem to get in the way of Christians becoming good readers of Scripture. The first myth: “The Bible is very difficult to understand.” This myth summarizes the idea that the Bible is so difficult...
They Were There and They . . .
It is so interesting to sit and read Scripture with others and discover, as we read, that we can easily import into the passage something the Biblical author wasn't communicating. It isn't that the thoughts we import are necessarily (or always) unbiblical or...
What Does This Mean for Israel?
It is impossible to ignore what is going on in the Middle East. Israel has (again) been attacked. Hamas has invaded the Jewish homeland, engaging in a horrible terrorist raid. Much is yet to be seen in how this will play out, what Israel will do, and what impact...
Not A Random Question
If you've spent time in the Gospels, you have probably noticed Jesus' fondness for questions. He asks a lot of them; He asks a variety of questions in conversation with a variety of people. Have you ever thought about why Jesus asks questions? Sometimes, it seems...
A Storm, A Shipwreck, and a Snakebite
If you've walked with Jesus for any length of time, you probably have heard something about "persecution." Whether recalling the words of Jesus when He affirmed that because He had been persecuted, His followers would also face persecution (John 15:20) or Paul's...
