Streamlining For The Kingdom

In 1981, three people got together at a restaurant and sketched out on a napkin an idea for an airplane. But it wasn’t just any airplane that Dick Rutan, his brother Burt, and Jeana Yeager had in mind. This one would be capable of doing what no plane had ever done before—fly around the worldContinue reading “Streamlining For The Kingdom”

Standing In The Storm

Followers of Jesus are no strangers to storms!  They struggle with illness and disease, disability, hardship, discouragement, and every other affliction that is known to man.  Belonging to Christ does not grant them immunity or exemption from any of these (though you wouldn’t always get that impression by listening to some of our prayers).  There may be no atheistsContinue reading “Standing In The Storm”

Say What You Mean

You have my word on it. Does that mean anything today?  Hopefully, it does.  Hopefully, it means that you meant what you said, that you can be trusted, that people can count on you. The sad truth though is that we live in a world where the truth isn’t always the truth.  We live in a world ofContinue reading “Say What You Mean”

Righteousness And The Kingdom Of Heaven

The Sermon on the Mount is an extended conversation about righteousness. Jesus uses the word five times in the three chapters that comprise the SOTM but in actuality the idea is in just about every verse. The righteousness He is speaking of is what happens when God’s kingdom comes and His will is done onContinue reading “Righteousness And The Kingdom Of Heaven”

Pure In Heart, Powerful In Vision

What did Christ mean when He spoke of being pure in heart? (Matthew 5:8)?  Was He saying that if and when our heart becomes morally pure enough, we’ll get to see our Father?  Did He mean for us to grit our teeth, confess our present unworthiness, and resolve to become more pure—all the while realizing that we’ll neverContinue reading “Pure In Heart, Powerful In Vision”

Pondering The Parables

The parables of Jesus offer us yet another dimension of His teaching. But knowing what we know about Christ, should we really be surprised that He found so many creative ways to talk about the kingdom of heaven? After all, doesn’t the subject matter lend itself to the highest and most powerful expressions we know?Continue reading “Pondering The Parables”