The Sabbath had been anything but a day of rest for Him who was its Lord! He had taught in the synagogue, casting an evil spirit out of one of the people there. Then He retreated to the home of Peter and Andrew where He healed Peter’s mother-in-law. After darkness set in there was a knock at the door—”theContinue reading “And What Gets You Out of Bed?”
Category Archives: Coming to God
Thanks
There’s power in words because they can communicate what’s happening in our hearts. “I love you” is a phrase that comes to mind because it tells someone that they are a special person whom we hold dear. But there are lots of other words that convey important truths: peace, joy, and hope, are a few thatContinue reading “Thanks”
Hypocrisy and Heart-Guarding
Hypocrisy is one of those words that’s easy to bandy about with little or no thought as to what the word actually means. It’s an extreme term that tends to be over-employed because people want to show their outrage or throw a verbal hand grenade (as opposed to being accurate and truthful in their speech).Continue reading “Hypocrisy and Heart-Guarding”
Guilt, Shame, and Grace
Guilt and shame are two of the most powerful spiritual forces known to humanity. The two words are interchangeable for most people, but strictly speaking, guilt is what we experience when we do something wrong, while shame is what we experience when we are wrong. Guilt is more about the deed and shame is moreContinue reading “Guilt, Shame, and Grace”
Repentance and Coming to God
One of the ways that a faith that is full, alive, and vital will manifest itself is in what the Scripture refers to as repentance. (I’ve borrowed significantly from J.W. McGarvey on the first three points). 1. Repentance is more than being sorry about your sins. In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul is discussing an earlier letter he wrote to theContinue reading “Repentance and Coming to God”
Flipping the Script
“God is with us”—that’s vital to know, isn’t it? From Psalm 23 to Romans 8, the Scripture tells God’s people in no uncertain terms that He is with them. In light of this, it’s a little strange that we spend as much time as we do wondering about the presence of God in our lives.Continue reading “Flipping the Script”
Faith and Philosophy
However else we are to understand Qoheleth (the “Teacher” or “Preacher”) in Ecclesiastes, it seems to me that it is important to pay attention to his wisdom statements—especially those where he speaks of his search for wisdom. The first such statement occurs in 1:16-17: “I said to myself, look I have increased in wisdom moreContinue reading “Faith and Philosophy”
The Search for Significance
Was Maslow right and self-actualization is the end all of human existence? (Although Maslow later modified the hierarchy, his original version is what he is remembered for). Or was John Lennon right when he said/sang there was no heaven? While Maslow’s apex was individualistic, Lennon’s goal (at least in “Imagine”), was more communitarian (“the worldContinue reading “The Search for Significance”
Dying to See
Paul will tell the disciples in Rome they are to count themselves “dead to sin but alive to God” (6:11). He has previously spoken of baptism as being the place where they “died to sin” (v. 2) and were “baptized into His death” (v. 3)—that is, the death of Jesus. What does he mean? Jesus’Continue reading “Dying to See”
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
I heard the following story on Moth Radio on Fathers’ Day weekend some years ago. It is about a husband and wife who have just experienced the birth of their first child—a girl. The father is sent from the hospital to a grocery store across the street to get a few items. He’s on oneContinue reading “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”
