Good works are not required for salvation. Rather, they are evidence of our salvation. Whether it’s being faithful to our spouse, honest in our business/academic dealings, keeping our thought-life pure, being patient behind a slow-as-Christmas driver, or even attending church... These “good works,” albeit moral, don’t “get us into heaven.” Further, by God’s standards, there’s … Continue reading Stop Trying to be Good Enough
Grace
Good Friday – 20 Centuries Ago…
On Good Friday, while we go through our daily routines, use your imagination and travel back with me twenty centuries to the dusty roads of southern Palestine. The son is appearing over the horizon. By this time, the rooster has crowed, alerting Simon Peter to the fact that, just as Jesus predicted, he would deny … Continue reading Good Friday – 20 Centuries Ago…
Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Joel
Following a devastating locust invasion – unprecedented in its scope of damage – God instructed Joel to use the locusts as a living illustration of the judgment to come on Judah if they did not repent of their luke-warm, indifferent approach to God. In Joel 2:25, God says to Judah, “I will restore to you … Continue reading Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Joel
Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Hosea
Hosea beautifully – and frighteningly – describes God’s loyal/covenant love for a stubborn, rebellious people. Like any parent who loves their child more than anything, God uses Hosea to warn Israel of punishment to come so as to protect them from horrible pain. They refused to listen. Below is a beautiful quote from the 5th … Continue reading Minor Prophets with a Major Message: Hosea
Why is there Something Instead of Nothing?
The Christian graduate student organization I was a part of at Texas Tech University invited Dr. Michael Strauss to speak in 2015. I was given the privilege of sitting down with him over lunch and visiting with him personally. It was dialogue that strained my intellect, to say the least. I continue to correspond with … Continue reading Why is there Something Instead of Nothing?
The Relationship Between the Old Testament Law & the New Testament
From time to time I am asked the following question: What the heck is the “Old Testament Law” and how does it relate to the New Testament? Here’s the "short" answer: (I realize the following response is not "short", but it's definitely shorter than it could be. 🙂 I’ll expound on this topic in a … Continue reading The Relationship Between the Old Testament Law & the New Testament
Silent Night? Not So Much…
Last night (Christmas Eve), before we all turned in, I shared with the family “the other side of the nativity.” Award-winning author, Philip Yancey, in his book, “The Jesus I Never Knew” shares, “Christmas cards of the religious genre typically depict a serene manger scene with Mary and Joseph surrounded by shepherds, animals, etc. All … Continue reading Silent Night? Not So Much…
What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know
Why is a daily devotion/quiet time so vitally important to our spiritual growth. It’s inconceivable (credit “The Princess Bride”) that a musician or athlete would rehearse or practice once a month or worse, a few times a year. But, that’s exactly what Satan fools believers into doing all the time. And for good reason. Read … Continue reading What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know
Turning the Tables on the Devil
We all have awful days i.e. our car breaks down, the hot water heater goes out, something frustrating happens at work or school, someone hurts us, the list seems endless. Pastor/author, Charles Stanley, writing about Joseph (the one with “the coat of many colors” in the book of Genesis), pointed out, “we are all dealt, … Continue reading Turning the Tables on the Devil
The Old Rugged Cross
NOTE: I wrote this four months after finding my 19 year old son after he'd taken his own life... There have been moments these past months that I've wanted to give up on God. I'm simply being honest. As one who grew up in a violent, alcoholic home, I witnessed more violence as a child … Continue reading The Old Rugged Cross