The People You Meet
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I […]
Missing God?
“To what can I compare this generation?” That was the rhetorical question Jesus asked his followers. The answer: “They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” (Matthew 11:16-17, NIV) I […]
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out….” (Isaiah 42:3, NIV) What does the Lord mean by these strange, prophetic descriptions of Jesus? In the ancient world, a reed might be used to make a pen to write striking poetry, witty prose, or create beautiful art. Or […]
Good Shepherd, Good Friday
This week I am praying for a couple going through a divorce, a child who attempted suicide, a young man kicked out of his school, an unplanned teenage pregnancy, a scary emergency room visit, a husband out of work…just to name a few. Seeing the enemy’s hand in the lives of people I care about […]
I Will!
Ever wonder why Jesus always had a crowd surrounding him? People wanted to be near him. People wanted to listen to him. He called people to their best – but didn’t belittle them at their worst. His personal standard of living was holy, but not holier than thou. He was religious, but not part of […]
Why I’m Anti Grace
“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” (John 1:16, NIV) I’m anti grace. There, I’ve said it. And now I should probably explain it. In the verse above, John is talking about Jesus’ incarnation – how the Lord walked among us and we beheld his glory. And when […]
Prince of Peace?
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and […]
The Word became Flesh
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, NIV) It’s hard to believe December is already here! If your home is like ours, the calendar fills up pretty quickly […]
Being the Church
Jesus was known to upset an applecart or two in his day. In his most famous sermon, he went through a whole list of cultural norms and modified them. One in particular was love. It is natural for us to love our friends and hate our enemies. But God wants us to extend our boundaries […]
Jesus in a Pluralistic Society
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 24-25, NIV) The Bible’s full of […]
Proof in the Pudding
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had […]
Headless?
Therefore don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on ascetic practices and the worship of angels, […]
