The Smith family (unrelated to any Smiths I have met) knew that their historic family farmhouse faced North. It was a deeply held conviction handed down from one generation to the next as if it were right out of The Good Book. They and most of the people close to them were all certain of it. It was one of those indisputable facts that could not be questioned by any thinking person. As nearly as could be discerned, the certainty…..
Two more mass murders yesterday! That’s 22 in 2019. “How long, O Lord, until you do something?” In many parts of the Bible we read the anguished prayers of God’s people who cannot understand God’s apparent indifference and inactivity against the violence and injustice on the earth. Here are a just a few samples. “We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be. How long will the enemy…..
Roger recently saw a FACEBOOK post on “HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MARRIAGE.” Roger decided that he needs to work on his marriage. It’s not that he and Glenda are having any major problems, but their marriage isn’t very exciting, romantic, intimate, or fulfilling. They take each other for granted. They aren’t usually fighting, but they aren’t very close either. Sometimes it seems that they’re more like brother and sister than husband and wife. So, Roger decides to do something about…..
The Song of Solomon is an amazing ancient love song found in the Old Testament of the Bible. It is the song/story of King Solomon and a commoner shepherdess called the Shulemite. The love song is almost entirely made up the words they spoke to each other. Shulamith uses far more words than Solomon. Is that a surprise? Women are typically more verbal than men. Both need to be willing recognize, accept, adjust to, not criticize, and not try to…..
This is a great reminder for all pastors/preachers/teachers from my friend, Pastor Chris Williamson. He posted this on Facebook today: To be God’s preacher, you must preach the whole counsel of God’s Word and not just the parts that align with your personal comfort zones. You don’t bend the Scriptures; the Scriptures bend you. You must preach whether you are applauded or rejected because both will occur. If you preach the text right, at times you will be considered “too…..
This is an excerpt from a sermon I preached yesterday on the theme of LOVING THE STRANGER — part of a larger series on marriage influenced by Timothy Keller’s excellent book, The Meaning of Marriage. It is part of the section that discusses Bible illustrations of people who married a stranger. In the Bible story of Adam and Eve, you might say that they had the original “arranged” marriage. But then, what other options did they have? When God…..
Baseball legend, Bill Buckner left several important legacies. He played major league baseball for 22 years. He had a stellar career. Buckner won a batting title and all-star nod back-to-back, and finished top-15 in MVP voting three consecutive years. His career consisted of 2,715 hits, 1,208 RBI, 1,077 runs scored and 174 home runs. It was a great record! But many fans forgot all the great things he did and turned against him for ONE PLAY. Sadly it’s that singular play at first…..
When trouble comes, a Christian’s first instinct is to ask God to deliver them. Jesus modeled another response: “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason [to die for the sins of the world] I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name” (John 12:27). Observations: 1. It’s not wrong to have a troubled heart in the face of suffering. Jesus did. 2. It is…..
Jesus healed a man who had been blind from birth (John 9). He employed a “down-to-earth” visual by mixing saliva with mud which he placed on the man’s eyes and sent him to wash in a nearby pool. Imagine the indescribable joy of the man and all who knew him when he suddenly saw everything perfectly! But Jesus’ enemies were incensed. Their excuse for attacking Jesus was that it was the Sabbath and they defined Jesus’ healing as forbidden “work”…..
“I am the light of the world.” If I made that audacious claim, even (or especially) those closest to me would assume I was joking or insane. But when Jesus said it, He spoke the truth. Think of the symbolism of light versus darkness. Jesus is the embodiment and provider of understanding, clarity, guidance, life, new life, growth, health, warmth, transparency, righteousness, beauty, optimism, and hopefulness. He makes it personal and gives a promise: “I am…..