Reborn Identity
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17One of my favorite movies is The Bourne Identity. The main character,...
View ArticleAn Eclipse of Heaven
“The city [heaven] does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:23Solar eclipses are an amazing phenomenon. As the...
View ArticleA Parent’s Pain
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10I’ll never forget meeting Nathan and Connie. With five sons, they loved the...
View ArticleUnder Pressure
“You know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:3When our kids were growing up, we loved having picnics in the backyard. No picnic was complete without a plate full of big,...
View ArticleWhose Side Are You On?
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” James 4:4Ever been caught in the...
View ArticleFinal Exam
“God tested Abraham.” Genesis 22:1In universities everywhere, mid-May brings late-night study sessions, caffeine-fueled writing binges, and ulcer-inducing stress as students are preparing for final...
View ArticleFull Pockets
"God . . . has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." Ephesians 1:3Every man needs pockets large enough to carry all the important things in life: wallet, keys,...
View ArticleHearing The Sermon Again
"From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" Matthew 4:17A story is told about a man who preached an impressive sermon, seeking to be the pastor of...
View ArticleDisappointing Sideshows
"For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world." 1 John 2:16When I was a boy, one of...
View ArticleGetting Along
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3I’m guessing that even astronomical gas prices won’t stop many parents from packing up the car and taking the...
View ArticleSecret Storage
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23One of the New Year’s resolutions that I have managed to keep is my plan to clean out the two storage rooms in our...
View ArticleStuck with a Thorn?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9A small, older, hunched-over lady greeted us with a glowing smile at the doorway of our little son Matthew’s...
View ArticleSee Ya in Heaven
"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Luke 12:40Periodically, current world events stir up discussion about the endtimes. While I believe in...
View ArticleSpeak Up!
"If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy." 2 Kings 5:3If you’re like most people, you think that when God does something important, He uses...
View ArticleCompete Or Converge
"[Ruth] bore a son. . . . They called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David." Ruth 4:13,17Walking through campus one day, a seminary professor came upon a custodian reading the...
View ArticlePut A Lid On It
“In your anger do not sin.” Ephesians 4:26Now that the weather is getting warmer, it will be my job to barbecue the hamburgers, or steaks if I’m fortunate! Over the years I have learned, through trial...
View ArticleLeaving Sin City
“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin” Psalm 32:5A seriously disturbing...
View ArticleThe Great Race
“Run in such a way as to get the prize” 1 Corinthians 9:24The month of June brings many sure signs of summer: the sweet smell of cut grass, soft breezes, picnics, fireflies, thunderstorms—and runners....
View ArticleFinger Pointer’s Anonymous
“Stop passing judgment on one another.” Romans 14:13A glass of wine or not a glass of wine? To dance or not to dance? To work on Sunday or not to work on Sunday? To play cards or not to play cards? Or,...
View ArticleMake Way
Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. —Isaiah 40:3Dwight D. Eisenhower was known for his courageous leadership during World War II. His battle-tested skill...
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