The Bride Created
As believers in Christ, we are the bride of Christ. When Jesus assured His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them (John 14:2-3), He was using the language of a bridegroom preparing for the marriage. When the apostle Paul challenged men to love their wives, he pointed to the ultimate and […]
Was His Service Poor?
Most of us claim to be pretty good tippers. Certainly there are bad tippers, but it seems very few actually admit to being one. After all, most tend to realize that stinginess reflects poorly on one’s character. So what do you tip when the service is really bad? I mean really bad such as when […]
Facebook Research and Setting Our Minds on Things Above
Late last year, Facebook received criticism for conducting research on Facebook users without their knowledge. Though the methods are definitely questionable, the results are fascinating. Kashmir Hill of Forbes magazine wrote: Facebook’s data scientists manipulated the News Feeds of 689,003 users, removing either all of the positive posts or all of the negative posts to […]
The Beauty of No Shame
When the apostle Paul wrote about marriage, he reminded us of the first couple in Scripture: For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery — but I am talking about Christ and the church. […]
4 Reflections from a Funeral
I have been to several funerals in the last few months including that of a local pastor, a friend from college, and last Wednesday we celebrated my father-in-law’s life and mourned his death. I spoke for a few minutes at the funeral about Mr. Billy as a father, as a man, and as a Christian. […]
Why Can’t We Stop Rejoicing?
A few weeks ago on a flight, I read the lead article in Southwest’s magazine titled “Enough Already: Praise gets heavy. So why can’t we stop?” Heidi Stevens, from the Chicago Tribune, wrote a great and funny piece on the downfalls of “praising our kids too much.” She cites research that shows heaping praise on […]
Persecution for the Children of Promise
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son […]
3 Miseries of Legalism
Legalism is attempting to earn God’s approval with our works. It is man’s attempt to qualify himself to stand before God on his own merits. We are recovering legalists, for there was a time, before Christ rescued us, when we attempted to find our joy in ourselves, our salvation by ourselves. Now we trust His […]
A Rescue Mission from Prison
Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1) I read the book Ghost Soldiers several years ago on a vacation. It tells the story of what many believe to be the greatest rescue mission in military history. Nearing the end of World War […]
Legalism and a New Circumcision
When we make the results of our walk with the Lord requirements for our standing with Him, we are drifting from grace. When we hold up the personal results of our faith as requirements for others—we act as legalists. A couple of examples… As a result of their time with the Lord and conversations with […]