So much has been made in the news over America’s present financial woes. Spending more than you take in, borrowing money you can’t fathom how you would pay back, and the need to set up a budget–it sounds like the lives of so many regular Americans! January is a great time to address stewardship issues! Did you know that the … Read More
Finding Freedom
“A voice of one calling in the desert,‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’” –Luke 3:5-6Every Advent, somehow, these words are read. These are the words John the Baptist was proclaiming in the … Read More
Salvation through Forgiveness
“…to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins…” –Luke 1:77You can’t get past it. Forgiveness of sins is the salvation that Jesus brings.He doesn’t come to just to model morality or love. He doesn’t come merely to offer peace or platitudes, but he is interested in saving people who have offended him.The hope found in … Read More
On-Time Promise-Keeping
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. –2 Peter 3:9God sees waiting so much differently than we do. He’s waiting to perform the resurrection for those buried in the graves in the picture to the left, for example. … Read More
Grand Distractions
The beautiful picture of this volcanic eruption is an image that might be instructive to us about the grand distractions that have entered our society through the political process. Recently, in presidential politics and the statements of one of the owners of Chick-Fil-A who made public statements about his beliefs that he stated he upheld traditional views of marriage. This … Read More
Why Vote?
Just the other day someone sat in my office and asked if a Christian has an OBLIGATION to vote. If they don’t vote, does it have any significance to God or in the spiritual realm? I think this excellent and timely question can be answered by saying that the right to vote is something few people in the history of … Read More
MiracleWorker: OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2012 SERIES
Nothing else like the stories of what Jesus did kindles and rekindles the flame of faith in my own life! During October and November, we’ll be visiting these 2000 year-old stories again and finding fresh application for ourselves in the 21st Century! Below you’ll see what days we’ll be focusing on what stories so you can read ahead. Be sure … Read More
Navigating Transitions
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven…” –Ecclesiastes 3:1 Transitions and change are a staple of life. Some of the transitions we face are easier to deal with than others. Right now, at the start of a new school year, we face a number of changes: new school, new schedule, new weather, etc. … Read More
How a Christian Approaches Conflict and Confrontation
You see the two people walking in the lower right-hand corner of this beautiful photo of the San Diego coast? They are a picture of how Jesus tells us how to approach conflict and confrontation.Let’s look at a couple of key passages on the subject. The first is found in Matthew 18:15-17–“If your brother sins against you, go and show him … Read More
What are my Spiritual Gifts?
The Holy Spirit is part of what it means to be a Christian. The powerful, abiding presence of God’s Spirit is part of what he does in the life of the one following Jesus. Beyond that, however, the Spirit gives gifts to everyone who is following Jesus. The apostle Paul puts it like this: “Now to each one the manifestation of … Read More