Why I Do Not Believe Life Begins at Conception
I am very deliberate about keeping political commentary far from my weekly blog postings. People have strong opinions about issues of faith, and often, even stronger ones about issues of politics. For me to combine the two is a bit like smoking a cigar while fueling up my lawnmower. This week I am making an…
Read MorePerception is [NOT] Reality
Chances are you have heard the sophism “Perception is reality.” Such foolish pseudo-axioms sound profound when they are spoken, but even the simplest examination of the statement gives light to its silliness. The deeper danger of quick and unexamined acceptance of the assertion that perception is reality is that it gives rise to the the…
Read MoreParents Who Discipline
Parenting When I learned that my first child was on the way, it occurred to me how woefully unprepared I was to guide my forthcoming child through life. Fortunately, for those of us new to parenting, child rearing theories abound. We have no shortage of people who are willing to share their child rearing expertise…
Read MoreWhen Godliness Isn’t Godliness
There have always been, and likely will continue to be, those who obsess over end times, and I choose the term, “obsess” with intent. I’m not talking about those who watch attentively, study eschatology, and then live and let live. Rather, I have noted an increase in the heat surrounding discussions of those obsessing from…
Read MoreSanctified: A Point in Time & a Process
Last week we saw the distinction between what we were (the past) and what we are in Christ. We have been washed, sanctified, and justified. In that blog posting I made the comment, “Sanctification is both a moment in time reality, and it is a journey, a process.” One reader inquired about that, and rather…
Read MoreWashed, Sanctified, & Justified
The Past It can be difficult to let go of the past. Books have been written and songs recorded about dwelling in or on the past. The concept has permeated movie scripts and television programming. We all know the folly of it, but the past compels us. It whispers and calls to us. Many of…
Read MoreA Kingdom of Priests
The Role Before the Law was given from Mount Sinai,1 God positioned his people, telling them exactly who and what they were—a kingdom of priests. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall…
Read MoreGod? Are You Listening?
Do you ever get the sense that your prayer line has a weak signal, that prayers don’t seem to get past the ceiling of your prayer room or bedroom, that no one is hearing the prayers but the dining room table? Why does this happen? Where Does the Problem Live? Surely the arm of the…
Read MoreGo, and Bear Fruit (Part 2)
The Prompt In last week’s blog posting, we looked at fruit as character traits, some good, and some bad. Good fruit glorifies God. Bad fruit shows that the tree itself is bad, and that tree is cut down and tossed into the fire. This week we are looking at the fruit of a Christ-follower from…
Read MoreGo, and Bear Fruit (Part 1)
The Prompt Last week, during the gathering of my local church small group, we engaged one another in a lively discussion of fruit. “What is that stuff?” The discussion was prompted by Paul’s description of his constant prayers for the believers in Colossae. And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to…
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