The church is God’s people, his ecclesia or ekklesia in the Greek. The church is the “called out of” ones. We are called out of the world in order that we might be the possession of him who called. We are called out of lostness into joy. For example, Romans 1:6. Paul is writing to... Continue Reading →
It was a quiet afternoon when I sat poring over creeds and confessions. Water was running through our wet-weather creek and as I peered through the glass, snowflakes began to fall. I was captivated by nature's beauty and as always, my observance of creation caused me to ponder the Creator. Stillness in the wondrous works... Continue Reading →
One of the most critical disciplines in the life of a believer is the daily reminder of the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a sense, we become preachers to ourselves. First, you need some understanding of who God is and who you are. God is holy and although we are saints... Continue Reading →
Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace, thereby good will come to you. ~ Job 22:21 My focus for social media through the end of this month will be from my biblical counseling ministry. In the Facebook video titled Preach the Gospel to Yourself, I mentioned reading the Psalms so I wanted to... Continue Reading →
Whether it be something as simple as waiting in line at the local coffee shop or as difficult as a pending medical diagnosis, waiting is a part of life and it is also a part of the Christian’s life. The difference is that once we enter into new life with Christ, our time in the... Continue Reading →
As we serve within a community of believers, our willingness to acknowledge neediness becomes an asset. Each time the questions arise, “Where is God in this? Does God even care?” presents an opportunity for one another soul care and as Christians, God’s Spirit drawing us back to certainty of his never-changing truths. In this post,... Continue Reading →
Spiritual pride is the illusion that we are competent to run our own lives, achieve our own sense of self-worth and find a purpose big enough to give us meaning in life without God. - Tim Keller The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness Loneliness. Grief. Family tensions. Painful memories. Excessive responsibility. Unreasonable expectations. We need Jesus. We... Continue Reading →
God works to teach lessons about Himself and it's in the second chapter of Ruth that we are introduced to a light in the darkness. In the previous chapter, the narrative dealt primarily with Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth. We now move to the community as a whole, Bethlehem and our introduction to Boaz (2:1). Darkness... Continue Reading →
"God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them." - John Piper The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival, and the local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” “Don’t call me... Continue Reading →
"Follow your heart" they say. "Do what feels right to you" they tell us. The voices of our society assure us our feelings rule. We are awesome just the way we are because we are number one. Do you recognize individualism, pride, or idolatry? Are you willing to admit we get caught up in the... Continue Reading →
The apostle Paul is our best example of staying the course. He endured beatings, imprisonment, false accusation, and difficulties most of us can only imagine. Yet at life’s end, he passed the torch to Timothy and spurred him on. Finishing strong requires courage; Paul’s bravery was intentional and God-supplied. It’s in those moments that require... Continue Reading →
As I sit at my desk Fox News echoes from the next room. Remnants of Covid reports, political unrest, complicated court trials, deceit, and unrelenting tempers, are reminders that we need courage to stand strong in the days to come. Courage is a command for Christians, both attainable and mandatory. Paul instructs Timothy (2 Timothy... Continue Reading →
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