When we are struggling spiritually, we must learn to “get to our base.” This means returning to the essence of the Gospel in order to establish spiritual strength. Some Christians mistakenly view the Gospel as nothing more than an introductory message. In reality, it is the foundation for living. Part 5 of 6 of The […]
The scene was mysterious and confusing. After the exodus from Egypt, and while still in the wilderness, the ancient Israelites found one of their own people gathering firewood on a Sabbath day. In accord with a commandment previously given, God commanded that the man be stoned to death (Numbers 15:32-36). At first glance, one may […]
A while back, I was wandering through the cereal isle of our local grocery store and couldn’t help but wonder how many of the cereal varieties should actually be considered food. Sugar and artificial ingredients abound—in spite of all of their nutritional claims. A few more steps, and I entered the junk food section. The […]
Just about every area of U.S. culture these days seems to be inundated with sexuality. Advertising? Saturated with sexual images. Movies? Full of steamy and explicit passion. Sports? Does the term, “wardrobe malfunction”, bring anything to mind? I personally believe that greed is the primary factor contributing to our sexual saturation. Astute marketers in pursuit […]
It’s easy to get confused when trying to understand how the Mosaic Law relates to the New Covenant of grace. I am intrigued by Romans 4:14-15 (NASB): For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there […]
I’ve never written a love song—I am not gifted in music—but I’ve certainly listened to a few in my day. Love songs, it seems, run the gamut from what might be more appropriately called lust songs to those that idealize faithful and long lasting devotion. Titles are even more diverse, including famous hits like “Killing […]
Critics of the modern Christianity often complain that our modern Bibles lose something in meaning due the difficulties of language translation. In part, they are correct—although I have found that digging deeper into the original languages is common practice for most of the scholars and pastors who approach Bible interpretation with a great deal of […]
The New Covenant is amazing! We are free from the requirements of the Old Testament Law and now have a profound measure of freedom under God’s paradigm of grace. I have, however, made it clear over my last several posts that grace is not a license to live in any manner imaginable, and that our […]
There is something about Easter that sets it apart as one of the most significant holidays to celebrate. Thanksgiving and Christmas rank right up there, of course, but aside from peanut butter eggs and sugary peeps, Resurrection Sunday continues to be one of the most meaningful days on the calendar. One thing that I especially […]
I lied the other day. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not in the habit of lying, and on a scale of 1 to 10 in importance, this particular fib probably came in at around a 1.5. But it was a lie nonetheless. I had found myself in an awkward situation and before I […]
