One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. –from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord God took the man and […]
Archive | Sin
RSS feed for this sectionLetting Go of Control
If there be, therefore, perpetual failure in your life, it cannot arise from any weakness or impotence in the Mighty God; but from some failure on your part. That failure may probably be discovered in one of three hiding places—imperfect surrender, deficient faith, or neglected communion. But when the intention of the soul is right […]
The Price of Unbridled Freedom
Isaac Newton presented his three laws of motion way back in 1686. The third law, which I learned in school, states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law proved painfully true a few weeks ago when I played a game of pool with my son. In spite of my […]
Cheaters Exposed!
“Oh Ashley!” If you’ve ever read or seen Gone with the Wind, the scene nears unforgettable. Obsessed with Ashley Wilkes, Scarlett Ohara draws upon all of her ingenuity to woo the potential adulterer away from his wife. Weakened by his attraction to Scarlett, the southern gentleman almost gives in. Almost. His honor will not allow. […]
Is the Death Penalty Barbaric?
Conservatives demand it as necessary; liberals protest it as unloving. But what, we might wonder, does God think about capital punishment? The death penalty was common under the Mosaic Law, but the Law doesn’t accurately reflect God’s heart. Furthermore, to my knowledge, the issue is never seriously addressed in the New Testament. In Genesis 9, […]
The Canaanite Express Steams On!
In case you’ve been vacationing on Mars and haven’t heard, Cecil the beloved lion is dead, lured from a Zimbabwe game preserve and shot by an arrow from the bow of Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer. The Internet has exploded with outrage. Movie stars have voiced their condemnation. Protesters have gathered outside of Palmer’s office. And […]
Why Do the Wicked Prosper?
Sometimes, it feels as though living right is the wrong thing to do. Our world is full of self-absorbed people who cheat and oppress others with no apparent consequences. Meanwhile, the lives of virtuous people seem to overflow with hardship. God, it appears, looks the other way. If the prosperity of selfish people bothers you, […]
All Sins Are Not Equal
I took my first cruise last fall, and I must say that it was the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever had. My wife Debi and I had no agenda and our most demanding decisions revolved around which dinner menu items to choose. Speaking of the cruise food, it was amazing. Not only did the wait […]
Go and Sin Some More?
Imagine the scenario. The scribes and Pharisees drag a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, expecting Him to put His stamp of approval on their desire to stone her to death according to the Mosaic Law (John 8:1-11). Jesus then stoops down and writes on the ground. One by one the accusers all leave, and […]
Cheaters Are Losers
Deflate-gate. For those who follow NFL football, the deflated football discovery in the Patriots/Colts game has created quite the stir. Eleven of the twelve Patriots’ footballs were below the acceptable air pressure—giving the Patriots certain advantages in the game—but no one has been able to pinpoint how they came to be that way. That’s the […]