Reading: Mark 12:28-34 A common metaphor for sin is “to miss the mark.” But if we define sin that way, we haven’t really said anything. If sin is like throwing a spear and missing a target, I must also know where the target is. Jesus says, “Stop sinning…
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Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.… 14 The Word…
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9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have…
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In part one, I showed how the scriptures clearly teach that there is one human race, not several. This undermines the modern concept notion of races, making it impossible for one race to be superior to another. In part two we explored the source of the modern concept…
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“We are all broken by something. We have all hurt someone and have been hurt. We all share the condition of brokenness even if our brokenness is not equivalent.… But our brokenness is also the source of our common humanity, the basis for our shared search for comfort,…
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When we raise the question of what the Bible says about race someone might ask, “Wasn’t the Church supportive of slavery and didn’t Christians use the Bible to justify both slavery and racism?” Yes and No. On the one hand, there were churches in the slave holding south…
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It’s Tuesday morning. I’m sitting in Jacksonville, at one of my favorite coffee shops, Southern Roots Filling Station (It’s really about the food more than the really good coffee!). We spent the long weekend here visiting Michael, Carissa, and Charlie (our grandson). We’re heading back today after we…
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Reading: Psalm 88 Hope is often the subject of motivational posters. One such poster has a night scene with the stars still visible against the dark sky while the light of the sun is peaking over the horizon, with this quote from Desmond Tutu: “Hope is being able…
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Reading: Psalm 93 1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. 2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. Psalm 93:1-2 NIV Is this a…
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Reading: John 1, 2 [Note: We went through John 1:1-18 during the three weeks leading up to Christmas and began in the body of the Gospel this past Sunday. We will continue in John again this Sunday. There are some things, however, that I’d love to cover, but…
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Reading: Matthew 2 In America, we just finished our political season that comes every 4 years. Sure, we have smaller ones every 2 years, but those pale in comparison to our presidential election cycle, which now lasts 1½ years, raises blood pressure, is filled with rhetoric, and has…
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Reading: Jeremiah 10 We live in a pluralistic age, but I should be more specific in order to be clear. Pluralism comes in many forms. For instance, pluralism as a political philosophy is the recognition and affirmation of diversity within a political body, which permits the peaceful coexistence…
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Reading: John 4:31-34 The 1984 Wendy’s commercial, “Where’s the beef?”, has had lasting impact on our culture, leaving us with this phrase now used to question the real substance of anything. But long before Wendy’s asked this question, Jesus answered it. Jesus told us where the “beef” –…
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Reading: Luke 19:28–48 The scene is the “Triumphal Entry”. Jesus is on a donkey colt entering Jerusalem as people spread their cloaks on the road in front of him, joyfullly shouting praises to God, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:37-38)…
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Paul instructs believers, “put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes….so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground (lit. able to resist in the evil day)…”. (Ephesians 6:11, 13 NIV)…
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