Just recently it occurred to me that my ministry has been very much characterized by the Parable of the Wedding Feast. As you read the passage below, remember the context; Jesus was speaking to the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the elders in the Jewish Temple, their most venerated place. Also keep in mind that, like […]
The Parable of the Wedding Feast Read More »
In case you haven’t seen the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the main character is an alien from outer space who gets displaced from his family for a time, bonds with a young boy, and is protected by a small group of kids from those who would do him harm (the “evil” scientists and such). I know,
E.T. Has Nothing On Us Read More »
A woman says to her young daughter, “My dear, to find happiness in this world, you must find a good man to marry, preferably one that makes decent money, so you’ll never have to worry about things.” If I’ve heard this once, I’ve heard it a hundred times described to me by jaded women, including
Preoccupation With Being Happy Read More »
Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, John Lennon, Mark Zuckerberg, Katharine Hepburn, Neil deGrasse Tyson: all of these people have denounced our Father in Heaven (Jesus said, “If you knew Me, you would know My Father also” – John 8:19b), and yet they are heralded as among society’s elect. Let that settle in and do not be dismissive. Step back
Be Like a Wise Birdie Read More »
As a pastor, one of the most frequent questions I receive is, “How do I know if I’m saved?” By the grace of God, Holy Scripture contains everything we ever need to know about the assurance of our salvation in Christ Jesus. God is love. As such, He imparts to us a “living hope” that the apostle
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You may remember the popular TV show that ran from the 1950s to the 1980s called Name That Tune. Obviously, given its prolific span of running time, the show was a great success. I can understand why, too, because it was one of those game shows that people could play along with from their own living
What happens when you dislodge a deeply rooted doctrine from the human soul and replace it with a lie? Inevitably, you get false religion. Case in point, the Catholic Church. The Council of Trent (Latin: Concilium Tridentinum), held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent (or Trento, in northern Italy), was the 19th ecumenical council of
Sabotage: The Counsel of Trent Read More »
Since the Fall in the Garden, man has inveterately tested God’s patience. This habit is clearly illustrated in the microcosm of the household, where children test their parents’ patience via disobedience. Eventually, the children suffer the consequences (assuming the parents are active and upholding their duties). I place specific emphasis on the word eventually here because, with
But They’re a Good Person! Read More »
“The only God whom the natural man is not at enmity with is one of his own imagination.” — A. W. Pink, The Total Depravity of Man What is enmity? I mean, really. I wonder how many so-called “Christians” even understand what the Bible means when it uses the word enmity. I submit that, like so many other
“How are you?” “Oh, you know, same ol’ same ol’.” “I know you’ve been struggling lately and I’ve seen how morose you’ve been. You know, it almost seems cyclical, huh? Just know that I’m praying for you.” “Thanks so much, my friend. This cross I’ve been called to carry gets pretty darn heavy from time
The Things We Pray For Read More »