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 »
OUTLINE: Conscience“conscience” = con + science = with + knowledge; means to know oneself; a person’s good conscience is based on data; it is not the source of data; rather, it is especially equipped to judge right from wrong. “it is not even able to do so”The human flesh is totally depraved, incapable of performing
Part 22 – The Deceitfulness of Sin Read More »
I struggle with anger sometimes. I’m a pastor. I ought to know better. But a man’s heart is a man’s heart, right? I cannot suppose I am able to control it, modify it, or play pretend with it. Only God can change it, and He has. And yet, here I am, struggling… Struggling with what,
My Struggle With Disdain Read More »
“If you tell me to do something, I won’t want to do it all the more. Don’t ever tell me what to do! I will make my own decisions, thank you very much!” Have you ever had a discussion with someone that ended like this? I have. People with so-called “strong wills” are famous for
Awaken the Sleeping Giant Read More »
In high school I was nominated for six superlatives. I remember saying to myself, “Wow, that’s more than anyone else in the class!” I was pretty happy with myself at the time. I mean, who wouldn’t be? You might be asking, “How do you even remember such things?” My answer is simple. Back then, such
The referee’s open palm slammed onto the rubber mat and the hushed crowd erupted in thunderous applause. The wrestler in the blue uniform (let’s call him the “blue wrestler”) had finally pinned his opponent after a long fought, agonizing match. The audience rooting for the young man in the red uniform (the “red wrestler”) was
The Strangest Wrestling Match Ever! Read More »
The other day, my family and I happened to be watching Leave It To Beaver, an old black and white TV show that ran from 1957-1963. The episode was the one where Beaver Cleaver’s older brother, Wally, suddenly became self-conscious of his nose. Some girl he favored made an innocent comment about it, thinking nothing of
Wally Cleaver’s Nose Read More »
The most self-absorbed “person” I’ve ever known is my own flesh. If we’re being totally honest, we can all make the exact same proclamation without hesitation…not about me – LOL – about ourselves (nice try). I mean, whom do we know better than ourselves? Which “self”, the old or the new, have we spent more time with
The Practical Side to Self-Absorption Read More »
That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 1:9 Upon my return from our recent missionary trip to India, multiple people asked me the same question, “Was this a life-changing event for you, or
People Are People Are People Read More »
Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah [Jesus Christ], the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book