“We aren’t speaking anymore.” “My sin is too big for God to forgive.” Have you ever heard statements like these? One pastor observes, “Early in my pastoral ministry I noticed an interesting fact: nearly all the personal problems that drive people to seek pastoral counsel are related in some way to the issue of forgiveness.… Read More »
Man’s first son, he tilled the ground, but God had no regard. A fallen face, he killed his brother. He wandered from the Lord. Then fire and darkness, sorrow and pain, torment without end. Thousands of years, our present age, and then a thousand to come. Perhaps he hears the gnashing of teeth from others… Read More »
James 4:5 is one of the most difficult texts in the NT to translate and interpret. Considering the verse as a whole, James appears to introduce a biblical quotation in the first half of the verse, and then, in the second half, offers what most call not a quotation but a paraphrase or general summary… Read More »
There is a general need for pastors and teachers in our churches. Broadly speaking, more pastors will retire than those who might fill their pulpits in years to come. In our rush to fill those pulpits, we should pray that Christ would send out laborers for the harvest (Matthew 9:38), but we should also be… Read More »
“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth” (Ecclesiastes 7:4). This verse has often run through my mind this past couple of years. I have provoked many houses to mourning. Others call my fellow police chaplains and me “grim reapers” because… Read More »
A recently released movie Cruella (PG-13) apparently shows the backstory of how Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians became so cruel. Loki (TV-14), a new series, puts a pansexual and gender fluid demigod (according to the comic books, at least) center‑stage to entertain the masses. In the first instance, Cruella follows Disney’s cartoon feature 101… Read More »
What happens to people who never hear the gospel? What an awful question—to consider those who never hear the gospel, die in their ignorance, and suffer for eternity. Their fate is eternal torment by fire. It should make every Christian shudder. But is it fair for them to be judged in this way? To never… Read More »
This past Monday, I stayed home and had a real holiday. We grilled burgers, enjoyed God’s creation, and spent time with my parents. The day was relaxed, tasks were undemanding, and deadlines were done and gone. I didn’t brutalize my body with one of the annual holiday routines at my gym, and I slept in… Read More »
John records three statements by Thomas that give us a window into who he was. Considering these statements in each of their contexts provokes three good reminders for us today. We should be determined in our service for Jesus. Leading up to Thomas’s first statement, Jesus wanted to go to Bethany to raise Lazarus from… Read More »
Apart from finding his name in the lists of disciples, the only stories that focus on Matthew (Levi) are of his call to be a disciple and a feast that he gave in honor of Jesus (Mark 2:13–17, Matthew 9:9–13, and Luke 5:27–32). By way of illustration, Matthew teaches us two simple lessons. First, leave… Read More »