Blog (Page 9)

This may be shocking and may sound strange, but the truth is that no one is fully human. None of us has yet reached the level of virtue and perfection that characterizes a true human being. Human beings are perfect. In fact, to say “There’s a perfect human” is like saying, “There’s some wet water” or “There’s some cold ice” or “There’s some hot fire.” Human beings are perfect. That’s how God designed them. Adam and Eve knew what it…

Death is not our friend. It steals away those we love. It ends life too soon and causes immeasurable hurt and despair. But the worst thing about death is that it’s something we cannot stop. It is inevitable. “The future (death) is something everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes per hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” – C.S. Lewis Death is inevitable. We cannot stop it. We cannot avoid it. Our lives are short, and death is…

The other day as I checked out at a local department store I provided payment with a gift card I recently received over the Christmas holiday. However, the gift card didn’t have enough to cover the entire price of the purchase, so I used my credit card to pay the remaining balance. I didn’t dare short-change the cashier. That would be rude (and illegal). Sometimes I think Christians short-change the gospel. We mistakenly water down the gospel so that it…

We’ve just made our way through the busiest, and perhaps for some, the most stressful season of the year. Gifts were given. Meals were served. Catching-up with family members has renewed a longing to be with them longer than what the holidays will allow. For me personally, the last few weeks have included all kinds of experiences, both good and bad. Over Christmas break we celebrated with my brother-in-law and his wife in Kansas, who announced that they will be…

Over the past several weeks, our church has been working through the book of Romans. This week we were in chapter 6. There Paul makes the promise that “sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (6:14). First, notice that this is a promise. Something has happened. Something has changed so that from now on sin will not rule over us. This is great news! The reason why sin will no longer…

As a pastor, I’m involved with many funerals. While attending a recent funeral service, I was reminded of the judgment that takes place at the end of time when Jesus returns (cf. Rev. 20:11-15). John 5:28-29 says, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.“…

As you may know, the Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that in John 1:1 the word “God” is indefinite, and therefore we should translate it “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was a god.” If this translation were correct, the theological implication would be some form of polytheism, perhaps suggesting that the Word was merely a secondary god in a pantheon of deities. What the JWs may not realize is that if they…

I just finished one of N.T. Wright’s newest books called “Simply Good News (Harper One, 2015). All in all, I would certainly recommend the book. However, Wright does go a little far at times, especially in his claims that the majority of pastors and church leaders have it all wrong in their understanding of the gospel. It may be true that some pastors and church leaders may present an understanding of the gospel that is too narrow, but they don’t…

Mark 9:33-37, And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in…

Our oldest son, Jackson (10), has just finished publishing a children’s book about himself and his little brother, Chase (6). The title of the book is Differences Make No Difference. (Beginners reading level) Jackson will tell you that the purpose of this book is twofold: To educate people that God has made all kids, “typical” and “disabled,” for His glory (Isa. 43:6-7), and that God has made them just the way He wanted them to be (Psalm 139:13-14). Although some…