If you’ve ever ridden Trimet, you know the difference between fragrance and odor. Some passengers give off a pleasant perfume or cologne, while others assault our nostrils as though they haven’t bathed for weeks. But this blog is not addressing the physical aromas or odors that follow a person. Instead, I’m looking at the character […]
Be careful what church you go to. Some well-known pastors teach that God actually ordained sin to enter the world so He could show off His grace in forgiving a small percentage of people — and they teach this with a straight face. In fact, they teach that all the evil and horrific things that […]
In the Old Testament God refers to the leaders among His people as shepherds. He doesn’t limit the title only to men in religious positions. He also uses it to refer to their political leaders, people who were in places of influence for the welfare of the people. After King Saul died, the people rallied […]
When our babies are born, we make sure all our friends and family celebrate with us. When spiritual babies are born, Jesus has Heaven celebrate. He said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10) But as we find out soon enough, […]
Down through history, America has not always treated women well. Today, with the horrific things that are happening to girls and women in Afghanistan, I thought this would be an appropriate time to review how Jesus interacted with women. Adulterer (John 8): Men had set this woman up to catch her in the act of […]
Everyone in this world wants to be loved. That’s just how we are put together. We need people who honestly care about us. Each of us needs a friend with whom we can share the joys of the good times and the hurts of the bad times. This article is about having that kind of […]
Like a Great White silently sneaks up on an unsuspecting swimmer, the green-eyed monster of jealousy sneaks up on us from the depths of the human heart with a vicious bite. The Prophet Jonah experienced jealousy after he had announced to Nineveh that God’s judgment would fall on the city in forty days. The Assyrians […]
Talking to yourself is not a sign of mental instability. In fact, it is a discipline that every Christian needs to develop. When feelings of anxiety or despondency sweep over us like a sneaker wave at the beach, the Bible advises us to rehearse what is true, getting our eyes off our emotions and back […]
Bird migration is fascinating. Feather and fowl know what time of year to begin their journey. Whether migrating north or south, even though they fly hundreds or thousands of miles, they don’t get lost or sidetracked. (Can you imagine trying to drive from here to New York WITHOUT a map or compass? Oh yeah, and […]
Maybe there’s a reason we are told not to talk about politics or religion. It seems that those two topics can result in more heat than light. The church is not immune to division and finger-pointing, especially when it comes to views on political issues. The Apostle Paul addressed a church that was polarizing over […]