If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I […]
My friend Matthew Dowling maintains an excellent blog that you should read if you’re interested in growing in your knowledge of the Bible. Yesterday, he posted about a very important topic for Christians today who wish to be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. Here’s his post… The headlines are ever full of the consequences of […]
There’s a person in our community who I have been serving and ministering to for years. Over that period of time, I have come to genuinely care about this person and we have become friends who enjoy visiting with one another. This person, who I will refer to as “J,” has been homeless for a […]
Last Monday I had the great honor of co-teaching a class at Oklahoma Christian University’s annual Bible Lectures with Dr. Nathan Mellor of Strata Leadership, LLC. Our topic was “How to Create a Healthy Church Culture,” and it was such a joy to facilitate a discussion among church leaders about this important subject. The Bible […]
On Wednesday nights this fall I am teaching a class on Romans 8, and I love the connection between the opening and closing thoughts of that chapter. The chapter begins with these words, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” The chapter ends with this passage: “For I am […]
You’ve heard of “raising the roof,” but what about “removing the roof?” Yesterday, in my devotional reading of the Bible, I read the story of Jesus healing the paralytic in Mark 2:1-12. The point of the story is, of course, the revelation of Jesus as God’s Messiah who has the authority and the ability to […]
So, you’re a Christian who believes it’s not wrong, improper, or irresponsible to drink alcohol. OK. But I can ask you a favor? Please don’t flaunt it. And here’s why… Last Friday night I attended our congregation’s Celebrate Recovery meeting, which includes a newcomer’s class for those who haven’t been before and want to learn […]
Sometimes you need to start your week with a good word and a good song, so here you go… “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
The other night my family watched the 25th anniversary concert of Les Miserables, and one of the songs that gets to me every time I hear it is “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables.” It’s the song Marius sings after he learns that he alone has survived the battle for revolution in France. In addition to […]
I have a little refrigerator in my office that I haven’t used in awhile, so when I opened it up today I was surprised to find a bag of apples in there. I had obviously forgotten about them, and they were in a mild state of decay – and they smelled. Their smell is strong. […]
