Why are Americans so mad? One survey indicated we vent some sort of anger 8-10 times a day. Now that ticks me off! Seriously, anger manifests itself in all shapes, sizes and colors: criticism, annoyance, irritation, frustration, rage, inward seething, outbursts, grouchiness, etc. Sinful anger grieves God, stifles spiritual growth and ruptures relationships. Now all anger isn’t […]
It is important that we as believers develop a Christian worldview. It’s hard to sift thru the news whether liberal or conservative – there’s always a secular bent. Enter Al Mohler and a daily online program called “The Briefing.” It usually lasts around 25 minutes. Dr. Mohler has been the president of the Southern Baptist […]
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “Every heart has its secret sorrows, which the world knows not, and oftentimes we call a man cold, when he is only sad.” Are you going through a sad time? Such times – though unwanted and unwelcomed are the norm in a fallen and broken world. There’s nothing wrong or unusual about […]
Happy “early” Valentine’s Day. I can remember in grade school signing my name on dozens of Valentine cards as they would be distributed to the entire class. Some might bemoan or shrug off such a Hallmark holiday but can we not as God’s people redeem it? Charles Spurgeon the London pastor of 150 years ago said, […]
“One of the most noteworthy theological trends in 21st-century pop culture has been the rehabilitation of the ‘villain,’” so writes Brett McCracken of The Gospel Coalition. “From Cruella to Maleficent to the Joker and more, iconic villains are now routinely given spinoff movies and sympathetic backstories that complicate our categories of good and evil … Giving villains origin stories […]
I love Neh 2:12, “And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem.” Nehemiah was burdened about rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. But building God’s work requires help. God had worked in Nehemiah’s heart – how would he motivate God’s people to join him? Some churches nag – or […]
Thanks to Susan’s 4th grade Sunday School teacher she can recite off the books in the Bible (BTW – that was her dad). I can recite them until I come to the Minor Prophets – that’s when I stumble until Malachi. The Minor Prophets are called that only because of their size – 4 chapters […]
Here’s a good new year’s resolution. It was written by John Wesley. “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, to all the people you can, in all the places you can, as long as ever you can.” Good advice. The Apostle Paul said it this way in Rom 12:10, “Love […]
O God our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home. Under the shadow of Thy throne. Still may we dwell secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure. That is Issac Watt’s summary of Ps 90 – a good psalm for […]
It’s easy to idealize the holidays. Behind the lights and glitter, human depravity doesn’t go into hibernation. All families witness the curse of the fall. What specifically can cause the holiday hassles? Unresolved conflict. Every family in a sense is dysfunctional because of sin. Christmas can remind us of old conflicts never truly solved. Financial pressures. Folks overspend […]