Good Morning Friends,     I am not typically one to quote A German philosopher, who was raised a Christian, and observed this: "Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you." ― Friedrich W. Nietzsche Today's text … Continue reading Do I Even Have An Option About Being Totally Depraved? →

   Good Morning Friends,      James and John were naturally talented and dedicated to the Lord but more boisterous than the reading of the books in the Bible with their names would indicate. In fact, they were called the sons of thunder. Their mother, like every mother, wanted the best for her children, and I … Continue reading Will We Walk In The Prophetic Path Of Jesus? →

   Good Morning Friends,       Well, we are into Lent and have been reading a lot of Old Testament scripture on obedience and repentance. And it should begin to soak in that there is nothing that can separate us from the power of God's forgiveness and redemptive grace except ourselves. So, we need to not … Continue reading Why Is It So Hard To Repent? →

   Good Morning Friends,     Some who preach the prosperity Gospel promote the wrong kind of charity. It is too much about self-interest and what is in it for the giver instead of love of God and others. Oh, no doubt, God can use them all but when someone loves what they are giving to … Continue reading Why Do You Give? →

    Good Morning Friends,     Sometimes God asks us to make sacrifices we do not want to make. It was true for Abraham and Isaac and for Jesus and the disciples too. But if God is for us and we obey anyway, it seems as if God always provides a way for us to see … Continue reading Do We Appreciate Jesus’ Sacrifice As An Act Of Love? →

    Good Morning Friends,      God has made us an offer that is not based on what we can do but upon what Jesus did. By forgiving our sins God gives us a new heart and His Spirit that enables us to draw near in an intimate fellowship. The image is of a wedding. But … Continue reading How Do We Get Off Thinking That Life Is Sometimes Not Fair? →

   Good Morning Friends,     Paul says that Jesus died for the church, but I doubt many get this, given that a growing number of people seem to believe in spirituality not religion but nevertheless think in terms of the church being a building and not a people. Breaking News… Jesus did not die for … Continue reading If Evil Is Defeated, The Earth Restored And God Wins What Will Be The Purpose Of The Church? →

   Good Morning Friends,     Well after reading today's lectionary selection I thought I would meditate on aligning my will with God's purpose gleaning from the life of Jonah. But I am not sure how willing my spirit is some days. I have grown weary over the last couple of years not just because of … Continue reading What Signs Of Jonah Are Guiding Us Today? →

   Good Morning Friends,    God gives us a gracious invitation to drink deep of the joy of life that is right here and right now in unity not separation from the love of God. But just yesterday I contemplated the role of goats and sheep, heaven and hell and God's sovereignty, and now realize, … Continue reading How Does Grace And Judgement, Love And Justice Mix In the Divine Mind? →

    Good Morning Friends,     In today's lectionary passages we see the connection between the Law of Moses and the coming Kingdom of God, and we wonder if this is about Jesus coming back to reign or if it is about getting into heaven. So, we revisit this challenging question that tends to separate nice … Continue reading Just How Do I Get To Heaven And What Will It Be Like? →