The curse which fell upon man and nature at Adam’s fall—and also the curse which falls upon all who break God’s holy Law—has been broken (and is being lifted) once and for all for all who believe.   The resurrection looks BACK to Christ’s righteous life and atoning death on the Cross, through which He... Continue Reading

Sure, in the end our spiritual growth is a miracle. But I’d suggest that God has placed some of the responsibility for sanctification on us. Sanctification is a synergistic work between the Spirit of God and the believer. So, how do we build spiritual muscle?   What’s the most important question in the world? I... Continue Reading

 The final word of the law is not condemnation but rest—Shabbat Shalom—the peace of sons and daughters who have learned to hear their Father’s voice and to trust that his commandments are life itself.    Most readers approach the Deuteronomic histories as a roadmap to earn God’s blessings: keep the commandments or lose the kingdom.... Continue Reading

The Gospel begins where thieves are caught and cry out for mercy. Christ came for robbers like us—the ones who squandered their hours, wasted their gifts, and mortgaged eternity for moments of ease.   The Thief in the Mirror Most burglars hide beneath the cloak of darkness, prowling in the shadows like rats in a... Continue Reading

Despite others’ perceptions of their ministries, pastors in rural areas see current ministry wins and are optimistic about the future. “The focus of rural pastors is definitely on the spiritual growth of the individuals in their congregations. Pastors celebrate when they see their congregations showing the impact of Jesus Christ, and they lament when there... Continue Reading

So what kind of leaders do we need? If not driven by ambition, ideology or expediency, what other drive is there? Mission.   Every week, it seems there is another religious leader revealed to have a hidden shadow life of immorality, a ruthless approach to power and control, or a narcissistic personality. Is it just... Continue Reading

“When societies lose their belief in good and evil as real, metaphysical categories, they also lose the ability to recognize the oldest manifestation of evil in their midst. The hatred of Jews, therefore, survives because it finds refuge in a culture that no longer believes evil exists.”   Just 87 years ago Kristallnacht, or the... Continue Reading

Jesus invites us to become wise by first admitting that we need instruction. The irony of wisdom is that the more you are continually aware of your own ignorance and deficiencies, the more likely you are to live wisely.   When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed,... Continue Reading

The Spirit would come fulfilling Christ’s promise and prepare the disciples of Christ to preach His Gospel. However, today, the church’s problem with this passage is that we get caught up in the descriptive images of the event and completely miss the purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.    Acts 2:1–13... Continue Reading

Christian, the hour feels late. The crescent is rising in places where the cross once led. But the story isn’t finished. Let them vote. Let them build. So will we. We will rise not with violence, but with voices that cannot be silenced. Not with rage, but with resurrection. Not with fear, but with faith.... Continue Reading