“If we’re not happy with the things of Jesus, the gospel, and the glory of God on earth, we most certainly won’t be happy with Heaven. Heaven isn’t the perfection of what WE want on earth in our sinful flesh. No. Heaven is all about Jesus.”   Where you going, Dad? This question, above all... Continue Reading

“Some of our refugee neighbors are family in Christ who have endured persecution. Others do not know God, and the hardship they’ve endured — unspeakable as it is — pales in comparison to their eternal future if they remain separated from Christ.”   As I surveyed my table at our church’s Mother’s Day tea, I... Continue Reading

“Why was Luther’s marriage so precious to all he stood for as a Reformer? Why was he so eager to let the world see that he was such a devoted husband and father? In short, he believed that, beyond upending the legalistic culture of vows of celibacy, his gospel rediscovery radically re-shaped the reality of... Continue Reading

“If a slab of Lindt Swiss chocolate came with a warning label that it could cause mild lead poisoning, I’d still eat the whole thing. Why? Because I have tasted it. And it is good. In Psalm 34 David uses this line of theological reasoning too.”   There are important pros and cons to weigh... Continue Reading

“Going Deeper is divided into 15 chapters, which makes it ideal for the average 15-week seminary semester. The authors take a “middle of the road” approach when it comes to what they include and exclude from their text. If Dan Wallace’s grammar Beyond the Basics is more of an intermediate to advanced grammar, then Going... Continue Reading

“Ulrich pressed his family to his heart for as long as he dared. As he pulled away, he forced his best smile before donning his helmet to shroud his tears and his contorted face. As horse and rider turned the corner of the street Ulrich turned back for one last look and a wave.”  ... Continue Reading

The Bible gives very few legitimate reasons for breaking a marriage vow. The words, “till death do us part,” captures the nearly unbreakable bonds of marriage. Now, while church membership is not a marriage, we should nevertheless treat our membership vows like a marriage vow.   It seems like far too many people treat relationships... Continue Reading

“As we get more comfortable around each other, and as we get more comfortable in a certain place, we tend to become more critical. We quickly blow things out of proportion and end up growing in our discouragement of others. But the writer of Hebrews is looking at his contemporaries of the first century and... Continue Reading

The “Ninja rule” and “Mike Pence rule” do have their downsides for the women around them, but there is also an upside. No one can accuse any of them of the wrong-doings bringing down so many in so many other fields. Their marriages are protected not only from sin, but even from the appearance of... Continue Reading

“Here is what I conclude: It is sinful to assume bad motives; it is sinful to not assume good motives. So when you see a tweet that jumps out at you, don’t immediately interpret it as saying something contentious or defensive.”   Though we boast of great things and take confidence in our knowledge, we... Continue Reading