Just as Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6), so also every believer is saved through faith, which is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9). Abraham wasn’t saved by his own obedience, but instead by the obedience of the Savior, Christ Jesus, who would be the perfect once-for-all sacrifice for sin.  ... Continue Reading

What does change is that we do the same thing with creativity and energy. I picked up this nuance from a Paul Graham post called “The Right Kind of Stubborn.” He isn’t a church leader and isn’t writing for church leaders, but he explores the difference between stubbornness and persistence.     Someone asked me... Continue Reading

When trying to understand 1 John 5:16-17, imagine someone coming to their pastor for assurance of salvation. Hopefully, that’s a conversation we will treat with seriousness and care, lest we grant assurance of salvation to someone who is unconverted. Praying for someone who has committed “sin that leads to death” would be giving them a... Continue Reading

Do you ever just stop and say, “God, thank you for all that you have given me”? No, better yet, get specific: “God, thank you so much for this toaster and the bread that is in it. Thank you for the chair that I get to sit in. Thank you for a measure of health.... Continue Reading

Maybe you’re wondering how you got here—unemployed, disabled, unhappily married, overwhelmed by an unexpected child, trapped in a frustrating job. You never imagined this path. You’ve prayed every prayer, read every book, made every attempt—yet nothing changes. Here is a truth worth repeating: your path is his choice. Fences and all. When God fences our... Continue Reading

One of the things I deeply enjoyed about this book was Challies’s reflections at the end of each chapter. They cover a variety of topics. His comments about learning customs in Southeast Asia I really loved. He points out that if we live and travel as ambassadors of Christ we ought to avoid unnecessary offense,... Continue Reading

Right now, you are walking in the tension of mystery but with meaning.  Some days, you will feel the ‘mystery’ more than meaning.  But God does not just leave us wondering about every ‘mystery’ and wandering through every ‘gap.’ He gives mercy for every mystery and grace for every gap.  His Word tells us exactly... Continue Reading

The wind is mighty and relentless. Why can’t we hold onto it? Why won’t it share its power? We turn our backs on the wind. If it won’t stay with us, we don’t want it here at all. We grab paddles, racquets, and oars, swinging at the wind. It’s still coming; it pays us no... Continue Reading

I am thankful for the United States of America.  I will celebrate 250 years of blessing on our nation. I will watch Trump’s parades in Washington, D.C.  However, I am very concerned that with the decline of Christianity, with a secular Constitution being weaponized against us, and with the rise of false religions in the... Continue Reading

We define ourself as the one who serves others, but we rarely let others serve us.  Why is that?  Is that because you’re afraid of your own weakness and struggles and afraid others will be repelled by it too?  Is it just a trap you’ve got yourself into?  We love our church family when we... Continue Reading