How does that finished work of Christ accomplished two thousand years ago on a Roman cross become real and operative in my life today? How does the death of Christ become the defeat of sin in me? There are debts that cannot be repaid—only carried with gratitude. My wife, Lori, is one such debt. In... Continue Reading

A benediction is as though God stamps us afresh with the word that He is our God and we are His people. You see, this good word is not a prayer—an offering up our desires to God for things agreeable to His will. Neither is it a doxology—our eruption of praise to the God of... Continue Reading

Allegiance has always marked the people of God. Joshua declared, “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh. 24:15), drawing a clear line between covenant loyalty and compromise. Elijah confronted divided hearts on Mount Carmel, asking, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21). The issue was never merely ritual.... Continue Reading

In these examples from Genesis, we can see the significance of a name change. When birthparents name a child, they have the authority to do so. But if another voice pronounces a new name for a person, it must be that the former has an even greater authority over the latter. And certainly God has... Continue Reading

Having ruled out finitude as an explanation for sin, we face another dilemma: if sin isn’t inevitable and rebellion is voluntary, how did evil enter a good creation if God made man upright? Human logic fails to fully grasp divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The Bible affirms this paradox without fully explaining it. Theology becomes... Continue Reading

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up” Galatians 6:9   There are many disappointments in my work and life at times. And things to be discouraged about in the world. There are frustrations with work, and personal projects that don’t... Continue Reading

Psalm 61 has entered the chat. “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.” A very popular book on prayer made a statement that immediately made me stop listening. “Prayer is not for the faint of heart.” When I... Continue Reading

Self-made and self-taught, he continued to expand his business interests, even to the point of supplying department stores across the United States. Still not satisfied, Lai established a weekly magazine and a daily newspaper. Though both reflected a “if it bleeds, it leads” tabloid style of journalism, they also covered Lai’s growing philosophy about free... Continue Reading

The problem AI poses is political through and through. While today we often characterize debates around the ratification of the Constitution as centering on questions of power, actually the Founders were much more concerned about the value of responsibility.   More than a generation ago, Steve Jobs enthused that the computer represented “a bicycle for... Continue Reading

Jesus, as the greater Melchizedek, guarantees unshakable hope to those who trust Him in faith. Being the perfect priest of righteousness, we can trust that His blood is sufficient to cover our sins and protect us from God’s wrath.   There are many things in the Bible that are confusing. Scripture is full of spiritual... Continue Reading