Focal Passage: Matthew 7:13-23 

There are some scary words we hear in life, “license and registration (cops)” … “I’m calling about your latest tax return (IRS)” … “I’m sorry, our ice cream machine is down (McDonalds, always).” 

Warning: that will be the last humorous part of this article. What will be discussed from here on out is the most serious subject we can consider, eternal destiny. We must be sobered by, in my opinion, the scariest words in Scripture and they’re from Jesus Himself that people won’t hear in this life but the next one. He said, “Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me.’ ”  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Job 30:26-31, 42:1-6 

I am writing this article right after visiting a precious church member who seems to be nearing the end of a years-long battle with cancer. It wasn’t too long ago that I sat with this lady and discussed the next steps of her treatment confident that it would be effective. 

In the same room, in place of a comfy chair, she now inhabits a hospital bed, hardly able to talk, waiting to meet Jesus face-to-face. We prayed through Psalm 23 grateful for the promises of God. Yesterday, I started this article with a much different mindset than I have now. 

Suffering should not be approached as some ethereal idea to consider philosophically. Suffering is a universal reality that will confront all people in one way or another. After leaving a tearful husband by the bedside of his dying wife, I can’t help but write with a renewed sense of sober-mindedness (I Peter 1:13). I could give you a list of the reasons we suffer or explain the positive outcomes of enduring suffering faithfully but that wouldn’t seem fit for my own pastoral circumstances. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 10:22-26, 14:8-14 

I wonder to myself sometimes, “Why doesn’t God (insert miracle) to show that He is real, powerful, and loving.” Perhaps you have thought something similar? Then I’m reminded that there were people that were with Jesus, people who saw His power and heard His teaching firsthand who still rejected him. 

We can see this dynamic most profoundly in the Pharisees. Have you ever noticed how many of Jesus’ miracles are directly followed by an attempt by the Pharisees to trap or accuse Him? 

One of the most striking examples of this phenomenon is found in Matthew 12. You can read about Jesus healing a man with a crippled hand in verses 9-14.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 3:19-21, 8:31-36 

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. Part of this document reads, “All persons held as slaves are, and henceforth, shall be free.”

The opposing perspectives on slavery between the north and south is, in part, what led to the southern states to secede from the Union and a bloody, brutal war to break out. 

Until the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction, slaves were merely free by proclamation. In a practical sense, the liberty that so many longed for remained an elusive reality. 

The experience of freed slaves during this terrible time period in our nation’s history can represent what many Christ-followers experience today.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Daniel 10:1-3, 10-13, 16-19 

The term “prepare for battle” steers my imagination toward the greatest movie franchise of all time, “The Lord of the Rings.” There is a particular scene in the second movie, “The Two Towers,” where the people have taken refuge in a fortress as an enormous, mighty, evil army bears down upon them. 

On the eve of battle the fighting force that receives their weapons appear to be nothing more than militia — normal people about to be thrust into a fierce conflict. Three of the main characters — Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas — comment this way on the state of the soldiers.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Daniel 9:3-10, 17-19 

God did not destroy the world in the days of Noah because the people were sinful. Genesis 6:5 says, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” 

God destroyed the world because the people were only sinful. Everyone sins, including Noah. Noah was spared by God and used to build the ark not because he was perfect, but because he was “blameless” (Genesis 6:9). 

At this point you might be wondering if you’re reading the wrong article. Here’s where Daniel comes in. The first step to being blameless is confession. Daniel’s confession can help us to understand some of the reasons why confession is so powerful.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Daniel 6:6-13, 16-17, 21-23 

The word “courage” occurs 24 times in the Bible (ESV). Fourteen times the words “took, take, or found” are used in conjunction with “courage.” Daniel’s act of courage was remaining faithful to God in prayer even though he knew that it was going to cost him something. 

While the cost for us isn’t the same as some other Christians across the world, it is starting to cost us something to remain faithful to God in our society. So how can we choose to take courage in a contrary culture? Let’s find some motivation as we view the story from Darius’ perspective. 

Imagine that you are Darius. You’ve just been duped by who you thought were advisors and leaders you could trust. You’re most beloved counselor is facing a gruesome death in the lion’s den and being bound by the law even the king could not break, all you can do is hope for a miracle.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Daniel 5:13-17, 22-28 

“Know your why.” If you’ve ever read a book on leadership or attended a conference on organizational effectiveness you have probably heard that statement. Leadership teachers use this terminology to emphasize the importance of a company knowing and remaining true to its purpose. I believe that knowing your why is imperative for an individual’s success in another area, speaking the truth with boldness.

Daniel was bold but let’s simplify what Daniel did, he spoke truth to the king concerning his sinful behavior and the judgement that God was going to bring upon his kingdom. 

We might be tempted to try to muster up the same kind of boldness. I believe that would be like trying to make a cake appear out of thin air. We can produce a cake by combining the necessary ingredients and baking them at the proper temperature. What are the necessary ingredients we must combine to “bake boldness?” Love for God and love for others.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Daniel 2:13-23, 27-28a 

Your sentence is death. You’ve just learned that you are to be executed for a crime you didn’t commit. How would you respond? 

I’ll speak for both of us … we would rant and rave about the injustice. We’d post about the insane official who is threatening our lives, we would call our congressman, we’d start a GoFundMe for attorney’s fees as we gear up for a legal battle. 

At least that’s what some of us would do, and we would be justified in doing so. Putting ourselves in Daniel’s situation helps us to fully appreciate his response.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Daniel 1:3-13, 17-19 

I love quoting Charles Spurgeon when I preach. He had a way of taking deep theological truths and communicating them with profound simplicity. 

Let me provide his perspective on circumstances and I think you’ll agree. He said, “Had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there.” By this statement we learn that Spurgeon believed that an individual’s circumstances are ordained by a sovereign and loving God.

In contrary circumstances we tend to disconnect God’s love from His sovereignty. When we do this we will find it difficult to keep our convictions. How we view God’s involvement in our circumstances will deeply impact how our convictions develop. Daniel displays this truth well. [Read more…]