A good bible friend of mine and I speak often of our experiences in the churches we attended when first becoming Christian. Mine was the Episcopal; his was the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Both of us left because the teachings and practices did not align with scripture. We share news items about just … Continue reading Coincidence?
Christian Life
The Paralytic Man
A few years ago I hosted a weekend men's group at my farm. I conjured up a bible study that proved to be quite memorable. It had to do with the story of the paralytic man in Luke 5. You probably remember it. A group of men brought their friend, the paralytic man, to Jesus … Continue reading The Paralytic Man
Start The Day Strong!
I was out of town the last few days, and my schedule got a little out of whack. Actually, it has been out of whack. I talk big about starting my days out in prayer but don't really do it. I've met with God about that and asked for forgiveness. As we all know, he … Continue reading Start The Day Strong!
Arguing With God.
Several things are on my mind this morning. My bible plan has me in God's dressing down of Job and the Psalmist praising Him for his mighty deeds. I'm also amazed at the degree of deceit that we see in society today. Finally, I'm also concerned for an old alcoholic friend that is in really … Continue reading Arguing With God.
Neglecting to Pray.
Lately, I have been thinking that life is not as easy as it should be. Maybe you can relate. Sin seems closer to me, and I'm succumbing to temptation (gluttony). Things in the news bother me more that it should. On the other hand, I am sharing the gospel quite a bit, but, somehow, things … Continue reading Neglecting to Pray.
Is Repentance Necessary?
My last post covered the topic of the sinner's prayer. In particular, I was critical of the false assurance we give when we simply get people to say it. For example, seldom do we witness repentance when we lead others through the prayer. One person commented on my post that she doesn't remember repenting when … Continue reading Is Repentance Necessary?
Sinner’s Prayer
If you've ever been around an Evangelical church, you certainly have witnessed the Sinner's Prayer. It is the supposed goal of the gospel witness, to lead the person to Christ by a simple prayer. The words are not firmly established but typically include an affirmation of belief in the risen Christ and promise to turn … Continue reading Sinner’s Prayer
Knowing The Seasons
It finally happened, and I hope it's enough. When I was a small boy, my grandfather told me something that I never forgot. You see, he was a farmer and a student of the weather. He said to pay attention to the first sign of robins because we will then have one more snow. This … Continue reading Knowing The Seasons
How Does He Do That?
George Straight sings a song called, "I Saw God Today" that really got me to thinking. It's about a new father who is overwhelmed by the birth of his daughter. One line in particular stood out. It makes me wonder, "How does he do that?" Saw a flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk … Continue reading How Does He Do That?
He’s Not Asking.
The bible is full of hard sayings. You know, the things that make you scratch your head because they really don't fit the traditional way we think of faith. Jesus was full of these. One is his call to repentance. It's a command; he's not asking. In two accounts of the gospel, Jesus' first words … Continue reading He’s Not Asking.