Serving Christ in México
What does true repentance look like? What does it look like for a person to turn from the kingdom of darkness and step into the kingdom of light?
The Scriptures give us many concrete examples such as Namaan, the prodigal son, Zacchaeus, and of course the apostle Paul. One of the most striking and detailed accounts is perhaps the story of Judah, son of Jacob and brother of Joseph.
Continue reading “One-Hundred-Eighty Degrees”
What do you do when what you believe to be true is at odds with what you are experiencing?
At a young age David became the God-appointed future king of Israel. His surprise defeat of Goliath the giant only further confirmed that the prophetic words of old Samuel would soon come true – David would sit on Israel’s throne.
Continue reading “How To Get Out Of A Cave”
Why did Jesus die on the cross?
There are a few ways to answer this question. We could talk about how Jesus went to the cross to pour out his blood to cover our sins. In a similar vein, we could answer that Jesus went to the cross to take our punishment on himself. We could also trace it back to the commitment of Jesus, as the Son of God, to obey his Father and bring glory to Him through the redemption of many sinners.
Continue reading “Joy Compelled Him”
We like power. Nothing inflates our ego and makes us feel good like a shot of power in the arm. Power makes us feel important, confident, and secure. We have no problem imagining what we would do if given unlimited power. Whether getting rid of rules, traveling the world, solving poverty, or curing cancer, it´s easy to come up with a long list.
Continue reading “Big Power”
In chapter 38 of Jeremiah’s prophecies, we meet two men and their friends. The first is King Zedekiah and his friend Pashur son of Malchiah, a royal official and advisor. Pashur was the kind of friend who would bend over backward for someone else if it benefited him. Pashur’s advice was given in self-interest, but the king was fool enough not to care or know the difference.
Continue reading “Bad Friend, Good Friend”
Isaiah says in chapter 55:8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.
What does it mean that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts?
Let’s think about the thoughts that the original hearers of Isaiah’s message might have had.
Continue reading “My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts”
One of the harder beliefs to accept, especially for our modern world, is the exclusivity of Jesus Christ – the claim that Jesus is the only way to salvation. In general, people are hesitant to single out just one correct way of doing things, which is fine if we are talking about how to make pancake batter, but decidedly not fine if your diseased body needs a very specific medication.
Continue reading “Jesus Was In The Boat”
Any reader of the Bible knows the experience of reading through the book of Leviticus. Compared with the flowing narratives and fascinating character studies of Genesis and the first half of Exodus, Leviticus reads slow and sluggish.
Continue reading “How to Be Clean”
Life in this sin-broken world is not always pretty. Dirt gets in our eyes, under our fingernails and behind our ears. Dust settles on every surface and collects in our lungs. Germs and bugs and viruses attack our immune system. Our muscles ache and stomachs vomit. Bread moulds and meat rots. Mice live in our walls and cockroaches in our cupboards.
Continue reading “Dust and Dirt and Dung”
It’s about the journey, not the destination. This is good advice for a road trip, or life itself in a very general sense. Don’t get so caught up with where you are going that you miss the merit of the present moment
Of course, if I am on my way to Walmart to buy groceries, then my trip is about the destination, and the traffic during the journey is just getting in the way. Or if I am going to my parents’ house, the drive over has its own beauty, but at some point, I do actually want to arrive at their house.
Continue reading “The End Is The Journey”
The Rabbi's Burrito 