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”
If you walk the streets of our neighbourhood or poke your head into one of the shops on the main street, you´ll notice something. You might notice a little box fixed to the wall outside someone´s home or a small shelf in the corner of the pizza shop. Inside the box or placed on the shelf will be a statue or picture of a saint, likely accompanied by a candle or two. In our neighbourhood, the saint will be Saint Judas Thaddeus, the apostle of Jesus. He will be dressed in white and green and have a flame of fire above his head.
Continue reading “Oh, Now I Get It”
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”
Unless the Lord builds a house,
its builders labor over it in vain;
unless the Lord watches over a city,
the watchman stays alert in vain.
In vain you get up early and stay up late,
working hard to have enough food
Psalm 127
You moved across the country to start a new job. A dear friend has wronged you. Your husband has cancer. Your child is rushed to the hospital.
Continue reading “The Parts We Leave Out”
When reading a Scripture passage it is often helpful to look for how the characters of the story are contrasted. The contrast highlights important aspects of who the characters are and what they do. We see this in the case of Cain and Abel, David and Saul, Mordecai and Haman, and others throughout the history of God’s people.
Continue reading “Contrasts”
I tremble a little I know the holy fire My faith is brittle Can it stand that hour?Continue reading “Pass Over”
The beginning of Peter’s second letter makes it clear that in God we lack nothing. Through Christ, we are given “everything we need for life and godliness.” Because of this reality we are called to mature and increase in faith and the fruit of the Spirit. As it is sometimes put: God has made you holy, so go and be holy. Or as Peter might phrase it: God has chosen you, so go and “make your calling and election sure.”
Continue reading “Adding to Faith”
This is part 3 of a series on the impossible faith of the saints mentioned in Hebrews 11. Find part one here, and part two here.
Daniel
Daniel was given a clear choice – obey the king or obey God. There was no confusion over what King Darius’ decree meant or what God’s will required. There were no fuzzy grey areas or possible loopholes. Either Daniel obeyed the king and ceased praying for the next thirty days or he obeyed God and prayed anyway. To obey the king was clear disobedience to God and to obey God was clear disobedience to the king.
Continue reading “Impossible Faith – Part 3”
This is the second in a series about the “impossible” faith of the saints listed in Hebrews 11. For part one click here.
Gideon
Like Noah, Abraham, and others, God asked Gideon to do something which seemed very strange. Yet, Gideon believed God, and as a result he was used by God to win an improbable victory.
Continue reading “Impossible Faith – Part Two”
In one sense, faith in God is impossible. From the point of view of the lost sinner – blind to the action of God in the world and deaf to the words of God – faith is utterly ridiculous and one giant leap too far. Faith is only possible when the Spirit of God opens the sinner’s eyes to the unseen. Until that happens, the life of faith will appear to be utter nonsense.
Continue reading “Impossible Faith – Part One”
The Rabbi's Burrito 