Recently members of our church distributed school supplies at a back-to-school event in an underprivileged community. To our church’s credit, we had more volunteers than we needed to man the tables, so I decided to be on the lookout for families as they arrived or for people carrying empty backpacks. Then I would lead families to the tables where they would (more…)
hell
Knowing God vs. Knowing About God
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.—James 2:19
Years ago, I worked for the popular pastor of a large church. People were draw by his charismatic personality. He shared so many personal anecdotes in his messages that people felt they knew him. This made for some borderline creepy scenarios, both in person and via email.
With (more…)
Jesus Is the Cure
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.—Isaiah 53:5
All of us seem to be waiting impatiently for society to reach herd immunity, for the spike in COVID-19 cases to ease up, for a vaccine to be developed—anything that allows us (more…)
The Murderers Among Us
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.—1 John 3:5
The reaction to the flood of mass shootings nationwide is universal: Why? How? Why would someone do this, and why would God allow it? How are we to live in a world filled with so much evil?
Such evil, on the (more…)
Jesus Died for That
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.—1 Peter 3:18
It’s been said there are two kinds of people: the saved and the lost. But I see two categories among the lost: the proud and the ashamed.
Some people, when (more…)