Marriage provides incredible opportunities for two people to grow as Christians. The intimacy of a husband and a wife unlocks doors which can be utilized for mutual benefits. No one will ever know you better than your spouse. No one will appreciate your spiritual strengths, and no one will experience you at your worst than […]
Just how little can you believe about God, Jesus, and the Bible and still be a Christian? Of course this very question is a foolish one to ask, because everyone should believe all that the Bible reveals about God. But in another sense this is helpful in identifying real Christians and real churches. One Saturday, two […]
Have you ever enjoyed the beauty of a finely crafted tapestry? Many varicolored strands are woven together to form a feast for the eyes. As pretty as a tapestry may be on the front, however, it actually appears disastrous on the back. The life of a child of God is often the same way. The […]
Sometimes servants of the Lord become spiritually exhausted. Instead of unbounded energy for more and more ministry, they feel out of gas. Instead of unbridled joy, they feel almost nothing. What is the problem with these people? I don’t know. There is not enough information to figure out simple solutions when you just see another […]
With a new Supreme Court nominee appointed by President Trump all eyes are looking to Washington to see the drama of confirmation unfold. If Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, there is no doubt that he will be making rulings on very significant cases, some of which will touch upon our freedom to exercise religion. It seems […]
This year I have been to more funerals than any year I can remember. I have seen an uncle die, as well as a long-time co-laborer here at the church, a teenager, a father of a friend, and several others. I officiated some of these services as the pastor, but at others I just sat […]
“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed […]
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20). Have you had a season of life where every day seems like a bad day? I sold small accident policies in rural Virginia for […]
Much of the Bible’s New Testament is made up of letters. These were letters from church leaders like Peter and Paul to churches and even some individuals. A letter in biblical times had a pretty standard formula that was different from the way we write letters today. (Or at least the way we used to […]
It was a big deal when Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times just as Jesus was unjustly on trial, just before Jesus would suffer and die on the cross, and just after Jesus had warned Peter that the very temptation would be coming. Peter went down hard. He failed the Lord three times […]
