I hate to wait!  Unfortunately, for me, Romans 8:17-27 reminds me that waiting is part of the Christian experience.  Like the Christians in the first century, we must live between the already and the not yet.  That is, we live with the certainty that we have already been adopted by God, but at the same [...]

Nothing is better than forgiveness, right?   Actually, there is something better. It just might be that the most important work of the Protestant Reformation – justification by grace alone (receiving the righteousness of Christ, which necessarily includes forgiveness) – may also be the point where Christians get stuck.  That is to say, God’s magnanimous decision [...]

You gotta love potatoes!  Really, you do.  Be they baked, scalloped, French fried or mashed, a potato-less life would be no life at all.  At least that’s how I see it.  Having said that, the only thing worse than a life void of potatoes would be a life where imitation potatoes were normal fare.  I [...]

You may remember the 18th century American revolutionary, Thomas Paine.  He wrote a pamphlet in 1776 entitled Common Sense, addressed to King George III, of England.  In it he made his case for the freeing of the American colonies from domination by the English Crown. In that document he wrote, “There is something absurd in supposing [...]

Jörg Gerkner, a young German man, found himself in North Africa in 1943. He was a part of Rommel’s great wave of infantry that swept across the Middle East and Africa.  But Jorg, along with many other Germans, was captured by the British and handed over to the Americans who, in turn, brought them to [...]

WOW…..I can’t believe 2011 is over and planning for 2012 is already in full-swing.  Most of the time, I look forward to the coming year with excitement and anticipation and this year is no different.  If you’re like me, your goal or resolution for 2012 is to become a better you.  Now, depending on how [...]

The 19th century Danish philosopher, Soren Kirkegaard, once wrote:  “Many find a level of despair they can tolerate and call that happiness.” His comment prompts me to ask a question or two of you.  What do you call happiness?  Where do you find joy? Every Christmas Christians talk about, sing about, and consider specific human experiences [...]

To say that life can be difficult is to state the obvious.  Perhaps that is why it is good to remember that peace is not the product of favorable circumstance, but the presence of Jesus Christ. I think that is what Jesus was trying to communicate to His troubled disciples upon hearing Him say He [...]

I recently read a story about an American tourist walking the twisted little streets of Kowloon in Hong Kong, when he came upon a tattoo studio.  In the window were displayed samples of the tattoos available.  On the chest or arms you could have tattooed the typical designs we see often – an anchor, a [...]

This weekend we finished up Chapter 6 of Romans. I’ve continued to consider the reality that I can be saved by the sacrifice of Jesus and continue to “earn wages” (Rom 6:23) from the enemy of God. Jesus has provided us freedom and His desire in that freedom is clear. Daily I am to enslave [...]