— Mission Statement —
Providing insight on the intersection of contemporary issues and theology, based on a Biblical Christian Worldview.
The verse from John 6:19 is used to reflect on the new year and the challenges and uncertainties it brings. The disciples’ fear of Jesus approaching their boat in the storm is compared to our own fear of Jesus’ presence in our lives. The message encourages welcoming Jesus into our “boats” and trusting in […]
The article critiques the commercialized portrayal of Jesus’s birth, emphasizing the hardships faced by Mary and Joseph and suggesting it distracts from the true significance of the event.
[…] the Israelites caused in their God-ordained carving out of a place to call their homeland (as just one example). However, the God of the New Testament (i.e., Jesus) is totally different. He is a God of love and compassion, an advocate for the downtrodden and oppressed. If on the earth today, Christ would be […]
Last Sunday in Small Group our teacher made the observation that there is no physical description of Jesus either in the Bible or in trusted extra-biblical references. Why would that be? Even though there is no question of the historicity of Jesus Christ, His actual features are perhaps intentionally obscured because, as Christians, we […]
[…] has truly reached its goal. This is how we can be sure we are living in God: whoever says that he lives in God must live as Jesus lived.” Background & Application You are probably like me in that there are some passages of Scripture that you wish you didn’t come across. And yes, […]
[…] special about now?” Moses needed revival. Now what about someone who has turned their back on God or feels like they have failed Him? Consider Peter denying Jesus three times. He walked as close to Christ as anyone could, so he must have felt broken and ashamed over his betrayal. But Jesus comes to […]
Scripture Our verse for today comes from John 1:48, ” Nathanael said to Him, ‘How do You know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ “ Background In the 1933 Marx Brothers movie Duck Soup , there is a classic scene involving […]
Scripture Our verse for today comes from John 6:42, ” And they said, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ” I have come down from heaven? ” ‘ “ Background In Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Robin and his […]
[…] risk their lives as they plunged into the sea. No small wonder that so many would watch the program with such awe and fascination. Application The man Jesus didn’t make a name for Himself 125 feet above the sea. His most important elevation here on earth was a few feet above Calvary’s hilltop, suspended […]
[…] known as cumulative for the way that each new event is layered on top of what has already occurred. In John’s brief description of the tomb of Jesus, there is a bit of the cumulative form being used to explain where Jesus’ body was laid. In the place where He was crucified there was […]
[…] side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’” Background You may not have noticed it at the time, but I’m pretty sure that there was a point where Jesus offered you His pierced hands and His punctured side. That is to say, Jesus has more than likely met you at your low point and offered […]
[…] this story as audio …… or ……. LISTEN to this story now Scripture Our verse for today comes from John 21:25, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” Background […]
Why does she yearn for something more than God’s inspired Word? Sarah Young’s devotional book Jesus Calling is immensely popular among Christian readers. I used to read her book daily, but I stopped reading it after discovering serious doctrinal issues with it. The following is a list of some of these problems. 1. Jesus […]
' Says Man Who Is Also Leaving Jesus‘
[…] John 2:22, “Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.” Background In the Aegean Sea, a couple miles off the coast of Turkey, is a little island called Kos. Smaller than any of the […]
[…] lot of greenery. I remember every detail of what happened one afternoon 50 years ago. It’s no stretch for me to think the disciples remembered everything about Jesus for the same reason. When something traumatic happens, it affects every fiber of your being. They saw Jesus walk on water and tell a storm to be […]
[…] it come to fruition. Hearing the instructions, no matter how simple, guarantees nothing unless we actually follow through. Application So it should not be overlooked that when Jesus told the two disciples of John to come and see that they actually came and saw. Another time, Jesus told some to follow Him, but they […]
Scripture Our verse for today comes from John 13:3, ” Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God, and was going to God. “ Background In 1882, the British philosopher and scientist Herbert Spencer wrote that there are five manifestations of all scientific […]
[…] to himself by this term. An apostle was simply a messenger, a delegate, one who was sent by Christ with a message. So why the emphasis from Jesus on a point so blatantly obvious? The keystone is found in the blessing. Application None of us would say we are better than Jesus. Our lips […]
[…] into a fir or sycamore tree. For the unprotected, unexpecting boy in full stride, a tree is a tree. But, for you and me today, followers of Jesus and members of His body, recipients of His grace and vessels of mercy, proclaimers of truth and His light in a dark world, is there more […]
[…] reading His Word, or with His people, it might be natural and expected that we would say everything is for God and His glory. Application But when Jesus puts hands and feet to our doctrine, when He tells me that I am His servant and I am to go wherever He goes, then my […]
Theology on the Lighter Side – Why didn’t they let Jesus in the jewelry store? – Because they were afraid He’d break every chain! Zach Williams came out with a song in 2016 entitled, “Chain Breaker.” The chorus of that song is … If you’ve got pain, He’s a pain taker If you feel […]
[…] for today comes from Mark 15:35, ” Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, ‘Look, He is calling for Elijah!’ ” Background There Jesus was, hanging on the cross, dying for something, for everything, that He had not done. The scholars say that crucifixion was the harshest form of capital […]
[…] interestingly, Oh “Antichrist!” when they stub their toe, do something stupid, or simply want to emphasize a point? Why this obsession with words like “God Damn”, “ Jesus”, “Christ”, and “Jesus Christ” from the mouths of atheists, agnostics, deconstructionists, and sadly, many Christians? Why are these phrases interspersed with swear words more frequently than […]
[…] Show in turn gave us the serviceable programs Rhoda and Lou Grant . From a bit piece in Love, American Style came the giant Happy Days , which then gave us Laverne and Shirley and Mork and Mindy . Application Jesus was not a spin-off from John. But He did come after John, and He did take away the followers, the audience if you will, of John. […]
[…] a good chance that he’s not asking to discover the truth. More than likely, ulterior motives are at work. When the Samaritan woman began to sense that Jesus was different, she brought up a point of contention between her people and His. Each claimed to worship at the proper place. But both could not […]
[…] they have to die for their freedom. But we should have made a conscious decision to die to our self. For us to claim the freedom that Jesus died to offer us, we should lay down our will and never take it up again. The chief priests conspired to put Jesus to death around […]
Scripture Our verse for today comes from John 6:67, ” Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’ “ Background Aretha Franklin was the premier female Rhythm & Blues singer of her generation. She had 20 number-one R & B singles, and eventually earned the nickname The Queen of […]
[…] immediately through the comfortable ways in which the one talks about what matters most to his friend. Application And it is no different in our relationship with Jesus. When we talk about Him, the listener can tell fairly quickly whether we know Him, or merely know things about Him. Our closeness to Christ also […]
Scripture Our verse for today comes from John 12:36, ” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. “ Background So many of us have sat through a chemistry class, or tried to read the prospectus that comes with our investments, or listened to a press conference after a ballgame and […]
[…] types of reactions he is getting from his closest buddies and those who barely know him. But we don’t have to imagine what it was like for Jesus. The scriptures make it very clear how He was received when He returned to His hometown. Application Embarking on a mission of teaching and preaching, Jesus […]
[…] on track. And it is that right track that is of central importance. While the disciples were waiting for the Holy Spirit during their final moments with Jesus, they essentially concluded their three years of training with Jesus by asking Him about the restoration of Israel. This may be a slight overstatement, but I’m […]
The verse from Luke 2:4 is shared, prompting reflection on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem before Jesus’ birth. The focus is on preparing for Christmas, encouraging a focus on Jesus’ arrival rather than external preparations. The message urges prioritizing Jesus in the coming days and experiencing the joy of the season.
[…] will come in the next at the feet of the One who wrote the Book. In the case of this very simple example, it would initially seem Jesus is suggesting universal salvation for all of mankind. In isolation, it suggests that Jesus came into the world, not to judge our sins, but to die […]
[…] God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! The demons (Satan included) know the Bible, know the power of angels and God, and know Jesus as fully man and fully God. So “believes in [Jesus]” applies to evil beings who are destined to spend eternity in a real and literal Hell. […]
Discovering Jesus as the Way in Prayer Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6). This verse took on a new meaning when I faced a crisis that required God’s guidance in prayer. Whenever I have heard […]
[…] others (for example, carving out the promise land for the Israelites). Many skeptics attempt to compress all of Scripture down to a focus on the testimony of Jesus in His love for human “neighbors”. The fact is that God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Trinity, God the Father, the […]
Theology on the Lighter Side – Which nursery song would Jesus have heard the most? “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” John 1:29 – The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! In the Old Testiment the Jews offered lambs […]
[…] being found underneath the floor of the Meggido Prison in Israel (details here). The Greek words inscribed are, “The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.” There is also a reference to Gaianus, the Roman officer who commissioned the mosaic. Bobby Duke, the director at Museum of the […]
Theology on the Lighter Side – What type of car would Jesus drive? A Christler. Jesus, fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life on Earth and died on the cross as a substitution for our sins. Salvation and eternal life in Heaven is available to all who […]