Image: the cockpit of an airbus. The World War Two generation understood how to fight to the death. They knew what it was to live through a world at war, and to fear how things would end up, should the Allies lose. Life for the WWII generation (often called “The Greatest Generation”) must have beenContinue reading “The ‘Good Enough’ Work Ethic. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14.”
Category Archives: GRACE
“The King is Dead; Long Live the King!” The Restoration of Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9:6-8
Pictured: David restores Mephibosheth, artist unknown. A king may have a long and peaceful rule. But when the king dies, the Problem of Succession asks who will be the new king? Who will succeed to the throne? To address this problem, the French and English began announcing one king’s death with the next king’s successionContinue reading ““The King is Dead; Long Live the King!” The Restoration of Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9:6-8”
“I Am So Disappointed in You.” Genesis 8:21.
Image generated with A.I. The worst thing I ever heard from my parents was, “I am so disappointed in you.” They said it regularly. It seemed natural to disappoint my parents. I expected to disappoint them. After all, I spent my time trying to please myself. They were collateral damage. But when they said IContinue reading ““I Am So Disappointed in You.” Genesis 8:21.”
YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT. Ephesians 1:4-13.
Was it God’s will that Jim’s mother got pregnant when she was 19? Was it God’s will that Jim then fathered a child at 17? God wills that we save sex for marriage. But God also wills that sex results in children, even difficult, unplanned pregnancies. Now what? Now Grace! Grace is God stepping “outside”Continue reading “YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT. Ephesians 1:4-13.”
NO CONDEMNATION. Romans 8:1.
What is Christianity to you? Rules and guilt? Yuck. No wonder you’re not excited about it! Judaism was about rules—613 rules. Jesus rescued us from rules. If church or faith or conversations about God leave you thinking about rules, then your faith is still in elementary school. Let’s graduate: Jesus delivers you from rule-following—and HeContinue reading “NO CONDEMNATION. Romans 8:1.”
Grace Gives You Freedom from the Law. Use Your Freedom to Serve Others. Acts 15:29.
Imagine: You are a missionary to the people of Jerusalem in the year 55 A.D. You have invited a crowd of two dozen local Jews to listen to you share about Jesus on the beach one morning. As they walk up, they can smell something cooking. You’ve got a nice fire going, with bacon andContinue reading “Grace Gives You Freedom from the Law. Use Your Freedom to Serve Others. Acts 15:29.”
IF WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE, THEN WHY ARE THERE SO MANY LAWS? Galatians 3:24.
How many laws are there in America? One thousand? Ten thousand? One hundred thousand? The truth is, no one knows. In 2013, a Senior Legal Research Specialist with the Library of Congress wrote that “trying to tally the number” of federal laws “is nearly impossible.” [1] The laws governing life in ancient Israel were alsoContinue reading “IF WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE, THEN WHY ARE THERE SO MANY LAWS? Galatians 3:24.”
FORGIVENESS, GRACE, & CONSEQUENCES. Acts 5:1-11.
Some think they can sin all they want because God will always forgive. What’s the harm in a “white lie,” right? So I cheat a little on homework or taxes, so what? Well, God may forgive, but what about CONSEQUENCES? Even in this AGE OF GRACE, we reap what we sow. The worse your sin,Continue reading “FORGIVENESS, GRACE, & CONSEQUENCES. Acts 5:1-11.”
Amazing, Miraculous Grace. Luke 23:13.
Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son? Is it better to be the mostly obedient older brother, or the completely selfish younger brother? Is it better to make good choices and need less grace, or to make bad choices, and experience a great deal of God’s grace? Or could we maybe argue that because ofContinue reading “Amazing, Miraculous Grace. Luke 23:13.”
THE BIBLE DOES NOT CAUSE CONDEMNATION, BUT REVEALS IT. John 3:17-18.
Some think the Bible is a harsh message of judgment and condemnation. It is not. The Bible speaks a truth that already exists. It’s like a weather forecast. If satellite radar shows a hurricane in the Gulf, we don’t blame the weatherman. We thank him for the warning and prepare. The Bible does not CAUSE theContinue reading “THE BIBLE DOES NOT CAUSE CONDEMNATION, BUT REVEALS IT. John 3:17-18.”
Household Words: 