Tag Archives: Matthew 5:16

Grace is Amazing, But You are Peculiar. A Rambling Conversation About Grace and Legalism. Deuteronomy 14.

Are you peculiar? You should be. More on that below–first, a word about grace. Grace is incredible. It is similar to forgiveness, but not the same. You might say forgiveness falls under the umbrella of grace. But grace is more than forgiveness. Grace is restoration. God does not simply forgive your sins. He restores yourContinue reading “Grace is Amazing, But You are Peculiar. A Rambling Conversation About Grace and Legalism. Deuteronomy 14.”

THAT’S PRACTICAL. My Johnny Derouen Story. Psalm 27:4.

Image: Johnny Derouen’s first day at FBC Houston, spring of 1984. Also pictured, Joel Nettles. Photo courtesy of Lance Vinson. The story goes that in the early ‘80s, Associate Pastor Felix Wagner interviewed 70-some people before he found the right man for the job. Let’s call it 77—the perfect number. After a two-year quest, FirstContinue reading “THAT’S PRACTICAL. My Johnny Derouen Story. Psalm 27:4.”

YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. Matthew 5-7.

Official portrait of King Charles by Jonathan Yeo, revealed March 13, 2024. Royals have many titles. Before he was crowned King, England’s Prince Charles bore many titles: “The Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles, Baron of Renfrew, and the Prince and GreatContinue reading “YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. Matthew 5-7.”

What Can You Say About Slavery? What Can You Say About Politics? Ephesians 6:5-9.

The Apostle Paul took on one of the most controversial topics in history: slavery. Did he argue for the abolition of slavery? Or did he argue—as some American preachers once did—that certain people are better off slaves? Let’s look: “Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, asContinue reading “What Can You Say About Slavery? What Can You Say About Politics? Ephesians 6:5-9.”

HOW DO PEOPLE DESCRIBE YOU? Philippians 4:5.

We spend years telling children to ignore other children. Don’t listen to the mean words, and definitely don’t let them convince you. (When boys in middle school call you ‘gay,’ for example, imagine how preposterous that is: are you going to allow people completely ignorant in all areas of sexuality to influence your adult choices?)Continue reading “HOW DO PEOPLE DESCRIBE YOU? Philippians 4:5.”

THE CULTURAL MANDATE: God Used Christians to Make the World a Better Place. Matthew 5:14-16.

Today my Bible reading included a king who punished his enemies by “ripping open all the pregnant women,” and another who captured 10,000 men, then drove them off a cliff to be “dashed to pieces.” Other Bible stories speak of cannibalism, being thrown to lions, burned in a furnace, eating newborn children and fighting overContinue reading “THE CULTURAL MANDATE: God Used Christians to Make the World a Better Place. Matthew 5:14-16.”

Don’t Try Anything—People Know You!

In 1995 I was sent to teach at the brand-new Austin High School.  The state-of-the-art school had dry-erase “whiteboards” instead of chalkboards, computers in every classroom, and an abundance of windows and open spaces.  Even students said it was a great facility. The library had a computer behind the desk for teacher use only.  TheContinue reading “Don’t Try Anything—People Know You!”

Whom Do You Serve?

King Jehoshaphat was not a perfect king. But God commended him for several things. One was the way he commissioned judges. The king told them: “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.” 2 Chronicles 19:6. Think aboutContinue reading “Whom Do You Serve?”

The Lord in Heaven Laughs.

“Mann traoch, Gott Lauch” is a Yiddish proverb: “man plans, God laughs.”  God is in control.  How could He not laugh?  We plan for success, but God chuckles, allowing humbling failure.  Or perhaps we prepare for a few failures—but God laughs and sends only victories.  That too is humbling as we realize victory was notContinue reading “The Lord in Heaven Laughs.”