There is a joke that goes like this. A grizzled old man and a teen were having a conversation. The man said, “You young people today. All of you are ignorant and apathetic. Why is that?” The teen shrugged and responded, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” That was the charge against God by […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on The Inscrutable GodI was on the tennis court, ready to receive serve, when I felt dizzy. The next thing I hear is the staticky radio voices of emergency personnel as I am being wheeled on a gurney to the waiting ambulance. That set me on an unplanned crash course on heart disease that included knowing symptoms of […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Six Symptoms of Spiritual Heart FailureYou know how some people can’t take a compliment? You tell them “great job,” but they deflect the praise or explain it away. Some more pious folks will immediately point to God and say that it’s all of God. No it’s not. Sure, we are to cast down our golden crowns before God in recognition […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Refusing to be EncouragedI can’t imagine what it would be like to be buried alive. Utter and absolute darkness. Trapped. A living death. No way out. It makes me consider what hell would be like. The Bible describes hell as a place of punishment, reserved for those who rebel against God. The book of Revelation says that “if […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on The Bottle Dungeon(This is the second of two articles related to Jesus’ teaching in Mark 11 that His Father’s house is to be a house of prayer. Click here for the first article. For more on the church as a house of prayer see Stanley D Gale, “God’s House of Prayer – Extreme Makeover Edition.”) “For it […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Fig-uring Out Christ’s Concern for His Father’s House(This is the first of two articles related to Jesus’ teaching in Mark 11 that His Father’s house is to be a house of prayer. For more on the church as a house of prayer see Stanley D Gale, “God’s House of Prayer – Extreme Makeover Edition.”) I sat toward the back of the rows […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on A House of Prayer is not the same as a Place of Prayer“Madora came to believe that God and flowing water were much the same. How Jesus fits into this, she never understood or really cared.” That’s an insight into one her characters in a novel by Drucilla Campbell (Little Girl Gone, Grand Central Publishing, NY, 2012). Madora desperately wanted to believe in something greater than herself, […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on How Jesus Fits InThe psalms are wonderful guides for our prayer. What besetting sin have you fallen into again—overspending, pornography, alcohol, gambling, gluttony? Psalms 51 or Psalm 32 could provide a template for your prayer, leading you in confession of your sin. Another prospect would be to employ Psalm 143 to take you by the hand and lead […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Psalm 143 as a Template for Prayer in Temptation’s Hour“I apologize for what I said, but…” …but you had it coming …but you were wrong …but you hurt me …but if you hadn’t… …but I was so stressed No doubt you could add to the list from what you’ve heard said to you. Maybe you can add to it from what you yourself […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Apology’s Big “But”We find a number of explanations for Jesus coming into this world, the event we celebrate this time of year. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. Related reasons are scattered throughout the New Testament. In his first […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Christmas is about Satan, not Santa