Blog
Continuing on from my previous post about a Gospel of grace, Paul wrote a warning to the churches in central Turkey. Speaking with apostolic authority, he pronounces judgment on Jewish preachers who were perverting the Gospel of grace. They were mingling grace with...
It’s not pleasant to buck an evil world system that also includes a religious system, It is uncomfortable to face the mixture of half-truths that have infiltrated and compromised the Church by that same system. It’s not easy to face our own propensity to live from our...
At this time in my life, I am struck even more by this writing of Paul’s: “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has...
Insidious is an interesting word. It has been defined as creating a gradual and cumulative negative effect. This gradual change prepares us for attack by building upon a series of deceptions that will lead us to a harmful end. Insidious is formed by two words. The...
This month, Jan and I said goodbye to our front lawn. The problem we had with our front lawn was that it produced nothing but an image. It offered us nothing in return. As the transformation began, we gave away our lawnmower (Hallelujah!) and began the work...
I've read editorial comments and watched videos about the depredation of wolves that have been introduced in certain parts of the nation. Wolves are causing millions of dollars of damage. This topic has created controversy and strong opinions on both sides of the...
We can too easily fashion the Gospel message around only positive messages, especially here in the United States. Nothing is wrong with a positve presentation of the Gospel, but if we think a positive message is the only avenue through which the Lord can work, we will...
Some in the Church have been taught and now believe that Jesus's salvation only applies to individuals, not the greater population of a nation. While individuals must first be saved before a nation is impacted, we still cannot abandon God's larger purpose. He is after...
Some believers are being taught that our rights as citizens should not be pursued. Paul was not some right-wing conspiracist. He used his rights as a Roman citizen to confront those in power when they abused his rights. On one occasion, while Paul was going to a place...
There is a spirit of sorcery at work in our culture, and sadly, within some parts of the Church. The mission of this spirit is to distort and misinterpret the message of Jesus Christ. This is nothing new. It took place when Barnabas and Paul were speaking to a...
As I walked to the end of our street, I noticed that a stop sign had lost one screw that attached it to a post. When the screw loosened, the sign swung down, inverting the warning to stop. The upside-down stop sign is an image of what has happened to some in the...
Jealousy and the improper use of money have derailed the faith of many people, leaders, and followers alike. Only confession and repentance can break the influence of these sins. Without confession and repentance, people will move deeper into their sin without the...
In 1991, I visited Russia when it was still the old Soviet Union. Later that year, the Soviet Union dissolved, and Ukraine became a free and separate nation. The first leg of my visit took me to Moscow, the seat of Soviet power. The city felt dark and foreboding. We...
There are reasons why the Church can descend into a limited version of faith without expecting something more. In that state, we will represent a dull and lifeless faith, not expecting that something more will be revealed. After the miraculous healing of a lame man at...
Thirty years ago, Jan and I lived in Berlin, Germany. We were assigned to help coordinate the missions ministries of the Foursquare Church in Eastern Europe. As we continued in our assignment, we were invited to speak and teach across other European nations. After a...