Category: Devotional

How the Psalms Encourage Evangelism

June 8, 2011

In reading through the Psalms recently (especially 130-150), the Holy Spirit showed me that the Psalms can provide powerful motivation and encouragement for evangelism. Although the psalmists wrote mostly from the come-and-see mentality of ancient Israel, their desire was the same ultimate desire that we see expressed throughout Scripture: the pure, worldwide worship of the one true God. Here … More How the Psalms Encourage Evangelism

When the Pastor Falls: Lessons from Church Scandals & Blind Loyalty

June 2, 2011

“Why People Stick by Scandal-Plagued Pastors” by CNN’s John Blake is a brief foray into the blind loyalty that many knowing parishioners maintain toward their scandalized pastors. Sue Thompson, a public speaker herself, has been burned before. She explains that followers often build a “spiritual firewall” around their pastors so that reasonable suspicions and legitimate … More When the Pastor Falls: Lessons from Church Scandals & Blind Loyalty

Secret Sins and the Resignation of Jim Tressel

June 1, 2011

Jim Tressel, long-revered coach and field general of the Ohio State Buckeyes football program, resigned on Monday after a lengthy saga of unraveling details regarding NCAA violations. Time and truth go hand in hand, so the sporting world must wait, as it often must, for the full revelation. I’m nauseated by those who turn every … More Secret Sins and the Resignation of Jim Tressel

King on a Cross: “What I Have Written I Have Written”

April 23, 2011

The crucifixion account in the Gospel of John is full of glorious irony. In fact, John’s entire narrative, along with the discourses of Jesus, are filled with striking ironies, stark contrasts, and deeper meanings. The story whispers to those who have ears to hear. By John 19:16, the mockery of Jesus’ hasty trial had come to an … More King on a Cross: “What I Have Written I Have Written”

The New Internet Democracy

April 19, 2011

Which GAP logo do you like better? Don’t think your opinion doesn’t matter. Six months ago, in what is now old news, GAP changed its traditional logo but reversed course after encountering an outpouring of opposition. MSNBC called the response anything from “wondering” to “buzz” to “outrage.” The new internet democracy is a force to be reckoned with. We … More The New Internet Democracy

The Verses We Skipped

December 31, 2010

The Bible is full of Cinderella verses — plain-looking, hard-working, easily-ignored verses that will one day be unveiled at the grand eschatological ball, blowing us all away with their beauty and significance.  It won’t just be the atheists and the agnostics and the rebels standing aghast and amazed at these unveiled truths.  We will all realize just how … More The Verses We Skipped

Anna’s Hope

December 10, 2010

Of all the things we dream of being, an eighty-four year-old widowed prophetess fasting throughout the day and praying deep into the night is not high on the list.  Not many of us would choose Anna as our model. But what a precious, old, soft-hearted woman who must’ve been a joy for heaven to welcome … More Anna’s Hope

Learning to Unlearn

November 11, 2010

Learning is a process.  But it’s not all progress.  Sometimes we need regress.  Trailblazing often begins with backtracking. What do I mean? Unlearning is as important as learning.  We enter this world as instant learners.  Before we can even feed ourselves, we’re digesting everything around us.  We are innate, insatiable, incessant learners. But there’s a … More Learning to Unlearn

A Word to the Would-Be Teacher (James 3:1-13)

November 1, 2010

James, some of us are interested in teaching — you know, preaching in church, teaching the Bible, writing good books, leading small groups, blogging biblical insights, posting instructive Facebook notes.  What do you think? Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers. Why not? There are two main reasons. What’s the first reason? We who teach will … More A Word to the Would-Be Teacher (James 3:1-13)