Newsflash: It’s an election year. But of course, you already knew that. Campaign news and ads are already dominating the media outlets, and these are just the preliminary skirmishes. We all know things will really heat up this summer, which is when the real battles begin.
Elections for any public office are always important; Presidential elections even more so. If anything, this...
Why Leviticus?
What’s the good of Leviticus? Have you ever puzzled over that? Back whenever it was that God chose 66 as the magic number for total books in the Bible, I wonder what persuaded Him to give one of those preciously few spots to a book filled with peculiar laws about hairy skin lesions, hygiene for moldy houses, and marrying your aunt. (“Don’t!”) ...
Today is the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision legalizing abortion, Roe v. Wade. Since that time, around 50 million preborn babies have been killed. That’s 10x the population of Colorado, over 15 percent of the population of the whole United States. Obviously, if human life is sacred, our country has a massive problem on its hands.
But there’s another...
It was a ruined world, that ancient place where Abraham lived. Brutal, perverse, power-hungry, violent, and rebellious. The Lord’s universal verdict put it pretty plainly: “The intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen 8:21). It couldn’t have been more obvious that the world was under God’s curse.
That’s what makes God’s announcement to Abraham so striking: “I will make...
It's 8:30 on Friday morning, and I'm writing this column from a classroom in Louisville, Kentucky. I've been here for 3 days, enjoying a refresher course for alumni of Southern Seminary. I use the word "enjoying" deliberately, because it's been a delight - nourishing to my soul, challenging for my mind, and strengthening for my faith. I'd like to write a column or two in future weeks about...
A Call for Sharpshooters in 2012
You might not realize it, but there are two approaches to expert marksmanship. The first is to train the crosshairs on the exact center of the target, take a deep breath, exhale about halfway and hold it, and slowly squeeze the shot off, holding your aim steady on the bull’s-eye the entire time. The second approach is to forget...
What the Birth of Jesus Says About You
The trimmings of the season were all around me during my devotions this morning, creating a strange setting in which to read the passion narrative. But since that’s where my Bible reading plan has me this time of year, that’s what I read—John 19:16-42. Surrounded by all the seasonal reminders of the birth of Christ, I read and...
Trekking Through the Word in 2012
One of the things I enjoy most about the Christmas season is its close association (for obvious reasons) with the new year. Christmas Day arrives, and one week later, a fresh year begins. For me, January 1 seems to symbolize inspiring possibilities and new potential; and, of course, many people take advantage of that feeling by forming a few...
Why We Observe Advent
Our family had several Christmas traditions when I was growing up: stockings on December 6 for Saint Nick’s Day, attendance at a performance of A Christmas Carol at the historic Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Christmas Eve with the extended family at my grandparents’ house, and of course, the standard tree, gifts, cookies, and programs at school and church....
Advent 2011
Four times, different individuals in the gospels receive a special announcement of the Savior’s birth. John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, was the first, followed by Mary, Joseph, and finally the shepherds of nativity-scene fame. All four of these received a special word from God about Jesus’ coming, and this Advent season we are going to examine each one...
I wonder how many Christians would do well to relearn the gospel. I’m not saying they need to relearn what the gospel means, but I think they would do well to relearn what it does. They need to become aware of its importance in daily life, not just at the Judgment Day. They need to tune in to its role in day-to-day Christian living, not just its role way back at the start of...
Sometimes the Bible irritates me. It doesn’t always say what I expect it to say. More to the point, it doesn’t always say what I want it to say. Take the book of Psalms for example. Frequently the Psalmists say things I could never say. I want to pull these writers aside and offer a little friendly counsel on how they might improve their inspired writing, especially on verses like...
“Wait a second. What about the Holy Spirit? Aren’t you leaving Him out of this whole discussion?” The challenge came, not once but twice, from friends who read last week’s column where I forcefully argued that God’s call is not a feeling. And if two people said it, I’m sure probably twenty people thought it.
It’s a great question, and it’s exactly the one I was hoping you would...
God’s call is not a feeling.
There, I did it. See the blood dripping on the ground there? My fault. Sorry. I just knifed a sacred cow, and now I’m waiting for it to bleed out.
The thing about sacred cows is that they really do need to die; it’s just not pretty when it happens. They are a distraction while they’re alive. They consume resources that could be used for something...
In last week’s sermon, we examined what it means to be called to serve God. Biblically speaking, to be called means you are 1) saved (Rom 8:30) and 2) summoned (e.g., Rom 1:1). But here’s where we get hung up a little bit when it comes to serving God. We know some people volunteer. Some even feel a special burden, which we equate with “calling.” But since we don’t feel a special burden, and...
