[ All scripture references are from the New Living Translation — NLT ]
One of the core beliefs in Judeo-Christianity is the premise of “original sin”. That is, as a consequence of Adam & Eve’s willful disobedience, the human race is predisposed to rebellion against God rather than living in harmony with His will. As David writes in Psalm ...
[ All scripture references are from the New Living Translation — NLT ]
One of the toughest questions I encounter from friends who know I study scripture is, “How can I know I am doing God’s will?” My usual answer is that it will depend on a number of factors, but a good place to start is with Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. Here Paul gives ...
[ All scripture references are from the New Living Translation — NLT ]
I am sure many of you will know what confirmation bias is — when we conduct a study that then confirms what we suspected was true before we started. Scientific studies go to great lengths to try and eliminate such biases. But I will readily confess to having confirmation ...
[ All scripture references are from the New Living Translation — NLT ]
The New Testament uses a striking metaphor when it instructs Christians to “clothe” themselves with kindness. Clothing is not incidental or hidden; it is worn daily, it is felt by the one who wears it, and is immediately visible to others. In the same way, kindness is ...
In a recent column I wrote about the importance of waiting for God’s perfect timing and the unintended consequences of rushing into action according to our own understanding or frustration. But the question arises, “what should we do with the time while we are waiting for God’s purposes to unfold?” Scripture gives reliable examples of the difference ...
In a recent conversation with a friend whose husband is making frustratingly slow progress in ICU, I quoted a line from the blind Christian poet John Milton, who frustratingly lost his sight later in life, “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Milton’s insight aligns closely with biblical witness that not all obedience is active, visible, ...
One of the great paradoxes of my early family life was when my father would correct or punish some behavior he thought would be detrimental to my character or contrary to our family values. Inevitably he would say, “this will hurt me more than it will hurt you” — a statement I certainly didn’t understand and almost never believed at the time!
What ...