It is a paradox that we are often best defined by how we treat those who mistreat us.
In His radical manifesto known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a command that cuts directly against human nature: “But I say to you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Matthew 5:44, NLT). Note that Jesus not only tells ...
Economics is often called “the dismal science” because it tries to understand how best to manage finite and scarce resources. So, in our world governed by scarcity, we are trained to measure, hoard, and ration. We operate under the constant anxiety that there is never quite enough time, money, energy, or affection to go around. Our human ...
It is election time again, and I find myself frustrated by the prevalence of division, hatred, and strife, not just in the world in general, but in my local community. How should scripture guide me in selecting a representative who will help bring God’s Kingdom to fruition not just where I live but between countries and cultures? I am reminded of ...
In my church, and probably in yours too, we end our Sunday morning worship with “A Time of (Food and) Fellowship”. We tend to go a little overboard with the concept by actually hosting a meal, but a more simple provision of coffee and cookies serves the purpose equally well. The main goal is to engage each other in “fellowship”, both in ...
My social media feeds are constantly bombarded with advertisements that promise to make make me better, faster, stronger, healthier, more attractive, less anxious, better educated, a better parent, and a list of other attributes that I obviously need to work on. Even when avoiding that clutter, there are aspects of life that I still know need to ...
I was somewhat saddened and disturbed recently when a member of my Bible Study group said that, while she was still “attracted to Jesus”, the public pronouncements and policies of our political leaders, claiming to be “Christian”, left her profoundly uneasy and wondering if she was believing the right things about her relationship ...
The central message of the Epistle to the Hebrews is both profound and deeply practical: we have a great High Priest. The writer declares, “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe” (Hebrews 4:14, NLT). This truth is not merely theological, but is the foundation ...