Among the figures surrounding the birth of Jesus, Joseph conspicuously stands in the background. He speaks no recorded words in Scripture, but his life and actions speak volumes. Matthew describes him simply as “a righteous man” (Matthew 1:19 NLT), and from this brief description we can deduce a portrait of character, obedience, humility, ...
Every Christmas we celebrate the arrival of the One Isaiah promised would be called “… the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NLT). We hear again the angelic chorus proclaiming “… peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT). These messages form some of the most cherished themes of the season. Yet for many people, ...
Advent is a season grounded in hope, and holy anticipation. It invites believers both to look back with gratitude on Christ’s first coming, and to look forward with confidence to His promised return. Rooted in both Old and New Testament revelation, Advent resonates with God’s people across history; those who waited for the Messiah to come as well ...
I try not to get into theological arguments if I can help it, but recently there have been several deaths in my family/friend/aquaintance group and I boldly state with confidence that they are now with the Lord ( or “Promoted to Glory” as we say in The Salvation Army). How can I be so sure when I have no physical evidence that it is so?
Apologists ...
Life so often feels like a battlefield. Pressures close in, responsibilities pile high, and overwhelming emotions swell until they feel impossible to manage. In those moments, so many of us exhaust ourselves by pushing harder, trying to control every outcome and fix every problem. But Scripture invites us into a different kind of strength—one that ...
This is not the column I intended to write for this week, but life events have overtaken me and I have had to surrender my wife of fifty four years into the loving arms of Jesus. In Salvation Army parlance, she has been “Promoted to Glory”. In her place I am left with a grief so profound and painful my only hope of relief has to come from scipture ...
In social media there is a phenomenon known as “ghosting”. It feels like a monologue where one party is trying to communicate but there is no reply — even though you know the other party probably saw your message. It’s very frustrating. I think there’s an analogous situation I call “Holy Ghosting” when we face seasons when God seems quiet—when we ...