At the Last Supper, Jesus was giving His final instructions to His disciples before He went to the cross and ultimately would return to Heaven. The disciples were understandably grieved at His message that He was about to leave them (Jn 16.6). Image via Pixabay But Jesus had some good news for them: 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the... Read more
I’ve never been on a job interview ever that didn’t include the question, “What are your greatest strengths and what are your greatest weaknesses?” Image via Pixabay Skilled interviewees find a way to talk about their strengths that doesn’t sound too braggy, and talk about their weaknesses in a way that makes weaknesses sound like strengths. “I care too much!” “I try too hard!” “I am so passionate about my work that I sometimes make others around me feel lazy!”... Read more
They’re still around today, but especially in the early 2000’s, home renovation shows were a very big deal. Image via Pixabay The host and their team would head into a dump of a house with a compelling human interest story attached to it, and over the course of an hour, would completely transform it into something fresh and new. The end of the episode was the best part: the great reveal. The family would get to see what had happened,... Read more
I heard an intriguing phrase recently: God wants you dead. Image via Pixabay Now, as with all things, context is very, very important. Does God really want us dead? In a way, yes. But not in the way the phrase typically first hits ya. “Death to self” is the churchy phrase that we use to talk about this. The idea comes from a few different places in Scripture: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple... Read more
Many years ago, I remember seeing a painting of Christ cleansing the Temple from the merchants and moneylenders. Image via Pixabay Jesus was centre-stage in the painting, standing on the steps, with a menagerie of animals around him. His face was stamped with fury, and His arm was cocked back with a massive whip, which He was about to bring crashing down upon a crowd of terrified and pleading merchants who were on their knees before Him, hands outstretched... Read more
Image via Pixabay Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in Name of Your Son Jesus, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Watch over and protect the flock that You have entrusted to my care. Provide for them and lead them in the ways that they should go. Draw them closer to Yourself, that they may know Your Word, Your voice, Your presence, and Your will. Transform them into the image of Jesus, and teach them to walk in... Read more
Earlier this week, I posted a column called “Repeating the Error of the Corinthians.” In it, we discussed a warped view of grace that led the Corinthian Church to believe that sin was no longer a factor and that they could do whatever they wanted. Image via Pixabay Today, we’ll look at a different but still relevant error in a different New Testament church, the Galatians, who had a very different problem than the Corinthians. It was noted in... Read more
In all honesty, the Corinthian church of the New Testament had a lot of things going on in it that weren’t good. There were far more than just one error. Image via Pixabay And I actually find that really encouraging, as we who pastor and lead today try to prayerfully work through the many theological and practical and people-oriented struggles of ministry. The first churches of the New Testament also had a lot of problems. This is nothing new.... Read more
A number of years ago, my wife and I were talking with friends of ours who were also in the ministry. They were pastoring at a church, and were beginning to sense that it may be time to move on. Image via Pixabay “But we don’t want to move away,” one of them said. “All our family and friends are here. So if we left, it would need to be for a church near us.” “What if God wants... Read more
It is no doubt one of the most famous teachings of Jesus Christ. Image via Pixabay Christians know it. Children know it. Other religions know it. Agnostics know it. Atheists know it. It is the so-called “Golden Rule,” a short, sweet, and simple view of how to live and act that really encompasses everything that we need to know about following Jesus: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the... Read more
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