Sin. This word has become a 3-letter "4-letter word" in our culture today. We feel judged when people throw this word at us, and the way certain churches or people claiming to be Christian have handled this word has been nothing short of spiritual abuse, causing "ex-vangelicals" to leave the church in droves. But that doesn't mean it's an evil word.
Read MoreSometimes, I think I’m doing pretty good. I am a decent human. I mostly don’t break the 10 Commandments. I can give myself an A on good behaviour, or maybe even an A+! Sadly, however, good behaviour alone is meaningless, especially when we see this Beatitude.
Read MoreIf you believe the theory behind the Enneagram personality tests, you’ll know that Enneagram 7’s are never satisfied. They are always looking to the next thing, whether it is a trip, an adventure, or a new outfit. I know, because I am a textbook Enneagram 7 and have come to recognize that I always want more.
Read MoreWe've all likely been there in one form or another. "What have I done? How could I be so stupid?" This feeling may have arisen over something most would find innocuous, or something much more serious. Either way, we are all familiar with regret, and some of us are familiar with deep regret. Today, let's talk about the latter.
Read MoreSomething about Jesus attracted broken people far from God. Sadly, I'm not sure that people “far from God” today seek out Jesus' followers like “tax collectors and sinners” sought Jesus.
Read MoreHave you won any bragging rights in your family or group of friends? Maybe you're the milk-chugging champ, or the asparagus-eating champ, or maybe you have visited the most countries or have the craziest stories or know the most music and movie trivia. What is your claim to fame? It’s likely not the same as the New Testament apostles.
Read MoreWhat makes faith "faith?" For example, how would I know if I have "faith in Jesus?" If I know about him, is that faith? If I believe he is the Son of God, is that faith? The answer to both those questions is, perhaps surprisingly, no.
Read MoreRather than judging me for feeling dark, God offers me grace to understand my pain (for there cannot be darkness in my life without pain), grace to forgive, and grace to bring healing to my life (even if my darkness is self-inflicted).
Read MoreWhat comes to mind when you hear the term spiritual warfare? For some, our thoughts go immediately to powerful encounters with demonic forces, like we see so frequently in the ministries of Jesus and Paul. For others, our thoughts go to all-night intercessory prayer meetings, or walking and claiming geographical territory for Jesus in order to tear down spiritual strongholds, etc.
However, the New Testament offers us a more complete picture.
Read MoreJesus is truth not because he's the correct answer to a math equation, but because, as he says in John 17, he fully reveals the Father to us. There is nothing hidden or obscured in him. When we look at Jesus, we see God. We can rely on him to accurately portray God's heart and character.
Read MoreAre you comfortable sitting next to the Buddhist, the Muslim, the same-sex couple, the person with opposite politics to you, the person with no roof over their head, the person with no morals, and the person who lives for money? Can you laugh with them? Love them? Open your life to them? Are you even inviting them to your table? Jesus is.
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