Here is a meditation/devotional I’ve written for the Christmas season. You may find it helpful during the busyness of the holidays to use it as a way to keep your focus on Christ as you participate in all the other plans and events going on. Use it as the Spirit of God leads. You don’t […]
Christmas: a new king is in town
THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN, Jan van’t Hoff The four gospels in the New Testament are not simply biographies. There is more to them than “the life of Christ.” They are histories and more. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John constructed their documents in ways to convey meaning beyond plain facts. They were free to […]
CONSTRUCTING COMMUNITY
In 1 Corinthians 1:10 – 6:20 Living as a disciple of Jesus entails living with other disciples of Jesus. Community is an important emphasis in many churches today (as well as the culture in general). It has always been part of church life. Back in the day, it was called “fellowship.” However, the call to […]
INJUSTICE ENSHRINED – AMENDMENT 79
I am writing specifically about an issue that is on the state of Colorado ballot this year. Some other states have similar proposals. For those of you living in a different state, hopefully you will get something helpful as well. The issue is a proposed amendment to the Colorado state constitution, Amendment 79. Here is […]
Health update
I know everyone is concerned about my well-being even though no one has mentioned it. This is the time of year when I have exams and tests. Here are the results. Diagnoses ARCD – Age Related Cognitive De… Dec… something Curmudgeonosis (with acute Crankyalgia) Midpoint Bellyfat Crisis No Good Songs Since 1977 Neurosis Onomatopoeia Fishing […]
Hard conversations with God
When I was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah, my attention was drawn to a long section that I had never quite understood the meaning – Isaiah 63:7 – 65:16. It didn’t seem to quite fit with the context, the chapters preceding and following. Then I saw it. This is a conversation between the […]
God Chooses
Come along with me for a “tour” through Paul’s epistle to the Romans, chapters 9 – 11. This will not be a detailed study of everything that is written. I want to provide an overall understanding of this important section of Scripture – a tour highlighting the main features throughout then arriving at the critical […]
The Exemption for Jesus
The place of the Old Testament (Old Covenant) Law in the life of one following Jesus is a significant issue that I believe needs to be clarified and understood. Frankly speaking, I think most Christians don’t get it. Reading through the Gospel of Matthew, I came upon a short passage that provides some clarity. What […]
There is hope
There’s hope for us. We are not unavoidably doomed to our flaws and failures and to our pains and scars. We can become something that we are not. The New Testament informs us that followers of Jesus “have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” […]
Jesus is the man
In part 5 of my previous series on The Image of God, I wrote briefly about Jesus being human. Philippians 2:6-8 tells us about Christ Jesus, Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very […]