Motion

We all know the story. It happens in homes all over the world. It happens almost daily. It’s the simple story of when the newest greatest toy, game system, or clothing item comes out. The children of the house want it. They want it so bad that they can taste it. The parents take a look at the price tag, snicker, and say no. Then it comes, the ultimate play by the children of the home. “You don’t love me. You don’t care about me.” The game is on. How do the parents respond? What do they do? Do they give in? Do they standRead More →

One of my favorite movies is The Breakfast Club. This might be my favorite scene: The power of other people’s opinions were so strong that these new “friendships” would be set aside on Monday. That’s the power that other people have over us, isn’t it? Don’t we do the same thing in our lives every single day? Luke relates some teaching of Jesus in the twelfth chapter of his gospel, In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, whichRead More →

I have often wondered whether I’m a help or a hindrance to people who might want to follow Jesus. There’s that famous, yet largely mythic, quote from Ghandi that is always floating around in my head, “I would follow your Christ if I could find but one Christian who followed him.” Am I like that? Is my faith one that is unhelpful? Does my “holiness” push people away from Jesus or attract them to him? I desperately want my life to be one that is attractive and beautiful to people who don’t know Jesus. In look 11:37-54 Jesus is invited into the home of aRead More →

It seems like every few months there’s another high profile Christian who loses their ministry because of sin. Or there’s another teacher that slides from theological orthodoxy to heresy. Why? Why do these people who have such significant ministries lose their way? They have forgotten repentance. That’s all dramatic. But,what about us? How many of us have bright shining lights in a dark and broken world? Some of us have no problem shouting the way of salvation from the rooftops. Yet our hearts are filled with pride and arrogance. Our light has dimmed. Our evangelism has little power or efficacy. Why? Because we’re shoving ourRead More →

There are some passages in the Bible that we really like or seem to really grab our attention. Luke 11:14-23 is one of those passages: Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided againstRead More →

“When you pray…” Jesus said. When you pray… How often do you pray? Do you pray? When do you pray? Does it work? Do you think God will answer? What do you pray? Is it magic? These are the questions that go through my mind whenever prayer comes up. I know they shouldn’t, after all, I’m a pastor. I can tell you theologically what prayer is. I can explain how prayer works within the context of the God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. I can describe prayer for you with confessional language or with modern cool lingo. Jesus didn’t say “When you explain prayer…” HeRead More →