Category Archives: personal comments
The Scream
You’re probably familiar with Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream– yesterday it sold at auction for 120 million dollars. It is a profound painting, but do you know its inspiration? From the venerable Wikipedia, a quote from Munch’s own diary, written January 22, 1892: “I was walking along a path with two friends—the sun was setting—suddenly the [...]
Jesus is Leaving Us?
But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you. John 16:7, CEV Someone is thinking. Jesus has an awareness [...]
People of the Fire
“Whatever we build on that foundation will be tested by fire on the day of judgment. Then everyone will find out if we have used gold, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, and straw. We will be rewarded if our building is left standing. But if it is destroyed by the fire, we will lose everything. Yet [...]
Bragging Rights
“Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. But he replied, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 This is a very crisp idea, [...]
When Sin Brutalizes You
When Our Sin Overwhelms Us “There are three things for certain. #1 You will never forget your sins. #2 God has forgotten them. #3 The Devil will try to make you remember your sins. The question is who are we going to side with? God says our sins are past, cleansed, and gone. You cannot go on with [...]
Go Lower Yet: Becoming the Servant
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14 Some Christians reading this part of scripture, have concluded that foot washing should be part of the Churches customary routine. Their case is compelling, and they may be right in their interpretation. There is as [...]
Restrain Them: Psalms 141:8-10
8″ I look to you for help, O Sovereign Lord. You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me. 9 Keep me from the traps they have set for me, from the snares of those who do wrong. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, but let me escape.” Psalms 141:8-10, NLT Spoken like a man who [...]
Making Our Way Home
The Lord Jesus has decided to build his kingdom with the broken things of this earth. As men, we are pretty much convinced that we are to build with the strong, the talented, the personable and the winsome. We insist on building with decidedly unbroken people. But God’s true kingdom (not the one we know [...]
Elijah Had Some Issues
Then Elijah walked for a whole day into the desert. He sat down under a bush and asked to die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he prayed. “Let me die. I am no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:4 Poor Elijah. He was bold and heroic, taking on the enemy at Mt. Carmel. A [...]