The news wasn’t good. “Neighbor Bob just got home from three weeks in the hospital. If you want to see him, you better visit soon.” Our hay supplier’s words echoed in my ears. Ugh. I’d stayed away through the COVID-19 time because Bob was fighting cancer, a battle he’d been waging for five years. I’d […]
Christians are people of the Book where “Thus saith the Lord” and “It is written” are found throughout. God’s Word began with the cosmic, creative speaking of the Father, came to earth in the Living Word that is the Son, and was inspired as the written Word of the Bible by the Spirit — one […]
Discipleship is one of the most important aspects of the faith, though many parts of Christianity today don’t seem to practice it. Many things might stand in for discipleship: reading a book about a Christian subject, for example, or listening to sermons and going to church each week. However, though beneficial, these and similar activities […]
Two Gospel writers, Matthew and Mark, record that near His death, Jesus called out in a loud voice with what might seem to be a strange statement: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you […]
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed” (Galatians 3:8). In the above passage, Paul writes that God announced the gospel in advance to Abraham. It’s an interesting statement, and one that raises questions. Why was […]
“Which do you want first: the good news or the bad news?” You’ve probably heard that question. It is curious how the news often comes in this pair, especially as it is heard in the gospel. There is a paradox in the biblical presentation of the gospel — a dichotomy, or at least a dynamic […]
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15, NIV). My daughter and I walked down the stairs. “Mom, step over here,” she ordered. Absentmindedly, […]
Given the impact that the phenomenon called COVID-19 is having on us and the need to respond as a church to this new reality, we recognize, among other things, the great opportunity to fulfill the mission that the Lord Jesus Christ commands us. Likewise, we reaffirm that the church is not a building or house […]
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, KJV). It was Isaiah who first penned these God-inspired words. Frederick Handel quoted them, […]
At sixteen years old, I found the love of my life at a Salvation Army camp. Three years later, we were married. There aren’t enough words in the English language, not enough words in all the languages on earth, to express how wonderful it is to find the love of your life. I consider it […]
