Today I woke up with the song, "Even So Come" by Kristian Stanfill running through my mind, particularly the verse, "Like a bride waiting for her groom, we'll be a church ready for You".I will admit that the concept of being a bride, even as a member of the Body, is difficult for me. I am male after all.Pondering this as I went through my routine, I began comparing a 1st c...

Isaiah 9:6-7"For a child will be bornto us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on Hisshoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, EternalFather, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of Hisgovernment or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, Toestablish it and to uphold it with justice and righ...

Our Lord God is Sovereign over the entire universe. Nothing happens that he does not ordain. There are many scriptures that proclaim this. One of my favorites is Acts 4:27-28, where the Apostles and Disciples of Christ in the early church proclaimed with one voice, "27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, b...

Many prominent people have said that heaven can be likened to a mountain top, where there are many paths that lead to the top. Others compare God to the center of a wagon wheel, and say there are many paths to God, just as there are many spokes on the wheel which lead to the center. The Bible, however, says something quite different. Peter, when questioned by the religiou...

Yesterday in church, I was amazed anew at God's amazing Grace, first during Communion, and then during the service. The idea that Grace often comes most when we deserve it the least always amazes me. But the idea that it cannot be deserved is nearly incomprehensible to me. (Rom 11:6) Truly, we have a God that defies understanding, and yet He asks us to understand Him. (1 J...

Sin is not just the breaking of Sunday school do's and don'ts. It is not the violating of some impersonal cosmic code of morality. Sin is a personal offense against the creator. It unravels and corrupts each aspect of creation 1. Sin distorts the distinction between Creator and created. We put ourselves at the center of the universe and the center of the story. We attem...

Jesus said, "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. "(Matthew 5:42 NASB) Does this verse give you heartburn? It does me. I mean, really, that guy standing on the corner with his cardboard sign that says, "Viet Nam Veteran. Homeless. Need money for gas." I'm supposed to give him some of my hard earned money? Is this an iso...