Creating habits can be a good thing.  The habit of exercise is good for our health, as we routinely go for a walk, ride our bike, head to the gym, play pickleball, or do whatever activity helps us stay involved in physical movement that maintains or improves our condition.  The habit of putting our kids to sleep at night, reading them a book, saying prayers with them, all set an example and provid...  Read More

I remember this well, although it was almost 47 years ago.  I was at home in the small first house I owned in Moberly, MO when there was a knock at the door.  Answering it, a young man asked me if I knew the Lord?  I told him I did.  He then put it another way.  “If you were to die tonight, are you sure you’d go to heaven?”  I again told him I would.  “How do you know that?” he inquired.  My respo...  Read More

Pastor: Someone with the authority to lead religious services and help others worship.  A term used mostly in Protestant churches.  The leader who has been ordained.That’s what the Google definition of a pastor lists.  Would you agree?  I’d venture to say most would, since it is the way that this word is used in most church bodies, and in our culture.  And why, I’d guess, that Google defines it th...  Read More

The cynic sees the bruise in the apple, while missing the sweetness and smell, the enjoyable taste as you bite into this delectable fruit.  He throws the apple out because of a single flaw.  He (or she) sees the person in worn-out clothing, or with multiple tatoos, enter church and makes quick assumptions.  They must be from the wrong side of the tracks, must be uneducated, must be lacking in virt...  Read More

I’ve written about the word “belief” before, and how in the Hebrew culture to believe means more than mental knowledge.  It means you act on what you believe.  So, we err when we think salvation by believing in Christ only involves mental acceptance of him.  It involves obedience also.  Obedience doesn’t save us.  We’d have to be perfect for that, but it does give evidence of real belief, real fai...  Read More

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you know what the number one complaint about the church is from those on the outside.  “Yeah, I might consider going to church if it wasn’t for all those hypocrites.”  Often the remark is made about a specific congregation where they know several people, who they consider to be hypocritical. What are we to think about that statement?My first respo...  Read More

The CEO of Northwest Airlines was a strong business leader, saving the airline from bankruptcy.  He then became CEO of Burger King and helped turn them around.  He excelled at achieving his goals.  But when his 6-year-old daughter was killed in a car accident, he no longer had control.  Grief was overwhelming.  What could help him through this tough time?  Would you believe the book of Isaiah?  Th...  Read More

“Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons.  The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me my inheritance.” So, the father divided his property between them.  Not many days later the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country. There he squandered his property in reckless living.  When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he b...  Read More

A story is told about a person who had been a habitual gossip.  He spread hurtful rumors all over town and did much harm in a nonchalant way.  He decided to repent of this sin and went to the village rabbi seeking to make amends.  “Rabbi, is there something I can do that will make things right?”  The rabbi stroked his beard and replied, “Go home and come back with a pillow.”  It seemed an odd requ...  Read More

“As we were going to a place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination… She followed Paul and us, crying out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit in her, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’  And it came out.” Acts 16:16-18To...  Read More

Many people call themselves “Christian,” but in the context of being a Christ-follower (the meaning of the word Christian), let me ask: Is it a free-for-all process, or must we pay attention to what Jesus said and to what the Bible teaches?  The answer, I would hope, is obvious.  Consider what it means to follow Christ as Lord.The Old Testament.  Many people who go to church and are seeking to liv...  Read More

“Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?... You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matt. 7:...  Read More