In Part 1 we looked at how “the fear of the Lord” is a common reaction when people throughout history have encountered God’s messengers.  We cannot stand boldly before the Lord with face-to-face encounters, we cower in his presence, fall on our face, bow before him.  In the book Recovering Our Sanity by Michael Horton, he says “a sure disproof of someone reporting a vision of God or a message from...  Read More

There’s an old Jerry Seinfeld comedy routine that states the two biggest fears people face.  The number one fear, he says, is speaking in public, and the number two is fear is death.  “Does that sound right?” Seinfeld asks.  “That means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’d rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy!”  I can tell you about my early adult fear of speaking in publ...  Read More

You may remember the old hymn that goes: There is a new name written down in glory, and its mine, oh yes, it’s mine.  The white robed angels sing the story, ‘a sinner has come home’…   So, we might ask, what is this new name the song speaks about?If you are familiar with the Bible, you’ll know that on several occasions God changed a person’s name to show how he saw them in a new light, and hopeful...  Read More

How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!                                                It is like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, flowing down Aaron’s beard    Flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.  It is like the dew on Mount Hermon, flowing down the slope of Zion, where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.  Psalm 133We have arrive...  Read More

O, Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high;                                                      I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.                                        But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother;like a weaned child is my soul within me.  O Israel, hope in the Lord from this              ...  Read More

As we continue our ascent up the mountain toward the temple in Jerusalem figuratively, we come to Psalm 127.  This ascent to worship for the Jew has many parallels to our ascent into maturity as we actively perform discipleship, including our worship of Jesus.  This song, or Psalm, tells us something that is very practical but often neglected.Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it la...  Read More

A priest, a preacher and a rabbi met weekly to share stories about ministry.  One day one of them commented that preaching to people wasn’t hard, what if they tried to preach to a bear.  So, they made a bet about who would accomplish the most during the next week, each seeking a bear to preach to.Seven days later they met again.  The priest spoke first, his arm in a sling and with several bandages...  Read More

There are several typical reasons people give for not wanting to “go to church.”  You’ve probably heard them.  Maybe you’ve used one of them yourself!  Such as: “I just went because my mother made me when I was a kid” or “It’s the only day I have to sleep-in and relax” or “There are just too many hypocrites in the church.”  Good excuses?  Not for the true disciple who loves the Lord and wants to h...  Read More

“I look to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?  No, my strength comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth, and the mountains” (Psalm 121:1).The above is from The Message, and not the typical wording of this verse.  But I must admit I was always a little confused by the traditional translations.  The ESV renders this: “I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help c...  Read More

In this new series starting today we will look at some of the Songs of Ascent, which were Psalms written to be sung as Jews made their way ascending from the countryside to the mountain that Jerusalem was located on.  No matter where they came from, as they neared the city they would ascend (go up) to the capital and the temple.  A theme that can be put to these Psalms is “A Long Obedience in the ...  Read More

I’m a soup and sandwich sort of guy.  I remember working in Columbia, MO for years, and my favorite lunch places were those that provided soup and sandwich options.  A little diner downtown that would provide tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches, or vegetable soup with ham and cheese on rye.  This was mostly before the advent of Panera Bread, and I preferred the mom and pop places anyway.  I’...  Read More

Have you ever wondered what the deal is with Satan?  I mean he is the adversary of the Christian, seeking his or her downfall, tempting the Christian with sin, diverting our eyes to distractions that take us away from the straight and narrow path.  Bad dude.  Seriously. One of the questions I’ll have for God when I get a chance in heaven is: Why does Satan even exist?  First, let’s consider where ...  Read More