“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us” (Psalm 78: 1-3). With these words this song begins, a maskil of Asaph.  A maskil is a poem or song that enforces wisdom, that calls on your intelligence, asking for piety.  ...  Read More

In the previous Cross Point about elders, I talked about the history of elders and the listed qualifications of elders in the New Testament provided by the apostles Paul and Peter.  As you look at the qualities, you may note a couple of things.  First, they are primarily providing a list of personal characteristics, which define a mature, seasoned, experienced, biblically educated man.  Again, no ...  Read More

Yes, I know, most people will think of an older person being cared for, maybe in a nursing home, when they read the title.  What I mean is almost the opposite of that.  I’m talking about Elders (shepherds, pastors), as in the church officials, who help care for the congregation.  As mature Christian men take on this role, what is expected of them?  More specific, what does the Bible say is expecte...  Read More

I just finished listening to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak to all of congress about how the United States has helped and hopefully will continue to help his country of Ukraine fight for freedom, and how they fight against the powerful lies of Russia’s elite, while Ukraine seeks to fight with dignity and for Truth, or “Pravda” in Ukrainian.  He said he believes they have already won the war f...  Read More

Type your new text here. There’s an old saying you’ve probably heard that goes, “I’m none the wiser.”  In other words, something has happened and yet I know no more, have gained no more wisdom, than before it happened. When I was college age, way back in the early 1970’s, the number of adult people who claimed no religious affiliation, who marked “none” on the question about religious affiliation,...  Read More

Type your new text here. One of the controversies you can find within Christianity is whether a person can become a Christ-follower, truly accepting Jesus in faith as a disciple, then later abandon the faith and no longer follow Jesus, losing the salvation they once had. Such appears to be the case with Demas.The apostle Paul mentions Demas in his second letter to Timothy, chapter 4, where he says...  Read More

What must it have been like for Joseph and Mary to walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census?  And why would Mary even go, so close to delivering a child?  It would not have been an easy trip.  Most likely they did the normal thing for the time, avoiding Samaria, crossing to the east side of the Jordan River below the Sea of Galilee and then walking south until they crossed back near Jericho ...  Read More

We live in an odd time for Christianity.  So many “Christians” want to live life their own way, thinking Christian faith is a surreal concept, a mix of fact and fiction, open to their personal take on how it is lived out, typically with the Bible superglued to the shelf, a symbol but thought impractical for our values.  As a result, they accept cultural norms such as sexual promiscuity, living tog...  Read More

Who would be afraid of Jesus?  Does that even make sense?  For many the answers would be, “Surely no one would be afraid of Jesus” and “No, to be afraid of him makes no sense.”  But not so quick.Indeed, the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, is the manifestation of God’s love for us.  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Paul asked in his letter to the Romans (8:35).  In his book to the Ephes...  Read More

We live in a day when the Bible is pushed aside by many people in our culture.  Even by many who call themselves Christian.  It is no longer the source of morals, of doctrine, of principles for living.  One reason is because of the critics who dismiss it, saying it is not from God, but just a human document.  Here are a few of the myths about it, and responses to the critics.Some say the writings ...  Read More

Just back from the International Conference on Missions held in Columbus, Ohio, this year.  I find it totally awe inspiring as I walk among hundreds of missions gathered.  Everything from saving girls from human trafficking, feeding the hungry, teaching others how to make a living, taking care of orphans, spreading the gospel in remote places, etc.  It’s God’s work.  Its what we as Christians shou...  Read More

October 20, 2022 I’ve never been good at learning another language.  When in high school I took French for a year, only because that was the only foreign language my school offered.  (And this little piggy went Oui, Oui, Oui, all the way home, see I can use it in a sentence!)  I would have preferred Spanish.  Rexanne and I have traveled a lot, primarily on mission trips, and we try to learn a few ...  Read More