The Golden Rule in Scripture teaches us to treat others as we would have them treat us (Matthew 7:12). Unfortunately, the contemporary refrain seems to be either “Do to others before they can do to me,” or “Treat others as they treat me.” We often justify our actions like kindergartners, “He touched me first,” or “She did it too.” Continue reading “Prophets and Pharisees Part 5 of 5: Is it About Me or Them?”
Prophets and Pharisees Part 1 of 5: Is it About God or is it About Me?
The line between being Prophetic and Pharisaical is so thin that it is often crossed without us even being aware. It is easy to feel so passionately about something that our emotions – or the devil – trick us into believing we are carrying out a righteous mission when, in truth, we have become self-righteous like the Pharisees of old. Continue reading “Prophets and Pharisees Part 1 of 5: Is it About God or is it About Me?”
Improving the Truth
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life…” Does that mean He is always impressed when we tell the truth? Surprisingly, no. There are ways we can “improve on the truth.”
I was reading a rant on Facebook this morning that brought this “truth” to light. The person was chastising people who call themselves Christians, yet ignore the character flaws of Donald Trump. He went on to berate his readers for criticizing President Obama for character issues while ignoring those found in the man they supported.
8 Things 28 Years Have Taught Me about Marriage – Part 2
In my last blog, we looked at four things I have learned about marriage over the past twenty-eight years with my incredible wife Teri. If you missed it, you can go back and read it here.
Today we continue with four more things I have learned about marriage. I hope you find it useful!
Continue reading “8 Things 28 Years Have Taught Me about Marriage – Part 2”
Love Wins
Love is exceedingly greater and infinitely deeper than the trivial hash-tags and memes that permeate our social-media culture. It is far more important than the puppy dog eyes, and instant connection we witness in the fantasy world of entertainment. Love is far more than a feeling. Love is far greater than action. Love is a person.
1 John 4:8 is clear, “God is love”. Everything good and perfect emanates not from human society, and certainly not from human feelings. All good things emanate from our Heavenly Father. Love, like everything else in the universe, can only be properly viewed in the light of God’s character. Love without God is like currency from a failed government. It is a counterfeit that lacks the authority to back up what is promised.
Engaging the Real Stakes
A few short days ago in Orlando we, the American people, experienced another devastating rip in the fabric of our collective souls. The well formulated response templates were quickly populated by the various interest groups and the battle lines were clearly drawn around philosophical and political world-views. Just as fluidly, the ideological children of those interest groups leaped onto social media to defend their virtual turf and espouse their anger toward whoever and whatever threatened their position.
It appears that with each tragic salvo, facts are more and more quickly obscured by the overarching narratives that have been custom-tailored to fit each interest group’s agenda. True compassion for victims now almost immediately gives way to objectification, as the suffering are turned into poster children for carefully guarded world-views. In this crisis, for example, victims have been used to promote less guns by one group and more guns by another. Some have used the incident to indict the entire Muslim community while others have gone out of their way to say it had nothing to do with Islam at all.
The Not-So-Good Samaritan
While traveling in South Carolina last week, I had the opportunity to watch a few minutes of the local news. One of the stories was about a tow truck driver who responded to a stranded motorist. Upon arriving on the scene, the tow-truck driver began the process of hooking the woman up for the tow when he noticed a Bernie Sanders for President bumper sticker.
In an interview with WLOS-TV, the tow truck driver said, “Something came over me, I think the Lord came to me, and he just said get in the truck and leave.” He went on to say how good he felt about his decision to leave the handicapped and infirmed woman to fend for herself.
The Things that Moms Do
As we prepare for Mother’s Day this coming Sunday, it is appropriate to reflect on the importance of Moms. Through many counseling sessions with both men and women over the years, I have learned much about the positive and negative effects of Mothers. George Washington also seemed to grasp of how important Mothers are. He once said,
“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”
Our Greatest Desire – Fulfilled! Part 3
We have been discussing God’s concept of lasting love that models Christ’s love for His people. So far we covered five biblical keys to lasting love. You can review those blogs here:
Our Greatest Desire – Fulfilled! Part 1
Our Greatest Desire – Fulfilled! Part 2
Today we will discuss the next three biblical keys.
Our Greatest Desire – Fulfilled! Part 2
In our last blog, we discussed God’s concept of love that transcends the human experience into the spiritual realm. A lasting love that models Christ’s love for His people (the Church) and shows the world what love really is. We covered the first two biblical keys to lasting love. You can review that blog here:
Our Greatest Desire – Fulfilled! Part 1
Today we will discuss the next three biblical keys.