God Has Plans
Theology students are taught that context is king when understanding the Bible. Generally, a verse must be understood by its near context, book or section context, and the overarching context…
Category: 2023
All-Stars: Something New
In this forum, I rarely write about the all-star verses of scripture. Those gems which ring with meaning have often been the topic of teaching, sermons, and songs. But for…
Inheriting a Blessing
A wise warning is to be heard in “Don’t put the cart before the horse.” It’s a phrase from a different era, one before motorized transport. And yet one that…
Untouchables
Girls have cooties. Well, they did have cooties when I was on the brink of adolescence. Since cooties may not be an internationally known phenomena, I’d better explain. “Cooties” is…
Jars of Clay
The Apostle Paul had reason to be put on a pedestal. He had traveled the known world, winning souls and starting churches. Miracles happened at his word. His writing makes…
Today
A nearby seafood restaurant called Joe’s Crab Shack boldly proclaims in large letters on their building “Free Crab Tomorrow.” The sign is designed as an eye-catcher and a declaration of…
I Thank God
I feel compelled today to speak to those who labor and serve in the Lord’s Kingdom. Let’s begin with a passage from Philemon. “I thank my God always, making mention…
Coloring Between the Lines
Perhaps I’m being a bit nostalgic with this post. The meat of this post was written nearly ten years ago as our first grandson Asher was in Pre-school. This week,…
Psalms: With a Twist
Most dramatic TV shows have a twist, a surprise moment that takes the story in an unexpected direction. The tramp is really an heir to the family fortune. The likable…
Psalms: Silence the Enemy
There is one consistent joy that I’ve discovered during my time serving in public schools. That joy is the sound of 5-9-year-olds playing. Whether in the gym or on the…
Psalms: Priorities
A famous economist once said, “There are no solutions; there are only trade-offs.” Whether we admit it or not, everything is a series of choices. Especially where to spend our…
Psalms: A Matter of Trust
Whom do we trust to make things right? We see the turmoil of our cities, the poverty in the streets, the corrupt oppression of the helpless, the unjust hammer of…