Love Isn’t Looking for a Fight
A few summers ago, Betty and I took a vacation to the Great Smoky National Park in eastern Tennessee. Part of the charm of this area is its wildlife, especially…
ABCs of Faith – Loving Faith
Have you ever ridden a unicycle? How about a pogo stick? Or perhaps you have tried hopping around on one leg. All are doable but not the most stable things…
Whole Armor – Faith
Unless they’re part of an anti-riot squad or an actor, no one carries a shield around with them. And yet, shields of various types and sizes are a part of…
Unite My Heart
One day at a nearby campground Chet was settling in to listen to the Cub-Cardinal game on the radio. Now Chet was not just a Cub fan, he was THE…
ABCs of Faith – Kept Faith
If I say “keeping faith” what leaps to your mind? That phrase is like those pictures you may have seen. Focus on the dark lines and see a young girl,…
Whole Armor: The Gospel of Peace
Have you ever thought about why we wear shoes? The obvious answer is to protect our feet from various injuries. Anyway, that’s the practical reason. But we also wear them…
The Good Fight
There are many Biblical phrases that have become idioms in our culture. Phrases like “the blind leading the blind”, “go the extra mile”, or the “writings on the wall” all…
ABCs of Faith – Just Faith
Researchers identify, in broad strokes, three major culture types. One culture type is power/fear. Relationships, politics, and even worship are driven by power encounters where failure produces fear. Another culture…
Whole Armor: Righteousness
Considering ancient and modern body armor, the breastplate is the largest single piece. And for a good reason. The breastplate protects our vulnerable and vital organs, including our heart. Paul…
Building UP
There are parts of the Bible we tend to leap over. The lengthy geologies scattered throughout the text, for instance. There are also sections that no longer seem to apply.…
ABCs of Faith – Inherited Faith
We often think of inheritance as money. That’s often true. But inheritance can also be land, possessions, or that famous recipe that has been passed down through the generations. I…
The Whole Armor – Truth
Truth is the first piece of the Whole Armor of God listed by Paul in Ephesians 6:14. Paul uses the word picture to “gird your loins” to visualize the role…