Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind
Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature. — Romans 12:2 My wife and I got back from Ireland a few weeks ago, which means you’ll see Ireland popping up occasionally in …
Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. — Luke 6:36 You can learn a lot about a person by the bumper sticker they may choose to stick on their vehicle. I was behind a large white pickup at a stoplight. Its bumper sticker caught my eye: “Trump 2024” and underneath is was “*@#! Your Feelings.” Of …
If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, I have chosen you out of the world, and you don’t belong to the world. This is why the world hates you. — John 15:19 The first 300 years of the church saw explosive growth. From a few thousand in the middle 1st century, it grew to between 5-6 million by 300 AD. It didn’t get …
In my first assignment as an associate pastor fresh out of seminary, I made a few mistakes (perhaps that’s an understatement). One was preaching social justice sermons to an affluent congregation that boasted some prominent executives of large corporations. While I felt what I preached was true to the gospel, it’s always helpful to remember …
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? — Psalm 8:3-4 Barb and I got Covid, for the second time, back in August. We had mild symptoms, …
God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over…every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Genesis 1:27 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. – Genesis 2:15 Have you ever noticed how …
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. — 1 Corinthians 13:4 There’s a reason that 1 Corinthians 13 is the passage-of-choice for many couples when they get married. It contains a concrete, practical description of how love is expressed. Paul wrote it to give guidance for …
“I [Peter] really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another.” — Acts 10:34 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him. They accused him, “You went into the home of the uncircumcised and ate with them!” — Acts 11:2-3 One of the key roles of …
Even in my old age with gray hair, don’t abandon me, God! Not until I tell generations about your mighty arm, tell all who are yet to come about your strength, and about your ultimate righteousness, God, because you’ve done awesome things! — Psalm 71:18-19 I’ve mentioned before how much I appreciate the daily meditations …
As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. — John 20:14 If I had to choose a favorite Gospel right now, it would be John. That’s because it is, frankly, quite weird compared to the other ones. In your free time …