Today, the nation, the Christian community, and the little town of Sutherland Springs, TX, in particular, are mourning the senseless carnage of another mass shooting. This morning, while the carnage was going on in Texas, I was preaching on a text (Matthew 10:24-42) that predicted that such things would be the part of the Christian … More Church Shooting in Texas: How Should We Respond?
Reading with the Pastor Mark 11 and Psalm 46 “Open my eyes that I might see wonderful things in Your word” (Psalm 119:18). The Temple was to be a house of prayer but in Jesus time it had been turned into a “robber’s den” (Mark 11:17). Here was a specially set aside and sacred place … More When Doing Right Gets You in Trouble
Christians in the first quarter of the 21st century would do well to heed the words of Isaiah. Ours is a culture that delights in redefining not just a few things but nearly everything. The newer an idea, the further that idea is from the cultural mores of the past, the more time and credence … More Calling Good, Evil and Evil, Good
Here is a great piece of history rescued from the ashes of World War II of a day when the church stood for righteousness in the face of fascist evil. Read it and rejoice in the wonder of what God can do when believers stand on the faith they profess against all odds. The following comes … More Some History I Didn’t Know
UPDATE: Terry Ivy is a cancer survivor, a husband, a father, a pastor a lover of Christ, an early “BLOG Friend”, and one who has become a dear friend and prayer warrior to me. Though we have only been together in person twice, we have been companions in heart and he is holds a cherished … More Sometimes People Hear the Gospel by Accident
Our culture is fast-moving toward a pre-Constantinian status. That is, in the foreseeable future, it will take “great conviction and courage to stand for Christ.” mps Yesterday I read a quote by John Howard Yoder, that prior to the conversion of Constantine and the Roman Empire, “it took great conviction to stand for Christ. After Constantine (A.D. … More The Constantinian Problem and Opportunity
Sunday Quotes “Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of … More Bonhoeffer Was Killed on This Day in 1945
Friday is for Heart Songs No affliction can extinguish our joy because Christmas joy led, in the fullness of time, to resurrection rejoicing. 2 Corinthians 6:3–10 (ESV) 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: … More Affliction Cannot Extinguish Our Joy
Friday Musings “Christian.” “I am a Christian.” “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” “I am a follower of Christ.” Those words have gotten many people killed down through the centuries. It’s part of the cost of being a follower of the Prince of Peace. Jesus promised that it would happen (cf. Mt. 5:11; 10:23; … More Invited to Live by Dying
Tuesday is for Thinking We live in an interesting age. There is more information available to people than ever before but people seem more ignorant of history and even current events than ever before. Nevertheless, people will pontificate about what they “know” to be true without the slightest relation or reference to actual facts. At … More The Advantage of a One Answer Response for Everything
ChosenRebel's Blog 