As Christians, we’re now approaching the most monumental time in our calendar – the Easter season. Most of us know that “Easter” is not the biblical term for our celebration. Jesus died on the same day as lambs were being slain for the Jewish Passover meal. He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies about [...]
Do or Done?
A rap video has recently surfaced on the Internet that has drawn a lot of attention. It’s entitled “Why I hate religion but love Jesus.” The intent of the piece, written and delivered by Jefferson Bethke, is (I believe) to show why the lost world may be confused about Christianity, believing it to be just [...]
Birth Pangs
It was over thirty-five years ago that I had my last child, but the life-changing event is something you don’t forget easily. Certain details fade with time, of course, but most women can recall the final stages of giving birth with clarity because of the strong emotions that seem to burn the memory into their [...]
The Great Christmas Let-Down
During the months of November and December we hear a lot about Jesus’ birth. We seldom mention it during the other ten months of the year, but during the Advent and Christmas season we are treated to a seemingly non-stop retelling of the awesome event. I don’t imagine I can bring any new insights to [...]
Wild Honey From the Rock
As I sit down to write this devotional, I'm so grateful to the Lord for two things. First, that He loves me enough to discipline me when I am not up to snuff. I feel loved when His Holy Spirit gently reveals something in my heart that falls short of His holiness. Why? Because I [...]
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not?
When I was in high school I had some good friends who were Roman Catholic. Because we all attended church regularly, we sometimes shared ideas and how we felt about our faith. I remember how shocked I was the first time one of them told me how he saw the role of the Virgin Mary [...]
Pre-hydrate!
I've just returned from the coast of South Carolina, where the air temperatures mixed with the heat index made it feel like 110 degrees. Stiflingly hot temps in addition to sky-high dew points made you feel like you were maybe a little crazy to venture out from under the comfort of air conditioning. People flocked [...]
Exposing the Dictatorship of Pride
Jesus repeatedly warned his disciples about the leaven (yeast) of the Pharisees. He spells out in Luke 12:1 what He means: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” By their teachings and example the Pharisees encouraged others to do as they did – focus on outward religious works and [...]
Traveling Light
Once again I am packing and unpacking, a process that frequent travelers know well. With the new demands by airlines for lighter and smaller bags, we now must choose carefully what we will need for our destination. “What can I do without? What is absolutely essential to take? What makes sense to buy there, and [...]
Death Be Not Proud
The Easter season is a time of contradictions and ironies. While we mourn, we also rejoice. While we consider the great price paid for sin on the cross and bow our heads in shame to realize our sin and rebellion nailed Him there, at the same time we are thankful for what was accomplished through [...]
Adventuring with God 