Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5, ESV Verses 3-5 … Read More
God Gives Rest to Anxious Hearts
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2, ESV I can so relate to this verse, as I’ve often struggled with insomnia. It might be because I don’t know how to solve a particular problem or heal a painful … Read More
Our Best Efforts Are Useless Without God’s Blessing
“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1, ESV Psalm 127 is a wisdom psalm or poem that’s part of a trilogy:127,128, & 133. And that trilogy is part of a larger collection of “pilgrimage psalms” or “Songs of Ascent” … Read More
Why I’m Not a Presuppositionalist
Not a what?! Sorry, I’m not trying to force you to go get another cup of coffee just to read this post. 🙂 Admittedly, however, I’ve chosen to deal with a more technical but important topic related to apologetics (1 Pet. 3:15), philosophy, and specifically epistemology. Here are a few definitions to help us not get lost in the weeds: … Read More
What Jesus Wants in 2021, Part 4 of 4
In this multi-layered passage we’ve been considering (Luke 10:38-42), Mary is our example in both her listening and, specifically, in her listening to Jesus. And this brings us to our final and most important point for 2021: Jesus tells us that Mary shows us a better way to live. (42) A close friend casually looking at this story has often … Read More
What Jesus Wants in 2021, Part 3 of 4
In considering, Luke 10:38-42, Mary not only listened, Mary listened to Jesus. Indeed, that’s no small thing but it’s, regrettably, wildly misunderstood both inside and outside the Church. In thinking about the Jesus that Mary listened to, it’s essential to let his invitation below wash over, refresh, and inform our understanding of what it means to follow Him: “Come to … Read More
What Jesus Wants in 2021, Part 2 of 4
“Loves first act is to listen.” Theologian Paul Tillich In considering the story of Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet in Luke 10:38-42, our first of three points is that Mary listened. This might seem like something too simple to mention, but, honestly, given the racial and political division we’ve seen over the past year, I can’t think of anything more … Read More
What Jesus Wants in 2021, Part 1 of 4
I want to take you with me on a very personal journey over the next month, one I hope has the potential—given the collateral damage of 2020—to bring healing to your heart, relationships, and our communities. More on that next week, but this week I want to give you some background. Last year at this time, my mom and I … Read More
A Few of My 2020 Favorite Things
What a year! As a whole, I wanted this post to be commemorative, informative, and encouraging going into 2021. I would be remiss, however, not to acknowledge the pain of those who’ve been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and, especially, express my profound sorrow for those who’ve lost loved ones to the virus. Our family lost two friends (one very close … Read More
A Simple Way to Love Your Neighbors
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:19, NLT This verse captures the heart of God in the gospel and the responsibility of all Christians to be His ambassadors. Although there are many things about the holidays we love, … Read More