The Anomaly of “Balance”
In a society that is deeply wounded with the rampant rise of divorce, broken families, fatherless children, and identity crisis, there has been a healthy resurgence in recognizing the importance of family. Husbands and parents are urged to guard their family time and balance their priorities to honor their Lord with their families. Without caution, however, we can overcorrect and veer off the road on the other side, embracing one extreme to avoid the other.
Pain and Hope in Grief
It was five years ago today, that I lost my dad. I loved him deeply, but I had no idea at the time how much my identity was sunk into my father and my relationship with him. I still remember the shock of the news, and the horrifying reality setting in that there was a sudden end to the visits we would pay him, the conversations we would have, and the memories that our children would enjoy with him. Deep, gut-wrenching pain only begins to explain the feeling that pervaded then, and even the feeling that continues to reverberate now.
Christian Liberty, Stifled… Exhortations for the Weaker Brother
Romans 14 compels the Christian who is strong in his liberty to surrender his rights for the spiritual well-being of his fellow believer that has convictions. But when does that become excessive? What if this is abused? Should Christians with convictions desire this loss of liberty? Stronger brother: don’t flaunt your liberty, and be sensitive to your weaker brothers. But, weaker brother: don’t wield your convictions as a trump card against Christian liberty! Nine questions for the weaker brother:
Wrestling with Convictions
What music should I listen to? How should I dress? Who should I vote for? Should I participate in Halloween? Should I join a party with my coworkers? What Bible translation should I use? Should my kids go to public school, Christian school, or be homeschooled? How do we know what's right?
Real Men Cry… Together
I rarely cry. To some, that would look good. Like true composure. But I think I’ve trained myself in a harmful way. “Sadness” is a barely recognizable and identifiable emotion. Instead, it is stifled, along with any hint of tears. Sadness may instead express itself in silence, withdrawal, or anger. Its suppression is actually a manifestation of pride. And I struggle in denial of a God-given emotion, and its expression in tears.
Dangerously Familiar
When’s the last time you had a spiritual EKG? An EKG measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. Have you considered what makes your heartbeat? Let’s have a look... Does the good news of Jesus drive you each day? Or is it shelved each week to be remembered again on Sunday? Are you freshly excited about God? Or are you drifting in boredom with familiar biblical concepts? Are you restless with desire to know Him more? Or are you comfortable with a casual pursuit of Jesus? Are you passionately engaged in hungry pursuit? Or are you dispassionately withdrawn with indifference? If your vital signs are waning, you are in serious danger!
What It Means to Be Community
How well do you know some of your fellow church members? I don’t just mean their name, that on most Sundays they’re doing “good”, and a few standard facts about them. I’m not advocating for knowing more about people. I’m suggesting that it’s time to invest ourselves into deeper relationships with our family in Christ!
God in the Cracks?
For those of you who have smartphones, please take a moment to check the battery status of your phone. In the battery section, it will give you a percentage of what app is used the most. Where is your Bible app in comparison to Facebook? Where is your Bible app in comparison to Instagram? How about Snapchat? Whatsapp? Knowing that many of you do read your actual physical Bibles, the same application still applies. How much ...
Warning! Harden Not Your Heart!
Have you ever noticed how doing something wrong gets a little bit easier every time? The first time committing a particular sin, our conscience may burn within us! But if we manage to explain away that guilt and pep-talk ourselves into another go, we can surely work ourselves into a comfort zone with certain sins! Eventually, those sins might become normal life to us, and the very notion that it is “sin” can horribly offend us! It goes without saying that there is an urgent need for regular self-examination – and there are repeated warnings in Scripture to caution us against this “hardening” of our hearts!
How to Have Beautiful Feet
Each morning before leaving home, the typical person will look in the mirror to check his appearance and ensure that they look presentable. Some traits can be adjusted, such as bedhead or food on our faces; others are simply a part of who we are, like my freckles and stubborn cowlick. It’s important for us to examine ourselves regularly, though! Take a look at your feet, considering: what is your appearance before God? Would He describe your feet as “beautiful”? “As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:15). It is amazing to me that an almighty and glorious God can look upon sinners like us, and see beauty. What is it that gives us beautiful feet before God?