The Thief on the Cross and Baptism
The thief on the cross has little or nothing to do with baptism. The Bible teaches that baptism is essential for salvation. Those who disagree often point to the thief on the cross as evidence that baptism is not required for salvation. Their reasoning is that since Jesus told the thief that he would be with him […]
When Pain Is Good
A top college football coach has a motto for his team: “Pain instructs.” One of his top players sports a tattoo that reads, “Pain Lies.” Each is counterintuitive. They seem silly. We think that pain only hurts. That it must be eliminated at all cost. We might even think that pain is the only truth […]
Prepare
It did not freeze last night. Contrary to some weather forecasts, it only dropped to about 37 here in Daphne. But I did notice my neighbors covering their plants yesterday. And even though they will awake to realize their work was not needed, they will still take similar preparations next time. When living in the […]
Should We Change?
People vote for a candidate for one or many possible reasons. One very large set of issues are those that deal with social issues or moral issues. Things like abortion, gambling, gay marriage and work ethic issues define many American voters. For many years, politicos have been telling us that these issues are unimportant to […]
IRS and Church Politics
Apparently, the IRS cares little what you say in the pulpit. That’s a good thing because we don’t need government telling us what to preach. But as I outlined in a recent post about the IRS and churches, the law remains on the books which prohibits a church, which uses the non -profit status, from […]
Enthroned!
Jesus is on the throne. Remember that and do not forget it. Jesus is on the throne. This week we face an election which has many Americans up in arms over the possible outcomes. People on both sides of the street fear the worst if their candidate fails to win. For some, the church will […]
Jesus and Legion
The meeting between Jesus and Legion is fascinating. Jesus converses with the demon and then banishes him into a herd of pigs. The story is exciting and curious, and there are important lessons to be learned. The account is found in Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39. Jesus is preaching in Galilee and has […]
Pulpit Freedom Sunday: A Misguided Idea
Hundreds of preachers are going to break the law today (October 7, 2012). It’s called Pulpit Freedom Sunday and it is staged by an organization that works to protect churches against government intrusion. Preachers will step into their pulpits today and take a political position for or against Mitt Romney or Barack Obama. Intervening on […]
Jesus and Darkness
Few people really like being in the dark. Darkness hides danger and covers misdeeds. A fear of darkness is common in infancy and some remnants of that fear remains into adulthood. We use nightlights in our homes, have flashlights at the ready, install streetlights on the corner and flood lights around the house. When the […]
Jesus and Light
Light is often used to describe good things. Light describes truth (Psalm 43:3; Ephesians 5:9). Light describes God’s word (Psalms 119:105, 130). Light describes goodness (Proverbs 15:30; Ephesians 5:9). Light describes deliverance and redemption (Luke 1:79). Light also describes Jesus (John 8:12; John 12:35, 36; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Light is a good thing and an oft […]
