By grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone
“Have you considered my servant Joel?” “You mean Job? We had that conversation a long time ago, God. You even put that encounter in your Book—all 42 chapters worth.” Satan continued, “Besides, I don’t need to consider him anymore. He’s long dead.” “No, I said Joel. He’s my servant, too.” “I know who he is. […]
Tyson likes car rides. He enjoys sticking his boxer head out the window. Adjacent cars stare at him; he stares back. I’m not sure how he breathes at 35 mph, both nostrils to the wind—but he doesn’t complain. After a while he will look out the back window for a time. Then he will stick […]
The Episcopalians were in the midst of their orthodox U-turn in the 90’s; they were chucking out doctrine left and right. I recently discovered some humor that floated around some Episcopalian forums and blogs at the time. Self-proclaimed conservative Episcopalians were asking one another, “What do we do now?” The story below was no doubt […]
“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck,” cries David the beginning of Psalm 69. It has been a difficult week; death tragically and unexpectedly descended upon our church. “I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold,” continued the king. We know what that feels like; some of […]
I looked behind me and what I saw was a long and winding road; the path from there had brought me here—the road so winding I had lost sight of yesterday—for the latest bend in the road already had hidden it from view. Memories told me where I had been but many details were already […]
For many of us, Tuesday was a difficult day; the elections not going the way we had hoped and prayed. It appears R-74 will pass; though votes are still being counted. Therefore, it looks as if marriage is about to be redefined; no longer an institution between a man and a woman—in the state’s eyes, […]
I have been reading up on Mormonism lately. Given that one of their members is running for president, I wanted to be able to support and articulate my “Mormonism is a cult” claim—a position I have held for years. I’m even more entrenched today; despite the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association recently removing a page from […]
Consider for a moment what they saw God do to their captors: The Nile turned to blood followed by plagues of frogs, gnats, and flies. Then Egypt’s livestock dies followed by boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and concluding with horrific screams in the night as a nation’s firstborn was no more (Exodus 7-11). Then consider what […]
I was enjoying my second scone of the night as we walked out the gate of the Puyallup Fair. Just outside, we encountered a man holding a big sign. I don’t remember all the words, but here are some of them that stayed with me: alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, and rock-in-roll. At the end of […]
Anybody ever come up to you and say: “Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you”? Anybody ever come up to you after church and say: “God is really among you”? The first statement from an unbeliever to a believer comes from the public square and is from Zechariah […]
Two weeks ago, our health insurance provider informed our family of some “enhanced benefits” under our plan. They explained: “Under the Affordable Care Act [Obamacare], your policy will now include coverage for the preventive care services described in the enclosed document at 100%. You will not have to pay a copayment, coinsurance or deductable for […]
It took awhile, but our funerals have caught up with our worship services; there now all about us, too. This past week I attended the funeral of a very fine man. I had looked forward to honoring his memory, being consoled by the Word of God, glorying in the certainty of the resurrection, and thanking […]