“For the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.” - James 1:20 Some stories put me in touch with my inner murderer. This one’s a pretty good example. Continue Reading
April 14, 2015
Staying Power
“By our Heavenly Father and only because of God, only because of God. We're like other couples. We do not get along perfectly; we do not go without arguments and, as I call them, fights, and heartache and pain and hurting each other. But a marriage is three of us.” -Christian entertainer Barbara Mandrell, answering the question of why her marriage works I know my wife loves me. But I think it’s taken more than that to keep her with me for 28 years. She also loves, and is obedient to, God. And that’s where a Christian marriage gets its Continue Reading
March 16, 2015
When War Isn’t Hell
"If you have no temptations it is because the devils are your friends, your leaders, and your shepherds. And by allowing you to pass your poor life tranquilly, to the end of your days, they will drag you down into the depths." -St. Gregory Continue Reading
January 20, 2015
‘American Sniper’ Lives Up to Its Buzz
Rolling Stone magazine said it takes a bite out of you, and that pretty well sums it up. American Sniper isn’t a film you’ll enjoy, but it’s one you can respect, even if you do leave the theater feeling maimed. The greatest overall compliment I’d give director Clint Eastwood is that he simply pulled the curtain back to show us a brave man on a brutal journey – no sermons from the left or the right; just a stark portrait which you can approve or condemn. Eastwood reports, you decide. Continue Reading
January 16, 2015
Dropping the S-Bomb
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” - Proverbs 27:6 37 years ago I was hugely backslidden. Since I’d been in full time ministry before my fall, quite a few people had known me and were, I’m sure, perplexed and angry at my rebellion. Some of them contacted me, in person or by mail, trying to reason with me and persuade me to turn back, and I cannot describe how weird and miserable that felt. Continue Reading
December 24, 2014
When Darkness Lost
"And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." -John 1:5 Like St. Jude, I’m a sucker for lost causes. I’ve been one myself, and I’ve known plenty of others. Some of us sprang from circumstances we had no control over; many of us created our own mess. Either way, our lives looked shabby, the future looked bleak, then God looked down. Continue Reading
October 17, 2014
Top Ten Movie Quotes
Having loved films the better part of my life, certain lines from certain movies have always stuck with me. Since the weekend is a time many of us consider what movie to go see, I thought that, while we’re in the mood for a flick, we might consider some of our all-time favorite movie lines. Here are mine, in order from 10th Favorite to #1 Favorite. (And I’d love knowing what yours are, too.) Favorite Quote #10 -from A River Runs Through It (1992) “For it is true that we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don’t know what part Continue Reading
September 26, 2014
Right Position, Wrong Attitude
“The children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left.” - Elijah, downcast and afraid, from I Kings 19:10 I'm struck by how easily we can swing between two critical errors: doctrinal sloppiness and self-righteousness. Continue Reading
August 13, 2014
Eternally Secure, Perpetually Striving
One of Christianity’s longest running arguments has to do with the believer’s security. If one has been born again, can he ever lose his salvation? If so, how? And, once lost, can it ever be retrieved? I’m not entirely settled on the issue myself. Some of my favorite scriptures bolster the “once saved, always saved” position. “No man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hands” (John 10:29) for example, and “There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”(Romans 8:1) Ditto for “He is able to save to the Continue Reading
9 Holiday Lyrics We Often Don’t Get
Since we’re all in the middle of the pre-Christmas rush, let’s just kick back for some light reading today. Continue Reading