Reading thru the Bible in 2019, the plan I’m using includes some Old Testament and New each day. Today’s reading included Zechariah 9 and Revelation 19 - a prophecy regarding the promised Messiah entering Jerusalem as a king riding a donkey of peace and, then, the anticipation of Jesus’ second coming riding a white horse … Continue reading King Jesus
It’s often said that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. In the same way, Leviticus is the basis for Christmas. That’s right. Leviticus. At the very heart of the Christmas story lies the all-important doctrine of the Atonement. How can sinful people, separated from God in their sin and selfishness, be reconciled to a … Continue reading Leviticus Christmas
When traveling to another country, it’s great to have the help of an experienced, knowledgeable, articulate tour guide. Sure you could do some research on your own, utilize your well-honed skills of observation, and draw your own conclusions. But for important, once in a lifetime travel, a seasoned tour guide reveals details you couldn’t see … Continue reading Tour Guide
When did the world get so angry? How did it happen so quickly? As we look ahead to a new year in 2018, we have some serious issues to deal with in the world of relationships － especially relationships in regard to race, religion, and politics. How did we get so full of frustration that the … Continue reading A Mad World
As we gather together this week to celebrate Thanksgiving, we begin the Holiday season that provides significant time with family and friends. For many, however, the extra time with people is not a time of celebration, but of significant stress because of unresolved conflict -- maybe even many years of it. The easy thing, the … Continue reading Resolving Conflict
It has been said that “church fights are the worst fights,” perhaps because they break out among people who profess to believe in unity and love. You name it, Christians fight over it. Sometimes the disagreements are over trivial matters, but often they are serious conflicts from different viewpoints. Many Christians have been so hurt … Continue reading church fights
Most of the people I know are not guilty of racism, but many (whites) like me, and including me, are culpable of racialization - the collective misunderstanding of cultural position or unintentional misuse of power which causes racial division and results in diminished life opportunities for other racial groups. Racialization is so embedded within our … Continue reading Racism and Racialization
Achieving racial reconciliation is challenging and seemingly impossible — both in our country and within the church. The stipulations imposed on us because of our differences should not determine how we relate to one another, but sadly, it seems they do. The most recent deaths of Alton Sterling (Baton Rouge, LA) and Philander Castile (St. Anthony, … Continue reading Racial Reconciliation
following Jesus 