Pastor's Blog (Page 3)
Our Speech
The little girl asked, “Mommy, do all fairy tales begin with, ‘Once upon a time…’?” “No,” her mother replied. “There are tons of fairy tales that begin with, ‘If elected, I promise to…’” If you aren’t already sick of the candidates’ empty promises, I’m sure you will be soon. November 5th is still a good ways off! Jesus had a lot to say about what we say. By your…
Unfruitfulness
Several years ago I planted two clementine trees in my yard. I was so looking forward to the delight of their sweet nectar. To date, however, the only crop they’ve produced is disappointment. Whatever the reasons, this much is clear: both trees are unfruitful. Once Jesus told about seed that was unfruitful. It was rendered so on account of choking thorns. The story was an…
The Words of My Mouth
“Sorry, I just needed to vent,” said someone. “Oh I didn’t really mean that; my tiredness got the better of me,” said someone else. “Excuse my French, haha, I was just making a point,” said yet another. And so we brush off the things we’ve said… and try to move on. But our words are much more enduring than we might think. Jesus said, “On the day of judgment people will…
Who’s Your King?
Was your soul vexed last night as you watched two of the most powerful men of our land swagger and strut and applaud themselves? Were you provoked within as each disparaged and taunted and scorned the other? I mean, really! Golf scores? How striking, then, is their antithesis, the King whom Matthew has been exhibiting. Consider some of what He said…
No doubt you’re familiar with the story of when the prophet Isaiah was sent to King Hezekiah with the ominous message: “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live’” (2 Ki. 20:1). Please join me in reflecting on that incident. What sorts of things do you think the Lord knew Hezekiah needed to do to “set his house in order”? Probably. But…
This is one of those encouraging-sounding statements that is… just not true. While God is the God of the second chance (and often the third, fourth, and more!), and while He loves to bring beauty out of the ashes of our sin, and restore the years which the locusts of waywardness have eaten… He does not make this promise. There are times when He says, “Enough.” When His…