Amos just ruins Christmas. Who let this guy in? Here we are feeling good about billions of dollars spent over Black Friday, and here comes Amos. Truthfully, we need Amos. He is there reminding us that no matter how good the stock market is, or how good the sales are, the priorities of the Kingdom… Read more

As part of the Advent Blog Tour with the Common English Bible, I am allowed to give away one softcover Common English Bible each week. Let the games begin! As I post from December 2 on, and when the post is about Advent, I will choose one winner per week based on comments given on… Read more

I am a huge fan of Mark’s gospel. The more I study the book the better I like Mark’s approach. Dispense with the genealogies and theological treatises. WHAM! Here is the good news about Jesus the Messiah! Mark begins with Isaiah to let the readers know God has been saying this all along. Then, he… Read more

When you pray what happens? When you call out to God,what happens? Try this on: 6 In my distress I cried out to the LORD;    I called to my God for help. God heard my voice from his temple;    I called to him for help,    and my call reached his ears.  7 The earth rocked… Read more

Two passages in today’s reading stand in stark contrast. One is Psalm 119:9-14. This speaks of hunger in response to God’s Word:  9 How can young people  keep their paths pure?     By guarding them     according to what you’ve said.[b]  10 I have sought you with all my heart.     Don’t let me stray     from any of your commandments! … Read more

In our “been there, done that” world, it’s easy to see why the evangelical community in the U.S. has slipped away from the practices of the liturgical calendar. Why in the world would we want to repeat anything? We know the Christmas story. Enough already! Why go through this again? But we need the reminders.… Read more

12 Then Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves. 13 He said to them, “It’s written, My house will be called a house of prayer..[c] But you’ve made it a hideout for crooks.” (Matt. 21:12-13,… Read more

The reading for the first Monday of Advent includes 2 Peter 1:1-11, one of my favorite passages of Scripture. The magnitude of these verses overwhelms me every time I read them. 3 By his divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the one who called… Read more