John 17 is Jesus praying for his disciples. It is beautiful. In v. 17 I find one of the most powerful sentences in that prayer, with three incredibly powerful words. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. Sanctify: to make holy. To set apart. To consecrate. Truth: not just making correcting statements. It isContinue reading “One Powerful Prayer of Jesus”
Category Archives: Eat This Book
We Want to be Liked, but…
I remember a pastor had a plaque on his office wall years ago that said, “I would like it if you liked me, but it’s not mandatory.” We simply want to be liked. We don’t want people responding in a “wrong way” toward us, or “taking us wrong,” or calling us things… like “bigots.” But…Continue reading “We Want to be Liked, but…”
The Path to Holiness
We want “holiness” is a few easy steps. Holiness might be “possible” in a few steps, but they aren’t easy. Our affections have to be turned. Holiness comes when our affections are on Christ and not our own agendas. Our vision is full of Christ, and rid of this world’s agenda. We need the tasteContinue reading “The Path to Holiness”
A Faith So Precious
Meditating on 1 Peter 1 I continue to be in awe of the precious faith delivered to us as believers. It simply calls for a response! Why… oh why… do we not respond? We have a faith so precious is simply given by the Father because of his great mercy. It is so precious it never fades. MyContinue reading “A Faith So Precious”
1 Peter and Waging War
This isn’t a post about “just war theory” or pacificism. It is about a far more important war. Peter describes it as the war that is waged against our very lives as believers (1 Peter 2:11, CEB). We are good at waging real war. We are good at waging virtual war. This week we’re REALLYContinue reading “1 Peter and Waging War”
The High Calling of Holiness
What images come to your mind when the word “holiness” is used? Have we, as believers, given up on “being holy?” 13 Therefore, once you have your minds ready for action and you are thinking clearly, place your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 Don’t be conformedContinue reading “The High Calling of Holiness”
Avoiding Bumper Sticker Christianity
I really wish to avoid any bumper sticker thinking of any kind. I know it’s not possible. We develop almost all of our political stances off of headlines attached to stories we don’t read, or bumper stickers we see and think, “Yeah… that makes sense.” That’s too bad, but it is what it is. WeContinue reading “Avoiding Bumper Sticker Christianity”
2 Peter and the Call to Spiritual Formation
The first chapter of 2 Peter (one of the letters we are reading this week) calls us walk in spiritual formation. We need to learn to build spiritual character in our lives. Spiritual disciplines aid us in this walk. QUESTION: What do you know… what have you learned… in the area of spiritual formation? ForContinue reading “2 Peter and the Call to Spiritual Formation”
The Gospel of Mark and the Power of the Kingdom
As we read the Gospel of Mark for this week, I have worked on a theory: Everything Mark does in his gospel flows from Mark 1:15. I have no idea if this is actual or not… and I’ve not had enough time, resources, millions of volumes of others who think about this stuff, etc., toContinue reading “The Gospel of Mark and the Power of the Kingdom”
Don’t Settle for Status Quo Bondage
One of the notes I made on the passage in Mark 5 where Jesus heals the demoniac: “Don’t settle for letting people stay in bondage.” Sometimes it is hard work seeing people set free. It might be pray. It might be fasting. It might be counseling. It might be a huge combination of many things. Don’t giveContinue reading “Don’t Settle for Status Quo Bondage”
Apprentice 2 Jesus 