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Unconscionable
The presidential campaign has reached the $2 billion mark. Each candidate, plus the “Super PACs,” plus political party dollars have added up to this presidential election raking in $2 billion. It won’t stop. We will give reasons as to why this is “necessary,” and even some who will say it “helps the economy.” But I find it unconscionable. Democrats. Republicans.…
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The Rage and Pain in Our World
The news sometimes seems to pile up. A man chases down his wife and kills her. Then, he turns the gun on himself and commits suicide. Not long before this, another man did almost the exact same thing. People living in pain and anger. Rage that simmers beneath the surface, then explodes. In the middle of all this, we are…
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Verse of the Day, or Why I Like the Deuterocanonical Books
Reading through the Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible (which Protestants, especially Pentecostals aren’t “supposed” to read) really provides some insight. “When people are dead, they inherit maggots, vermin, and worms.” (Sirach 10:11, CEB) That was in yesterday’s reading. Today’s reading offers some other nice tidbits: “Don’t praise people for their beautiful looks, and don’t despise people for their appearance” (Sirach…
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Prayer for the Day
From The Daily Office (which, it turns out, has nothing to do with the sitcom on NBC): Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic (universal) Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where…
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Enjoy the Lord
A few translations on Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (NIV) Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (ESV) Enjoy the Lord, and he will give what your heart asks. (CEB) Our extreme pleasure should be found in the Lord.
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The Freedom of the Kingdom
if you open your heart to the hungry, and provide abundantly for those who are afflicted, your light will shine in the darkness, and your gloom will be like the noon. (Isa. 58:10, CEB) When do we find freedom in our own lives? We all live broken lives in some way. Yet, in Christ, we have the opportunity to find…
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The “Crushing” Beauty of the Savior
For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isa. 57:15, NIV) We are to build up the road so…
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Build up the road
And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.” (Isa. 57:14, NIV) Get rid of the obstacles. If I can get myself out of the way, it’s a good possibility people just may see the ravishing beauty of Jesus. I pray that in the lives of my…
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Seeking the Welfare of the City
The more I learn about Tim Keller as a pastor, the more I am impressed. I really want to know more about this guy. I’ve watched several videos where he engages the skeptics and agnostics. His style is so incredibly well formed to his setting. Some thoughts here on ministry in the city. In an urban setting like my own…
