grace

The release we need in repentance

Lent is a season of contrition. It is sensing the sin against God and dealing with the ugliness. We have fallen short of the glory of God and there is a feeling in that, not just a forensic fact to have presented in court.

The problem we won’t face

“…sin is not so much naughty actions or even egregious wrongdoing; it is an infectious disease.” — Fleming Rutledge, The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ

The darkness and the dawn

When we think we’ve made it on our own, there are times the Lord may step back a bit and let us “revel” in our “self-made” achievements.

The Church That Ate Its Own

We really like this stuff. (I was so tempted to say, “We really eat this up.“) Tales from the crypt about horrible church experiences. Bad church. BAD CHURCH! And we shake our all too righteous fingers at it like it’s a dog that just wet the carpet. But… it makes headlines… and we eat it up. (Sorry. TheContinue reading “The Church That Ate Its Own”

I was finally able to see Les Miserables in the theater. It is one of the most powerful pictures of grace I have seen in quite some time. What a beautiful story, and I thoroughly enjoyed the performances… ESPECIALLY Anne Hathaway… WOW! It’s a beautiful story and it was beautiful to look into this amazing story ofContinue reading “Grace”

I am Ruined!

5 I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!” (Isa. 6:5, CEB) Advent is the powerful story of Christ coming to us. It also needs to remind us of the state ofContinue reading “I am Ruined!”