part five of five This world is not our eternal home. These bodies will waste away. The controversies of the secular world will eventually be forgotten or overtaken by a new dispute over who determines the value of a particular life. If we want to have credibility in our testimony…

part four of five It is impossible to be humble when forcefully asserting an opinion. Being “right” on a divisive topic leads to arrogance and James calls that kind of boasting evil. When we speak against each other and judge each other, we are acting like the lost, not children…

part three of five When we speak against our spiritual family because we disagree about social ills, we become divided within ourselves and we are dividers in the Church. And when the Church is divided, her ministry becomes weak and her testimony, OUR testimony, fails to demonstrate that we are…

part two of five through the book of James It is easy to justify our “righteous indignation” over court decisions with which we disagree. The problem with most cases is that they aren’t simple; there are nuances and shades of gray. If it was simple, it probably wouldn’t have required…

An approach to grace through the wisdom of James It has been an interesting series of days and news items since the Supreme Court struck down the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Responses included protests and threats, fear and anxiety, joy and exultation, determination and delight– both within the Church…

Or, Is that what the Bible really says? — Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

and it’s good. You should get it. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Philippians 4:8 For the last several years my eldest daughter has been exploring her spiritual journey. Her story is hers to tell, but as a mom, I have watched her grow. My story around her started with a sense of helplessness as she struggled with…

a re-post — My dad died on July 29, 2021. This will be the first Father’s day that I don’t call him to wish him a happy one. In honor of Father’s day, I am sharing again what I wrote last summer after he passed. Talk atcha later For as long as I can remember, my…

Or, Is that what the Bible really says? — “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” Matthew 7:1 This is another verse that gets thrown around as a way to not deal with personal sin. “You can’t judge me because Jesus said you can’t.” It falls into the “my truth” and “your truth” category of misleading statements…