Get Buried…and Raised in His Likeness!

I’ve had my share of ritual washings. As an infant in a Presbyterian family, I was sprinkled with holy water—or so I’ve been told. Then, when I was twenty-six years old, my wife and I agreed to be… Read More

The Lost Element of Faith

What does it take to be bold? If we could track the human thought processes during periods of crisis or apprehension, all roads would eventually lead back to one anticipated fear:  We become bold when we perceive something… Read More

Don’t Saddle Me Bro’!

I used to think the apostle Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia was all about circumcision—perhaps the last word on whether or not Jesus Christ’s male disciples should continue to have “skin in the game.” And, to some… Read More

Who Lets the Dogs Out?

A tough thought is a hard dog to keep under the porch. I’m sure a lot of psychoanalysts would say that’s a good thing. Even so, we always kick that mutt back under there when he sticks his… Read More

Will Your House Stand?

Everybody knows foundations are important. In fact, we often take them for granted because they rarely fail.  We build upon them according to our objectives.  Some of us put a lot of thought and resources into that process…. Read More

Married Lives Matter

Once in a while I uncover a gem buried outside of the Biblical texts. Gems are always priceless, especially if they’re chiseled fragments of God’s written word. And some of His people are literary artisans when it comes… Read More

A Breath of Biblical Literacy

The human makeup is miraculous yet complex. A person consists of a lot of things.  We often think of him as having a “body,” a “mind” and a “spirit.”  We can see a body, and we know he… Read More

The Sword of Peaceful Fruit

Who doesn’t love justice?   Well, I certainly do—that is, as long as it’s not being dealt out to me.  What benefit would there be from retribution, however justified it might be? And what about Jesus Christ Himself?… Read More

Playing to Win the Salvation Game

This word is such a hot potato today. But it probably didn’t used to be.  The patriarch Jacob surely didn’t raise any eyebrows on his deathbed when he said: “For Your salvation I wait, O Lord.” [Gen. 49:18]   [יְשׁוּעָה… Read More

Are You a Disciple of Jesus Christ?

I used to think I needed to be able to recognize some level of prominence in someone before I could consider him to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, such as professional clergy, or someone having a popular… Read More