CONFESSIONS OF A RECOVERING PHARISEE I heard Duffy Robbins speak at a youth leaders conference some years ago. Duffy shared a list of characteristics found in a group. These characteristics were things like fiercely dedicated to the scriptures, fasting, and other spiritual disciplines. The hook was that they were from an ancient guide for Pharisees. […]
Victory is in Jesus and therefore in me
VICTORY IS IN JESUS AND THEREFORE IN ME Here we are in the throes of the Lenten season. For many, these 40 days have become a required religious exercise with no meaning. For some, this season means nothing different whatsoever. For yet another group; perhaps the most dangerous of all – is the belief that […]
I NEED REVIVAL
I NEED REVIVAL Whenever God does something in the earth, there are strong voices of opposition. In a sense, it is a litmus test. John, the one who baptized Jesus, was an “equal opportunity offender.” He told the Romans to stop cheating the people, and that they needed to be baptized. He told the religious […]
David Griffis On Friendship
I highly value friendship. Maybe more that I should sometimes. Dr. David Griffis, author, husband, and prolific preacher offers this incredible insight on friendship:I write today about friends….real friends. It is a subject that God himself takes very seriously, as we shall see. Friends….true friends, next to God and family, are your greatest treasure. Consider […]
Turning 60
“Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 In a few days I will turn 60 years old. Time is an interesting thing, and we find ourselves constantly trying to make it go slower or faster. We say, “this will save time.” We say, “let’s push this […]
The Present Future
Solomon declares in Ecclesiastes, “what has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” 1:9 In writing this, one can get the idea of hopelessness and despair. However, we can also attach hope to it. How many of us have […]
Mary, What Did You Know?
Mark Lowry, according to his own words, has one hit song, “Mary Did You Know?” The song has been covered by several mainstream artists. It is a Christmas standard, and will no doubt endure time. It was only a matter of time before music / lyric critics analyzed the song. On social media, one can […]
My Worst Christmas Ever
During the War Between the States, Henry Woodsworth Longfellow wrote “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” For Longfellow, the war was very personal. He was an abolitionist, and despite this, his son Charley joined the Union Army. Merely a year before, Longfellow had lost his wife in a tragic fire; she had accidently lit […]
The Lure and Lust of Success
Someone asked me if I like fishing. My response was, and is, “no, I like catching.” Catching the fish is the goal, and so achieving it sooner than later is my desire! I don’t care for shopping; but I do enjoy buying stuff! Early in my marriage, I discovered the difference between shopping and buying! […]
Are You a 10%er?
Before you get nervous, or scroll away, this is not about tithing. That’s for another day. Are you a ten percenter? We often talk about the one percenters; the small sliver of people that hold the majority of the world’s wealth. There a basically two prevailing ideas about the one percent; 1. they should give […]