Not under law

“Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might […]

motorcycle metaphor

My friend Dave Wilson relayed the story that he was stopped at an intersection behind a car and a motorcyclist. The motorcycle had fallen over sideways as it had rained and the road was slick. The guy was having a difficult time getting the motorcycle back right because the road was slick and it just […]

everything is different

everything in the world is differenteverythingyour own fingerprints on your own handsare differentevery blade of grassevery treeevery thoughtevery secondevery birth and deathevery dog is differentI learned this from my 8 year old sonwho is quite different from his brothers.

summing up so far

I wanted to pause for a few minutes and review what is being said. If you get excited about any of this (and I hope you are) and you want to explain these ideas to a friend, I want you to have this ready on your lips; you should be able to walk away from […]

james vs. paul

There is a passage in James that is a classic stumbling block to serious belief in the full-bore grace of God that Paul teaches. Even Martin Luther wanted to excise this book from the Bible, because he viewed it as being so antithetical to the message of salvation by faith alone apart from works of […]

not advocating sin

I need to put one thing to rest. I am not advocating sin. This seems to be everyone’s chief fear when I talk to them. Pastors, friends, close people, people who see my imperfections and ridicule the message of grace, actually almost everyone I know, disputes the message because they think I am advocating sin, […]

In this is love

Another of my favorite verses: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10, NKJV. The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind soul, and strength. And yet, not Paul, but John, […]

Vision

1. the architect envisions    the site    the purposesits at the table    with pen and tools        carefully             draws lines            crafts letters    sips coffee    scratches his headerases thingspauses to thinksoon the plans are finished. hot persistent terrible burningsuffocating […]

Joy Over It

This is one of my favorite passages: “”Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, “who, […]

Starting a book about GRACE….

I am starting a new book about grace; as my wife Betty knows it is my constant soapbox, my idee fixe. I wanted to post some things as I’m working toward it here so I can reference it on FB and such and get some reactions from friends. This is not really a chapter, but […]