The Horrid and Beautiful Institution of Marriage

My wife Betty is a really great kisser. When I am actually kissing her it feels like a combination of home and gooey chocolate brownies and rainbows and joy all wrapped up together. She used to do this thing where she would pirouette in this little joy dance when we were walking, and she sometimes […]

Confession is more powerful than trying hard

Confession is more powerful than trying hard, because it includes the blood of Jesus in the process. It invites God into our mess. It invites a deeper honesty than trying allows. It acknowledges that I can’t do spiritual surgery on myself. 5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to […]

Practicing sin and practicing righteousness 1 John 3:4-10

4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. 7 Little children, let no […]

You deserve death and hell!

“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He […]

Focused on what GOD GIVES

          When (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they […]

Here I am

O Father, I have offended angelic majesties 1000 times over I am ignorant and sinful lying, lustful, fearful, angry, lazy, selfish, greedy, and more I don’t trust in my own deeds. Forgive me, I confess it all. It is all true. I throw me down at the foot of your gracious throne, boldly, because I […]

The Idea of Reward

I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of reward. There has been some discussion that grace precludes us from the dynamic of receiving rewards for doing well, and that is the genesis of this reflection. First let’s look at some scriptures which mention the idea of rewards: From the gospels: 12 “Rejoice, and be […]

Make Him Lord or Confess Him as Lord?

Have you ever been asked or heard someone ask, “Have you made Jesus Lord of your life?” The idea comes from this scripture: 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; (Romans 10:9, NASB). Let’s get […]

Emmanuel

O come, O come, and be our God-with-us O long-sought With-ness for a world without, O secret seed, O hidden spring of light. Come to us Wisdom, come unspoken Name Come Root, and Key, and King, and holy Flame, O quickened little wick so tightly curled, Be folded with us into time and place, Unfold […]