I keep going back to the amazing parable of the pharisee and the tax-gatherer who go up to the temple to pray. last time I talked about this, I said, Notice some things here. This does not imply that tax man ever says, I suppose God likes my sin. Nor does he say, God justifies […]
Fasten your seatbelts everyone, this is a heavy one. The doctrine of the trinity as I understand it goes like this: The Father is God The Son is God The Holy Spirit is God The Son is not the Father The Son is not the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is not the Father The […]
When we encounter something which invokes a sense of wonder, it means we have encountered some kind of splendor or beauty which is quite beyond us. We can marvel, but we cannot grasp. The sense of wonder releases us to enjoy, to worship, to have awe, without having to understand. We do not need to […]
I have been in so-called accountability groups in the past. They really should call them “guilt-inducing liar clubs.” Have you done [sin X] this week? Have you kept your nose clean? Did you just lie to me? How is your relationship with your wife?” OH … MY … GOODNESS. You’re going to bash me over […]
It is strange but true that one of the biggest objections people have to the message of radical grace is that it doesn’t seem to emphasize holiness and repentance. This is due to several factors: They think grace and mercy means that justice is ignored. They think grace and mercy means means that sinful behavior […]
I wanted to quote an excerpt from a piece of writing by Robert Farrar Capon, a conservative Episcopal priest and prolific author, and a huge proponent of grace. I absolutely love the little stinger of a question at the end! 9 And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that […]
Unforgiveness is not so much an act which cannot be forgiven, but rather it is a sign that we have not left the universe of law and obligation. It is a sign that we have rejected the kingdom of God, which is a kingdom of grace. One of my foundational ideas is that the scriptures […]
When the flight attendant intones the usage of the safety devices on the plane, he or she always says to put the oxygen mask on yourself, that way you will be conscious to help your child. If you want to help your child, you have to have oxygen first. Many times in talking about mercy […]
I don’t know what any of this has to do with anything, but I’m under grace and sometimes I am allowed to be pensive. I don’t feel like writing anything insightful, but I am going to confess some feelings lurking. Lucky you, you get to read it! I saw a magnificent tree growing in the […]
In my sermon they let me give last Sunday, I talked about the Kingdom of Grace. Grace is for ME, Grace is for US, and Grace is for THEM. I’m skipping to something I want to share here from the Grace is for US section of that message. Consider this passage: 10 In this is […]