Month: December 2013

Most of us live secret lives, at least we think we do. We struggle with the idea of what people would think about us if they really knew us.  Most of us are different at home than we are at work or at church. We have thought lives that would shock our friends. We suffer temptations from the darkest parts of hell. Did you ever wonder how the gospel writers knew about the details of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness or about the struggles he faced the night before his death in the garden while He was all alone? The only answer is that He shared these private moments with his disciples.  If others knew more about us would they think less of us or would our vulnerability make us more human to them and draw us closer together? If others knew more about us, would we end up knowing more about them and would we end up feeling less alone with our secret struggles and temptations? If we didn’t believe our pastors and teacher were perfect, would it make their sermons more or less powerful? If they only knew maybe our witness would be more real. If they […]

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.Philippians 1:6 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 These can be discouraging times. There seems to be less evidence of Jesus in the world. The Christmas season is now the holiday season. Love, at least agape love, love without expectation of something in return, is harder to find. The End seems close at hand, and we await it expectantly.  Maybe we are just looking in the wrong places. God doesn’t promise a wonderful world, at least not until He returns. Things are prophesized to get worse, so we shouldn’t be surprised when they do. Maybe we should be looking in the mirror. What God does promise is that we will be conformed to […]

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. James 3:1 Last Sunday I had the opportunity to preach at my home church. It’s not like I had never done it before. Years ago I pastored a small church and preached every week. Since then I have often done a teaching or even a teaching series.  Nonetheless, I didn’t sleep well on Saturday night. I was nervous as Sunday service time approached. When I stepped up to the pulpit the lights seemed particularly bright. I thought it would be a good idea to break the ice and calm down by introducing my family who was sitting together on one row. I couldn’t remember my daughter-in-law’s first name. Instead of calming me down, I was then afraid I would forget my wife’s or one of my grand kid’s name. Luckily, I got the rest of the names right and once I got into it my nervousness evaporated and I never even felt either my replaced or still need to be replaced knee during the entire time.  The event was a […]