Category: Uncategorized

Yesterday my wife and I spent hours working in our yard. You would have to describe us as “spring” gardeners. When the good weather hits we work feverishly in the yard. We buy plants. Sometimes we even plant them. You see by the time the 70 degree days are gone and the 90 degree days arrive, we are burned out.  I am hoping this particularly beautiful spring will also be unusually long. We spend most of the summer admiring the outdoors from the indoors. This is the most beautiful spring in my recent memory. I don’t think it’s any accident that it follows one of the coldest and bleakest winters in my memory. A spring is particularly beautiful after a tough winter for a couple of reasons. One, I guess, is in the eye of the beholder. We are so happy to see spring it just seems more beautiful. However, I also believe that the colder weather does something to the plants that make them more color, vibrant, even stronger. I don’t know if the tough winter and glorious spring mean a long a hot summer. I hope not. Like most of our world, God designed it to remind […]

There is a movie out which I haven’t seen but people I trust tell me is worth seeing. God’s Not Dead. I guess for some folks it may seem that way. I don’t ever get the feeling that God is Dead. Sometimes it seems He is more distant that others. Sometimes I hope He isn’t looking too closely. Sometimes it’s easy to forget about God. Our days are filled with much business. Our heads are filled with  concerns over the things we need to do and the things that we ought to do. Today is not one of those days. Before you get caught up in other things. Spend a few moments outside with God. It’s one of those beautiful days He gives us as a quiet but powerful reminder that He’s there. Soak Him in and be blessed. Maybe catch the movie later.

But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Mark 2:10 Yesterday we discussed the barriers to taking up our mats and walking. Today we look at the reason Jesus performed this miracle in the first place. When Jesus was first presented with the paralytic man, his response was to tell him that his sins were forgiven. He cured the man’s paralysis, restored his withered limbs and miraculously taught him to walk, all so that Jesus’ authority to forgive sin would be recognized. Jesus knows what we often forget, that we need forgiveness much more than completeness of body, fullness of life, or healthy finances. We are slow to learn that lesson. Join any group of Christians for prayer and almost all the praying will be for healing of some material aspect of our lives. We rarely pray for God’s forgiveness for ourselves or others. We almost never pray for help in forgiving others. All other miracles are performed to advertise the greatest miracles of all: restoration and sanctification. If the man had died a paralytic, it would not have prevented Him from spending eternity in the presence of God. His […]

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” John 5:8 Sunday our pastor spoke on Jesus’ cure of the paralytic man. It was inspiring. In fact, it inspired me to repeat some of his comments and add some of my own. The man involved had nerve damage which prevented him from walking. Jesus miraculously repaired that damage, but he did more. The man probably had never walked. He didn’t know how to walk and he had no muscles for walking. Jesus provided all that and the man walked away. He told him to take up his mat. His mat was known as a beggar’s mat. These were common sights seen throughout the holy land. A beggar would place his mat in public places and receive alms. Jesus was telling the man that his life as a beggar was over. He was now a man with the ability, muscles, and knowledge to walk. He was now responsible for walking. When we come to Jesus he gives us the ability to walk with Him. This requires the forgiveness of our sinful state that makes us unable to walk. We also have to learn to walk and have the […]

My grand son-in-law and a friend showed up at our house yesterday and worked very hard for twelve hours transforming our bathroom. I was exhausted just being their go-fer. Last night I watched my favorite college basketball team end a wonderful year. They weren’t the best basketball players in the country, just the hardest working. It seems God uses every day to teach us another life lesson. Yesterday’s lesson was all about the value of hard work. The day before it was about being honest about our life struggles. It’s amazing how these life lessons work together. Life struggles and the value of hard work are certainly part of the same message. Today I have a date with a wonder special kid. We are going to church together. I have a feeling today’s life lesson will have to do with appreciating the wonderful people in your life, no matter how small they are. Sometimes school is tough and sometimes it’s just a lot of fun.  

I remember when Mother Teresa visited Lafayette in 1986. It was a big deal, perhaps she was the most famous person every to visit our city. She was an icon of faith and service to others. I also remember the furor after her death when her published writings revealed that she suffered extended times of doubt and darkness. The surprising thing is that folks were surprised by her experience of darkness. The writings of almost every person of faith reveals struggles and times of doubt and darkness. Thomas the Doubter is beloved not because his doubt is usual but because it’s universal. We all doubt, often. It’s just not acceptable to admit it. That’s a sad thing. Just think about how much we could comfort and encourage each other if we were brave enough to admit that we have doubt. We have more than doubt. Sometimes we wake up in a cold sweat, fearful and afraid. It may be because of a nightmare, but bad dreams are born in the very real concerns and troubles of our waking hours. Life isn’t easy. We should not pretend that it is. The Christian Life is certainly not easy. It’s a sin […]

There isn’t much question that Christianity is in Crisis. The mainline denominations are suffering from dramatic reductions in attendance and with scandals. Independent churches seem to be doing better with attendance, but are often personality driven with questionable teachings. Several “movements” have arisen in response to the crisis. We have seen “seeker friendly” churches and the “emergent” church. These movements seem to have some good ideas about making a better presentation of the gospel, but often raise questions about the biblical purity of their message. Theology seems to have been caught up in concepts of modernism and post-modernism. I am convinced science has seen some dramatic advances, but many have tried to apply these changes to ways of thinking about God and truth. For the ordinary person, trying to be a follower of Jesus or trying to explore whether Christianity holds the answers, it is very difficult. The writings on these new movements tend to be written by theologians for theologians or, perhaps, pastors. I think what is needed is a handbook for Everyman. Something that will explain in understandable terms what Christianity really is and what these new movements offer both in terms of positive and negative ideas. […]

              And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 Our Tuesday night cell group was great this week. The teaching was inspiring. The discussion was meaningful. The prayer time was right on. The fellowship was warm. The food was fabulous. I have been slow to coming to an understanding of how important the food is. The food is essential. A cell group is as close as modern Christianity comes to what the 1st century Christians experienced. Our Sunday services are nothing like the early church. They are spectator events. The early church was very participatory. Sitting in straight row pews, dropping something in the collection play, singing along in a small voice, even giving an occasional “Amen” is not really participating. In a cell group the gathered family of God devotes themselves to teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Now, that’s church. It’s really the food that leads the way on participation. In our cell group everyone participates, sometimes every week. That’s why, like last night, we sometimes have a ridiculous amount of food. The wonder of it […]