Don’t confuse style with fashion. Fashion is what was popular to wear 40 years ago and is now popular again. It changes the width of ties and the length of collars and the prints and colors of skirts each year so that you stand out for wearing clothes that were new last year and makes you feel that you need to buy what just became popular for summer this year. […]
Category Archives: Discipleship
Rich, Now or Later
1 Timothy 6:17-19 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so […]
Hebrews 11
Some people call Hebrews 11 the “Hall of Faith.” I wondered for quite a while when I was being stretched from average church member to expecter of the miraculous, why the writer was bragging on these heroes regarding their faith when their ends included being cut in two, being whipped, beaten, poor, living in caves and deserts, and not receiving what they were promised. It seems to me now that […]
Your Provision, Your Preparation
Joshua 13:14 Only to the tribe of Levi he had given no inheritance; the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said to them. NKJV Deuteronomy 10:9 Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God promised him. NKJV Your provision is usually very near your responsibility. If the Lord […]
Becoming Who You Like
You can be your most awesome self, no matter what your environment does to pressure you into another identity. I think that at least 40% of the people I know got stuck in the 10th grade. In the American public education system, the opportunities are generally comply or fail. Having new ways of thinking, being creative, responding to situations like a hunter instead of a farmer, preferring adventure to information – all of […]
Proving God’s Will
When our bodies have been handed over to the Spirit of Jesus as living sacrifices – when we are being transformed by allowing Him to renew our minds – we can know His good, perfect and pleasant will. We need to be always ready to explain what we understand of His will. Some things He desires will remain mysterious with regard to our ability to commit them to words and […]
Huffing, Puffing and Building
We know that knowledge puffs up and that love builds up (1 Corinthians 8). Still, what we prefer to offer to unbelievers and new believers is information instead of the costly commodity called agape. What makes new believers into disciples is fitting into a family through real relationships. They need accountability through relationships. They need to find opportunities to serve through relationships. What best draws unbelievers to believe is a relationship with […]
Seriously…
If you are going to fly, you have to overcome some things. My new puppy thinks that she can fly. She really can get airborne, but she can’t stay there. She hasn’t completely overcome gravity yet. The flying deck is stacked against you – unless you can overcome drag and gravity, both of which have laws supporting them – you have to stay on the ground or in the water. […]
Aloft, Like a Swallow
A dove is frequently seen on the ground under a bird feeder, picking through the grass for the seeds that other birds disliked or carelessly dropped. A cardinal frequents the feeder, picking through the seed offerings for her favorite flavors, casting the others down to the doves and robins. A swallow loves the heavenly places. Feeding on flying things, she rockets and coasts and flits and chases – not spending much […]
Apart From the Law
Romans 3:21-24 God’s righteousness has been revealed. He didn’t use the Ten Commandments, the Kosher Laws, the Community Responsibility Laws, or the Financial Laws to make it known. He used prophets and the Law to inform us about it ahead of time, but He used grace to reveal it. His righteousness is revealed in His people, whom He redeemed from unrighteousness by the blood that was tortured out of Jesus. He […]