When and how does someone get authorization to tell you what to do or not to do? What are the limits of what they can say and on what subjects? Somewhere between the bookends of the Shepherding Movement and the idea that even Jesus shouldn’t be trying to run my life, is the liberty found in the law of the […]
By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. Although Potiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her. When his master heard the story his wife […]
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of the righteous be delivered? But thus says Yahweh: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress […]
In the United States, I see a small group of people who consider themselves to be Republicans and another small group of people who consider themselves to be Democrats. Between these bookends, I see a large group of people who are like a flock of birds. They dislike (some hate) both of the ruling parties. After 4 or 8 years […]
When you are in a bank planning to do business with one of the tellers, a man with a gun suddenly appears and tells you to fall on your face. He wants everybody’s money. When he gets through the scattering of people to you, he points the gun at you, demanding your money. You give him your cards and cash, […]
If you want to do what Yahweh wants you to do, the only way you can fail is to quit. When Saul was “serving Yahweh” by imprisoning and killing Believers, his God sent Ananias to touch him with freedom and redirection. When Jews were plotting to kill Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21 – 23), his God sent Paul’s nephew to […]
I have two fronts on which to battle for the realization of righteous behavior in my life: the influences of other humans, other spirits, and my iniquity on one hand, and on the other my ability to be deceived. If I am easily distracted, any toy or pleasure that is dangled in front of me will influence me. If I […]
Acts 12 begins with James the brother of John dead – beheaded by Herod. Herod knew that he was barely seated on the throne Rome had given him, because he was a Jewish convert, and Jewish law was clear that only a descendant of Jacob could be king. When he saw how happy it made the Jews when he murdered […]
Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, […]
A trusted friend told me recently that I don’t have to live like a refugee. It is hard to stay out of that mindset on the days that you feel like you are managing Pharaoh’s prison. Even if that is our assignment today, as Paul told the believers in Philippi “In any case, we should live up to the truth […]