Is God Like the IRS?

Tax time is just around the corner. We have been getting all those forms in the mail and I have just started crunching the numbers (thanks to Turbo Tax!). Turbo Tax certainly makes things a lot easier because I used to do it all by hand. Either way there is this feeling as you decipher [...]

An Encouragement from Ephesians 2

The book of Ephesians is full of encouraging words and truths about God. One of my favorites is found in 2:6 - “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of [...]

Giving Away What Isn’t Ours

I heard a critic of the proposed tax rebate say something to the effect of, “The government shouldn’t give people something they didn’t have to work for.” That statement just blew my mind. How can he say that? As a politician does he really think tax money is his? Does he know where tax dollars [...]

Killing Ourselves with the Cure

With the discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 came the alleviation of infections that had once been life threatening. In the 80 years since then hundreds of different types of antibiotics have been engineered that have addressed countless problems and have saved millions of lives. Then we hear the headlines about MERSA and [...]

Sexual Purity and Parallels With Our Relationship with God

Scripture often uses things that we already know about in order to help us gain insights into things that we have not yet experienced. Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. Heaven is said to have streets of gold and gates of pearl. The church’s/Christians’ relationship with God as being his bride. [...]

Wintley Phipps Sings Amazing Grace

I have to give Rick Ianniello a big thumbs up for posting this one. And I think it is just to good not to include here as well. Thanks Rick! This is a video of Wintley Phipps (president of the U.S. Dream academy - an organization dedicated to helping the children of prisoners) telling the [...]

A Servant or A Son? The Story of the Prodigal (Luke 15)

In order to understand this parable you have to understand who is present when Jesus tells the story.
“Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable…”
Luke 15:1-3
Jesus [...]

Celebrating God’s Deliverance (Acts 12)

Word came back to the disciples that James had been killed and Peter was arrested. With a political system in flux and a need to find favor with the Jewish constituents, Peter’s life hung in the balance. The Christians began to pray. I wonder what it is they prayed for. I think if I were [...]

Letter from a Prisoner

In light of the previous post, Living Out Jesus’ Mission, I wanted to share this letter with you as it was written to me by a brother in Christ who is behind bars. Although he is in prison I can assure you that Jesus has set him free. Keep him in your prayers. Also keep [...]

Rediscovering God - Hearing it Again for the First Time

Philip Yancey wrote, “Strangely, rediscovery may strike a deeper chord than discovery.” (What’s So Amazing About Grace, 52). There are fewer books in the Bible that is more true of than the Psalms. Written over half a century and read now for three thousand years the psalms are valuable in the process of rediscovering God. [...]