The Supremely Happy God
So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them,…
God, the Bible, and Miracles: For My Skeptical Friends
In the last couple months, I have been preaching from the Book of Joshua. Joshua is a book full of epic battles and miraculous events. Ultimately, it’s a book about the character and nature of God. It’s named after Israel’s…
Why Jesus Prayed for Unity
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may…
Work: Blessing or Curse?
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. (Genesis 2:15, ESV) In the beginning, God created us to work. Wait a minute. Does that sound right to you? God created us…
What Hope Does God Offer Families of Flood Victims?
This last Friday (the 4th of July), flash flooding devastated central Texas. As of this writing, there are 104 confirmed deaths, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp outside Hunt, Texas. My heart breaks for…
A Buddhist Encounters Jesus
Some of my favorite books to read are memoirs of people who have come to faith in Jesus Christ. There is something powerful about hearing an individual’s story of how God rescued him or her from spiritual darkness. It reminds…
Jesus and Fakers
The more I get to know Jesus the more I see His laserlike ability to see past externals and appearances to each person’s heart. There is no fooling Jesus. And if I was to guess, I would say that one…
Finishing the Race for Heaven’s Applause
This last Sunday my father retired after 40 years of pastoral ministry. As a young pastor myself, I was reminded of how blessed I am to have my dad as a role model for a lifetime of faithfulness to the…
The Fear of Death and the God of Life
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25, BSB) The fear of death has long plagued humanity. It’s a universal dread that hangs over the…
Why Read the Bible in a Year?
The Bible is a massive book. Actually, it’s a library of 66 different books of various genres, written by around 40 different authors from wide-ranging backgrounds. Nevertheless, the Bible is one complete story about reality. From Genesis to Revelation, the…