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The gift of salvation begins as a gift, it is not earned or it would be a wage. The beginning of the journey begins II Timothy 1:9, “Who has resurrected us and called with SET-APART calling; not according to our works but according to His good pleasure and favor that was given us in Yeshua the Mashiyach from time before the ages.” Word of ELOHIM, not works, has everything to do with the beginning of the journey. Since a spoken word has its beginning in thought life, this verse says that Yahuah was thinking of you ages ago. Creature come up out...
My wife recently spoke in church. Her sermon was based on becoming the salt of the earth. What follows is my digested and regurgitated attempt to summarize her remarks. Jesus used this phrase in the Sermon on the Mount and we still use it today. We associate salt-of-the-earth people with those that are fundamentally good, those that are honest and those that are caring and compassionate. As followers of Christ, we go about salting the earth by following the admonition He gave just a few verses later. We can ‘let [our] light shine before men, t...
Of all the subjects being discussed today, the one most polarizing is abortion. As a Christian I believe all abortions are an affront to God. This is clearly spelled out in the Scriptures. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Psalm 139:13 states, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Jesus stated in Luke 20:25 for us to “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God...
"Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?" Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judaea, was faced with a dilemma. Finding Jesus not guilty of any crimes, he nonetheless faced a crowd agitating for that very thing. Due to an already extant state of potential rebellion, Caesar had already warned him that any further unrest in the area would have severe consequences for him personally. As the shouts for Jesus' death grow louder, he...
I love the desert. From the dry heat to cool nights to flash floods, there is a mystery about the desert to me that causes me to be filled with wonder at it. Having never lived in the desert, there is an unfamiliarity to it that seems to keep me slightly on edge when I am out in it. Parts of the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States at first glance sometimes seems to be nothing but endless stretches of uniformity in its plant life and topography. It can have a feeling of harshness, making it hard to imagine how the Native Americans...
Every spring followers of The Way celebrate the risen Christ. “Up from the grave He arose!” so the old hymn tells us. And I believe it. Should one of the two greatest events in human history be shared with Peter Rabbit? I’ve been around the woods a long time and I’ve never seen a rabbit lay eggs. Just say’n. Ya know, leading up to the Lord Jesus overcoming death, let’s think about His awful suffering. The agony in the garden, the betrayal, mock trial, the crown of thorns, the scourging, nails driven through His hands and feet, trying to b...
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) I get tired of people, mainly Christians, who say – “The Bible clearly teaches that…” and then expound on their received interpretation of the biblical text. I get equally annoyed when other people, usually those who’ve rejected Christianity, point out certain inconsistencies in the Bible and then conclude that it’s...
It’s fascinating to look back over the decades at what couples dressed like. Every era over the past century had common fashions and trends that help us know what period history a couple lived in. What makes it possible to identify past eras is that couples looked just like everyone else around them. In relationships, and in marriage, the Bible actually gives us fashion advice to NOT treat others exactly as the world around does. This truth is seen in Colossians chapter 3. First, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hea...
Some things in life should go without saying, but there is always the occasional person who just needs a not-so-subtle reminder. Here are a few examples of what I am talking about. These are actual warning labels: On a propane blowtorch: ‘Never use while sleeping.’ On a batman costume: ‘Warning: Cape does not enable user to fly.’ On a portable stroller: ‘Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage.’ And finally, on a laser pointer: ‘Do not look into laser with REMAINING eye.’ The really sad part about each of these is that while it s...
It was a day of fresh, untracked powder that I’ll never forget. Crested Butte had been hammered for several days with storms. My son John and I had driven over to the ski area to spend the night, not imagining we’d see 30 more inches of fresh powder fall as we slept. Rising early, we were the first up the lifts. We skied over to one of my favorite runs, only to find a rope blocking access. Just then a ski patrol appeared and said, “This is your lucky day.” He pulled the rope down and said, “Have fun!” We nearly disappeared into the waist deep...
A good friend once used the illustration of what he referred to as, “The Faith Train.” He pointed out that our faith is the engine, fed by the coal car of facts and followed by the caboose of feelings. When we let our feelings, or emotions, be the engine (as I recently did) we are misled and do not allow God to work. Sometimes it is because we are over anxious and unwilling to wait for God’s timing, sometimes we are misled by our feelings. But regardless of the reason, we must allow God and the Holy Spirit to do Their work, and not attem...
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” As any good builder can tell you, when constructing a building of any size, one of the first and most crucial elements is to establish a solid foundation. Without this, any further construction, no matter how precise or well-built, will be compromised. This is even more tr...
Sometimes because of my log’n days, I wake at 3-4 in the morning. I just lay there think’n about the body of Christ. Here in America we have thus far such freedoms – a good life style, for the most part, and go to church of Saturday or Sunday, depending on your persuasion or denomination or non-denomination. When people ask me what religion I am, I tell them I’m a follower of the Way – I get funny looks from many. Christians in a lot of foreign countries who suffer terribly for Christ may think Americans are playing church. Pastors in those...
In addition to a long history of magazines, Reader’s Digest is well known for publishing condensed versions of popular books. Instead of having to read a book in its entirety, a busy person could read a Reader’s Digest shortened version of a book. You could still enjoy the best parts of a book, while skipping a bulk of the book that was determined to be boring or not important. In 1982, Reader’s Digest published a condensed version of what is still a bestselling book, the Bible. The proje...
We just got done celebrating Christmas. Did we have the true meaning of Christmas this year? Here is something that we might consider throughout the year and prepare ourselves for next year. In homes throughout the modern world, stockings are still “hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there” (“A Visit from St. Nicholas,” Clement Clarke Moore). But, oddly enough, one stocking seems to be missing. Perhaps it has never even been considered. I speak of a stockin...
I went out on an icy walk last week. And as I slid around the corner of a meadow, I had a flashback: THIS, HERE was the rock I sat upon, about six months ago, to watch the sun rise on the longest day, the solstice. I felt a bit nostalgic. Those were the days! Looking back, it was easy to see God ‘within’ it all; rippling grasses in the meadow, wildflowers painting the landscape, birds orchestrating their summer sounds. What’s not to love? But now, here, in the gloom and the cold and the ice? Are THESE the days, too? Surely the psalmist wasn...
For those of us who are old enough to remember the song “Hokey Pokey” you may remember the words went something like this, “You put your right foot in, you put your left foot out, then you do the Hokey Pokey and you shake it all about.” Why in the world did this song from years ago suddenly pop into my mind? I’m guessing it’s because I was reflecting on the scripture verses, both in the Psalms and in the book of James that talk about a “double minded man.” These verses reminded me that Christians often try to live with one foot in their faith...
From a commercial I saw once long ago...(from memory)... How long can a person live without food? 10-14 days How long can a person live without water? 3-5 days How long can a person live without air? 3-5 minutes How long can a person live without hope? ….. Circumstances in each of these can produce different results but the end-point is clear enough. In deference to that, it is no secret that this time of year is concomitantly both the most joyous and the most difficult for many of us. As of this reading, Christmas will have passed and New Y...
One of my favorite biblical characters has always been King David. From when I was a boy, reading about the exploits and bravery of David as a youngster (lions and bears and Philistines!), until now when in mid-life I also admire David’s wisdom, humility and desire to follow God wholeheartedly. The historical accounts of David’s life found in the Bible will remain an example to all of us for eternity of an imperfect, sinful man who God used in a mighty way. David lived a life full of conflict, turmoil, battle and bloodshed. He was one of the...
We’d have to be marooned on a deserted island or live in a hellhole like North Korea to not know the great Billy Graham passed away. Of all his preaching the one thing I remember most was how it changed the life of one native. I was at a men’s retreat and listened to a man whose testimony was so striking you’d never forget it. His mother left him as an infant on his grandmother’s porch and walked away. Raised without a father or mother, his best friend became John Barleycorn. Passed out on his couch after a drinking spree, he later woke staring...
What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out. John 1:4-5 “The Message” Per usual, the liturgical season of Advent begins just as our hours of darkness are getting longest. It’s such a fantastic reminder of God’s unexpected power. We are encouraged during Advent to expect hope. We are called upon to seek peace. We are roused to express love. We are gathered and sent to live out our faith with mercy and joy. This is God’s power at work among...
This December I look forward to speaking for four Sundays about the original songs of Christmas. These four songs, contained in the first two chapters of Luke, poetically proclaim the Good News of Jesus. These first four songs of Christmas come from Mary, Zechariah (father of John the Baptist), the angels speaking to the shepherds and a man named Simeon. Together, these songs show us the expectation and wonder of the announcement and arrivals of Jesus Christ. In December, we traditionally observe the four weeks leading up to Christmas as the...
I wonder what message the prophet Isaiah was trying to emphasize when he said, “…for all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still?” It must have been awfully important as he repeats it again and again (Isaiah 5:25, 9:12, 9:17, 9:21 and 10:4). We recently studied these verses in our Sunday school class and it has given me cause to ponder. As I read these verses, I think about the justice and mercy of a loving God. The recurrent theme that I see is that no matter where I am in my life, His hand is stretched out still...
I recently ran across a quote on Facebook attributed to @mindfulfitness that said “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow.” I suspect that for most people who choose to live in this part of the world, they can at least find some joy in the snow whether it be in recreational opportunities such as skiing or snowmobiling, in work opportunities clearing snow, or just in the beauty it adds to an already beautiful place. On the other side of it, I think there are aspects of...
We have a good Christian friend who was taking a class at the U, who reported to us that her instructor had made a comment something to the effect, “Watch out for those Christians, you can’t trust them.” Our friend’s responded, “Can you tell who they are?” To which the teacher replied, “Oh yes, you can.” I believe that, as Christians it is possible that the world sometimes misunderstands our Christian faith and beliefs. For example you may hear someone say, “Those Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites.” To which I would answer, “Indeed I a...
