I’ve been focusing on the wrong things lately. My gaze has been on the “trials” in my life, rather than on Jesus and what He wants to do in and through me. James begins his letter to “the twelve tribes” with this admonition: Count it all joy, my brethren, when…
Read morePhysical transformation is painful. For instance, losing weight takes a lot of effort, discipline, denial, perseverance, and work. The results are great, but the process is painful. Spiritual transformation is even more painful. God has to peel back the layers of pride, selfishness, entitlement, dissatisfaction, and envy to reveal our…
Read moreFirst let’s define terms. What do you think of when you hear the word conundrum? I think conundrum aptly describes what I want to communicate about grace. Or rather, what theologians in centuries past have already thought, studied, and written about grace. A conundrum is a difficult, almost intractable problem–like…
Read moreWho is Jesus? I believe this is the most important question everyone must answer. When I came to faith in the 70s, I heard there were three choices: Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. This framing of the identity of Jesus was attributed to C.S. Lewis,…
Read moreJews celebrate the Sabbath, or Shabbat, every week. They light the candles; say a blessing; recite the kaddish; drink wine; say a blessing; and eat bread. It’s an ancient tradition that Jews still revere, the beginning of a day of rest. From sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, Jews…
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