While talking to a Christian brother about a popular preacher and the importance of appreciating our own pastors, I invoked Roberto Clemente. Roberto Clemente, the GOAT Growing up in a small town, about a half-hour north of Pittsburgh, PA, I dreamed of one day being a Pittsburgh Pirate. My plan was to succeed Steve Blass as the pitching ace of the team. If that didn't work … [Read more...]
The Man Who Will Marry My Daughter (I Still Mean It)
I wrote this article 14 years ago. It details my expectations for the man who will marry my daughter. I still mean it. Over the years, this article has proven to be the most hated article I've ever written--not only by pagans, but also by professing Christians. Accusations of misogyny and treating my daughters as property and slaves have come from both the lost and those who … [Read more...]
Anxiety: It’s NOT Something You Have; It’s Something You Do
This morning I was given the honor and privilege to stand in my pastors' pulpit. This sermon about anxiety is theological, practical, and very personal. Sermon Title: "Anxiety: It's NOT Something You Have; It's Something You Do. Text: Philippians 4:4-7 Excerpt: God does not command His people to flee from or repent of illnesses, diseases, maladies, disorders, and the … [Read more...]
Christian Nationalism: Don’t Want Something God Never Promised
If Christian Nationalism succeeds (I don't believe it will succeed nor do I hope it will), then American Christians will be robbed of something many American evangelicals do everything they can to avoid. They will be robbed of a wonderful manifestation of God's grace. Persecution. When the early church experienced persecution, they didn't band together to call for and/or … [Read more...]
Abortuary Ministry: What If I Can’t Be Out There?
You want to participate in abortuary ministry, but you can't. What can you do? Trying to Encourage a Brother I spent some time on the phone the other day with a brother in Christ who has spilt sweat and tears for the unborn, outside of abortuaries. For years, he has pleaded with men and women not to murder their children, always doing so with the gospel of Jesus Christ as … [Read more...]
Tetelestai, “It is Finished!”: Jesus Does Not Need Your Help
Jesus' words, "Tetelestai," "It is finished," appear only twice in the New Testament--John 19:28 and John 19:30. "After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), 'I thirst.' A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he … [Read more...]
Follow-Up: Dinner with the Technician’s Family and the Gift of Hospitality
Recently, I shared about my interaction with an Internet technician who came to my home on a service call. Saturday night we had him and his family over for dinner. It was a wonderful evening of gospel conversation and hospitality. Before They Took Off Their Coats and Shoes The Smith Family (I am not using their real names) arrived on time. I watched from the window next to … [Read more...]