Year: 2005

  • Forgetting

    “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6 Truth – “Someone who always tells the truth doesn’t need a good memory.”  My friend David left me with this thought a few weeks ago.  In the first century, John…

  • Scandalous, Risky and Insane

    “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV Freedom – My friend Steve hit the nail on the head.  “There is a direct correlation between your willingness to face the darkness of your own pain and your ability to live freely and…

  • The Politics of Freedom

    “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 Liberty – The Bible is an emotionally engaging book.  It’s romantic non-fiction.  It’s the greatest love story ever told.  And if you don’t feel it gripping your heart, tugging at your soul and shattering your…

  • Rules of Engagement

    “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm”  Ephesians 6:13 Stand Firm – Paul was fond of military metaphors.  This passage about the armor of God certainly is one of his best.  When he concludes the thought,…

  • Escape Clause

    “then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!”” Psalm 116:4 Save – How was the memory trip to “hell on earth” (yesterday)?  A close encounter with hell turns life into an unbearable sickness.  That’s when David cries out, “Lord, save me!”  David gives us the only…

  • Hell on earth

    “The chords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me” Psalm 116:3 Sheol – I’ve already been to hell.  I didn’t have to travel far and I didn’t have to lay down six feet under.  All I had to do was live my life in total rebellion and separation from God. …

  • The Great Equalizer

    “and if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 Do not have – In the preclude to the love hymn of the New Testament (1 Cor. 13:4-8), Paul provides…

  • Worn Out Metaphor

    “You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.” Psalm 68:9 NIV Weary Inheritance – If David’s poem is only a statement about the land of Canaan, then this is just a weather report.  God brings showers to water the dry land.  Fine.  Now back to the rest of the evening news.  The…

  • The Three Words!

    “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him” Job 13:15 In Hebrew, three words and an exclamation point.  Literally “! He-kills-me but I-will-wait (hope)-for-Him”   The most compact declaration of the meaning of life ever spoken by a man who knew what it meant. What really matters to you?  What would be your last wish…

  • The Discount Price

    “having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it” 2 Timothy 3:5 Denying – Were you confronted by yesterday’s umbrella questions?  All those ways of denying the power of God.  (Do you need to look at them again? – go ahead.  I’ll wait). Jesus had something else to say about this word.  Luke…