I used to believe that the conviction of the Holy Spirit operated like the buzzer on that old Operation game. But I was wrong. [Click title to read more.]
Tag: grace
Confronting Paul’s Freedom in Christ
Often, when I read Paul's letters, I wonder: did Paul ever struggle with guilt? Did he ever think of Stephen's radiant face, and Stephen's forgiveness, and Stephen's broken, mangled body? Did he hate himself for approving of it? Did he ever look at himself admonishing churches and marvel that he had the gall to do it after the atrocities he'd committed? [Click title to read more.]
What The Open Door Means
The lingering image in the story of the concubine is a woman desperately trying to get inside. But the lingering image of the salvation story is the temple curtain torn in two from top to bottom. It was not enough for God merely to open the door for those who wanted in; He destroyed the door completely and annihilated the barriers keeping you out. [Click title to read more.]
The Story Of Sodom and Gomorrah Actually Tells Us A Lot About The Elasticity of God’s Mercy
It is within the rescue of Lot, his daughters, and his wives, that we see mercy most strongly at play: an elastic, stubborn sort of mercy.
Let’s Be Okay With Disagreement. The Bible Says We Can.
Arguments among Christians are particularly fraught because behind them always lurks the specter of salvation, of eternity, of Christ. Losing an argument feels like you are doing it "wrong," which can be frightening; no one wants to invoke God's wrath or feel like a "lesser" Christian or believe that they are blind to a truth in God's word. [Click title to read more.]
What It Really Means To Overlook Offense
We Christians like to think we're good at forgiving. We aren't, for a lot of reasons. [Click title to read more.]
Congratulations On Doing What You’re Supposed To Do
We tend to celebrate the bare minimum as being exceptional, without realizing that we've simply set the bar so low for ourselves that we've made the bare minimum look like an accomplishment when it's not. [Click title to read more.]
Putting Down The Bullhorn To Focus On Your Own Sin
We must call out ourselves the way we would call out others before we call out others at all. [Click title to read more.]
Yes, The Parable of the Prodigal Son Is Unfair and Uncomfortable.
I'd like to be honest and say that if the parable of the prodigal son doesn't sometimes irritate you just a little, you might be missing another truth inside it. [Click title to read more.]
Giving Up Our Right To Retribution
I'm struck by how anti-entitlement God's Word seems to be. Been wronged? Been hurt? Been harmed? Have a justifiable case to make against a person/group/corporation who's causing you trouble? If so, the Bible tells you to give up your right to vengeance. [Click title to read more.]
Samaritan's Song 