sin is serious
David Head, in his book He Sent Leanness, overhauls a traditional public confession of sin found in the Book of Common Prayer and offers a satirical look at our shallow view of sin: “Benevolent and easy-going Parent: We have occasionally had some minor errors of judgment, but they’re not really our fault. Due to forces beyond our control, we have sometimes failed to act in accordance with our own best interests. Under the circumstances, we did the best we could. We are glad to say that we’re doing okay, perhaps even slightly above average. Be your own sweet Self with those who know they are not perfect.” Oh, how we trust in our own righteousness and justify our sinfulness!
doomsday predictions
Adoomsday prophet predicted that Jesus would return on September 6, 1994, then May 21, 2011, and then finally on October 21, 2011. He even said that God had stopped saving people after May 21. When the final doomsday prediction did not happen, the man had to finally apologize for his false teachings.
you choose Q: "why did Jesus curse the fig tree even thought it wasn't fruit season?"
Q: Why does Jesus curse the fig tree simply because it does not have fruit even though He knows it is not the season for figs? —Richard
A: In Mark 11:12-21 we find the account of Jesus cursing the fig tree and its subsequent withering. It’s important to realize that Jesus didn’t condemn the fig tree simply because it lacked fruit.…
you choose Q: "how can I show good judgment without being judgmental?"
Q: I would be grateful if you could help me to understand the difference between judgment and disagreement. How do I live as a Christian indicating how and why I do things differently (when asked or questioned about it) without coming across to another person as being judgmental? —Tana
A: There is a difference and much of it boils down to…
intercepting entropy
John Ortberg, in one of his sermons, told of an interview with Max Dupree, the former CEO of Herman Miller, a renowned office furniture company. “Max is asked to speak a lot about leadership, and at one session somebody asked him what the most difficult thing was that he personally had to work on. This was Max’s response: ‘It’s the…
good judgment
Don’t judge me!” Most of us have used those words to defend ourselves when we believe someone has unfairly called into question something we’ve done.
So, is it wrong to judge people? After all, Jesus Himself said, “Do not judge others” (Matthew 7:1). The answer is yes and no.
It’s essential to understand that the word judge is a neutral…
viva la vida
With lush orchestral chord progressions and an infectious melody, Coldplay’s Viva la Vida grabbed Song of the Year honors at the 2009 Grammys. That title, which means “long live life,” conveys a bitter irony. The protagonist depicted in the lyrics had held immense power but now was dealing with a reversal of fortunes. “I used to rule the world,” the words…
open he(ear)t
Sometimes I don’t want advice. On numerous occasions, I’ve poured out my heart to my husband and he has responded with sound counsel. But what he doesn’t always understand is that I simply want to share my thoughts with him. I don’t want answers. Acting as if I’m all ears, I listen only to see if he’ll say what I…
predator and prey
I watched a ladybug devour an aphid. First, she pierced its midsection and chewed for a while. When her prey was mortally wounded, the ladybug munched up the left side of the aphid’s body and devoured it.
In the book of Proverbs, Solomon described the interaction between a female predator and her sexual prey. Although he wrote the passage to…
invisible fire
Marty, my hairdresser, told me about this guy she knows—he has flames tattooed on his scalp. With a full head of hair, no one can see the inferno on his skull. But, when he shaves his head, the fire is visible. It’s kind of a cool concept—now you see it, now you don’t. Unless he chooses to share it, the…
the judgment seat of Christ
Matthew 7:21-23: Not everyone who calls out to Me, “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, “Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.”…
our defense
I’m a die-hard fan of legal dramas on TV. Whether it’s the serious-themed The Practice, Law & Order, or Murder One or the somewhat comedic Eli Stone, Ally McBeal, or Boston Legal, I love entering the confines of the courtroom. It’s fascinating to witness the adversarial confrontations between the attorneys for the plaintiff and those for the defendant. Invariably, the prosecutors do…
day of the Lord
In The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien wrote: “There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and…
none of my business?
When we first read the book of Obadiah, it’s easy to regard its contents as little more than a prophetic tirade in which God’s wrath is directed toward Israel’s enemies. We see His wrath and the reality that evil does not go unpunished. But the book has far more to say than simply those two truths.
Some other key points…
simple
Life seems so much simpler in the Old Testament. Obey God = get blessed. Don’t obey Him = expect trouble. It’s a simple theology that satisfies our craving for justice.
The story of King Asa offers a textbook example of this apparent cause-and-effect relationship with God. Asa was an excellent leader who turned his people from worshiping false gods (2…
