Sometimes it may feel as if God is not in control. Calm down. I know. This feeling is more about our perception than reality. But I am not talking about what we know; what we tell ourselves over and over again. I’m talking about how it feels. The forces of evil plot nefarious schemes. The… Read More ›

Just so you know, I believe that demon possession is a real thing. I have seen too much to dismiss it. But I also believe that demon possession is merely one tool in the arsenal of Satan. If someone gravitates toward selfishly evil behavior it does not necessarily point to possession. I read a book… Read More ›

There are moments that are electric with building tension. Careful, don’t drag your feet on the ground, it might set off a spark. For some churches this describes every business meeting. It hasn’t been my experience, but I have heard stories fraught with outbursts of anger and smoldering hatred.

Have you ever experienced an awakening; a moment in time when the priorities of life smack you upside the head? After 9/11 some churches experienced an increase in attendance. Some watched those towers fall and the reality of the randomness of life and death came for an uncomfortable visit. Unfortunately, many churches are now experiencing… Read More ›

We could talk again about the goal of apocalyptic literature. But that would be repetitive and boring. It’s like poetry. Much of poetry is not intended to be taken literally. When the psalmist cries out “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5 NASB), it is not… Read More ›

Part of our problem is that we don’t understand apocalyptic literature. It is not a genre that exists anymore. And we also have these so called End of Times prophets jumping out of the woodwork professing to be eschatological experts. Just listen to them and they will expound the symbols. And here is where it… Read More ›

I have a riddle for you. What does the offering of Isaac have in common with the destruction of Jerusalem? The simple answer is that Jerusalem and more specifically, the temple, had become Isaac. Maybe we should go back to the story of Abraham offering Isaac. It’s a difficult passage, isn’t it? This story has… Read More ›

In the parable of the two builders (Luke 6:46-49), both the wise man and the foolish man have to face a raging storm; a house destroying torrent. Well, for the foolish man anyway. The only difference between the two men is that the wise man heard and lived the message of Jesus; he built his… Read More ›

In Josephus, War 6.288-311, the Jewish historian Josephus rebukes the Jews for not understanding or accepting the signs which foretold the destruction of the Temple. Many of the signs he tells of are the same as those mentioned by Jesus: earthquakes, wars, and the such. Some were very different like the heifer who was being… Read More ›

I am more and more convinced that we need the fifth word of the Ten Words. We need them all. I know. But the fifth one seems to experience some serious lack in our culture. What does it mean to honor your father and mother? The word “honor” is the Hebrew word for “weight, burden.”… Read More ›