The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia to address some very important issues which they had forgotten – Christian freedom chief among them. Along with that, he also laid out some obligations of the Christian life. As I considered the celebration of the birth of our nation and our freedom earlier this month I was reminded anew of the above letter, written in 49 AD, just prior to the Jerusalem Council. (Acts 15) … Continue reading
Category Archives: Grace
(Originally printed “The Gift” In the November/December 1996 MCOI Journal) What is it about Christmas that draws us every year to celebrations of this holiday? What is so special about Christmas? Christmas is a special time because of the happiness it brings. It’s a time of giving and receiving, a family time, a time when we feel especially close to friends and loved ones. It is a time of happy reminiscing; remembering the carefree happy … Continue reading
I call to you with one lung exploded, from breathing the dust of the earth, With my tongue eroded from licking the crust of the Earth, Thus begins one of my favorite songs. The artist is a band big in the 90s called The Choir. It is a modern day Psalm of redemption. The imagery is raw and grotesque. Then again so is our sin. I once heard my Old Testament professor, Thomas Howe ask … Continue reading
I am constantly amazed at the large number of people who do not truly understand the biblical concept of grace. Since grace is, of course, spoken of in Scripture, it is part of the vocabulary of most churches and even cults. The shorthand definition we most often use is “unmerited favor.” A longer more descriptive definition would be “a kindly attitude toward the undeserving.” But as we read the literature or talk with others, we … Continue reading
As all of you know, a great man has died. From what I know of him, I think that is the strongest compliment he would allow. Call him a saint and he would remind you that all God’s children are saints. Call him a hero and he would, no doubt, remind you that all he did was speak what was given to him. Call him the closest thing to the Pope for evangelicals and I … Continue reading
Lately, barely a day goes by that doesn’t have a news story about the removal or destruction of a Civil War historical monument or the unearthing of the graves of Confederate soldiers. The destruction extends to historical figures such as Christopher Columbus as well. Who knows what historical monuments will be the next to fall into disfavor? There seems to be a feeling among those so engaged that the monuments themselves have the power to … Continue reading