“And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” (Luke 22:15 ESV). This coming Sunday begins what many Christians call Holy Week or Passion Week. It is called “Passion” week because of its connection to the Greek word πάσχω (pas’-kho) which is usually translated as “suffer” in the… Read more »
Current Affairs
Learning about racial healing and forgiveness from a Rwandan genocide survivor
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:43-45 NLT). We just returned from a two week mission trip to Uganda…. Read more »
The joy and sorrow of cross cultural ministry
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27 ESV). I’m a little sad. We recently had to close the door on our Hispanic ministry. We launched our Spanish-speaking worship services on Easter Sunday 2012 and within two… Read more »
Thanking God for gospel partners
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:3-6 NIV)…. Read more »
The greatest gift exchange
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NKJV). Do you remember “leisure suits?” My grandmother Combs used to buy a suit for all her grandsons every Christmas. She was a very smart shopper and would have most of her Christmas shopping finished for the following… Read more »
Why support the Church?
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth” (1 Timothy 3:14-16 ESV). “Let us hold fast… Read more »
My annual appointment with Jesus
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them” (Matthew 28:16 NKJV). I started going “away” for an annual retreat at the end of the year around 15 years ago. I have found it to be one of the wisest practices in my life. It gives me… Read more »
Going over to Bethlehem
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us’” (Luke 2:15 ESV). Robin and I had the privilege of visiting the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem this past summer… Read more »
Don’t let the Grinch steal your Christmas!
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2 ESV). Now, before you panic… Read more »
Who will win the battle for your worship?
Posted by & filed under Current Affairs, Religion, Uncategorized, Weblogs.“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11 ESV). The word “worship” comes from the Middle English, “weorthscipe,” literally meaning to “ascribe worth.” We were created to worship. From dandelions to dinosaurs, no… Read more »