“God hates” is not an expression we often hear.
We preach about the love of God. We sing about it. We write about it. We read scriptures like “God so loved the world…” (Jn 3:16).
But, “God hates”? Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2020
Righteousness and Anger
Sunday a Seattle man drove his car into a crowd protesting the death of George Floyd. Struck a barricade at an intersection. Jumped out of his car carrying a gun. And a shot a man trying to stop him. Fortunately the man was only wounded and didn’t die.
After the shooter was apprehended, police tried to disperse the protesters. They responded by throwing projectiles and fireworks at the Officers. Some demonstrators, police reported, shone green lasers in the officers’ eyes. Continue reading
Filed under Anger
Word of the Week: Righteousness
I am told that the Chinese character for righteousness is composed of two separate symbols. One is a lamb. And the other is for me.
When the “lamb” is placed directly above “me” it forms a new character, “righteousness.”
This powerful picture reminds me that I cannot attain righteousness by myself, through my good works, or by my own merit. Real righteousness is found only in “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
Sunday Seed Thoughts: Blood
Today, I’m thinking about the needless blood that has been shed in our country. Blood shed by criminals. Blood shed by rioters and looters. Blood shed accidently and inadvertently. And sadly blood shed by reckless, rouge and sometimes racist cops.
We often lament that an innocent person’s life was taken. I understand the context of that statement. We’re saying he didn’t deserve to die in that situation. However, there was only ONE person who actually died an innocent death. He was Jesus of Nazareth. Continue reading
Filed under Sunday Seed Thoughts
Weekly Recap: May 31-June 6
Hello from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Norma Jean and I are enjoying the week here as we journey toward Glacier National Park. And then hopefully the Canadian border will open and we will be able to join our Northern brethren in fellowship and ministry.
The week has been difficult for so many Americans. Of all races. We’re experiencing so many emotions. Empathy for the hurting. Disgust at racial prejudice. Abhorrence at the attitude and actions of law enforcement officer who is supposed to serve and protect. Horror at the looting and rioting. Fear for our personal safety. And concern for the direction and future of our country. In the midst of a confusing and perplexing time, we have tried our best to shed light and not generate heat in respect to current events. Continue reading
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Waving The Bible
President Trump has been criticized this week for his photo op when he walked from the White House to the historical St. John’s Church that had been set on fire by some protestors and was photographed waving a Bible.
There are conflicting news reports whether the President ordered peaceful protestors cleared from the area to walk to St John’s. Or if Attorney General William Barr had already ordered the protestors to be moved back a block for safety. Continue reading
Filed under Bible
Lord, Give Me Wisdom
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
These familiar words, often seen on plaques, were written by the American theologian, Richard Niebuhr, and is commonly known as “The Serenity Prayer.” They speak to challenges we all face in life. But the ability to properly deal with our ever changing and often unexpected circumstances hinges on wisdom. Continue reading
A Passage To Ponder: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
This week Norma Jean and I are in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a lovely city in the Northwest part of the state known for its water sports on beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Sunday, we were blessed to worship with the Coeur d’Alene church. Due to “social distancing,” our interactions with the brethren were brief, but we felt welcomed and enjoyed our time of fellowship together.
Their preacher, Steven Findley, presented a fine lesson from Deuteronomy 6, one of my favorite texts. Continue reading
Filed under Parenting
What Christians Can Do During Civil Unrest?
“Close call.” Posted my friend and former college classmate Nancy (Clendening) Reaves.
Saturday evening, Nancy and her husband, Brownie, a preaching colleague of mine, were driving through Atlanta. Suddenly, Nancy, recounted, “A young black man ran out onto Hwy 85 intending to harm whoever was in the next car. It. Was. Me. He threw a big rock at my car window. Brownie was driving. It hit the door rim and was two inches from hitting me.” Continue reading
Filed under America
Word of the Week: Justice
“No justice. No peace.” Protestors have cried across America’s major cities for the past week.
From New York City to Minneapolis to Los Angeles and in between, people have been demonstrating against police brutality in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white cop.
Pop star, Beyoncé, expressed the feelings of so many in a video posted Saturday: “We need justice for George Floyd. We all witnessed his murder in broad daylight. We’re broken and we’re disgusted. We cannot normalize this pain.” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
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