In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Paul issued a grim warning for people who damage local churches. 16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will…
Bonhoeffer: Loving our Enemies Requires An Understanding of God’s Wrath and Vengeance
. . . it is only when God’s wrath and vengeance are hanging as grim realities over the heads of one’s enemies that something of what it means to love and forgive them can touch our hearts. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in…
The Joy of Sports: Forgetting Self and Throwing Blocks
I was trying to think of a reason to post about the football games my sons played yesterday. . . and then Steve Altrogge stepped up and threw a touchdown pass right where I needed it. In his new book,…
Praying the Imprecatory Psalms
“Imprecatory Psalms” refers to those Psalms that cry out for the judgment of evil people. These Psalms raise a number of questions in how we apply them to our own lives. Can it be Christian to ask God to pray…
Messin With "Sins-squatch"
Studying Colossians 3 for the weekend. Paul admonishes the Colossians (3:5) to put to death sin. How many times is our approach more like the clowns in certain beef-jerky commericals? With a similar, though worse, outcome. Feeding your wild side…
Need Wisdom for Your Marriage? Hint: If You Are Married, You do. Listen to This.
In this interview (at about the 16 minute mark) John Piper shares transparently about how he and his wife worked through a difficult period in their marriage. I think it is helpful to reflect on not only how God used…
Piper’s Maternal Instinct
Normally when I reference “Piper” I mean John. But, this reference is to Piper Palin making sure her little brother Trig was looking good on national television. HT: Between Two Worlds
You Know You Are a Servant When . . .
“You know you’re a servant when you don’t mind being treated like one.” Source Unknown.
How Can I Forgive Myself?
One forgiveness question that often comes up is, “How can I forgive myself?” Here’s what I say in Unpacking Forgiveness: If you are asking, “How can I forgive myself?” it is probably in reference to mistakes you have made in…
Bonhoeffer on Wrongly Avoiding Conflict
We live in a culture that prefers to bury sin rather than properly admonish. Consider this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Nothing can be more cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than…