Life This Side of Heaven

Throughout the account of creation in Genesis a joyous refrain can be heard.  We hear it no less than five times:  “And God saw that it was good.”  I’ll say!  That Hebrew phrase means, “It was perfect!” But now here’s something that may surprise you. There is one point in creation where this was not the case. There was actually a moment in which God said, “it is not good.” What God did next is not...

One request that I received more than any other during my time serving in the Lord’s ministry was this:  “Pray for me.”  You can be sure that I was always grateful for the request and happy to pray alongside a fellow-brother or sister in Christ. However, every once in a while the request was made with the mistaken assumption that my prayer would count for more before God than theirs. Well, wait un...

“Why is it always the same few people who do all the work?” Have you found yourself asking that question at church? On the other hand, have ever run into the situation where many folks show up and you ask, "Hey, who said that they could help?"

We live in a world that when it spots trouble, prefers to ignore it and say, “It’s not my business.”  And yet, it can’t get enough of that same person’s business when it comes to gossip.  But James reminds us what needs to be done if a brother or sister in Christ is in trouble. And he also helps to clear up a common misunderstanding concerning an interesting and wonderful phrase that he uses.

Today, many folks, including Christians, are afraid to ask important questions about death – and not about Jesus’ death, but also their own. But thankfully, through faith and God's gift to us in our Baptism, both of these events are connected! And Jesus has set time aside for us to ask those questions.  It’s today.

Do you remember the promise of flying cars? Wouldn’t that be amazing! It sure would be nice for those times we're stuck in a traffic jam with folks cutting each other off, envying those who were further ahead, and jockeying to see who could get in front of the other. James hints at a similar situation. In our culture where everyone is out for themselves there’s going to be plenty of folks trying t...

Say what? Praying for vengeance? Doesn’t this seems a little bloodthirsty and “out of place” with the Gospel? But here’s the thing: Jeremiah isn’t alone in giving voice this anger. There are many passages just like these in the writings of the prophets and in the Psalms. It's tempting to want to skip passages like this. However, since God's word reminds us that "All Scripture is God-breathed...

It’s one thing to have faith when our lives are calm, like a stroll along the side of a scenic river on a beautiful day in June. It’s another thing altogether when something unexpected takes place and our lives are thrown into turmoil. When faith feels like it’s loosing it’s hold, when doubt swirls around us and it feels like our grip is about to slip, God shows us where to look. He reminds us who...

Open your mouth and say ‘Ahhh’.”  Have you ever wondered why your family doctor likes to look inside your mouth?  Apparently, it can reveal symptoms of all sorts of things, like a vitamin deficiency, an infection, or even oral cancer. As a doctor examines our tongue to get a glimpse of what’s going on inside of our bodies, James reminds us our tongues often reveal a deeper problem – namely our hea...

The Father Himself declared His crucified Son to be righteous by raising Him from the dead.  Any accusation made against our sinless Savior is full of holes. This is really good news for you and me!  Through faith in our Savior, who died and rose for us, there’s no one left who can accuse and condemn you either!

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking that life would be a paradise if we didn’t have diseases like cancer, diabetes, or mental health crises and so many more, Jesus agrees and draws our attention to the cross.  While we celebrate when a loved one is healed, and when someone in danger is rescued, we are blessed with an even greater healing, a rescue that’s eternal and for everyone.

In Ephesians, Paul says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”  But in James we hear,, “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”  So, which is it?  Are we saved by faith alone or faith plus works?  Have we stumbled upon a contradiction?  Actually, there’...

According to the commentary on a famous painting, the artist wished to to convey the message that “the course of justice is relentless if sometimes slow.” It certainly must have felt that way for the faithful who were living in Isaiah’s day in the midst of hostile circumstances. It may fill us will fears of fear and fury. It may even leave us wanting to take matters into our own hands. However, Is...

It’s easy to fall into the trap of making our faith all a matter of outward appearance. Everything from how we dress to how we fold our hands may give the appearance that we’re very pious.  But if our hearts are filled with grudges, anger, jealously, sinful thoughts, and pride, then we're putting on a show and it's no more effective than turning our t-shirt inside out to hide stains. Jesus has som...

In the world of international relations, ambassadors often wore diplomatic uniforms. This attire was resplendent with each individual nation’s unique culture, tradition and symbolism.  But there is one adornment that was not a part of the diplomatic uniforms of any nation – chains. Nevertheless, the apostle Paul described himself as “an ambassador in chains.” Amazingly, he didn't bemoan this situa...

The devil works hard to separate you from God's precious gift to you of a Savior and your salvation in Him. The goal of his attacks is to have you forget what Jesus had done for you and the forgiveness He brings. He tempts you to look to yourself, you sins, and despair. But here’s where our brother Paul reminds you of the remarkable gift that God has given to you in your Baptism. You have a shield...

Here in Mark, Jesus describes a manmade custom that is no longer familiar.  And at first, it sounds like the gold standard of pious worship. For someone to declare a portion of their wealth as “Corban” was to declare that it was now set aside as a gift to God. Doesn’t that sound inspiring? You can be sure that folks marveled at back then as well.  However, the intentions behind this practice weren...

After a full day of healing and proclaiming the Kingdom of God and God's eternal rescue from sin, the Pharisees complained that the disciples didn't wash their hands. This had nothing to do with hygiene. What they were referring to was the their custom of ceremonial washing. Now, as you hear this, you may be thinking to yourself, “Well, how ridiculous!”  And you would be right!  Instead of focusin...

The Great Pottery Throw Down is a British television competition that has become hugely popular. Each week a selection of Britain's best home potters compete to become champion ‘of the pottery.’ However, despite all of the skills displayed, and all of the different types of pots are created, there is one thing that remains consistent.  None of the pots formed themselves.  There are no “self-made p...

One of the best-known, and well-loved, of the flowers that bloom each year in late Spring is one called the Bleeding Heart. A "bleeding heart" is also a popular adjective used to describe someone who is sympathetic to the poor and suffering. Here in the Psalms, the David describes a “broken heart.”  When you find yourself brokenhearted, crushed in spirit because of your sins, God directs...

Foods described as containing ‘empty calories’ are usually those which are chock full of sugars and solid fats. But if you read the label, what’s missing are essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Here in Ephesians, Paul sounds the alarm about something that may feed our cravings but leaves us famished:  Empty words.

Submit!  That’s something one kid might say to another if they’re having a fight. One kid will pin another to ground, sit on them, or bend their arm behind their back – to make them stop resisting and give up.    Which makes you raise you eyebrow then when Paul uses this term here in Ephesians. On the surface, the, the word ‘submit’ sounds like something that someone does only when they’re forced....

The image of dying, and walking toward a blinding light in the distance, has become a popular staple of our culture. It shows up in popular movies and even a video that swept social media and which some Christians have described as "heartwarming." However, what God has revealed to us in His Son about what is to come, and recorded for us in His Word, is far more encouraging and much more...

What is your favorite aroma? Is it the smell of the burning wood from an August campfire? What about the scent of a sizzling steak on the barbecue?  Do you prefer the puff of perfume or the cologne worn by your spouse? You might be pleased to know how often in Scripture we hear about "an aroma pleasing to the LORD." And it's one you and I get to share.

"I've had enough." You can hear the distress in Elijah’s words. The Hebrew word for “enough” in this text is an adverb meaning “much.”  And ironically, the idioms we use in English, to describe this feeling tend to include food. So, maybe it's not such a surprise to hear that the next thing that took place is that God fed the prophet. And He feeds us too when we're feeling "fed up.&...