Life This Side of Heaven

In Acts, Peter addressed a crowd at the Temple. He told them, "You killed the author of life." As you and I hear these words, we're reminded that it wasn’t one particular person, such as Pontius Pilate or any of the other leasers of that day, or even the crowd standing before Peter that was solely responsible for Jesus’ death on the cross.  It was our sins that also led Him to be there....

Does it feel like the rest of the world is looking up while you're looking down? Last Monday, the "Great North American Eclipse" took place. Chances are good that many of you may have been among those dawning special glasses and looking up to the sky. However, for those of you looking down at that moment, you may have noticed another incredible phenomenon. It's called a 360-degree sunris...

When Jesus drew His last breath on the cross He paid for our sins in full. He also conquered death. What does this mean? Three days later and just as He promised, He rose from the dead – a real physical, bodily, resurrection. He stepped out of the grave alive. Now consider the words that John shares, here in his first letter, and all that this means when Jesus promises that at the resurrection you...

On the day that Jesus rose, the very next thing He did after announcing "peace" to the disciples was to show them His hands and side. These were the hands through which the nails had been driven.  This was the side into which the soldier thrust his spear to ensure that Jesus was dead. Why would Jesus hang onto such a reminder of the painful sacrifice that He endured? Wouldn’t the discipl...

When it comes to Easter, Paul tells us about the eyewitnesses who were on hand and the historical facts of Jesus' resurrection. However, faith is more than acknowleging the fact that we have a living Savior. As the apostle goes on to point out, faith lays hold all that this precious fact brings with it - forgiveness of sins, life and salvation! Knowing this changes not only history, but your life...

At Easter, you may have shared a familiar greeting on Sunday morning.  It’s called the “Paschal Greeting.” It goes like this:  One person exclaims, “He is risen!”  And it’s followed by the joyful response, “He is risen, indeed!” But, you know, the angel who announced our Savior's resurrection also included four more words that are easily overlooked, but which are wonderful, reassuring and too good...

Chances are good that a few days ago on Good Friday you may have sung that enduring hymn, “Were You There?” It comes with that familiar refrain, “Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.” On Easter morning, as the women left the empty tomb they found themselves trembling ... with joy! The good news is that Jesus is risen and He is here. He is here with us this very day, and with all th...

Crushed it!  According to the folks at the Free Dictionary to “crush it” means “to succeed at something in a particularly impressive way.” And according to the Collins Dictionary, “If you crush it, you succeed completely in doing something.” That phrase really takes on a special meeting as we look at the full context of what took place for us on Good Friday.

Luke alone records this remarkable detail from Peter’s denial of our Savior. It happened after all of the disciples abandoned Jesus. By inspiration of the Holy Spirit God ensured that this event was recorded for you and me to hear. They're a wonderful reminder that, even in the midst of our sin, crushing guilt and remorse, Jesus has not abandoned us. Episode Art by Jan van't Hoff. Copyright www. G...

Did you know the words to “God Save the King”? It’s the national anthem of the United Kingdom and it’s also the royal anthem of many of the nations which form the British Commonwealth. Do you know the words? It’s a well known song around the world and it's actually a prayer. On Psalm Sunday the crowds cried out, “Hosanna!” Chances are good that you sang it last Sunday in church. And this too is a...

“We’re not number one!” Have you ever gone to a game and seen someone holding one of those big foam hands with big X through and shouting, “We’re NOT number one!” Ya, me neither. So, imagine what must have went through the disciples' minds as He explained to them what it meant to be "first" and "greatest."

When someone loves another so much that it’s obvious to everyone around them, they’re often described as “wearing their heart on their sleeve.”  In medieval times, knights would wear a handkerchief, embroidered with the name of a lady, tied on their sleeves during a tournament. They wanted their love for to be known by all. Wait until you hear what Jesus has worn in love for you, as both the perfe...

When confronted with our sins it's tempting for to want to bargain and made a deal with God. It always fails. But what God announced to Jeremiah, and fulfilled in His Son, is so much better. God has revealed a remarkable prize. No games, just grace!

Police wasted no time. The aviation team was called in. Using thermal imaging cameras they scoured the thick vegetation of the forested area below. Deputies on the ground rushed in. The pilot indicated to the officers below that they were now within 80 feet. Body cam footage showed the deputy drawing closer and closer with his arms fully stretched before him. What comes next in this story made hea...

You and I are hard-wired to cover our eyes and turn away whenever we see something that terrifies us. So, why would God command Moses to erect a bronze snake on a pole as their means of rescue from the venomous snakes that were killing them? Why would He command the Israelites to look at the very thing that frightened them the most? And why would God direct our attention to the terrifying death of...

It’s the classic scene from movies that has Moms and Dads nodding their head. Everyone’s excited to get in the car and hit the road on vacation. But now the trip is beginning to seem too long. Then the kids begin to murmur and moan in back seat. Then the quarreling and fighting gets underway. Finally, it reaches a crescendo when exasperated parents thunder out that familiar phrase which declares t...

In recent years there's been a crackdown on fake degrees and fraudulent credentials. And the religious leaders may have felt that they were doing the same thing after Jesus cleared the temple of money changes and dove dealers. They demanded that He show them a miracle as proof of His authority. But, as shocked as we might be by their insistence that Jesus show them His "credentials," do...

It seems foolish to today’s world to think that God's Word declared each week, the message of our Savior's crucifixion, can waken faith, bring sinners to repentance, and bring comfort and assurance in place of despair.  But that’s exactly what Paul tells us that God does through the 'foolishness' of this message.

Are you trying to make yourself a good person, and make yourself right with God, by keeping the Commandments? You'll never be able to dig yourself out from under your guilt. However, the Commandments do serve a very important purpose – they point to our need for a Savior. And that's exactly what God has given to us in His Son. He lifts us out of the pit.

When Peter heard Jesus tell them about His upcoming suffering and death on the cross, he replied “Never, Lord! ... This shall never happen to you!” But, then, as Jesus went on to tell them about the cross they would soon take up, you could almost imagine them taking a gulp and thinking, “Never, Lord … may this never happen to us.”  But both crosses – our Savior’s, and the one He tells us to take u...

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Those are the opening words that Charles Dickens used in his famous historical novel, “The Tale of Two Cities.” Chances are good you may have read it grudgingly for an English class back in high school. Despite it's ranking among the best-selling novels of all time you may not have felt like ever hearing those words ever again. Regrettably, th...

Throughout this Lenten season we hear the news that "Christ died for us." Now, you may be thinking, “That’s not news. That’s what Lent is all about.” But listen carefully to the circumstances under which this took place. What is can easily be overlooked is what Paul means when he says that this took place "at just the right time."

Here in James, the apostle distinguished what it means to be tested and what it means to be tempted. So, what’s the difference? On the surface, it just sounds like two different ways of saying the same thing. But they’re quite different.

Mark provides us with something very handy to keep in mind as we hear about our Savior's tempation and as we face our own temptations every day. He gives us a bird's eye view of how this important event was sandwiched between two others. And it provides us with a handy template we can use when we're facing temptation.

We live by faith! That’s the kind of phrase that gets us Christians nodding our heads in agreement and perhaps even shouting out, “Amen”! But what does it really mean? It means that we trust God’s promises. We trust what He has said to us in His Word. But let’s be honest, there are times when that’s easier said than done. So what do you do when something seems terribly wrong and out of place? You...