I’ve been watching The Godfather the past few weeks while I exercise. Watching something longer than the workout is about the only way I can maintain any sort of regular exercise regimen. I need the anticipation of what comes next to motivate me to get back on the elliptical each […] Read more
Matthew 7:15-23 – The Father’s Deliverance
Evil hides behind many faces, the most well-known is that of the devil. While he is often pictured with horns, a red cape, and carrying a pitchfork, he really comes in the guise of a snake or an angel of light. He tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, he […] Read more
Matthew 7:13-14 – The Father’s Narrow Road
After Moses died, the Lord told Joshua to be strong and courageous; Joshua was about to cross the Jordan River and conquer the land. The Lord told him a second time to be strong and courageous as an encouragement to Joshua that he, the Lord, would be with Joshua wherever […] Read more
Matthew 7:1-12 – The Father’s Forgiveness
I’ve been told for most of my life that God’s love is unconditional; I think that’s probably true. But I also think we can misunderstand what that means. Certainly, any sort of sin that we have committed, or will commit, is covered by the blood of Jesus and is forgiven […] Read more
Matthew 6:19-34 – The Father’s Provision, Part 2
Last week we looked at how we can, when praying “Give us this day our daily bread,” ignore the fact that we hold onto treasures that are not the true treasures of the Father and his righteousness. This week I’d like to address one of many possible reasons Jesus may […] Read more
Matthew 6:19-34 – The Father’s Provision, Part 1
It might be safe to say that most people have never wondered from where their next meal was coming; we have pantries, bank accounts, and friends upon whom we can rely. We have jobs, or if not, savings, social security, or welfare. So it is that when we pray, “Give […] Read more
Matthew 5:17-6:18 – The Father’s Will on Earth
Discovering God’s will seems to be an obsession with most people. In the time I spent with church youth groups and teaching high school students, other than sex, the number one topic was the will of God. Even for me, during my last couple of years in college I remember […] Read more
Matthew 5:3-16 – The Father’s Kingdom on Earth
Of the many courses I took in seminary, one of the more important ones was the course on Hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is not, as I used to think, the study of all people named “Herman,” but it is the study of how to properly read and interpret the Bible. One of […] Read more
Form follows Function follows Form
One thing that should be readily apparent to anyone who reads the Bible is its depth. New shades of meaning can be found each time you read a single passage. For instance, a few years ago I spent nearly an entire year reading just Psalm 51, and even to this […] Read more
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Let’s just get this straight off the bat: I’m not a chess player. I am the youngest of four boys, two of whom are chess players. I remember going on family trips when they would play chess in the back of the station wagon…without a board or pieces. I just […] Read more