“…who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight” (Heb. 11:33-34, ESV). On Easter Sunday, before church, I was thinking about how weak I feel…
Category: The cross
What Is This Thing Called Love?
The following is a column I had published in the religion section of our local paper. It ran about 7 years ago but has been on my heart, so I thought I’d share it. *** Love…. What is it? I’m told it’s in the air. The Beatles say it’s all you need. Some say, “Make…
Happy
Much of Hebrews chapter 3 centers on a quote from Psalm 95, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness….” Psalm 95 is referring to an incident in Exodus 17. Israel’s wilderness journey brings them to Rephidim where there…
When the Wind Blows
In December, I finished a new CD of songs the Lord has given me over the years. The album is called, “Poured Out” and centers on themes of communion—the Lord pouring Himself out at the cross as well as our participation in His death and life. The bread and wine of communion ceremonies depict these…
Out, Damn’d Spot!
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless“ (Eph. 5:25-27). Our pastor…
At the Risk of Repeating Myself…
Many times on The Voice of One I have expressed my concern over the spiritual ruin our culture is courting. My biggest concern is not racism, sexism, classism, or any of the other things society is morbidly obsessed about. What keeps me up at night is the accusation and unforgiveness running roughshod over America today….
Friends!
Jesus is as fully man’s Son as He is God’s. Hebrews tells us Jesus could not mediate between God and man unless He was like us in every way (Heb. 2:17). This is why the writer of Hebrews says it was appropriate that God should make the source of our salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb….
A Mile in Our Shoes
The writer of Hebrews observes that God hasn’t subjected the world to come to angels. Then he quotes Psalm 8, which marvels at God putting creation under the lordship of humans. Yet it was not to run of the mill humanity that God subjected creation. After the fall, people lost their lordship in a way;…
Lord of the Dance
“Lord of the Dance” is a hymn written by Sydney Carter in the 1960s and set to the Shaker tune, “Simple Gifts.” I have been unable to get it out of my head. For over a week, this song greets me when I get up and pops in my head throughout the day. Even when…
Bears All Things
Sketch by Patrick Murphy: inspiredsketch.blogspot.com “Love…bears all things….” (1 Cor. 13:6-7). Considering what Jesus suffered when He died on the cross, is there anything the Lord wouldn’t call us to bear in love? We all have an internal line that says, “I will only take this much and no more.” This is fine because it…
