The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) recently rejected the traditional definition of marriage in one of their decisions. Many celebrate this decision. Even as I write, I am forced to view a rainbow banner across the top of the page, something WordPress has inflicted on all its users. (If you feel this is…
Tag: Jesus Christ
Babylon Is Fallen!
We are going through Revelation in church. Last week we started chapter 17 about Babylon, “the notorious prostitute” John sees riding on the back of a scarlet beast (Rev. 17:3). John is told this whore “has an empire over the kings of the earth” (Rev. 17:18). The fact she rides the beast emphasizes this–the beast…
The Commonality of the Indwelling Christ–Mallory Patrick
The following is an excerpt from an essay by Mallory Patrick. Read the full essay here. Mallory is my sister-in-law and founder of Gathered Fragments Book Sanctuary. Gathered Fragments seeks to preserve books of all times and places that present Christ crucified. *** The Commonality of the Indwelling Christ The Need Any believer who hungers…
The Biggest Small Word
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ….” (1 Peter 1:1) “Of” is a mighty word in scripture. It can show source–something that originates in something else and shares its nature, substance, reality. Ownership is another connotation. “Of” also suggests “from”; coming in another’s stead and on their authority. Such big ideas in such a little word!…
More Apostate than Apostle
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ….” (1 Peter 1:1). Over the years, I’ve concluded that “apostle” is a greatly abused term. For the most part, we’ve turned it into an honorific title. The office of apostle looms large in some movements, with prophet as a close second. Such movements seek to bring local congregations under…
I Own You!
Being owned has negative connotations: Think slavery. Or how often do TV characters intimidate someone by shouting, “I OWN YOU!” People playing sports may shout this as well when they want to rile their opponents. In our minds, being owned is humiliating; it completely devalues a person. All of this flitted through my mind recently as…
Daybreak–GK Chesterton
On the third day the friends of Christ coming at daybreak to the place found the grave empty and the stone rolled away. In varying ways they realised the new wonder; but even they hardly realised that the world had died in the night. What they were looking at was the first day of a…
Celebrating One Solitary Life–Dennis Patrick
Painting by Salvador Dali The following is a piece by my father-in-law, Dennis Patrick. Dennis writes a weekly column called “The Passing Scene,” which appears in the Mountrail County Promoter. “Celebrating One Solitary Life” appeared in the March 27 edition of The Promoter. *** Eastertide is as good a time as any to reflect on the many positive…
Thumbs Up!
As one called to preach and write about Christ, God often challenges my motives. Why do I do what I do? Am I still functioning out of His life and calling? Have I slipped into letting ambition drive me? Do my own efforts sustain what I do or am I energized by Christ’s energy? (Col….
God Bless Us, Everyone!
As I’ve written elsewhere, A Christmas Carol is a favorite holiday story in our house. To many, it’s a familiar tale. Scrooge is a selfish, old miser. Financial gain is his one great love. He thinks little of the poor and even comments that they should die to “decrease the surplus population.” (Uh…WOW). Scrooge’s heart…
The Voice of One 