We often open the book of Revelation to find clues about the future. Will Christians be on earth during the tribulation? Where does America fit in the end times? Who can even understand this? It’s certainly tempting to spend our time in this particular book like detectives, analyzing data and searching for clues. But if […]
Why Calling “Time-Out” May Be Just Right (Revelation 2)
In the book of Revelation, Christ gave the church in Ephesus some glittering compliments. “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles, but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have […]
Truth (2 John)
The book of 2 John is one of the tiniest in the entire Bible, with only 245 words written in the original Greek. It would have easily fit on one page of papyrus. It is a letter written to a mother and her children who were leaders in ministry and, most probably, were hosting a […]
The Ignorant Talk of Foolish Men (1 Peter 2)
I watched an interview of a very well-known Christian celebrity. This vivacious, talented woman was asked how, with her squeaky-clean lifestyle, she could be taken seriously in Hollywood (and even become successful.) This was her answer: “Do excellent work.” Peter said something very similar in 1 Peter 2:15. “For it is God’s will that by […]
What Good Is It? (James 2–Rahab)
I read a true story about a man who was driving to a job interview. He was prepared, dressed nicely and excited about this prospective employment opportunity. On his way, he noticed a woman stranded on the side of the road in her car with a flat tire. Immediately he knew that he needed to […]
A Place For You (Titus 2)
A couple of weeks ago, I was in a seminar taught by experts on differences between the generations. One of the experts started off by telling us about some research that had recently been done with a large group of women. This group was asked, “How many of you are looking for a spiritual mentor?” […]
Parenting that Works (2 Timothy 1–Lois and Eunice)
For those of us in the trenches of diapers, temper tantrums and the mind-numbing exhaustion that is parenting young children (or the terror of teenage drivers) the apostle Paul has some very good news! It matters. Every single second of it matters. Even the seconds when we are hiding in the bathroom because we aren’t […]
The Good News About Marriage (Colossians 3)
There doubtless hasn’t been a scripture in the Bible more misused, misunderstood, and abused than Colossians 3:18. “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” Instead of allowing the Word of God to be a delight (Psalm 119:16), many have used that little word, “submit” as a sword against each other and […]
What Moose Can Teach Us About Peacemaking (Philippians 4:2–Euodia and Syntyche)
This morning I read a news story about two moose who had frozen to death while fighting in Alaska. It is rutting season and the two male moose were likely fighting over a female. During their struggle, they got their antlers tangled together and literally died because of their conflict. If only there had been […]
Home Church (1 Corinthians 16–Priscilla)
The book of First Corinthians ends (as most of the epistles do) with greetings from church leaders to the church for whom the letter was intended. This particular greeting specifically references Aquilla and Priscilla and the church that was meeting in their home. We often romanticize the early church and, why wouldn’t we? It seemed […]