I took a vow for Lent that I would not get into political arguments. I didn’t, however, promise not to aggravate people in religious discussions. A few days ago, I ran across an article—written by an atheist—that said “we must offend religion more.” Naturally, I clicked on an article with that phrase in the title. The idea is that atheists should get more confrontational … Continue reading Chatting with an atheist
If I can claim anything as my motto, it is “we are fed by feeding.” It’s a short saying but, I believe, one that sums up the Christian ethic in its five words. People who know me in a ministry sense have likely heard me say this before. I have said it in my small group lessons, in counseling sessions, to recovery groups and other … Continue reading Fed by feeding
ratch0013/freedigitalphotos.net Yesterday, I wrote a piece about looking for evil. I wasn’t sure when I started where I was going with it (sort of like now) but it ended up as a commentary on negativity. I have a low tolerance for people who seek evil—people who look for the bad in a situation. As I wrote, there are victims, pessimists, and defeatists. Negativity can be … Continue reading The evil evangelist
Negativity can ruin your life. It can skew your view of others, lower your expectations, and blind you to blessings. Proverbs 11:27 says “if you search for good, you will find favor. If you search for evil, it will find you.” There is suffering in life. We are made stronger by our struggles but the things we struggle against can also become stronger against us … Continue reading If you look for evil
Yesterday, I mentioned that Jesus made real wine, and not juice, at Cana. For most of us, this is not even an issue but it can be a source of confusion for some people. Several years ago, I got into a conversation about this subject and one person in the conversation vowed never to speak to me again because I said Jesus drank actual wine. … Continue reading Lent: A season of contemplation
Early in his ministry—he’d only been ordained by his baptism shortly beforehand—Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana. The account is only recorded in the second chapter of John but it is significant for being the first sign, according to John, about the purpose of his ministry. We are not told whose wedding is taking place in the story but, at some point, Mary … Continue reading The wedding at Cana
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