The Asian in me says to keep quiet, wait to be approached, and even deny a few times until I’m offered at least three times…. That is the polite way to receive a gift or dealing with people in general, I’ve been taught. If most Asians you know fit this profile of being demure, then […]
The problem with God’s law is not that we don’t want to keep them – we do – but we can’t. Our rebellion against God’s law is not that we do not think they are good laws and therefore, we don’t want to keep them, but we DO agree that they are good – they […]
Let’s do a thought experiment. Is there someone in your life whom you trust so absolutely that you would do anything this person tells you to? Even if this person tells you to do something apparently wrong? Such as killing someone? If there is no one like that in your life, then you are the […]
How are you living by faith? Are you? I want to make sure because that is the ONLY way to heaven. You will be eternally tormented in hell unless you are living by faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists […]
One of the telltale signs of our pride is in how defensive we get when we feel we are attacked. When our intention and motive are questioned, do we immediately put up a defense or even go on offense accusing the other person of their flaws? It takes tremendous humility to simply listen and nod […]
“Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your path straight” Prov. 3:6. One way to acknowledge God is to consult him before making decisions. Have you asked God before you made a major decision? For example, whether you should marry the person you are dating? Whether you should take that job? Whether […]
In our opposition to the prosperity gospel – the belief that God will give us prosperity in this life if only we have faith – we can easily overreact and choose the “poverty” gospel – that we are saved by choosing suffering and poverty. But neither is the true gospel. We are saved only by grace […]
Today is the morning-after for me. Easter season is usually the busiest for pastors, and we had a very exhilarating day yesterday celebrating Easter with our community. The day reminded me of my personal shortcomings. I wish I were more outgoing and sociable. It’s not that I’m not sociable. I like people. But being around […]
I will be honest. I have not been consistent in my time with the Lord this week. This is a “service” week for the school I teach at, and I’ve been leaving home earlier than usual, and since I usually do my devotions in the morning… Well, at least that’s my excuse…. So, with somewhat […]
These days I’m reading through the Book of Leviticus. And there are line after line of descriptions of what is clean and what is unclean and if unclean, how to get clean. I can understand why people stop reading the Bible usually at this point. It’s hard to see the relevance of these Jewish laws to […]