I spent a good deal of time yesterday watching basketball on TV. The NBA playoffs are here, and I just subscribed to an online cable service to do so. My excuse was that I did it for my father-in-law who loves basketball, but I secretly wanted it for myself as well. When I got bored watching basketball (the […]
Luke 1:13,25–But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John….25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”Just like Zechariah, […]
Why did God give us the law in the Old Testament? And is it still relevant today? I used to think that in the Old Testament, the laws were given to the people to measure whether they would be accepted by God or not. Those who kept the law would be accepted (or saved) by God […]
“How can I find out God’s calling on my life?” was the question a young man I was meeting with yesterday asked. And here was my answer: 1) Consider your giftings, 2) Pay attention to your passion, and 3) Will it meet the needs of the world? As you are considering a career path or searching […]
Judges 16:20–And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.The Lord sometimes teaches us basic principles through drastic circumstances. For example I work harder to try and […]
You may find it surprising that we are actually encouraged to reason/bargain with God. I don’t mean by that we should tell God that if He will do such and such, we will do such and such. For example, if God will give us a 6-figure salary job, we will tithe. (We are supposed to tithe […]
Acts 18:26-27-He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,Some of […]
Today is the day after the Resurrection Sunday (Easter). Yesterday was exhilarating. Our church has prepared and served our community in an effort to draw them to Christ. Many guests came and heard the gospel because of the efforts of many who thought first about others rather than themselves. And for that, I am truly […]
Have you ever felt utterly alone? You felt like you have been rejected even by God? When I first came to Washington State as a young man in 1999, I cried for days. I left my home in Virginia – my parents, friends, church – and replanted myself in WA. But I have never felt abandoned […]
Mark 9:33-34-And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.When my girls we 5 and 3 years old, they wanted to do tea parties in their […]