READ:Acts 10:1-34 REFLECT:Although today’s reading is relatively long, it’s still only a part of amuch bigger narrative. More of this story is included in the readings forSunday, and it offers a challenging message. It’s easy to forget howshocking Peter’s actions would have been for his peers in the Church ofActs. They had been raised asContinue reading “Who Would You Not Like to See In Heaven?”
Author Archives: Intentional Faith
Doctor Hot Shot
“Self-praise,” says an ancient adage, “smells bad.” In other words, it stinks up the works. Regardless of how we prepare it, garnish it with little extras, slice and serve it up on our finest silver piece, the odor remains. No amount of seasoning can eliminate the offensive smell. Unlike a good wife, age only makes itContinue reading “Doctor Hot Shot”
Tyranny in Our Day Part 1
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn—Russian dissident, 10-year forced-labor Soviet Gulag inmate, Nobel Laureate, Christian—lamented the “fallacious belief” that “here such things are impossible,” that totalitarianism could not happen in one’s own country. “Alas,” he wrote, “all the evil of the twentieth century is possible everywhere on earth.”[1] Read those words carefully. It is the point I have beenContinue reading “Tyranny in Our Day Part 1”
You’re a Piece of Work
The apostle Paul opened his letter to the believers in Philippi by explaining that he often thanked God for them in joyful prayer because of their partnership in sharing the gospel. Paul held a special affection for the Philippian church, which he had founded approximately ten years earlier. Now he expressed confidence in God’s continued workContinue reading “You’re a Piece of Work”
Sweep Your Own Doorstep
READ:Isaiah 65:17-25 REFLECT:The last part of Isaiah, most scholars believe, was written to God’speople who had returned to their homeland after years in exile. Thememory of their suffering was still fresh in their minds, and they facedthe difficult task of rebuilding their shattered nation. Yet, here, God gives them a vision of a whole newContinue reading “Sweep Your Own Doorstep”
Cracks in the Wall
The longer I live the less I know for sure. That sounds like 50% heresy . . . but it’s 100% honesty. In my younger years I had a lot more answers than I do now. Things were absolutely black and white, right or wrong, yes or no, in or out, but a lot of that is beginning toContinue reading “Cracks in the Wall”
When Jesus Owns You
Yeshua [Jesus] rules in every case, over everything and everyone. He is the Master. PERIOD! We are His slaves. Yeshua [Jesus] is my Master (Owner). Yeshua [Jesus] has authority over me. Even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. John 17:2Continue reading “When Jesus Owns You”
Neither Death Nor Life
In Romans 8:38–39, the apostle Paul articulates one of the most profoundly comforting reassurances in Scripture: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the loveContinue reading “Neither Death Nor Life”
Yielding
READ:James 3:17-18 REFLECT:Today’s reading is just two verses, but it says so much. The key wordhere is wisdom, and you’ll notice that God’s wisdom is very differentfrom what we are usually taught. Most of us have learned sincechildhood not to let others push us around. We’ve been encouraged todecide what we want and to goContinue reading “Yielding”
Fire Cannot Warm a Cold Heart
It happened in a large, seventy-five-year-old stone house on the west side of Houston. A massive stairway led up to several bedrooms. The den down below was done in rough-hewn boards with soft leather chairs and a couple of matching sofas. The wet bar had been converted into a small library, including a shelf ofContinue reading “Fire Cannot Warm a Cold Heart”
