We live in a world where it is easy for us to fall under the sway of the seemingly all-demanding “I”. It’s been like that ever since Genesis 3 where Satan lured Eve into eating from the forbidden tree by speaking words exalting personal autonomy: You will be like God (Genesis 3:5). When we come… Continue reading All Things to All People (a meditation)
Tag: freedom
The Truest Freedom (a meditation)
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” ~ Jesus, John 8:31-32 Slavery, in its various forms, has been a dehumanizing blight throughout many cultures of human history. At the root of slavery is both pride and selfishness. Pride… Continue reading The Truest Freedom (a meditation)
This changes everything (a meditation on how the gospel confronts self)
Paul, in prison, met a runaway slave named Onesimus. Onesimus had been on the run after stealing from his master, a church leader in Colossae named Philemon. In his time with Paul, Onesimus heard the gospel and became a follower of Jesus. Sometime after this Paul decided to send back Onesimus to Philemon with a… Continue reading This changes everything (a meditation on how the gospel confronts self)
When Individualism and Autonomy Rule (a meditation on the sense of self in the Christian life)
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes. ~ Judges 21:25 If you were looking for a Bible verse to describe the attitude and ethic in western culture today, Judges 21:25 might be your verse. We live in a culture that values individualism and autonomy… Continue reading When Individualism and Autonomy Rule (a meditation on the sense of self in the Christian life)
“How could God love and use me?” (a meditation on the regrets of the past and the joys of now)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some… Continue reading “How could God love and use me?” (a meditation on the regrets of the past and the joys of now)
Freedom and Maturity (a meditation)
20Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. ~ Romans 14:20-21 Don’t touch, don’t… Continue reading Freedom and Maturity (a meditation)
Saying ‘Yes’ in a World of ‘No’ (pastor’s blog)
Recently my town decided to graffiti its own Main Street sidewalks with the message: no bicycles or skateboards. I’m sure the intention is safety. People walk in and out of the shops and storefronts, and you don’t want anyone young or old to be taken out by a person on a bicycle. But it made… Continue reading Saying ‘Yes’ in a World of ‘No’ (pastor’s blog)
Free to Do Good (a meditation)
4So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5When we were controlled by… Continue reading Free to Do Good (a meditation)
First Baptist Church 