The Ten Percent Tithe

Tithing is a tricky thing.  If a church pastor preaches a sermon on tithing, he will be accused of being interested only in money.  The pastor’s salary (minister, priest, etc) is probably set in the church budget.  It’s not like if the church has a good day at the offering plate, he’s going out to [...]

The Pagan Roots of Halloween; and Easter and Christmas

Just like the Internet Monk rants here, I was raised in a fundamentalist Baptist home.  We read the King James Bible, went to Sunday School, prayer meeting, revival, and every other time the church door was open.  We didn’t wear shorts at my childhood home, nor go swimming in mixed company.  My dad went to [...]

Building on the Rock

As Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) he offers some practical advice concerning his teachings.  He says that anyone who hears his words and does them is like a wise man that built his house on a rock.  Do we all know what happens next?  The rain fell, the floods came, and [...]

The Importance of the Resurrection

There was a time I wondered why so much emphasis was placed on the resurrection.  Jesus died on the cross as the all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Even if there had been no resurrection, his sacrificial death would have brought salvation; what could be more important than that? 
The blood of Jesus was a more [...]

Jesus’ Example: Love Your Enemies

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 
Those are the words of Jesus in Matt 5:44.  The entire sermon on the mount can be read in Matt 5-7, but let’s deal right now with just this one command.  Like everything Jesus taught, he not only gave the instruction but provided us with his [...]

Parable of the Sower (Fling the Gospel)

In Mark chp 4, one of the parables Jesus shares is the Parable of the Sower.  If you didn’t just click the link to Mark 4, it may be that you know this parable well.  I hope you either know this story already, or at least take the time to read it now.  After telling [...]

On the Other Hand

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—  for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.  Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those [...]

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You

I know I haven’t been blogging much lately.  If you somehow missed it, my wife had a baby about two weeks ago.  My mom was here two weeks, my in-laws are still here, a new school year started; it’s been a hoot.
Look for these posts to come soon:  On the Other Hand.  This is the [...]

Equal Time

This post is very personal and way too long; but  I feel it’s a story that must be told.
You don’t hear about it much anymore, but during the 70’s a concept known as equal time or equal opportunity was hotly debated.  Television stations had to provide an equal amount of broadcasting time for both sides [...]

Open Door Policy

Summer is the season of mission trips, Vacation Bible School and Backyard Bible Clubs.  I would like to share a personal experience that I find especially encouraging. 
Our church is hosting a large number of volunteers this week from Lynchburg, VA.  Their mission team is doing a few construction projects and running several Backyard Bible Clubs in [...]