While shopping for textbooks my first semester in the college bookstore, I came across a little paperback with a plain black cover and a picture flames, titled The Screwtape Letters:  Letters from a Senior to a Junior Devil.  That subtitle piqued my interest, as did the few pages I sampled in the bookstore aisle.  The Screwtape Letters was the first book I ever purchased on my own.  I had never he...  Read More

[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  – John 8.44If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked – Proverbs 29.12The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in a lie.  One word of truth outweigh...  Read More

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.For I have come to set a man against his father,and a daughter against her mother,and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,and whoever loves son or daughter more than me...  Read More

To close out the year, here are a few random musings from 2024…The first step in solving a problem is seeing the problem properly – and quite often that is the problem.It is not by chance that the Queen was designated the most powerful piece on the chessboard.Many who complain about the government being in the bedroom don’t seem to mind the media being there.“Enjoy the go!” (ad slogan for Charmin ...  Read More

Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.Thus says the LORD: Learn not the way of the nations,nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavenbecause the nations are dismayed at them,for the customs of the peoples are vanity.A tree from the forest is cut downand worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.They decorate it with silver and gold;they fasten it with hammer and nails s...  Read More

When I was first involved in an evangelical youth group, I was excited to be connected with young people who encouraged my newfound faith.  Our youth group was sizable and was divided into three smaller sub-groups, each led by an adult leader and a teen helper.  The sub-group I joined was led by a quiet boy just a bit older than I.  I really liked him, but I was much more outgoing than he was.  I ...  Read More

 “Why would you, as a Christian, want to prevent abortion?  If people can’t abort an unwanted fetus, that baby will be an unwanted child.  It is cruel and un-Christian to force that kind of life on a child.”Ironically enough, the person who recently raised this question claims to be a Christian and is involved in helping kids whose parents neglect them while pursuing lives characterized by irrespo...  Read More

Choosing between competing, clashing goods is usually a more difficult dilemma than choosing between good and evil.  Making such choices requires wisdom.  You must be able to choose the right option at the right time with the right object in mind, doing good toward the right people with the right motive in the right manner.Take, for example, the immigration problem the United States is having at t...  Read More

When I was a child, I saw the world in black and white.  Things were either good or evil and the battle was always to choose good and avoid evil.  That is the right way to teach children to think morally.  It is simple and straightforward and builds a solid foundation for a child’s heart and mind.  But that is only the starting place, not the finish line.  As we mature, we find that the world is m...  Read More

I rarely speak or write about giving.  Many are thankful for that.  In some churches that’s all you hear about every week.  Others believe that if I spoke more about giving, people would give more, and we could do more.  Both sides have a point, but I believe what is most important to recognize is that there are two ways to look at money, budgeting, and giving.Some people budget the maximum they c...  Read More

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth… (2 Timothy 2.24-25)While I was preparing for ministry in Bible college this passage struck me.  Well, parts of it struck me.  I read it with lots of editing, as follows:And t...  Read More

There is a movement today in progressive Christianity called “Open and Affirming”.  According to its website:A congregation becomes Open and Affirming when it affirms a public covenant that “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT)” (or people of all “sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions”) are welcome in the full life and ministry of the congregation (e.g. membership,...  Read More