Life's Inanities and Ironies

 In an era of constant change and uncertainty—where jobs, relationships, and even global events can shift overnight—many believers quietly wrestle with a profound question: Can we be sure our salvation will endure? Doubts can creep in during trials, temptations, or moments of spiritual dryness. Yet, the Bible offers rock-solid assurance for those in Christ. Drawing from Philippians 1:6 , let's explore the divine guarantee of eternal security , a cornerstone of our conservative Christian faith that emphasizes God's sovereignty and the perseverance of the saints .   The Foundation: God's Initiating Work The Apostle Paul, writing from the chains of a Roman prison, exudes confidence in Philippians 1:6: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Notice the key: Salvation begins with God, not us. This "good work" is the miracle of regeneration —God awakening dead hearts to faith in Je...

 At a time where youth is idolized and age is often seen as a burden, it's easy to feel like life has left us behind. We turn to supplements like Geritol to chase a fleeting sense of vitality, or we marvel at the fresh energy of newborns bundled in diapers. But what if I told you that the Bible offers a profound lesson on renewal that bridges these two ends of life? Drawing from Romans 4:18-25 , let's explore how Abraham 's story of impossible faith can ignite our own trust in God's unchanging Word.   The Story of Abraham: Hope Against Hope Abraham, the father of our faith, wasn't exactly in his prime when God made His extraordinary promise. At nearly 100 years old, his body was "as good as dead," as Romans 4:19 bluntly puts it. Sarah , his wife, was barren and well past childbearing years. If this were today, Abraham might be popping Geritol pills just to keep up with daily chores, while Sarah wondered if her dreams of motherhood were forever dashed. Ye...

With distractions at every turn, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. As Christians, we're called not just to secure our own salvation but to carry a deep, aching burden for those who are lost without Christ. This truth hit me profoundly when I reflected on Romans 9:1-5 during a recent sermon preparation. The Apostle Paul's raw emotion in this passage isn't just historical—it's a timeless challenge for us today. Let me unpack this for you, drawing from Scripture and real-life application, in hopes that it stirs your heart as it has mine. The Weight of Paul's Anguish Paul opens Romans 9 with a gut-wrenching confession: "I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:1-3, ESV). Imagine that—a...

What truly stands as the greatest undertaking we can embark upon? As a conservative Christian, I've often reflected on this question, and it leads me straight to the timeless wisdom of Scripture. Recently, I crafted a homily based on Deuteronomy 6:1-9 , a passage that calls us to a profound, eternal mission: loving God with every part of our being and passing that devotion to the next generation. This isn't just any biblical exhortation—it's the Shema , the foundational declaration of faith that beats at the heart of Israel's spiritual identity . In this blog post, I'll expand on that homily, delving deeper into the Shema's significance, its enduring relevance for us today, and how it shapes our lives as followers of Christ.   The Shema: The Heartbeat of Israel's Faith At the core of Deuteronomy 6:1-9 lies the Shema, named after its opening word in Hebrew: "Hear" (Shema). This passage, recited daily by devout Jews for millennia, is more than a pray...