Life's Inanities and Ironies

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...

As I sit here in Peru , reflecting on the spiritual battles we face in these turbulent times, my heart is heavy yet hopeful. Inspired by a recent  message I heard, I want to share with you a deeper exploration of how Satan creates twisted, demonic parodies of the holy things God and Christ have established. These are not abstract ideas but real, insidious counterfeits that infiltrate our culture, families, and even our churches. Drawing from Scripture, the insights of Jonathan Cahn in his eye-opening book * The Return of the Gods *, and profound theological comparisons, let's unpack this spiritual warfare and arm ourselves with truth. The Empty House: A Parable for Our Times Jesus warns us in Matthew 12:43-45 about a demon that, once cast out, returns with seven more wicked spirits if the "house" remains empty. This isn't just a personal caution—it's a prophetic picture of societies and nations. For centuries, the gospel of Christ held back ancient demonic force...

 Hello, fellow believers! As we navigate the complexities of faith in our modern times, it's sometimes helpful to draw from ancient stories that, while not part of our core Scriptures, can illuminate timeless truths. Today, I'd like to share insights from the apocryphal tale of " Bel and the Dragon ." Let me emphasize upfront: this story is from the Apocrypha , a collection not recognized as canonical by the majority of fundamentalist Christian churches, including our Protestant tradition . We hold firmly to the 66 books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. However, like a historical parable, this narrative can serve as a lens to view biblical principles on idolatry, faith, and God's sovereignty. I'll weave in references from the true Scriptures to ground our discussion. T he Story of Bel and the Dragon: A Quick Recap In this apocryphal extension to the Book of Daniel , the prophet finds himself in Babylon under King Cyrus . The Babylonians worship Bel...

 Hey folks, in this time that's spinning with all sorts of chaos—uncertainty, moral mix-ups, and those quick-hit pleasures that never really satisfy—I've always found the Bible to be that solid anchor for my soul. As a conservative Christian , I love digging into the prophets like Isaiah for those reminders of God 's big-picture plan. Today, let's chat about Isaiah 12:1-3 . It's this awesome little hymn of praise that really nails what salvation is all about. It's not just some old poem; it's like a personal GPS showing where God's rescue mission takes us—from the dark side of His wrath right into the bright warmth of eternal joy. I pulled this from a sermon I put together recently, and we'll walk through it verse by verse, like we're sitting down for coffee.   A Bit of Background: A Song That Comes from Being Set Free So, Isaiah 12 pops up right after a bunch of heavy prophecies about judgment on Israel and other nations, but then it shifts to ...