Life's Inanities and Ironies

 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...

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...