We are all too familiar with deception in the world today. Opportunists prey on the vulnerable and are always looking for their next target. Because of phishing scams we have learned to be cautious of phone calls, text messages, and emails. We even have to be wary when the message appears to be from a... Continue Reading →
Why does God let bad things happen? Part 3
Part 3: Refining Fire Up to this point we have discussed bad things occurring as a response to choices made, be it ours or someone else's. But what about uncontrollable events that cause suffering like illness or natural disasters? Where is God when these things happen? Where is God when my prayers seem to go... Continue Reading →
Why does God let bad things happen? Part 2
Part 2- Corrective discipline We talked in the last section about suffering that results from the natural consequences of our choices. While it's true that not all suffering stems from our choices, there is much of it that does. We often feel a strong desire for justice when we see someone else who is causing... Continue Reading →
Why does God let bad things happen? Part 1
Part 1 : The problem of free will Let's face it, the 2020s have been hard to handle so far. We have seen countless deaths related to COVID, devastation from fires, floods, and hurricanes, civil injustice and unrest, political parties at each other's throats, and increasing acts of violence. When each day seems to bring... Continue Reading →
Spiritual Growth: Preparing the Soil
Have you ever noticed the number of references the Bible makes to gardens, seeds, pruning, bearing fruit, and harvesting? These references served to translate a spiritual truth into more understandable terms for people. Today, however, most of us get our produce from the store and understand little about what it takes for it to grow.... Continue Reading →
Keeping It Real
We all experience disappointments, demands, and hardships in life. Unfortunately, there are far fewer who have experienced the freedom, hope, or peace found in Jesus Christ. We all have a story to tell, what keeps you from sharing yours? God has transformed countless lives, but the beginning of the story must be told to appreciate... Continue Reading →
What Is Truth?
I was recently watching a documentary about disinformation and its lasting effects. I was particularly unsettled by one person's comment - we are living in a post-truth era. What does this mean? It means we no longer know the truth when we hear it. In fact, we no longer know truth when we see it.... Continue Reading →
Grace is a Free Gift… Not a Free Pass
There seems to be some confusion about the nature of Christianity. Through the death and resurrection of Christ we are given the opportunity for a new life. This is an unmerited act of grace, meaning Jesus offers us a gift we could never deserve. When we accept this gift our lives should be transformed and... Continue Reading →