People put confidence in a lot of temporal things. I realize that sometimes it’s necessary, especially if you’re applying for work. People need to know what you can do, and they would like to see the credentials and experience you have to see if what you’re saying about yourself is legitimate. It’s understandable, but in … Continue reading Confidence in the Right Things
As a blessing to the Philippians, Paul sends to them two men whom he considers kindred spirits: Timothy and Epaphroditus. Timothy’s trip is short term. Paul sends him as a liaison to comfort the Philippians on Paul’s status and to report back to Paul on the Philippians’ status: But I trust in the Lord Jesus … Continue reading Kindred Spirits
Yesterday, our dog Dawson put himself to bed. Usually, when it gets late, I walk toward our bedroom and the routine is for Dawson to go to his kennel for the night. It used to be a tug-of-war to get him to do that. Then I started using treats as a reward every time I … Continue reading Put Legs on Your Faith
Have you ever noticed how much it affects you when someone you deeply respect rebukes, or encourages you? If they rebuke you, it shakes you to your core and convicts you to do some serious soul searching. If they encourage you, the words can impact your whole life. But when someone you don’t respect says … Continue reading Living the Mind of Christ
In our one of our photo albums we have a picture of all four of our kids together in their Sunday best. It was right before we were getting ready to leave for church. The three oldest were all smiles, but our youngest was as frownie-faced as she could be. I get a chuckle out … Continue reading Joy is a Constant
It’s funny how some things never change. The spokesman of a radical cause gets arrested and while many are glad to have him off the streets, his arrest makes his cause more popular and many others rally to his side. Even his critics, just by criticizing his cause “raise awareness” of it and that wins … Continue reading Paul: Radical on Trial
In his remembrance of the Philippians’ faith, Paul prays that their love would abound. Increased love in the world is something everyone wants to see. It’s also something everyone thinks they understand, but Paul’s understanding of what love is goes completely against how the world recognizes it. If you follow Hallmark’s or Hollywood’s description of … Continue reading If love were a profile on a dating site, would you recognize it?
People who restore old cars do it because they appreciate the craftsmanship and the story behind them. A classic car is like a work of art. A restored classic car is like a work of art you can drive. Try that with the Mona Lisa the next time you’re at the Louvre and see where … Continue reading Be remembered well
Paul equated Jesus with God in all his epistles, usually in the greeting. When you consider that Paul learned at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the greatest rabbis in Jewish history and that Paul (then Saul) was trained to be a Pharisee, an elite sect of the Jewish religion of the time, equating Jesus … Continue reading Paul’s Radical Greeting to the Philippians
The church at Philippi began with the conversion of Lydia, the seller of purple (Acts 16:14), and the Philippian jailor. It is now 62 A.D., about 10 years after Paul’s first visit to Philippi and he is again in prison for his faith, most likely writing from Rome. Because of his failing eyesight, Timothy his … Continue reading Serving to Lead
Grace in Waves 