But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. Matthew 3:15 In the blink of an eye twenty years have passed in the life of Jesus. We know nothing of his life after his encounter in the Temple at age twelve. We can …
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Why I Refuse to be Tolerant
It is all the rage today, the call to be tolerant. It has reached such a fevered pitch that one of the most brutal things you can say about someone is that they are intolerant. To be intolerant has become the worst of all possible character flaws. It immediately casts the intolerant person in the …
When Politics Divides Christians
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.22 The glory …
Sermon: When Good Things Go Bad: Pursuing Comfort
There are good things in life that have the potential to ruin our relationship with God. Comfort is one of those.
More or Less Religious?
There is lots of hand wringing going on over the rise of the numbers of people in America who claim no religious affiliation. Tagged with the title "The Nones", they tend to be younger which leads people to project the death of religion in the future. Among evangelicals it is easy to find people who …
Of Refugees, Politics, and Jesus
If there is something sad that characterises how we approach difficult or controversial issues in the age of internet memes. It is that the extremes move to center stage and gain all the attention. The pithy, mic-drop sound bite becomes the be all and end all in the debate. Emotion packed retorts push out any …
Provocative Devotion: Psalm 49:13-15 “Rescued by God”
13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts.[b] Selah 14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. 15 But God …
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Provocative Devotion: Psalm 48:9 “Pondering the Love of God”
We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. What do you think of when you think of going to church? I hesitate to use the phrase, "going to church" because there is a very real sense in which we do not go to church but rather followers of …
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Provocative Devotion: Psalm 47 “Enthusiasm in Worship”
Last night I watched the Pittsburgh Steelers win a football game on the last play of the game as time expired. It wasn't a playoff game and certainly was not the Super Bowl. It was just a regular season game. But I still clapped and cheered loudly enough and with enough enthusiasm that I woke …
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Provocative Devotion: Psalm 46:1-7 “Finding Security in God”
We are a people consumed by the need to feel secure. We want to have a secure financial future. We want our children to be secure in school and their car seat and on their bicycles. We have color coded security levels at airports and train stations. We have metal detectors going up all over …
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Provocative Devotion: Psalm 45 “A Love Song”
Love is clearly a major theme in the Bible. From cover to cover it speaks of God's love for humanity. Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is the two-pronged exhortation to love God with all we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves. But for all the discussion about love in the Bible …
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Provocative Devotion: Psalm 44:1-8 “History is His Story”
History is not the favorite subject for most people. They think of history class and all that comes to mind is trying to memorize dates, names, and places from the past that seem to have little or no relevance to life in the present. I am not one of those people. I love history. I …
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Provocative Devotion: Psalm 43:3-4 “Truth Still Matters”
3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. "That may be true for you …
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Provocative Devotion: Psalm 42:1-2 “A Healthy Obsession”
Usually when we say someone is obsessed it is not a compliment. We generally mean to imply that the obsessed person is out of balance, a bit off their rocker, myopic, even mentally unhinged. We think they need to back off a tad and get a life. They are missing so much by being obsessed …
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Provocative Devotion: Psalm 41:1-3 “What Goes Around, Comes Around”
The Bible says that you reap what you sow. Put another way, what goes around comes around. In other words, your actions have consequences and if your actions are good and helpful and just, then eventually goodness, help, and justice will come your way. If your actions are cruel and deceitful and wicked, then eventually …
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The Provocative Christian 