Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” A lot of people discount this verse for a whole host of reasons. It makes them uncomfortable. But even though governments are made up of flawed humans who often miss the mark, I … Continue reading Writing ‘thank you’ on every bill?
theupdevo
One thing we should expect from politicians
On Sunday at church I talked about Christian attitudes toward government. To be honest, I was kind of nervous about it. After all, government and politics is a touchy subject these days. There are divisive and polarizing issues. And sometimes it seems that common sense and civility go out the window! I think the congregation … Continue reading One thing we should expect from politicians
Valued in his sight
In the Bible, God demonstrates an undeniable, loving concern for the poor and marginalized. They are valued in his sight. Psalm 140:12 comes to mind: “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.” And since God cares about the poor and marginalized, he wants … Continue reading Valued in his sight
The unwelcome resident between your ears
Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I hear noises. 99 times out of 100, they’re normal sounds. Things like the refrigerator or furnace. On their own schedule, they go on, turn off, go on, and turn off again. That’s like worry. Just when you think you’ve entered a place of … Continue reading The unwelcome resident between your ears
Love is…
Everyone loves the idea of love. I'm not necessarily talking about romantic love (although what I'm about to say applies to that too), but love in general. Who's ever heard of someone saying they don’t like love, or that love is bad? Since it’s so widely venerated and used, it’s a word that can easily … Continue reading Love is…
You’ve never fled or fallen too far
“God couldn’t love me. Not after what I’ve done.” I hear this sometimes. Maybe not those exact words. But some form of them. Sure, we know the words to “Jesus loves me” and, on some level, mentally agree that they’re true. But then life goes on, things happen—sometimes terrible things, and we doubt God’s love. … Continue reading You’ve never fled or fallen too far
Rockefeller’s insight (and warning)
The famous businessman John Rockefeller was asked, “How much money does it take to satisfy a man?” He replied, “Just a little bit more.” His answer was insightful—not only about how a lot of people think about money, but about how a lot of people think about life in general. ‘If only I had better … Continue reading Rockefeller’s insight (and warning)
You: The living memory
Siblings can become very close. That was certainly true for Theodore and Amity. But as time went on, Amity contracted cancer. The doctors told her she could have surgery to try and remove the tumor. But since she was getting older and feeling weaker, there was a chance she either wouldn’t survive or would go downhill … Continue reading You: The living memory
Your John 3:16 moment
I had planned on writing about something else today. But a congregant just passed away and I felt the need to share this question with you. Are you ready for your own death? Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t think about it until it’s too late. In previous eras, people thought about death a lot … Continue reading Your John 3:16 moment
An avalanche of gadgetry
Sometimes, habits that seem totally unrelated to your “spirituality” are totally spiritual. Let me tell you what I mean. We live in a time of increased gadgetry. You might even say that we live amidst an avalanche of gadgetry. For example, smart phones have become ever-present. And they can do everything except fold the laundry! … Continue reading An avalanche of gadgetry
