January 31, 2012
"The gospel, applied to our hearts every day, frees us to be brutally honest with ourselves and with God. The assurance of His total forgiveness of our sins through the blood of Christ means we don't have to play defensive games anymore. We don't have to rationalize and excuse our sins. We can say we told a lie instead of saying we exaggerated a bit. We can admit an unforgiving spirit instead of continuing to blame our parents for our emotional distress. We can call sin exactly what it is, regardless of how ugly and shameful it may be, because we know that Jesus bore that sin in His body on the cross. With the assurance of total forgiveness through Christ, we have no reason to hide from our sins anymore."...
January 6, 2012
I'm at a season of life where it seems like it's time to slow down. Nothing is working quite right anymore. I need glasses for aging eyes and anti-inflammtories for aging joints. I forget names and what commonly used household gadgets are called. Solitude invites me to steal away (which I enjoy doing at times!) while a growing family and new church lovingly require me to get even busier than ever. The commercials say Benny and I should be anticipating retirement after all the years of being in the throes of parenting and pastoring. Sometimes I envy those who can....
April 6, 2017 | Category: Christian Living
In March of 2014 I found myself sitting at a wedding reception of some dear friends. Assigned seating had placed me next to a man who appeared to be about my age. Next to him was a man older than me by about 10 years. The man next to me and I made quick introductions. He knew the guy to my right was the pastor who had just officiated the ceremony, which made me a pastor's...
Keep ReadingApril 6, 2017 | Category: Christian Living
My last post introduced you to two people in my life when it comes to understanding and loving those who experience same-sex attraction (SSA). God used Mom and David to prepare me for things I couldn't have anticipated experiencing in the years after they became shaping influences in my life. The day when I saw next to Kirk at the wedding reception I knew what was importa...
Keep ReadingApril 6, 2017 | 2 Comments | Category: Christian Living | Tags: homosexuality; same-sex attraction; SSA; gay; homosexuality and the church
In December 2015 I took some pictures of my son-in-law's family. None of us knew it would be the last pictures taken of his father Ray, who died days later. Ray's life impacted many, including mine. (I love this picture below of Ray holding our grandson Silas, surrounded by his grandparents on his first birthday.) As I dressed for the funeral, I didn't consider that it wou...
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