Ash Wednesday: Mercy and Grace
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. -Daniel 9:9 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? -Romans 2:4 There’s no other place except in God’s character where both perfect justice and perfect mercy are balanced. We can’t try to measure his grace and mercy, or any other part of his personality, by our standards or experience—there is no other example
How to Move Away from Guilt, Shame, and Regrets
Have you ever heard someone, or yourself, say, How can I be happy when I’m so ashamed of the things I’ve done? Regret is one of the spoilers that plays such a vital role in our lives. It is also based on a misunderstanding of a compassionate God and Father. There are people for whom happiness is a virtual impossibility because their lives are filled with regret and shame. For such a person, much of their inner life is occupied with rehearsing
Make Love Your Aim: Today, Tomorrow, and Always!
Love is patient, kind, never jealous, boastful, arrogant, or rude. It never insists on its own way, is not irritable, pouty, or peevish. Love is never resentful, and so much more (Read the entire 1 Corinthians 13). But what if things don't go our way? What then? Think about it: at first the call to love appears simple. But usually by the time we get to the end of the catalogue of what love implies it becomes pretty obvious that whatever we
Revolutionize Our Lives: Consider Others Better
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. –Philippians 2:3–4 If we get the apostle Paul wrong here, we’ll miss a very important point and, unfortunately, end up in some off-the-wall teaching or heresy. The apostle wants us to avoid the very human (fallen human) tendency to put ourselves first and others second. By nature
Why Should Expats Go to Church? And Other Annoying Questions
As expats, one of the challenges we have is connecting regularly to a church community. Often, because we are in a new environment for a short while, it is easy to let attending worship regularly slip. Either culture shock or depression wear us down, or there are new family schedules and routines requiring our attention. Sometimes, it’s wonderful to visit new places and we feel that we’ll get back to going to church when we return to our home country. But
From the Pastor: A Friend of God
Are you a friend of God? Have you ever thought of what that might mean? Or, did you even know that all of us are supposed to be God’s friends? Abraham was called the friend of God. Jesus called his disciples his friends. The idea is thoroughly biblical and is very striking, since it isn’t a topic of daily conversation and is not found in other religions. The grounds for our friendship with God and Jesus are clear and profound: Abraham
From the Pastor: In 2020—Plan for Joy
We plan for everything in our lives: education, career, children, school, marriage, babies, taxes, and even death. The Westminster Catechism asks us: What is the chief end of man? The answer, of course, is: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. So do you plan for joy and enjoying God in your life? The article, Laughter is the Best Medicine: The Health Benefits of Humor and Laughter, points out the benefits of being joyful: Humor is
Epiphany: Wise Men Still Seek Him
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them
2020: Nothing Will Separate Us from the Love of God
Well, that was 2019. And what a year it was! For Shirin, Sarah, Stephanie, and me, it was one of the most memorable on record, packed with surprises—the good and the bad. Do you remember reading Paul’s list of unexpected events in his life? Thankfully, ours was not close to that! Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was
From the Pastor: Trust in the Lord
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5–6 The above is one of my favorite passages. Life would be much easier and more positive if we could do what it says we should. The advice for us, as well as the promise, is clear enough: Have complete trust in God’s faithfulness, never depend upon our own perceptions and understanding
