I follow several blogs on a regular basis and I’ve noticed a recurrent theme in the posts this week: After-Christmas Letdown. For many folks, there is a feeling of disappointment or even depression that settles in after the gifts have been opened and the dinner has been consumed. For weeks we’ve shopped, wrapped, decorated, cooked, baked, and stayed busy, busy, busy with all the festivities of the season. Christmas has come and gone; now what? We swing into recovery mode—we’ve got to find places for all the new loot that …

When you open Matthew to read the Christmas story, you are first hit with a detailed genealogy report. You might think this is just the price you have to pay to get to the nativity, but it is really an amazing way to dive into the story of our Savior. In Jewish culture, family line was very important in sizing up the character of an individual. Matthew includes some people in this list that no one else would have considered.
Four of them are, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba (Bathsheba is …

There is a bit of confusion swirling around this Herod guy and it seems I added to it with the sermon I preached on November 28. Let me clarify as best I can. I will start by saying there are some holes in the historical record here that are being slowly filled in. Herod’s tomb has only recently been discovered and, in an effort to appear Jewish, Herod did not want his image on the money of the day. These two facts contributed to historians questioning the existence of some …

I heard a person sharing the Gospel with a group of youth. Toward the end of the presentation, he said, “What do you have to lose? Even if I’m wrong and Jesus isn’t the Savior of the world, you will have led a good life, full of love and joy and peace and humility…” I am paraphrasing now, but you get the idea. If you live the Christian life, even without Christ, you have done a good thing and the world will appreciate you.
I understand his thinking, but it is …

Truly, America has been blessed by God. It was by God’s hand that this nation was birthed. Men under the direction of God gave leadership and God delivered a military victory against overwhelming odds. In the ensuing two hundred years, through highs and lows, America has been prosperous and a world power. God has blessed America.
What if God stopped blessing America? I don’t mean what if He stopped tomorrow, I mean what if He stopped yesterday, or a year ago, or decades ago? I believe that we as individuals, as …

This morning, I am seeing red. That is to say the map on the news shifted from overwhelmingly blue yesterday to overwhelmingly red today. That’s right, in case you haven’t heard, the Republicans took many government seats away from the Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections. The GOP is saying, “We did it!” while the Dems are saying, “What have we done?” The same script played out two years ago just with the same people playing different tunes.
Here’s my take (after all it’s my blog). I have been a grown-up …

I got an e-mail today about Glenn Beck. The sender sang the praises of Beck as a Godly man we should get behind. Of course, the e-mail ended letting me know that if I don’t forward this to 10 friends, I don’t love Jesus or America.
At the risk of getting political, Glenn Beck and I line up quite well on many issues. I am ultra-conservative both fiscally and socially. I believe in small government and individuals’ rights. On the political front, we stand shoulder to shoulder. Understand, in my world, …

Is it my conscience or is it the Holy Spirit?
We, as humans,  are all in possession of a conscience. This is the ingrained knowledge of right and wrong or good and evil. This is the reason virtually every society in the world and throughout history has similar views and laws regarding things like stealing and murder. Our conscience make us different from animals. This innate knowledge and understanding is part of what it means to be created in the image of God.
So, what’s the difference? When are my actions prompted …

Wow! I just read some interesting statistics from the New York Times.
There seems to be some agreement that there are five milestones that mark the arrival in adulthood. I’m not sure where these came from, but I can agree with them.
These milestones include completing school, leaving home, getting married, having a child, and establishing financial independence. In 1960, the overwhelming majority of people accomplished all five by the age of thirty. In 2000, less than one half of women (or, more accurately, girls) completed these by thirty. Less than one …

If you consider the church to be your friend, you spend some time together. You enjoy each other’s company. You talk about surface level stuff. Maybe, when things get uncomfortable or strained, you leave. You find another friend that will provide what you are looking for. You might return or you might not. You haven’t committed beyond that level. No promises.
Family is different. often, it is harder. you may not always enjoy each others company. You have differences of opinion. This happens because you tend to delve into the hard …