"He has dealt mercifully with our ancestorsand remembered his holy covenant—the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,to grant that we,having been rescuedfrom the hand of our enemies,would serve him without fearin holiness and righteousnessin his presence all our days." (Luke 1:72-75, CSB)Lent is not only a time of introspection about our humanity in all its weakness, it is also a reminder of G...  Read More

Seven times, count them (Deuteronomy 31:6, 7, 23; Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18), Joshua is given the command: "Be strong and courageous." He had gigantic shoes to fill in following the Great Lawgiver, Moses. He had a very stiff-necked, hard-headed people to lead. He had a Mighty God to serve. He needed the reminder of the many miles he walked with Moses in discipleship. He must go back to the laying on of...  Read More

Who is chosen by God for His service? An older man, mentored (or discipled, if you prefer) by his elder over years. A teenage girl, innocent and willing, fully surrendered to God's will. Joshua and Mary are polar opposites. Both were chosen. Both were obedient. Both were teachable. Both were greatly used by God. The world has been forever changed because they both answered God's call and were used...  Read More

"When all these things happen to you...and you come to your senses..." (Deuteronomy 30:1)Hope! Optimism! God is real and realistic. He knows the deceitful hearts of His children and their wandering affections. He knows! He knows that they will abandon 'first love' and live in the land driven by sensory satisfaction. He knows the outcome that sin begets. He knows the desperate cry of lost, broken a...  Read More

How low can you go? Reading the depths to which God's people would go when they abandoned Him (exactly what they did) is repulsive (Deuteronomy 28). Watching the cowards abuse Jesus in word and deed before and during the crucifixion...all from a place of their perceived safety is disgusting. They were free to move and spout their venom, He was nailed to a cross, beaten and bloodied by their abuse....  Read More

Just yesterday I had a conversation with someone about the controversial person named Judas Iscariot. Did he have a choice? Was he redeemable? Isolate a passage and the conclusion about 'the son of perdition' (John 17:12) is inevitable. However, watch his life, read his interactions with Jesus and see his options...the same ones the other disciples had. Today we read: "The one who accepts a bribe ...  Read More