Wednesday's Word

Last week I wrote about our identity as children of grace and the good news that holds. But remember, good news is only good if there's bad news to preface it. On the off chance that you haven't noticed already – or, more likely, that you haven't considered it recently – here's the bad news: there's a conflict between what the Bible has to say about you and what you would like to think is true about you. I want to think that my greatest, deepest, most... Read More

Last week I wrote about the two identities we live with: sinner, and child of grace. The identity we assign ourselves is critically important, because it impacts everything we think, say, and do. Let's unpack what it means to live out of our identity as a child of grace, when the rubber hits the road of our street-level Christianity. Grace enters our life in three powerful forms: 1. The Grace of Forgiveness It's inconceivable to think that all our sins of the past,... Read More

I'm sure you know someone who has been impacted by dementia. It's heartbreaking and exhausting. When a person loses their memory to such a significant degree, they become a danger to themselves and require constant care from others. While the biochemical condition is something to weep over - and we should long for the day when sin no longer ravages the body - there's a deeper and more dangerous spiritual version of memory loss that you and I battle every day. I call it... Read More

For many years, I drove a car that never guaranteed I would arrive at my destination. This mode of transportation was God's way of deepening my faith. I prayed without ceasing from start to finish. The sounds this car would make were a clear warning sign that something was wrong. But over time, the screeching and groaning became normal. It was part of my daily routine. I shouldn't have been surprised when the car suddenly stopped. But I was shocked, and even personally offended... Read More

I was very nervous on my first day as a seminary student. I was hoping that I could slip in and out without being noticed, so I found an empty table in the library before my first class. Of course, the library filled up, and I wasn't alone for long. Two other students sat next to me and began to discuss the love of God. The discussion soon turned into a debate. Then the debate turned into a heated argument. By the end, a third student had to intervene because these two guys were... Read More

I enjoy a comfortable, predictable, and pleasurable life. How about you? If I could experience a life free from difficulty, pain, inconvenience, and struggle ... sign me up! This includes silly, unrealistic wishes, like wanting to drive on roads paid for by other citizens who choose not to use them. Or chocolate at ready reach, without the consequence of weight gain. It also includes hard-hitting realities: a life-altering illness, a tragic accident, the death of a loved one, the... Read More

One of my brothers used to live on a farm, and one summer he asked if I could help him bale the hay. It was all cut and ready to bale when a little dark cloud appeared on the horizon. The weather forecast didn't call for rain, so we weren't concerned ... and then it rained for one week straight. The hay turned black, and we helplessly watched thousands of dollars rot before our eyes. How did my brother respond? I'll never forget it. He said with sincerity, "Paul,... Read More

Do you ever feel as if your Christian faith is like a roller coaster ride? Sometimes my spiritual life feels that way. There are seasons when my faith feels sky high and rock solid. I'm confident in the Lord's plans for my life, my identity is secure in Christ alone, and my excitement for the gospel can barely be contained. And then there are the low points, when the opposite feels true. I know you can relate. Why do we experience such highs and lows? Of course, there are... Read More

On October 19, 2014, my life changed. I was in acute renal failure and didn't know it. If I had waited another week to see a doctor, I would have been dead. During my ten-day hospital stay, I experienced the most horrible pain I had ever experienced. This was followed by six surgeries in two years, rendering me physically weaker than I had ever been in my life. If my physical suffering wasn't enough, I was equally as discouraged emotionally and spiritually. These two years of... Read More

Last week I asked if you believed in the existence of God. Today I want to ask a similar question with another obvious answer. Do you believe in the Word of God? Before you answer, remember: the Christian faith is dramatically more than just an intellectual belief. It's not enough for us to simply believe that the Word of God is true, living and active (Hebrews 4:12). Our faith in, and study of, the Bible should radically change our life at street-level. I love what Hebrews 11... Read More