Luke 9: Turning Point

Although we are less than halfway through Luke's Gospel, we reach a critical turning point in 9:20.  With Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ (or Messiah), the book pivots to begin telling us of Jesus' path to the cross.

Psalm 13: How Long?

David sure must have had his share of problems.

Luke 8: Adventures with Jesus

Imagine going on the road with Jesus!  From hearing His parables, witnessing His miracles, enjoying His fellowship - it would be awesome!  Both men and women were given this privilege to travel with Him.  When you go with Jesus, you never know what adventures await!

Luke 7: Regarding Jesus

In Luke 7, people are starting to draw conclusions and make up their minds about Jesus.

Luke 6: Choices

Christians have (at least) two ways of looking at the world.  One sees a pre-determined order to events, acknowledging God's sovereignty.  The other emphasizes that a high degree of human self-determination and free will have been written into the fabric of creation.  I have always belonged to the second camp.  In Luke 6, I see Jesus making choices and instructing His followers to do the same.

Luke 5: Jesus Makes Change

One of the great debates of our age is the question: Does Jesus love me just as I am, or does He expect me to change?  

Luke 4: His Own Terms

When it comes to your relationship with God, just who is in charge?  Are you okay if God doesn't do what you want Him to?  Are you still willing to do what He wants you to?

Psalm 12: From Age to Age the Same?

Am I nuts for taking a measure of ironic hope from this Psalm's lament of a decayed world?

Luke 3: Preparing the Way

I consider John the Baptist to be one of the most under-rated characters in Jesus' story.  Perhaps this is because he makes only an early appearance before dropping out long before we get to the extended Passion narratives of each Gospel.

Luke 2: Did Mary Know?

Of all the Gospels, Luke gives us the most information about Jesus' early years.  While Matthew reports on the arrival of the wise men and the family's escape to Egypt, Luke tells us of the journey to Bethlehem, the chorus of angels, the visit of the shepherds, as well as Jesus' dedication at the temple and his pre-teen adventure in Jerusalem.

Luke 1: Dear Theophilus...

Luke and its companion Acts are written to "Theophilus," literally "lover of God."  Whether or not Theophilus was an actual individual or a generic term for Luke's audience, it is hopefully an apt description of you!

James 5: True Wealth

As James brings his letter to a close, his final messages concern what to pursue in this life, and what not to bother chasing after.

James 4: Spiritual Principles

James continues to rock our world with unabashed spiritual guidance, containing some extremely helpful principles.

Psalm 11: When Foundations Are Shaken

I have always been drawn to the rhetorical question posed in vs. 3: "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

James 3: Tongue of Fire

Some teachings never go out of style.  James' words of warning about the tongue are just as appropriate in 2014 as they were in the first century.

James 2: Inconvenient Truths

I know many Christians who act as if they don't have James 2 in their Bibles.

James 1: Quotable Quotes

I have heard James referred to as "the Proverbs of the New Testament."  Even just dipping into the first chapter, perhaps you can see why.

Revelation 22: Coming Soon!

Amid the final descriptions of heaven, the Bible wraps up its final chapter with one over-riding message: This will all happen SOON!

Revelation 21: Gates of Pearl and Streets of Gold

Now, this is what I'm talkin' about!  After wading through blood as high as a horse's bridle, enduring years of tribulation, and suffering plague upon plague, we have finally reached our goal: Heaven!

Psalm 10: God of Justice?

If Psalm 9 is a tribute to the justice of God, Psalm 10 is an admission of some troubling questions about that justice.  What should we think when we observe God's justice to be missing?

Revelation 20: Judgment Day

Three chapters into the Bible (Genesis 3) is when we read about the fall.  Three chapters remaining in the Bible (Revelation 20) is when we read about the judgment.  Everything we experience as part of the familiar, fallen universe rests in between.  To get back to a reality without suffering or pain or death requires that sin be dealt with in a final, decisive judgment before God.

Revelation 19: Hallelujah!

I will always think of Melvin "Bummie" Snode whenever I read this chapter of the Bible.  Bummie was a faithful member of Science Hill Community Church until his death in 2013.  One of his favorite words, as a greeting and a farewell, was "Hallelujah!"

Revelation 18: Lament for Babylon

Whatever happens to "Babylon," it isn't going to be pretty.  What does her destruction look like?

Revelation 17: The Enemy of My Enemy

C.S. Lewis once observed: "The Christians are right: it is Pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began. Other vices may sometimes bring people together: you may find good fellowship and jokes and friendliness among drunken people or unchaste people. But Pride always means enmity – it is enmity. And not only enmity between man and man, but enmity to God." ("The Great Sin" from Mere Christianity.)

Revelation 16: Bowled Away

After the seven seal judgments and the seven trumpet judgments, we reach the seven bowl judgments in Revelation 16.

Psalm 9: God of Justice

Coming from a New Testament perspective, we sometimes forget that one of the chief characteristics of God is His justice.  This Psalm is a tribute to this quality of God.