In time’s past, when God created time, He placed in Eden a tree of life. Magnificent, this stood, fragrant, and dripping with every good. On such sacred ground flourished a fruit, so pure and sweet, which God let the man and woman eat. In beauty, another tree also grew on this primordial soil, of which […]
Psalm 91:11-12: Angels Unaware; Not Them, Us
September 29, 2019 by
The more you traverse the text of Scripture, the more the angels fly forth from its pages. The book of Judges alone mentions angels some 20 times. Read through the Psalms with a careful eye, and you will find them in more places than imagined. For example, Psalm 8 informs we are created a little […]
Luke 17:11-19: Christ’s Uncommon Mercy
September 23, 2019 by
Most of us don’t stumble over rare artifacts since they are, well, rare; sometimes, one of a kind. Some of you into specialized hobbies may. Perhaps Denny Villwok handled a rare musket or Nancy, our organist, played on a historic, well-piped organ. Either way, don’t think you’re unlucky, for each Christian experiences the rarest thing […]
Luke 16:1-9: The Dishonest Manager
August 18, 2019 by
The beginning of Luke’s Gospel: A pregnant virgin sings, rejoicing in her God. The Lord “toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry, he filled with wondrous things but sent away the rich with nothing” (Luke 1:52-53). The song of Mary sets the stage. The rest of Luke’s written Gospel highlights […]
Matthew 7:15-23: False Prophets
August 18, 2019 by
“Beware of false prophets,” our Lord cautions. The danger is real; otherwise, why did Jesus warn us with such words? Now, if a false prophet can exist, so also can false teaching and worship. From their mouths flow words of death, not life. “Enter through the narrow gate,” the warning continues. Why? The boulevard of […]
Ecclesiastes 9:7-10: Vocation
August 18, 2019 by
How did we find ourselves in such an unsatisfying and uncivil place? From our perspective of only a few decades, we realize the most basic of civilities are slinking away. Too many people drive like jerks and yell at others for being too slow. One person cries out against intolerance but is intolerant toward those […]
Holy Trinity
June 18, 2019 by
Strange, indeed, is the Athanasian Creed. Perplexed tongues undulate in unusual patterns, expressing what confuses us, as we quiver molecules of air about the mysteries of God. The creed’s words speak of the blessed Trinity, on the threefold nature of God, whom we can never master. No mere created being can comprehend the Creator’s mind […]
Acts 2: Pentecost
June 18, 2019 by
Intro To a people baptized in the waters of the Red Sea and now wandering in the wilderness, God came. To make them His separate and distinct people, He gave them many rites and rituals. Among these commanded worship forms (in Leviticus 23), we encounter Pentecost, a thanksgiving festival for the first crop of the […]
Revelation 22: I Am the Alpha and Omega
May 9, 2019 by
I From Adam and Eve to you and me, we can chant the psalm. “Behold, how pleasant and sweet for brothers to dwell together…. The Lord decreed this blessing of life for eternity” (Psalm 133:1, 4). Yes, God desires such unity, but we, instead, clutch and grab in our discord and disunity! So soon did […]
Matthew 28:18-20: I Am with You Always
May 2, 2019 by
On the first Easter morning, grieving women find Jesus’ tomb is empty. Soon, Peter and John sprint to His burial site to find out if this is true. Several hours pass and Jesus appears to His disciples, authorizing them to absolve and retain sins. Later, He will assemble the Eleven, giving them a new mandate—in […]
