As I write this someone I love lies dying in my bedroom.
Life is short.
Life is fragile.
Live for Jesus.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” –Jesus Christ
[Time Is Running Out Image via glasgow’s finest – Creative Commons]
(Read Proverbs chapter 4)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
How To Fail To Guard Your Heart
The writer of Proverbs chapter four is sharing wisdom with his sons. He spends much of the chapter admonishing them to listen to his words and to value wisdom highly. Then, toward the end, he says what he says in verse 23, “Above all else, guard your heart . . .”
“Above all else,” he says.
This instruction, which is at the very least Continue reading
This is where you want to be in life: The place where you love Jesus so much, you live to do his will, to bless him, to please him.
Image via Wikipedia-labeled for reuse on Google Images, Italian, early 14th century
Independence Day
It’s 3:30 in the afternoon, at the time of this writing, on the 4th of July, Independence Day. And I’m thinking about patriotism. I wonder about it sometimes, patriotism, because sometimes it can lead to decisions that hurt another human being simply because someone isn’t from our own particular country. So I get that there are problems with patriotism. Those problems make me wonder what God wants from us. They make me wonder if he wants me, and you, to be patriotic.
What Does The Bible Say? Continue reading
We left off in our study of the book of John with Jesus allowing his disciples to be battered about by a storm. There may have been a good reason for that. If you’re interested you can read the last post from the Gospel of John here: What It Takes To Be Glad About Jesus: John 6:16-21.
The Work Of God
The morning after the storm, what the crowd saw was that Jesus sent his disciples over to the other side of the sea of Galilee in a boat, and then he himself hiked up a mountain to pray. What they didn’t see was Continue reading
Cain and Abel by Josep Vergara, 18th Century
The Article About Anger That Might Make You Angry
I have to confess, I was reluctant to write and publish this article about anger, because I’m concerned it will make people angry. But maybe in spite of my better judgment . . .
Jesus Nerd
If you follow my Twitter, Facebook, or Google+ accounts you know I put up scripture on these almost every day. More than one person has criticized me for it, but what can I say — I’m a Jesus nerd. I’m completely fascinated by this ancient Jewish Rabbi, so much so that I just can’t help myself. I want to learn all that I can about him, and I want to share him with others. Anyway, recently, on Facebook, I posted the words from Jesus, “. . . I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…” (Matthew 5:22) And a friend of mine, Danny, asked in the comment section, “What do you think is meant by ‘brother’?” Continue reading
Emergency vehicles on scene at the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando
I just want to share a few thoughts on the Orlando Shooting. Thought number three in particular is the most difficult and it applies to you, and to me.
1) It’s a horrible tragedy. This was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Fifty died, and fifty-three were injured. My heart breaks for the victims and their families. They’re in my prayers and I hope they’re in your prayers too.
2) We need to guard against acts of terror in the most sensible and effective way possible. This is where everybody wants to go when they discuss the Orlando tragedy. This is the part that’s most popular in the media and in the blogosphere. I have my own opinions, but the purpose of this blog isn’t to offer up the actions I believe we should take to prevent attacks like this one. The purpose of this blog post is to focus on something more difficult.
3) The hard part, the most difficult thing we need to guard against, is this: Continue reading
If you’re reading this the day it’s posted, then Continue reading
Francis Chan On What The Word Church Really Means (And What It Means To Be A Christ Follower)
I really, really, really, really, really… really–hope you’ll watch this video.
BASIC.Follow Jesus from David C Cook on Vimeo.
Lillard Drops 50
I just watched Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard drop 50 points on the Toronto Raptors tonight. It wasn’t enough to win but if you’ve followed him at all, you know just a few weeks ago he led the Blazers to a rare victory over Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors. And you also know it’s undeniable that as good as Lillard was last season, he’s made a big leap to an even higher level this season.
Recently I learned why.
Lillard And Curry Continue reading
