The natural mind refuses to believe the Bible. This is understandable. The Bible makes plain statements that will send our socks screaming down the sidewalk while we are left standing barefoot on the pavement in a cold sweat. The only real choice we have is to stand still while our feet warm on the foundation of God’s grace. Unbelievably, the Bible states that God is love. He chose to forgive, love, and bless us through... read more.

Paul said to his man in 2 Timothy 2:1-7 (WEB), 1) You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2) The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3) You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4) No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs... read more.

We live in odd times. The other day while walking to work I passed a young man who was working on his car on the street. Though nothing odd about that, I noted that his pants were hanging so low over his rear end that he was walking on the pant legs which completely covered his shoes. What? I guess this is a teen hip hop thing, though the man was not a teen. Yet... read more.

Remaining sin has got to be one of the most difficult realities facing the Christian and all humanity. Understanding God’s wisdom in binding all humanity to disobedience is unfathomable (Romans 11:32) and facing the fact that sin still remains after the Lord Jesus personally made payment for our sin is equally mind boggling. We can only say that his infinite patience with our sin and mysterious purpose for our sin must demand all our worship.... read more.

Several months ago our family received a generous gift. While discussing the matter with a friend they casually commented, "That is great! You deserve it!" As I thought about this I was reminded that our casual conversation is often not very precise and unfortunately all too often not rooted in grace. I returned comment to my friend that actually we did not deserve it, but we were very thankful for the gift even so. They... read more.

No offense, but today I was silent while my church family celebrated the 4 th of July with the rousing choruses of the Star Spangled Banner . Perhaps if our faith never gets further than Federer and America’s God and Country we could sing along without question of conscience. However, for myself I could not stomach the smiling faces singing of the " land of the free and the home of the brave." We are... read more.

When I share my faith and doctrine in the neighborhood, at the workplace, and with friends and family many feel that I am a strange bird, even Christians. However, my goal is simply to reverberate Presbyterian Calvin's doctrine of man's sinfulness, Catholic Augustine's doctrine of predestination, Methodist Wesley's doctrine of Christ's atonement, Anglican Tyndale's doctrine of irresistible grace, and Anabaptist Simon's doctrine of perseverance. So on these points if I am strange then I am... read more.

Second Corinthians 5 has always been a favorite chapter, especially verse 16 (NIV), "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." My wife and I often remind and correct each other when we are regarding someone from a " worldly " point of view. By " worldly " Paul means from mankind's natural viewpoint apart from... read more.

Bill Saxton wrote Daniel's Prophecies of Covenant Change . Saxton does not address the scope of mankind's salvation. However, he does give thorough treatment to Daniel's prophecies that relate to my proposed understanding of Daniel 12:1-4, Matthew 24-25, and Revelation. Eschatology is not my strength and so I would be glad take a wide path around these debated and divisive subjects in order to simply enjoy brotherhood trusting God with unanswered questions. Yet the grace... read more.