February 2026 – Engaging Scripture

God’s house is not a church building

Ephesians 2, Part 5 Have you ever heard someone refer to a bricks and mortar building as “God’s house”? I cringe just a bit inwardly when I hear that. I cringe because we are not theologically correct to call a physical building, “God’s house.” In the Old Testament, God resided among his people in aContinue reading “God’s house is not a church building”

The detergent that creates unity in the church

Ephesians 2, Part 4 There is a detergent that the ancient Israelites used to achieve a state of cleanliness. Do you know what they used for detergent? If you are thinking “hyssop,” you are correct, but only partially. In the Mosaic Law, there are numerous references to hyssop and how it helped with purification (ExodusContinue reading “The detergent that creates unity in the church”

The big problem early Christians faced

Ephesians 2, Part 2 There was a big problem in the early church. It’s still a problem in the contemporary American church. Paul introduces the problem in Ephesians 1, verse 11: “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done inContinue reading “The big problem early Christians faced”

True followers of Jesus used to be dead

Ephesians 2, Part 1 True follower of Jesus, did you know you used to be dead? In Ephesians 2, verses 1–3, Paul writes: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdomContinue reading “True followers of Jesus used to be dead”

A good reason I didn’t get hired as a professor

Ephesians 2, Preview This past Sunday, January 25, I announced that I am moving on as pastor of Faith Church. My new role is Human Resources Manager at Agriteer, a farming equipment sales and service company in the mid-Atlantic region. I’ll have more to say about that and the future of the blog in theContinue reading “A good reason I didn’t get hired as a professor”