Human approaches to justice are often convoluted, but what about God’s approach? – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Preview

I am an adjunct professor, and in class recently I did something that the students were not prepared for.  I raised my hand. Let me explain.  I am teaching the Gospels, and one of the projects the students do is a group presentation on a section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  Each week aContinue reading “Human approaches to justice are often convoluted, but what about God’s approach? – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Preview”

How easily we can succumb to folk theology – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 2

Years ago someone told me how they got into a car accident while driving on a snowy road.  They hit a slick patch, lost control, the vehicle spun around and they came to a rest against a snow bank on the side of the road.  No injury.  No damage.  No collision.  Nothing.  They said theyContinue reading “How easily we can succumb to folk theology – 1st Samuel 4:1b-7:17, Part 2”

A family tragedy had me questioning God – Matthew 21:1-11, Part 2

Editor’s Note: This week at Faith Church we welcomed one of my current students, Molly Stouffer, as guest preacher. Molly is from Hagerstown, MD, studying Pastoral Ministries at Lancaster Bible College. Here is the second in her series of posts guest blogging her Palm Sunday sermon! “God please don’t let her die.”  These were theContinue reading “A family tragedy had me questioning God – Matthew 21:1-11, Part 2”

What is your automatic response when life goes bad? – Ezekiel 17, Part 3

Last week I caused a car accident. Thankfully it was minor, and no one was hurt. As I was driving, I glanced down at my phone to check the GPS, and in that split-second, the vehicles in a line of traffic in front of me slowed to a stop. It all happened so fast. IContinue reading “What is your automatic response when life goes bad? – Ezekiel 17, Part 3”

What I learned about reconciliation from a guy who drove through my mailbox – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 4

A year or so ago, we were in our living room at night watching TV, and we heard a loud crashing sound out front. I went to the front porch, opened the door, and saw a car had skidded off the road, right through our mailbox, across our front lawn, tearing up two tire-streaks ofContinue reading “What I learned about reconciliation from a guy who drove through my mailbox – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 4”

The Freedom of Forgiveness Received

In the Gospels Jesus tells the story of a certain servant who owed millions of dollars to a king.  When the king requested an accounting of the debt, the servant couldn’t pay.  The king ordered the servant, the servant’s wife, children and all his possession to be sold to pay the balance.  Horrified, the servantContinue reading “The Freedom of Forgiveness Received”

Stories of Restoration, Part 1 – Joel & Michelle

When I started as pastor of Faith Church, I remember standing before the congregation most Sundays thinking to myself, Look at all those smiling faces, those well-dressed people.  They don’t need to hear this sermon.  My feeling has long been described by the phrase “you’re preaching to the choir”. Five years has passed, and myContinue reading “Stories of Restoration, Part 1 – Joel & Michelle”