Perfection is possible. What do you think about that claim? True or False? We humans use the word, “perfect” quite a lot in our conversations. We make plans for a visit with friends, and we say, “That sounds perfect!” But we don’t actually mean that the plan is absolute perfection. Instead, we mean, “That planContinue reading “Why some Christians teach it is possible to become perfect in this life – Colossians 1:24-2:5, Part 3”
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Should we “fill our body with affliction”? – Colossians 1:24-2:5, Part 2
In the previous post Paul reminded us that we can learn to rejoice in the Lord, even amid difficult circumstances. But as we continue to trace his teaching in Colossians 1:24-2:5, Paul writes something that seems bizarre to me. In fact, it seems wrong. Paul writes that he fills up in his body what isContinue reading “Should we “fill our body with affliction”? – Colossians 1:24-2:5, Part 2″
Is rejoicing in suffering a bad idea? – Colossians 1:24-2:5, Part 1
How should we respond to suffering? Maybe you’re suffering somehow, and you’re sick of it. I’ve had heel pain for the last few months, and though I will admit to being very inconsistent in treating it, I’m frustrated with it. I want it to be healed. I am not rejoicing in this suffering. Rejoicing? IfContinue reading “Is rejoicing in suffering a bad idea? – Colossians 1:24-2:5, Part 1”
Current Events – (How to Avoid) The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 5
This week on the blog, I’ve been talking about the recent news of the awful failure of Ravi Zacharias. He is one in a long line of abusive leaders, and started with the first post here I’ve attempted to tell his story and how we might respond to it. As I mentioned in some ofContinue reading “Current Events – (How to Avoid) The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 5”
Current Events – The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 4
This week its Current Events week on the blog, and I’ve been been writing a five-part series about the failure of Ravi Zacharias (so far you can read part one, part two, part three, and this is part four). How do we respond to such a grievous failure? It seems to me the primary responseContinue reading “Current Events – The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 4”
Current Events – The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 3
This week we’re talking about the failure of Ravi Zacharias. In the first post, I wrote about how Zacharias was for me and many others a mentor from afar, but how it has been revealed that he lived a double-life. In the second post, we looked how Jesus’ disciple, Peter, wrote about the story ofContinue reading “Current Events – The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 3”
Current Events – The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 2
In yesterday’s post, I told the story of Ravi Zacharias’ moral failure. How did this happen? The reasons are typical for leadership failure. There was a decades-long lack of accountability. Zacharias had too much control and authority in his organization. He was alone in many ways. He was also extremely intelligent and convincing, able toContinue reading “Current Events – The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 2”
Current Events – The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 1
It’s Current Events week on the blog. For the past year, one week per quarter I pause whatever blog series we’re in, and I scan the news on Monday morning to see what headline I’ll write about that week. My goal is that we learn how to engage what is happening in our world. WeContinue reading “Current Events – The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 1”
Worship services are not enough – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 5
I recently saw a conversation between two people on social media. One is often outspoken about their Christian beliefs. That person began the conversation by writing a post angrily condemning people who are of a different political persuasion. Many people responded with supportive comments, but one person disagreed, confronting the Christian writer. I don’t knowContinue reading “Worship services are not enough – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 5”
You can be in a close relationship with God – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 1
What is broken in your life? I hate to start off this week’s blog posts on such a dark note, but so many of us have broken relationships, broken situations, and they really concern us, taking loads of emotional energy, time and sometimes money. How do we heal what is broken? I think about ourContinue reading “You can be in a close relationship with God – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 