Does Jesus have authority to break the law? – John 5:31-47, Part 1

I often wonder if our church’s outdoor sign has any impact.  While I think it is good to have a sign with basic information such as our name and website, we don’t need to have a sign with a message board.  Most people learn about us online anyway.  But the message board is a smallContinue reading “Does Jesus have authority to break the law? – John 5:31-47, Part 1”

Why Jesus sometimes disobeyed the law – John 5:16-30, Part 3

Did you know Jesus was a law-breaker? In fact, he broke the law so much, it got him in big trouble. In the previous post about John 5, verse 16, we read that the religious leaders are persecuting Jesus.  When you read that word, “persecute,” don’t think of it as extreme.  They’re not whipping him,Continue reading “Why Jesus sometimes disobeyed the law – John 5:16-30, Part 3”

What “the fear of God” means – Ecclesiastes 12:9-14, Part 3

After graduating college, I worked at our County’s youth detention center for three years as Michelle and I started our family and began the process of becoming missionaries in Jamaica. Then called Barnes Hall, and located in a building that has since been torn down, I was employed as a youth care worker.  My roleContinue reading “What “the fear of God” means – Ecclesiastes 12:9-14, Part 3″

The messiness of crime [Crime & Punishment – Deuteronomy 21, part 4]

Crime and punishment is so complex, messy and often frustrating. The third season of the podcast Serial does an excellent job exploring the nuances of the criminal justice, as seen through the lens of Cleveland, Ohio. It likely comes as no surprise to you that we humans have a conflicted history of dealing with crime.Continue reading “The messiness of crime [Crime & Punishment – Deuteronomy 21, part 4]”