Do you have idolatry in your heart and not know it? – Ezekiel 14, Part 1

What do you long for?  What do you desire?  A relationship?  Debts paid off?  A big enough savings account so you’re not living paycheck to paycheck?  A new car?  New house?  A different personality?  Different looks?  Good health?  Healing?  Success?  Athletic ability?  Artistic ability?  A raise?  What do you long for?  We all have desire. Continue reading “Do you have idolatry in your heart and not know it? – Ezekiel 14, Part 1”

Eeyore, Virtual Reality, the Billionaire Space Race and the Holy Spirit – Ezekiel 8, 9, & 10, Part 1

Do you have an Eeyore in your family?  Maybe you are the Eeyore!  You know the person who is sigher, moaner and groaner.  Because life is sooooo hard!  We say to that person, “Why are you grumpy?  Cheer up!” or we try to cheer them up, giving them suggestions for how they can change.  WeContinue reading “Eeyore, Virtual Reality, the Billionaire Space Race and the Holy Spirit – Ezekiel 8, 9, & 10, Part 1”

The surprising antidote to economic idolatry – Ezekiel 7, Part 4

What is the antidote to economic idolatry? Sometimes I think to myself, “I hate money.” What I mean is that it can seem like life is one long travail of trying earn money. Do you ever long for financial independence, so that you don’t have to think about whether or not you have enough money?Continue reading “The surprising antidote to economic idolatry – Ezekiel 7, Part 4”

What is idolatry? – Ezekiel 4 & 5, Part 4

Those statues above are ancient Canaanite idols. When I look at them, I can have a hard time imagining how people would worship them, believing they might have power. But as we have seen in our study of the life and ministry of the prophet Ezekiel, even the Jews who had a long history experiencingContinue reading “What is idolatry? – Ezekiel 4 & 5, Part 4”

American Idols – Ezekiel 4 & 5, Preview

Do you worship idols? Of course not, right? Or do you? When I was in seminary for my Master’s degree I took a course called “American Idols.”  It wasn’t about the famous singing competition!  Instead it was about the various ideas or objects that we Americans idolize.  There are a number of really good possibilitiesContinue reading “American Idols – Ezekiel 4 & 5, Preview”

How teens and adults can respond to peer pressure – Characters: Daniel, Part 3

How do you handle societal pressure? Whether you are a teenager facing peer pressure at school, perhaps to try drugs and alcohol, or whether you are an adult tempted to misreport your taxes, there are multitudes of pressures in life, pressures to turn away from living in a way that is honorable to Jesus. WillContinue reading “How teens and adults can respond to peer pressure – Characters: Daniel, Part 3”

Who are you really? (And how to find out)

In my last post, I mentioned that in Deuteronomy 9 Moses gives the people of Israel an exam, and he has shocking news for them.  Remember the principle?  They are not righteous in and of themselves.  They were in danger of thinking that God brought them to the Promised Land because they were so good. Continue reading “Who are you really? (And how to find out)”