Ephesians intro, part 5 A close friend from church and I work out on Tuesday and Thursday mornings with another guy. Recently that other guy, who is not part of our church, told us that he was reading the Bible over the weekend and thought the passage he was reading sounded like our church. I perkedContinue reading “A profoundly important description of church”
Tag Archives: peace
The healing energy of grace
Ephesians intro, Part 3 Paul’s greeting in his letter titled “Ephesians” uses two words that he starts 13 of 13 letters with. These are two exceedingly important concepts for Christians. We read the two words of this greeting in Ephesians 1, verse 2. “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the LordContinue reading “The healing energy of grace”
The Messiah’s peaceable kingdom
Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 5 As Isaiah continues talking about the government of Jesus in Isaiah 9, he gives us more descriptions of the messiah. Consider his famous words in Isaiah, 9, verse 6: “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These royal titles showContinue reading “The Messiah’s peaceable kingdom”
Peace in the midst of dark times
Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 2 Matthew was there. He not only saw the light of Jesus’ peace change others, Matthew personally experienced what happened when Jesus light of peace enters the darkness of a person’s life. Matthew’s life was dark, without peace. He was a tax collector. Hated by his fellow JewsContinue reading “Peace in the midst of dark times”
The kind of peace Jesus came to bring
Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 1 Today we go back in time nearly 2700 years and Israel is at war. There is no peace. Isaiah 9, verse 1 gives us the context: “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land ofContinue reading “The kind of peace Jesus came to bring”
The secret to being content when life is good or bad – Philippians 4:10–13
Ours is a culture largely run on discontentment. New phones every year promising life-changing improvements, leaving you discontent with your old phone. New gadgets for every task under the sun, promising the good life, resulting in your feeling discontent without them. Whether it is your vacuum, clothes dryer, car, or just about anything. New clothingContinue reading “The secret to being content when life is good or bad – Philippians 4:10–13”
The second movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 5
As I’m typing this, my wife is at Refreshing Recreation. The program is an effort her organization started to provide a place for local families living in hotels to have a delicious meal and a gym for their kids to play sports and other games. Our school district has so many families living in localContinue reading “The second movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 5”
The first movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 4
I recently heard a person in my church family claim that it is wrong for the rainbow to be used by those who promote gay pride. I suggested to this person that the Scriptures do not delineate how the rainbow can be used as a symbol. They agreed, but still felt it was wrong. IContinue reading “The first movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 4”
Allowing people to disagree with you (even if you are convinced they are wrong) – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 2
Allowing ourselves to encounter and express the love of Jesus, I believe, starts with humility. By saying, “I need more of you Jesus.” By saying, “I don’t have your love all figured out. I could learn more about it, maybe a lot more. I could live your love more in the day to day, hourContinue reading “Allowing people to disagree with you (even if you are convinced they are wrong) – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 2”
The importance of free will – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 1
In the first century when Jesus was alive, the land of Israel was controlled by the Roman Empire. Rome was the superpower of the day, and they had an ideology called the Pax Romana. Roman Peace. They wanted peace in their empire. And largely they achieved peace. Do you know how the Romans achieved peace? Continue reading “The importance of free will – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 