Honor Your Mom On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” […]
Power in the Blood For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. ––Leviticus 17:11 When you read the Old Testament, things clip along pretty well through Genesis and […]
True Love Sacrifices Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ––James 1:2–4 Rome, 269 AD. Dark, brutal—especially for the outlawed and hunted sect […]
Fifties (and Onward) Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. ––Proverbs 16:31 At the halfway point in life, I have observed that men tend to head in one of two directions: They succumb to the cynicism of life and become negative and judgmental; or, they experience spiritual […]
One God, One Story And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:27 (brackets mine) I admit it. I get sucked into my wife’s Hallmark movies. The ones with titles like Labradoodle Love Story or Rocky Mountain Romance. First I walk […]
Lambs, Sheep, and Shepherds Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s […]
Forties For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ––1 Corinthians 13:9-11 By our forties, […]
Tight Circle One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. ––Proverbs 18:24 Here’s where a lot of us throw out the proverbial baby with the bath water: We get burned in a friendship once and decide we don’t need a lot of […]
At All Times Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive ourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 Here’s another killer quote that has been famously misattributed: “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” Supposedly St. Francis of Assisi said this some 800 years ago. However, there’s no evidence […]
Thirties Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. … My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. ––Psalm 51:10,17 I once had a pastor who believed that everyone is 33 years old in heaven, complete with their new imperishable […]
