Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. (Col. 1:10-11) Watching those who compete in “ironman” competitions makes me dream of what I might…
My first date with David Guthrie was on New Year’s Eve. And when he left at 3 a.m. on that first day of 1986, I blissfully fell asleep. I knew I had found him, the one. When Valentine’s Day weekend came around a little more than a month later, I didn’t like it that he…
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (Prov. 3:11-12) We may create some shock by asserting, “The Lord will never punish his children,” but that is actually the truth. We understand…
The share of the one who goes into battle is to be the same as the share of the one who remains with the supplies. They will share equally. (1 Sam. 30:24 CSV) Janette Alexander, wife of the great 19th-century theologian Archibald Alexander, was treasured by her family for her scriptural insights. Although she lacked…
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. (Psalm 27:1-2) We all face life crises. They may…
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Eph. 6:10-11) When my daughter was five, she decided to play soccer with her older siblings and cousins at a family gathering. Very…
One of the high points of my year is attending the Christian Sociological Association’s annual conference. I’ve attended its June meetings — except when disrupted by global pandemics — for almost 25 years. Sociologists, and especially Christian sociologists, are an odd (yet delightful) bunch that look at the world in an unusual way. Over time,…
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name forever! (Psalm 34:1b-3) Have you ever tried praising God when you are…
The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. (Matt. 13:24-25) Jesus paints a picture of a beautiful wheat field, which was spoiled by an enemy. Coming into the…
You know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:11-12) The Marlboro Man and Michelob weekends represent the manhood of a biblical father about as…