holiness self-denial love Archives

Solzhenitsyn on Evil

As I consider the state of Canada, America, the Church, the Body Politic, and my own heart, I am reminded of these words by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the…

Saturn and Jupiter

As I wiped the sleep from my eyes a little before sunrise this morning, I gazed out my south-facing window and saw two bright objects in the sky. There was blazing beauty to each of them and together they took my breath away. I thought one was Sirius, until I did my research and realized…

That Sunday Evening

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be…

Care for the Weak

Those of us who follow Jesus know that we live by grace. The reality is that all of us, Christian, agnostic, and atheist, are people who do wrong. No matter how hard we try, we regularly miscommunicate, hurt other people, are prejudiced toward certain people, are driven by sexual motives, selfish motives, and greedy motives.…

Everything You Put In

Yesterday’s blog was about the journey of faith of one of my heroes, TobyMac. I believe that he deserves encouragement for his strong faith and consistent ability to speak the truth of the Gospel in ways that have been heard throughout his 30 plus years in the Christian Music industry. I do not use the…

TobyMac

TobyMac, one of the founders of the Christian rock band, DC Talk, has written and recorded songs that have changed the course of Christian music (think “Jesus Freak,” “Luv is a Verb,” and “Colored People”). He created his own record label (Gotee Records) and produced the albums of such bands as Reliant K and Out…

The Final Move

The Final Move (Written by Chris Rice, Christopher M. Rice • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc) (Listen here) Saw an old guy today Staring long at a chess game Looked like it was half-played Then his tear splashed between The bishop and the king…oh He turned his face to mine I saw the Question in…

What Have We Become?

With all that is going on in the world, this DC Talk song came to my mind. It seems that there is a lot of hate and selfishness in our world today. Each of us needs to examine our hearts to see what darkness lies inside. What Have We Become? (performed by DC Talk) (listen…

Love and Selfishness

For so the goblin Selfishness would reward the angel Love. George MacDonald, Phantastes, p. 124, 1981 edition, 1851 original. George MacDonald, a contemporary of Lewis Carroll, was a masterful writer who poetically described human nature. His books have not been widely read in the last few years but are certainly worthy of consideration. In Phantastes,…

A Meditation upon Deuteronomy 6

Deuteronomy 6: 1-25 (NLT) 1 “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees…