Practicing righteousness vs. hypocrisy. As I began re-reading Matthew 6 this morning in light of Jesus’ teaching on practicing righteousness, the word, hypocrite, jumped off the pages of my Bible (6:2, 5, 16). In essence, Jesus said (paraphrased): When you…
Jesus calls us to be followers, learners, stumblers-along-the-journey-toward-heaven-and-perfection. He knows we won’t do following perfectly. He knows we’ll be messy all along the road. So, he tells us to practice. Train for righteous-living while we’re on earth. Allow ourselves…
A Jesus-follower practices righteousness. One area, we need to particularly practice is secret, sacrificial giving. This giving is not only generous, but joyful…it doesn’t occur out of a sense of duty (if our attitude is that of compulsion, there…
Caution. The following is a hard teaching. It will feel like an attack. It might even make you a bit angry. Yet, Jesus-Followers practice secret-sacrificial-giving, and if we want to walk as he walked, this is part of Jesus’…
All Scripture is inspired by God (I love the translation, “God-breathed”) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy…
I’ve been asked several times, now that Arizona Christian University has begun, and I am not there, how I am doing with my “semi-retirement.” That’s a hard question to answer. I found myself with a little achy, empty hole…
Well, I got myself in a small-measure of trouble over last week’s blog entry on “not wanting to be a Christian anymore.” That’s OK. I do welcome the opportunity, and think it’s good, as well as, healthy, to wrestle…
“Follow me!” Those two words concisely make up Jesus’ call, not just to His disciples, but all of us who claim to believe on His name. Two words with influence; but what does it really mean to be a…
I’ve officially decided I don’t like to lead. If I’m in unfamiliar territory, I want someone who’s been there before. Leading is frightening, and I get lost easily. Following me would be like the old adage, “the blind leading…
I know several women who are going through some kind of hardship right now (you may be one of them). These are women who seem to have been led into a wilderness (a dry, difficult place, filled with temptation,…