Early in my marriage I was feeling a lump in the center of my rib cage, slightly below the sternum, accompanied by acute pains. For weeks my prayers for healing were mingled with angst as to what it might be—hoping that it might not be dreaded cancer or a heart problem. After finally consulting withContinue reading “Peter and the Prophets Pt. 1: We’re Good Forgetters”
Category Archives: General Epistles
Peter’s Lost Legacy Pt. 3 – Hindrances to Passionate Love, Faith, and Joy for Jesus
The churches in Peter’s day were onto something compellingly beautiful in their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Their wholehearted devotion to loving Jesus, believing in Jesus, and rejoicing in Jesus stands as an inspiring testimony for us today. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him,Continue reading “Peter’s Lost Legacy Pt. 3 – Hindrances to Passionate Love, Faith, and Joy for Jesus”
Peter’s Lost Legacy Pt. 2 – The Man Behind the Message
Zinnias are one of my favorite garden flowers. Like last year, I planted a dozen or so zinnias from seeds, delighting to watch them grow into their leafy towers adorned with colorful fist-sized blossoms along the front and side of my home. Living things grow. It’s so beautiful! Now, however, fall’s chilling frost has doneContinue reading “Peter’s Lost Legacy Pt. 2 – The Man Behind the Message”
Peter’s Lost Legacy Pt. 1 – Our Inheritance of Radical Joy in Jesus
I’d like you to pause a moment to contemplate a snapshot of vibrant life in the early church. Far more excellent than a picture frozen in time, it is alive, moving, radiating with the uppermost pleasures of life above the sun. It’s the red carpet rolled out to us inviting us to euphoric joy foundContinue reading “Peter’s Lost Legacy Pt. 1 – Our Inheritance of Radical Joy in Jesus”
A Day of Visitation in Fiery Trials Pt. 4: Sarah’s Submission
In his spiritual maturity the apostle Peter lights the way for Jesus followers living in perilous times. As the light of the world we’re going to experience suffering as our lives collide with the darkness. Words and even wounds are the pains along our pathway. In the days of his ignorance Peter thought of fieryContinue reading “A Day of Visitation in Fiery Trials Pt. 4: Sarah’s Submission”
A Day of Visitation in Fiery Trials Pt. 2: The Thief on the Cross
Our submission to God in our fiery trials opens up a day of God’s visitation to the difficult people who instigate our trying circumstances. Peter, no stranger to suffering himself, assures us that our sufferings and afflictions as Christians will result in a revealing of the Lord Jesus to others. Peter takes us into theContinue reading “A Day of Visitation in Fiery Trials Pt. 2: The Thief on the Cross”
A Day of Visitation in Fiery Trials Pt. 1
One of my heroes of the faith is Corrie Ten Boom. In World War II Nazi occupied Holland her family hid Jews in their home, but eventually got caught. Corrie and her sister ended up together in a German concentration camp. One of my favorite analogies of hers was an embroidery she carried around. ItsContinue reading “A Day of Visitation in Fiery Trials Pt. 1”
Tired of Tasting a Cardboard Jesus?
Taste is a mind-blowing marvel of engineering we take for granted. I recently taught my three teens a kitchen science course that introduced me to amazing aspects about taste I’d never known. I hadn’t grasped how taste combines all five senses, not just taste buds and smell. What would a potato chip be without hearingContinue reading “Tired of Tasting a Cardboard Jesus?”
Looking Unto Jesus: From Abel to Today
What faith did saints in the Old Testament have? We believe in Jesus. What did they believe? The Lord has been showing me how their faith wasn’t all that much different than yours and mine today. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside everyContinue reading “Looking Unto Jesus: From Abel to Today”
More Precious Than Gold Pt. 2: Perception Matters
Remember how Paul fell off his horse on the Damascus road when he encountered Jesus? Only one thing. Neither Acts nor Paul said anything about a horse. Yet this pervasive perception is imprinted in our imagination of this scene. If we see through rose-colored glasses, the world looks rosy, right? Looking at the glass halfContinue reading “More Precious Than Gold Pt. 2: Perception Matters”
Glory Unveiled: Discovering Jesus 