I am sure most people are familiar with Paul’s trio of spiritual gifts at the end of 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT) — “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I can recall many teachings on faith and love, but the middle of the “sandwich” — hope — is rarely spoken about. But hope is a central theme woven throughout ...
Everyone wants peace — peace in Ukraine, peace in Gaza, peace in Pakistan, peace in India, peace in the world, peace of mind. In his first public address as Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected Roman Catholic pontiff emphasized the theme of peace. His opening words were “Peace be with you!”, and he went on to reiterate the need for and the responsibility ...
Anger is a powerful emotion that can strain our personal, professional, and romantic relationships, often leading to conflict that feels insurmountable. Yet, Jesus Christ offers a profound model for managing anger and resolving conflicts with wisdom, grace, and love.
His teachings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, provide a roadmap ...
When people introduce themselves, they often use titles that communicate something about who they are—words like “Professor,” “Doctor,” “Pastor,” “Colonel”, etc. Even on social media, we invent titles to serve as avatars of identity.
Jesus carried many titles as well—Prince of Peace, Messiah, Son of David, Son of God, Teacher. But the ...
What is the connection between the sound of a siren, an advertisement for life insurance, an upcoming doctor’s visit, and a friend’s inquiry about Calvinism vs Arminianism?
I’ll admit it was the friend’s question that caused me to make the connection with what would otherwise be routine and mundane events. The thread that ties them together ...
Proverbs are succinct, memorable phrases of wisdom, and often carry weight beyond their few words. The ancient Hebrew scriptures took proverbs and turned them into an art form by themselves. They are almost always double-barreled, containing parallel or contrasting thoughts. Especially in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, they serve as spiritual ...
My wife and I were in the car, and as she often does she asked me to recall the words of a chorus often sung in worship services in our youth — in a time long, long ago, in a country far, far away. The chorus was:
“There’s no night the; there’s no night there; Hallelujah, there’s no night there. For in that city bright, where Jesus is the ...