Recently I have been teaching through Baptist beliefs in Sunday School. Last week we discussed the idea of individual freedom in regards to belief and church membership. One of the key aspects of a Baptist church is the idea of voluntary association. In some church models, for example the Catholic church, membership is often involuntary. … Continue reading Can a Speeding Ticket Change Your Heart?
Note: This article was originally published in February of 2024. Somehow it became a draft again and I haven’t been able to restore it without republishing. If this feels like déjà vu when you read it, you’re not crazy! The valley is so dark sometimes. I have written about this a little in a previous … Continue reading God Doesn’t Owe Me Kindness
All your friends sit in your living room, having just dined sumptuously at your table, and now take up residence on your furniture. Tea and coffee have been served all around and a lively conversation keeps on going. In a bit, you will break out a game of Settlers of Catan or maybe something more relaxed, like Carcassonne. Much … Continue reading Better Than a Party
Wormwood, My worst demon, how are you doing? I’ve heard you’ve moved into aesthetics with your human. Yes, yes, nakedness is a great play with most humans. But have you considered the shame factor? Of course the human is aware that nudity is sin. Alluring? Yes. Damning? Almost certainly. But remember that a sin like porneia gets … Continue reading Screwtape’s Favorite Song
The finished cake ended up turning out pretty well for a first attempt on my own. As I write this post, my late wife Robyn is having her first birthday in Heaven. Shortly after she died, we decided that we would hold our very own holiday each year on her birthday. “Cake day” would be … Continue reading “Cake Day” and Birthdays in Heaven
It was the tenth box of clothes. Or was it the eleventh? I wasn’t really keeping track of how many boxes I moved from the storage room in the basement of my home. But I was almost to the bottom of the large stack. And that’s where I thought the infant clothes would be located. … Continue reading Packing Up Boxes is Easier Than Packing Away Memories
Iowa Regular Baptist Camp at night 42 high-school aged guys huddled in the men's staff cabin at a camp. They were from every corner of the state with a few sprinkled in from out of the state. Many serving for a second or third time in the summer. Lifeguards, kitchen staff, archery, maintenance . . … Continue reading Whose life is it anyway?
It was a Tuesday morning. Coffee was making its usual errands through my system. My laptop was lighting the room from the couch that I was sitting on. It was a normal morning in my living room. How many times have I sat drinking coffee and typing on my laptop in the last few years? … Continue reading The Sound of Crutches Down the Hall – Thinking About Ambush Grief
As I write, my new bride and I are cruising at 30,000 feet. We are on the way to our honeymoon and taking in the scenery from a different perspective. Any who have flown know that when you look at the contours and landmarks on the ground, they look the same but also different. Lakes … Continue reading A 30,000 foot view: Reflecting on the Omniscience of God
Sunday Leftovers is an occasional series which shares a few "morsels" from the Sunday sermon. Some leftovers taste better the next day, but God's word always tastes good, no matter when you chew on it. So enjoy the "leftovers" from my pastor's ministry! Running from Responsibilities The first morsel I want to let you "chew … Continue reading Sunday Leftovers – Resting in God’s Presence
Thoughts Worth Thinking 