7 reasons God may not be answering prayers
On the kitchen wall in my boyhood home hung a plaque that promised “God Answers Prayer.” Because of those words, reinforced in Sunday school and Bible storybooks, I got the …
1 Timothy 2:12 What was Paul thinking?!
Preview: Should women be allowed to preach or does Paul’s prohibition apply today? The apostle wrote, “I do not permit me a woman to teach or have authority over a …
What would Jesus say to a Church divided by politics?
October 2020 Pastor Keith Mannes left his Christian Reformed Church in Michigan saying the congregation had become too politicized. He told his local newspaper that partisanship in the pews “has …
My apologies to the LGBTQIA+ community
Dear LGBTQIA+ community, I would like to humbly apologize for the way you have been treated by the Church and so-called “Christians.” To hate, judge, slander, devalue or harm you …
Will God’s will accomplished on election day?
Rather than a book of answers or a systematic theology, the Bible is a book full of mysteries and intriguing clues: God is three yet one; Christ Jesus is completely …
This is not a time to panic, America!
Updated June 2024 On April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter was invaded by the South Carolina militia triggering the Civil War. As you hopefully know, I am not an alarmist, but …
God is on our side . . . and theirs
America has always been more “un-united” than “United” during my lifetime: deadly race riots, protests of unpopular wars, bitter political fights creating years of deadlock. Today, the States seem less …
WWJE: Who Would Jesus Elect?
Preview: Jesus’ five criteria for his followers—applicable to candidates for office January 2024 “Ever since President Jimmy Carter’s 1976 profession that he was born again, voters have expected a faith …
Top ten Bible verses Donald Trump may want to read
March 2016 “Nobody reads the Bible more than me,” the then-presidential candidate claimed in an interview with TheHill.com. Trump also told the Christian Broadcasting Network: Actually it’s an incredible book, …
The Un-tied States of America
In light of former president Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to sway the 2016 election, the States of America are even more Un-tied then when …
Love, marriage, sex, etc.issue
Welcome to my annual salute to love, marriage and sex. If you’re single, dating, engaged, married, divorced, widowed or “it’s complicated,” there’s something for you! Enjoy. Many of the posts …
Truly offensive four-letter words
I knew something was wrong the second I said it. While on a speaking tour of Australia, our host had filled us in on what words not to use “down …
When is war ‘just’?
St. Augustine, a 4th century church leader, believed that war was always a sin, and if there had to be a war, it should be waged with sadness. Augustine went …
Should Christians celebrate Halloween?
Search Google for “Should Christians celebrate Halloween?” and you’ll get about one thousand sites covering everything from “it’s completely harmless” to “it’s completely hellish.” Here’s site number 1,001 that’s somewhere …
Candidates need to follow yellow brick road
Anne Coulter claims in her 2008 book If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans. One could argue, if Republicans had a heart, they’d be Democrats. Perhaps both parties need to …