Articles

For What It’s Worth…Acting As If

Therapy is way more than a toolbox of intervention.  Information alone cannot replace professional help. However, information can be very powerful.  So, for what it’s worth to you, here is an aritcile offering a therapeutic idea, concept, or intervention that you can try out in your own life or relationships.

Consecrate Your Temple

 I have been thinking a lot about the idea in Scripture that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit.Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Cor 6:19-20
 

The Blood of Jesus

The blood of Jesus is one of the most powerful resources available to us. It is also the most fundamental image of the Christian message. Yet, surprisingly few Christians have a basic understanding of the purpose and power of the blood of Christ outside of having our sins covered.

Am I A Word From God?

First, I have a confession to make. On the one hand, I know that I am loved by God. I know that He values me, has a plan and purpose for me. On the other hand, I still run into doubts in my heart. Places where I suddenly suspect, no matter how many times I have sung Jesus Loves Me, that I am more of an afterthought to God than precious in His sight. I stumbled into one of those darkened chambers in my heart as I wondered if I was a word from God.

The Word in the Word

The Word in the Word. There are three passages in the Gospel of John that bring home a very important point:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who cam from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14

Now Apply It

Jesus was the finest teacher to ever walk the earth. He was profound. He was paradoxical. He spoke with authority. But one thing that often…

Scream

The key is found in the preposition about. God tells Eliphaz that he is angry with him and his friends because they have not spoken the truth about God, as did Job. If you take the time to actually read the book you will know that something seems wrong here. Job said a lot of things. A lot of what he said was specifically about God, but very little of it sounds like the truth about God.

The Big Idea Part One

This is a three part series covering the first three chapters of Genesis.  These posts are not intended to be full commentary on each chapter. Rather, I will pick out a few key points, while trying to discover the major theme of the chapters as a whole.

The Big Idea Part Two

This is a three part series covering the first three chapters of Genesis.  When we come to chapter two we hear the rest of the creation story. We are told that “…the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array” (v. 1). And then we are given a curious bit of information. On the seventh day God rested from all of his work. He enjoyed that rest so much that he blessed the seventh day and made it holy. What is this divine rest? And why is it holy? The answers will have to wait, for the writer quickly moves on to another fascinating development.

The Big Idea Part Three

This is a three part series covering the first three chapters of Genesis . These posts are not intended to be full commentary on each chapter. Rather, I will pick out a few key points, while trying to discover the major theme of the chapters as a whole.  In Chapter 3 the serpent starts by asking if God really said they could not eat of any tree in the garden. Of course, God said no such thing, and the woman is quick to clarify that to the serpent. However, the question was not designed for accuracy or clarification. It was designed for impact. Undoubtedly the serpent’s question raises all sorts of other questions: What EXACTLY did God say? And why did he say it? Is he holding something back from us? Is this fair? Does he have our best interests in mind?

Trust Me

At the root of faith is trust. Faith cannot be built without trust anymore than a water molecule can be built without hydrogen. Trust is a key element in the formation of faith. In the New Testament faith, belief and trust all come from the same root word. They are practically interchangeable.

Spoonfed

I’m going to tell you something I do not do very well.  But, only if you will not tell the other mothers.  Because I have listened to them talk and apparently I am the only one not very good at this.  Deal?

But Have Not Love

I launched out like a sailor of the wind, a pneumanaut, not knowing where the thermals might set me down. No one was worried about my sudden flight. But why should they? I had decent stock. Came from a good, Christian family. I got along with most people. I was the youngest of four boys, and my three older brothers seemed to be sailing smoothly. There was no reason to suspect that I would be any different.

 

Purity of Heart

Sometimes everything you know, love, and remember about a poerson can be summed up in one picture. A moment frozen in time that speaks continually throughout eternity. I have such a memory, a picture imprinted on my mind. It is so clear in my soul that if I were an artist I would paint it for all to see. But since I am not that sort of artist I must attempt to paint this picture with words.

 

Consider the Cost

It is a dreaded topic. It is probably not preached enough. And when it is preached I rarely leave feeling very good about the overall outlook on things. I am referring to Luke 14:25-34. If your bible has section titles it probably says something like,The Cost of Being a Disciple.