Give generously, and do not let your heart be grieved when you give, because for this act the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your endeavors. Deuteronomy 15:10 Some years ago, Harold Bloom, one of the world’s preeminent literary scholars, authored a mammoth study of Williams Shakespeare’s plays...... Read More

Because we have been made righteous by faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through him, and through faith in him, that we have been brought into the grace in which we stand. This is why we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And,...... Read More

Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every circumstance, with thankful prayer and petition, make your needs known to God. And God’s peace, which transcends all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading...... Read More

But now God’s righteousness has come to us apart from the law, although the Law and Prophets bear witness to it — God’s righteousness that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, and are justified only by his gift of grace...... Read More

For I know how to have much, and how to deal with having little. I have learned the secret of contentment in all circumstances, whether well fed or being hungry, whether having plenty or being in want. Phil. 4:12 What does a life lived by faith in the Triune God look like? This is an...... Read More

I’m not saying that I have already achieved these things or that I have reached perfection. But I press on to gain that for which Christ Jesus first took hold of me. Although I have not achieved it, I focus on one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to...... Read More

Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear. 8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him. 9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” Then he offered the burnt offering. I Sam....... Read More

Wherever you go, I will go. Ruth 1:16b. Like all humans, I love numbers, measurements, and statistics. How did I do on the exam? What was the score of the Lions game (OK, maybe not that)? What’s the unemployment rate, my raise for this year, the percentage of people with health insurance or bald spots?...... Read More

A Canaanite woman from that area came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me, for my daughter suffers terribly from demon-possession.’ But Jesus did not answer a word. Mat. 15:22-23 To paraphrase the author of John’s Gospel, “If all the things that people have said about prayer were written down,...... Read More

4 The goodness and kindness of God our savior appeared to save us, not because we did anything righteous, but because he is merciful. He cleansed us, made us alive, and created us anew by the Holy Spirit, whom he gives to us without measure. This is all through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who makes...... Read More