This story from Matthew perplexes most of us. For one thing, we in the Western world are generally unfamiliar with demons and don't know how to make sense of them. For another, the peculiar...
Throughout his ministry, Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons. Why? What was Jesus trying to accomplish by these mighty acts?On one level, the healings and exorcisms of Jesus demonstrated his...
There are three surprises in this story. First, there's the surprise of the centurion's faith. Jesus himself was amazed by the faith of this officer in the Roman army. Surely Jesus had hoped to...
As I remember the Sabbath of my childhood, white-gloved women in Sunday-go-to-meeting dresses, hats, and shoes flood my mind. And men in stiff-as-a-board starched shirts, their best jackets and...
I had been a highly partisan spectator for three days, watching my daughter play volleyball in Tampa, Florida. Her team was heading for the finals on Sunday. Sadly, I had to catch the...
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus healed many who were sick. But he did more than restore bodies. He also healed souls and relationships. We see this happening as Jesus healed the man with leprosy in...
Life is fundamentally measured by weeks, not months, or even years. Here is a principle that everyone endorses and few follow: Keep your balance. Balance is fundamental to athletics and just...
Throughout Galilee, the region of Jesus' early ministry, there were wadis: dry stream beds that would flood during strong rains. A person unfamiliar with weather patterns might build a house on the...
Jesus offers the metaphor of trees and fruit in order to help his disciples identify false prophets. Even if their message seems to be acceptable, the tangible results of their teaching will reveal...
We find versions of the so-called "Golden Rule" in the ethical teachings of many philosophers and religions. Yet these versions almost always take a negative form: Do not do to others what you do...
Jesus often used hyperbole to communicate with his audience.
The Rev. Roger Williams was my great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather. That would be 1...
From the daily grind to unethical demands, Christians struggle to honor God at work. How do we find our identity amidst the challenges of vocational excellence, ethics, evangelism, and essence? If...
In the world of Jesus, the majority of people had little more than the bare necessities of life. And these could be easily taken away by war, famine, or disease.
These words of Jesus are as relevant to us as they were to his first audience. But if he were speaking today, he might not refer to moths, rust, and thieves. Perhaps he...
It's an amazing thing to be forgiven by God. Because of his grace poured out through Christ, we can be forgiven for all of our sins, no matter how horrendous they might be...
If God knows everything we need before we ask in prayer, then why should we pray? Won't God give us what we need whether we pray or not?There's no doubt that God gives...
How can I find a sense of loving community with other Christians in a safe atmosphere of honesty? I realized that if Christianity is a living relationship with God, I had to find...
In Jesus' day, as in our own, people often did good works in order to receive public recognition. Charitable giving, when joined with the right fanfare, could increase one's honor. So could public...
When I reentered the corporate world last year, I was leaving behind several years of serving the local church as a pastor. I wondered how I might be able to live out my...
