“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption.” (Romans 8:20-21a, ESV) As I have surveyed my 74 years on this earth, I have come to the realization that wellness is not anContinue reading “Why Wellness Is Difficult”
Tag Archives: sin
Trading Places (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, KJV) Many years ago, while I was serving as the pastor of a church in Savannah Georgia, I have a divine experience one evening. It was ChristmasContinue reading “Trading Places (2 Corinthians 5:21)”
The Christmas Miracle (Psalm 45)
In 1915, Henry Barraclough wrote a hymn titled, “Ivory Palaces.” It is a hymn that should be included with the Christmas repertoire, but rarely if ever is. Consider the lyrics and see if you do not agree. He begins in the first verse speaking of the glory of the Lord and then in the refrainContinue reading “The Christmas Miracle (Psalm 45)”
Cup of Wrath
“Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. They shall drink and stagger and be crazed because of the sword that I am sending among them.”” (Jeremiah 25:15–16, ESV) NormallyContinue reading “Cup of Wrath”
Broken and Unrepairable
“Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with you, and shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it can never be mended. Men shall bury in Topheth becauseContinue reading “Broken and Unrepairable”
Forgotten
“But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway,” (Jeremiah 18:15, ESV) One Christmas, we were in the middle of a move from a Chicago suburb to Savannah Georgia. All the householdContinue reading “Forgotten”
Contrasts
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.’” (JeremiahContinue reading “Contrasts”
The Greatest Rescue Mission
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all theContinue reading “The Greatest Rescue Mission”
Spiritual Erosion
“What is the sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?’ then you shall say to them: ‘Because your fathers have forsaken me, declares the Lord, and have gone after other gods and have served and worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law, and because you have doneContinue reading “Spiritual Erosion”
Sweet Food or Bitter
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16, ESV) Growing up, one of the great breakfast foods that I ate was cereal. My grandmother used to purchaseContinue reading “Sweet Food or Bitter”
Renewing the Heart 