Tag Archives: not of this world

Three Years

Another reading in Judges. Another story of power. Power in the world’s way. And what’s caused me to pause this morning is that it seemed to work, and seemed to work for a pretty long time — three years. Three … Continue reading

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Greatest Passion, Greatest Pleasure

There’s no way you read this and it shouldn’t give pause. No way you encounter James’ emphatic statement and subsequent warning and, for a moment at least, do a quick heart check. Better yet, when it comes to discerning friendship … Continue reading

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A Harsh Command to Obey

Not sure where I’m going with this, but chewing on a command to obey this morning. Avoid such people. Doesn’t sound very “Christian” at first blush, does it? Maybe it’s just the translation. Let’s check out others. Having nothing to … Continue reading

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No King but Jesus

When all was said and done, it came down to who was king. There was a lot about Jesus that Pilate didn’t get. A king over a kingdom not of this world? Huh? Fulfilling a destiny to bear witness to … Continue reading

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Doing What’s Right

Would it be accurate to say that our natural tendency when doing what’s right is that we want what we’re doing to be deemed as right? That it’s hard to stand for what is true when the world around you … Continue reading

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Singing in a Foreign Land

It’s a pretty moving psalm, but in some ways, it’s also not all that relatable. Hovering over Psalm 137 this morning. A psalm remembering a time when the psalmist remembered a time. A post-exilic songwriter thinking back to the days … Continue reading

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When There’s No King . . .

Continuing to read in Judges this morning. And encountered the first of four repeated strikings of an ominous gong. In those days there was no king in Israel. That gong sounds in Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, and 21:25. Implication? It … Continue reading

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Rightness vs. Righteousness

As I hover over Romans 1:16-17 this morning the words of Jesus come to mind: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one … Continue reading

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What the Lord Has Separated Let No One Join Together

Working my way through a catalog of commandments in Leviticus this morning (Lev. 18-20). Most make sense to this 21st century mind, others not so much. But what is clear is that the reason for the LORD laying out all … Continue reading

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Passing Away

The verses pop this morning. Maybe not surprising given it’s the eve of an election that I can’t imagine anyone — not even the most politically disinterested — not having their eye upon. Beyond the “who wins” there’s so much … Continue reading

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