Tag Archives: union with Christ

Complex Simplification

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Pete

Okay, I’ll admit it — there’s a certain danger in reductionism. A risk, when trying to simplify something that is complex, of over-simplifying so that too much is lost. That in trying to put something on the “bottom shelf” for … Continue reading →

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Joined to the Lord

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Pete

It’s a profound truth kind of buried in an exhortation against sordid behavior. But Paul’s supporting argument for why a follower of Jesus should flee sexual immorality has vast implications beyond being a deterrent from sin. For what it reminds … Continue reading →

Posted in 1Corinthians | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Seventy-Seven Times

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Pete

“I’ll take hard-to-obey commands of Jesus for $1,000, Alex.” “Okay. And the answer is: On this one you’ll want to go with the ESV’s seventy-seven rather than the CSB’s seventy times seven. But in reality, you’re not gonna be crazy … Continue reading →

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The Clothes Really Do Make the Man

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Pete

The “price of admission” wasn’t so much their character as it was their clothing. Not about all the good they had done, but all about the garments they would don. Less about their resume, more about their robe. Chewing this … Continue reading →

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His Own (2015 Rerun)

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Pete

“Christ has made me His own” Read those six words this morning and decided that rather than try and write on them, I’d just rest in them. Meditate on them. Marinate in them. Letting what is unbelievably true sink deeply … Continue reading →

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All I Need, In Thee I Find

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Pete

To quote the famous hymn, Just As I Am, it would seem that within the church at Philippi they were “tossed about; with many a conflict many a doubt” and were experiencing “fightings and fears within without.” Philippians 1 deals … Continue reading →

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The Fame and The Name

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Pete

If you’re of my generation, then I’m thinking you might just be familiar with such famous duos as Abbott & Costello, Martin & Lewis, and perhaps even Astaire & Rogers. Noodle on it some more and you might come up … Continue reading →

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Seated and Sojourning

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Pete

Being a resident alien might just provide me with a bit of a spiritual advantage. My Green Card expires next year so I’ll have to renew it. The process itself will be a reminder that while I live and work … Continue reading →

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Lost in Christ

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Pete

While our current culture of “expressive individualism” may have accelerated it, it’s actually been going on for a while within the church. Sometime in our past, in order to battle dead, lifeless religion, we started talking instead about a “personal … Continue reading →

Posted in Galatians | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Not At All Inferior . . . Because I Am Nothing

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Pete

Paul covers a lot of ground with the church at Corinth through the letter we count as his second. But underlying it all is his contending for their affection, for “room” in their hearts (2Cor. 7:2a). And so, as Paul … Continue reading →

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