Ten Years Later, A Look Back
I grieve for that 21-year-old Joel. He was busy trying to convince everyone to obey Jesus, but he was wrapped up in fear. Honestly, that first post drips with fear. Read More …
Tag: Liberty
Did Jesus Have Teenage Rebellion?
Jesus’ obedience to God led Him to “rebel” against Joseph and Mary. At least, some parents would have labeled Him rebellious. Read More …
Unconditional Love: It Might Not Be What You Think
Unconditional love. It sounds so good. And yet many people reject the idea that God loves us unconditionally. To be honest, I don’t blame them, because I have seen many people misuse this concept. We need to understand that God’s unconditional love is not His unconditional approval. Read More …
Yes, God’s Love is Truly Unconditional
Jesus tells us that we should love our enemies—those who hate and mistreat us—so that we can be like our Father in Heaven. In other words, God doesn’t expect any more of us than He expects of Himself.
According to Jesus, if God’s love was conditional, He would be no better than the tax collectors who loved those who loved them. There would be nothing special about Him. Read More …
New Recording: The Stone is Rolled Back!
It’s such a wonderful day! We get to celebrate Jesus’ triumph over death and the grave! One awesome thing that God has done for me in recent years is taking away my fear of death. I used to be afraid Read More …
I Don’t Feel Like Reading the Bible
I’ve got to be honest: most days, I don’t feel like reading the Bible.
And in case you think this is some article where I give you my top five reasons why I read it anyway, it’s not. Read More …
Jesus Only Died Once. So Did I.
So, now we’re alive again. We’re living, not on our own life, but the life of Jesus Himself.
So what happens if we try to die again?
In other words, whose life, then, are we trying to die to? Read More …
The Cross Has Made You Flawless
I didn’t really believe that God wanted me in His kingdom. I certainly didn’t think I delighted His heart or brought joy to Him unless I did some good work for Him. I didn’t believe that He had chosen me. I didn’t really grasp that I was His son.
And I didn’t believe that He is the basis of my righteousness. Read More …
Is the Bible the Third Member of the Trinity?
Today, many Christians have turned the Bible into an idol. They religiously study it, day by day, week after week, month after month. They make commitments to read the Bible every day. They know the Bible inside and out. And Read More …
Vows and Commitments: Tools for Spiritual Abuse?
For as long as I can remember, I have heard about vows and commitments. Throughout my life, different speakers and teachers encouraged me to make various commitments. Bill Gothard probably pushed me to make more commitments than anyone else. He Read More …