August "Gus" Holloway had a devastating choice to make. He sat in his car, not knowing what to do—all options led to a death of some kind. In his passenger seat sat a box containing three items: a blood-stained journal, an antique handheld mirror, and an ornate mahogany box inscribed with a scripture verse. The … Continue reading The Things We Hide
As Children of God, we often find ourselves confronted by our own sinfulness. These falls can be disheartening experiences, but the book of Micah offers us profound encouragement. In Micah 7:8, after the sins of the nation have brought them low, the prophet declares as their spokesperson, “Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when … Continue reading Hope for Fallen Christians
When the author of Hebrews makes the negative case concerning the blood of Christ, its significance is far-reaching. Throughout the book, he makes the positive case that Christ’s blood can cleanse us from dead works. Still, later he says, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin” (Heb. 9:22). By saying it this way, he cuts off any other options we think we might have, yet we live in a world that believes there are many roads to God. CLICK TO READ OR LISTEN
Sin is filth. It is soul pollution. It makes us vile in the eyes of God, and no matter how much pride we take in our sin now, we will one day even be offensive in our own eyes. As sinners, we may do everything we can to maintain our delusion that we are honorable, but every … Continue reading The Filthy Will Be Filthy Still
Guilt has a way of remaining long after our transgressions have passed. The question is, "what are you going to do with it?" Lingering guilt is what Herod, the tetrarch, was experiencing when he heard about Jesus and the miracles he was working. Herod was sure it was John the Baptist who had come back to life. There is an aspect of this story that we often miss, but before I address it, I need to give a little more context to the passage.
Can there be any greater blessing than being forgiven of our sins? The answer is, “Yes!” The man or woman whom the Lord does not count their sin against them is blessed indeed. However, as wonderful as forgiveness is, and how necessary it is for our salvation, we must not stop there in our understanding … Continue reading Understanding the Active Obedience of Christ
David thought it was over. His sin had been exposed, he had sought the Lord's forgiveness, and it had been granted. A right spirit had been renewed, and a clean heart had been created. Then came the news that his child was gravely ill. The revelation threw David to the floor in anguish as thoughts of his sin filled his mind. Months had … Continue reading The Haunting Effects of Sin
If you are a Christian, you battle with sin. I do not need to list examples of the struggles with the flesh you may have. The minute you read the title of this post, you most likely had a specific battle in mind. You have within you both flesh and Spirit, and the two are … Continue reading 5 Truths About Your Battle with Sin You Hate to Admit
I am proud of my son, Mark, who won first place for the film below at a competition at his university. The theme was grace. As you will see, my son is an avid hiker and has been to some beautiful places. The voice you will hear in the video is Dr. Chuck Ryor. Dr. … Continue reading A Monument to Grace: Short Film
You have done all the evil that you could. Sure, there is more you could have done, but you pushed your sinning as far as you were comfortable. There were still certain family and societal structures in place you were afraid to defy. Even in sinning, cowardice can hold sway. In it all, you polluted … Continue reading Returning to God After a Time of Sin
The Fight of Faith 