WHEN ISIS KILLS

Last evening we were moved to read of the plight of followers of Jesus who suffer and die at the hands of ISIS.  This particular report came from a church official in country who plead for Christians everywhere to help them.  As we have often read over the last year, people who bear the name …

A RESURRECTION—SO WHAT?

The Jesus story declares that the human story does not end with a death!  To be sure, death looms largely within the story.  Along the way we read of people dying, and as the story moves forward Jesus begins to make ominous predictions of his own death.  The simple, sad, and undeniable fact of life …

JESUS CAME TO LIVE, BUT …

  Some would say that Jesus “came to die.”  Yes, it is quite common to assert that he was born actually to die.  Most of us who say this know what we mean, at least in general. But I suspect others might be confused.  Maybe even some of us are confused about this. The story of …

Fifty Shades … Really?

I haven’t seen the movie nor read the book.  I have talked with several who have and have read reviews of the movie–so I have a general idea. Still, I googled, “What is the meaning of the title “Fifty Shades of Grey?”  The answer was that the assumption is that there is no such thing …

Jesus’ New Year’s Resolutions

We are accustomed to making New Year’s resolutions.  The passing from one year to the next, the natural reflections we make on what we have done and how we have been that lead to aspirations for the future—inclines us to make resolves for the New Year. Most of us, however, also have considerable experience with …