Author: Norm

THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 8:31-39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) As a kid I remember watching the cartoon, ‘He-Man, Master of the Universe’. Super strong (ripped with muscles), super good, and always brave. Now THAT is a conqueror! Its cool that Paul calls us…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 8:28-30 “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28) A verse people love to quote to others, a verse people hate to hear. ‘How can my rape, my divorce, my tragedy, etc. be good, from God?’ ‘If this is how God treats those He loves, I’d…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 8:26-27 “The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26) When you are sick, are you quiet, or do you tend to groan out loud? I admit it, I am a groaner, every move I make includes some kind of audible moan. My wife calls me on it sometime, asking…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 8:18-25 “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” (Romans 8:19) Through the long, cold winter, we wait in eager expectation for the signs of spring to appear. As the air gets slightly warmer, the days get slightly longer… maybe we spot a Robin! Winter…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 8:12-17 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16) I have never actually heard an audible spiritual voice. Some people talk about hearing God as if it was a clear voice – not me. But I do hear the Voice of Jesus all the time, with…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 8:5-11 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6) My mind is like a butterfly, it does not follow a clear flight plan. At any given moment I am thinking about life, chocolate, a pain in my left foot,…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 8:1-4 “The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) The movie “Chicken Run” about desperate hens doomed for pot pies eager to fly the coup. Their problem, according to their resident science geek, is they lack TTTHHHRUSTTT! This is…

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THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 7:21-25 “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25) I can relate both to Paul’s struggle, and to his hope. The tension between the hope and the reality. Between the things I want to do, and the things I do (or don’t do). It’s like I…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Romans 7:21-25 “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) Have you ever felt like this? Feeling trapped, doomed, defeated, beaten, no way of escape? Though not from external circumstances, but from himself. His own weakness, his own nature, is the problem… and its…