THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 26:24-32 “I pray to God that all who are listening to me today may become what I am” (Acts 26:29) How can Paul say his life is something he wishes in everyone? Paul is living with an inward love, joy and peace that has changed him. I make no claims to being…
Have seen, and will see!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 26:16-23 “As a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.” (Acts 26:16) Jesus commissioned all of His disciples to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). A witness is someone who describes to other what they have experienced. You cannot witness to what you have not seen or experienced. We can…
Life-changing encounters with Jesus!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 26:9-15 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.” (Acts 26:15) Just because we cannot see Jesus, doesn’t mean He isn’t there. Paul is doing everything to stop Jesus followers, but he’s really fighting Jesus. Jesus is leading His kingdom mission from heaven, through His…
The real issue!
This is the real issue for us all. As Jesus followers, we desire change – for us and for the world. Its easier to blame and protest others, than deal with our own growth areas. But Jesus has helped us to see that change needs to start from within, with the log in our own…
A life worth resurrecting!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 25:23-26:8 “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 25:25) This is my question as well… and why I can believe in the resurrection. If a person believes in an all powerful being, raising to life is not an issue. A God that can create…
The grandeur of God
A poem by Gerard Mandley Hopkins that speaks of the grandeur of God in and behind everything we experience in this world… and yet fail to see and appreciate… even worse we ‘smear’ all over it. But it is still there! In a few places I’ve added my own thought of what the words mean….
Call to worship… all the time!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 148 “His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” (Psalm 148:13) This psalm reminds me of Genesis 1, where we find the original ‘order of worship’. Behind and before everything that exists – above, below, and all around – is God. Every part of creation is made ‘very good’, to reflect back…
The Lion Lamb king!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Revelation 4-5 “The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.” (Revelation 5:5) Jesus is the Lion King Who has triumphed over Satan, sin and death. “I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne.” (Revelation 5:6) But the Lion is…
Spoiler alert!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Revelation 1-3 “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18) John is in exile on the Isle of Patmos because of…
A longing for life!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 25:13-22 “About a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.” (Acts 25:19) Some believe that Elvis Presley is still alive (and living as Pastor Bob Joyce). But most people know that this is not true, it is just a myth. So how about the many people who believe that Jesus…