Particular thoughts from a common Walk with Jesus
We’ve all been schooled on the problems of ‘romantic love’, the idea that love centers around often blind, warm feelings. Is this a true basis of love? Perhaps not, if we look to the essential issue behind love – a willful commitment, per God’s law, to another who we have no expectation to repay us. Continue reading God is Love
(Re)cap 05.04.18 The Good and Beautiful God Chapter 4 – God Is Generous A forward note This chapter’s (Re)Cap is a bit different, in that we’ve considered a scope of thought and Scripture beyond what the chapter addresses. The Continue reading The Good and Beautiful God Chapter 4 – God Is Generous
This subject as a whole should burn in our souls, and it seems right to discuss it. Many have observed that we suffer a Post-Christian environment that threatens to strip us of our worship and joy in God, because it’s easy to gravitate to the more attractive parts of His story that this environment selectively promotes. Continue reading God is Generous
(Re)cap 03.02.18 The Good and Beautiful God Part 3, Chapter 3 – What is your Cup? Summary The topic of trials and sanctification is core to the human experience under Father God – and is perhaps only second in Continue reading The Good and Beautiful God Part 3, Chapter 3 – What is your Cup?
The topic of trials and sanctification is core to the human experience under Father God – and is perhaps only second in importance and difficulty to the understanding His Theology. Continue reading What is Your Cup?
(Re)cap 02.02.18 The Good and Beautiful God Part 2, Chapter 3 – Father’s Character Summary What is more useful to understand about a person – his past actions in a given set of circumstances, or his overall character that Continue reading The Good and Beautiful God Part 2, Chapter 3 – Father’s Character
What is more useful to understand about a person – his past actions in a given set of circumstances, or his overall character that resides behind his actions? The record of a person’s actions might be an indicator of his character, but knowing his actual character is far superior in predicting what he might do in circumstances that have not yet happened. Continue reading Father’s Character
(Re)cap 1.05.18 The Good and Beautiful God Part 1, Chapter 3 – God is Trustworthy Summary Just because someone has attributes, it does not automatically equate to their intent and treatment toward you. A wise man might give his Continue reading The Good and Beautiful God Part 1, Chapter 3 – God is Trustworthy
We have a look at how trust works, why it develops, where it can fall off of the rails, and why it is important to consider our stance before Father. His intent is to show and convince us that He is Trustworthy. Continue reading God is Trustworthy
(Re)cap 12.01.17 The Good and Beautiful God Chapter 2 – God is Good Summary Most any Christian you ask will agree (confess) that God loves us, that He is Love, that love showed itself on the Cross. In the Continue reading The Good and Beautiful God Chapter 2 – God is Good
Most any Christian you ask will agree (confess) that God loves us, that He is Love, that love showed itself on the Cross. In the midst of good fortune, we often hear about His blessings. During the hard times the common anthem is “He has a plan”. Continue reading God is Good
(Re)cap 11.03.17 The Good and Beautiful God Remainder of Chapter 1 – How We Change Summary Jesus offers a new life, one that is full. One that is close to our intimate Father and all that entails. Stepping into Continue reading The Good and Beautiful God Remainder of Chapter 1 – How We Change
Stepping into the Family is the beginning, but we begin a long walk of realization, of His progressively showing us the things in us that interfere with this close relationship He intends for us to have with our Holy Father. This requires change in us, not on the surface but at the ‘heart’ level. Continue reading How we Change
The Good and Beautiful Life may be a new book title, but it’s not a new concept. Rather, it is a message at the center of Jesus’ ministry and embraced by the Church through the centuries. Yet, it has seemingly been forgotten, beginning in the 20th century. Continue reading The Good and Beautiful Life – Introduction
We acknowledge (read: Millennia of pondering) that Jesus did this with perfection – but what does this show us? His successful navigation as a Human is a banner for us to learn and follow. Continue reading Intimacy with Father
I realized that the contrary views of my whole life and my actions have been largely based upon (avoiding) the fears of discomfort – loss of provision, bruised pride, disrespect, harm. In response, I have looked to excel at the barriers to the things that cause those discomforts. The problem is, aside from being sinful, these preventative barriers are horrible taskmasters. Continue reading Fear and Fortitude
There are many of us here who belong to Jesus, and who are friends of Lefty. We have seen him in action, and we know something of his character. Preparing to speak to you, I polled some of our mutual friends and asked “What are the core things about Lefty that strike you?” Continue reading Lefty Bogolia Eulogy
We see David lamenting to God in the Psalms and should ask “Is this how I should lament to God today under Christ?” Nobody escapes difficulties, so how should we address God about this? David’s is a good model, but with a big exception for Believers today. Continue reading Lamentation – New Terms For Us Under the Blood
Three things about Shirley that have stood out to me: The way she loved her family; the state of her spirit, her soul; and life with a disease that would ultimately take her life. These three are not everything about her, but are much of the person I’ve known. Continue reading Shirley Elsner Memorial
It was the worst day of my life, and the best day of my life. And I didn’t even realize it. Continue reading Submission is Inferior to Reverence
I have known Kathleen for several years as a minister at Colonial Nursing Home in Crown Point. Some of the family I met at the home as they visited with her, and most everyone else last year at her 90th birthday party. Continue reading Kathleen Cook Funeral
Legitimate authority is established upon assignment, not merit. Authority has nothing to do with a person’s abilities, and in fact, means that authority remains even in an ignorant leader. Bad leaders are still responsible. Continue reading Leadership, Authority, and Subordination
Hannah’s Baptism testimony, and my prepared response. Continue reading Hannah’s Baptism
Going to church does not make you a Christian; nor does saying a prayer, going down an aisle, passing a catechism, telling yourself that you are, or trying to be a decent person. You can only be a Christian if Christ is in you, which can be tested and proven according to the scriptures. Continue reading Test Yourself, Christian
We often point to the Westminster Catechism and state that our chief goal is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”. While a great explanation from Man’s viewpoint, I have wondered about God’s point of view, too. Continue reading Why did God Create Man?
First, let’s acknowledge there is a God Who has expectations. One proof of this is your inherent sense of right and wrong, which is there as an anchor to His expectations. Continue reading Two Minutes to Explain the Gospel
I would describe sin as an act that defies the stated expectation of God. Continue reading The Results and Effects of Sin
A missional life will rest upon an understanding of the core reason of a man’s existence, being realized through his Saved life. Continue reading The Missional Life
I believe the Bible is the faithful compilation of everything God intends for us to hear from Him. Continue reading The Inerrancy of the Bible
I believe both categories speak of His character. No person will ever be without an awareness of the God of Everything, and on the other hand, all who pursue Him can find Him personally. Continue reading General and Specific Revelation
Being that the Bible states that God has no material form, and the fact that all of us look very different both in person, race and gender, I believe the Image and Likeness He imparted upon us refers to His characteristics and attributes. Continue reading Created in God’s Image and Likeness
I believe the basics of the Trinity include Three Persons, all God, holding distinct offices and responsibilities, with subordination among Them under Father, yet none of Them no less God Supreme. Continue reading Brief Explanation of the Trinity
The shadows had been long, and it was brisk, cold. “Mike! Mike!” he whispered as we sat in the deer blind. A beautiful mulie buck had topped the crest of the hill between the draws, and he was on the move in our direction as he crossed the hay field. My friend had brought me to hallowed ground Continue reading Kent Eloe Eulogy
I have known Rick for almost two years now. The members of our ministry team visit the Colonial Nursing Home residents several times a month, and Rick and I came to know each other along the way. Continue reading Arthur R. Spoerhase Funeral
Life is indeed fragile, and we are but mere men. However, we are also personalities, most precious and special – the result of a lifetime of experience and growth. Al was no different than any of us in that way, but he was surely a unique soul. Continue reading Albert A. Scheffer
Questions we might ask of a Pastor when considering attending his Church. Continue reading Some Questions for the Pastor
Our lives and circumstances – what are they? To ourselves, to us as we focus on ourselves, we are quick to lose sight of what our lives and circumstances truly are. The truth is, in light of God’s view, everything we are – our lives and circumstances – are at best secondary. Continue reading Trials from God and the results He intends from us
My observation has been that Aunt Claire and Uncle Nick loved each other, sacrificing themselves for each other. I have heard and seen Aunt Claire’s devotion to Uncle Nick, even if he was having a bad time of it and wasn’t always so loveable. Claire remained devoted to him. Continue reading Nick Scheffer Funeral
All of us have the opportunity to settle our debt now by accepting Jesus for Who he says He is, else we will face Hell as payment. Beware! Any other route to Heaven is a lie. The wonderful news is that Jesus’ offer is simple, it’s free, and it’s guaranteed. Continue reading Frank Tomlin Eulogy
Passages in preparation for Matt’s Baptism Continue reading Matt’s Baptism
Looking at the exhortations of Hebrew concerning the perseverance of the saints and God’s use of Scripture, among other things, to accomplish this, it seems we can often find difficulty in understanding how this is so and how it even fits theologically. Continue reading How and why the Lord keeps us Saved
Followers of Christ are brought into the New Covenant by the Atonement. This is possible through the breaking or sacrifice of Jesus’ Body, to finally satisfy the Justice demanded by God for our sins. Continue reading Preparation for the Lord’s Supper
What of the person who “backslides”? It must mean one of two things – either that person never belonged to Christ, or, he is a very poor example of a Christian, who’s ‘works will be burned in the fire’, and who continues to ‘grieve the Holy Spirit’. Continue reading Thoughts on Heb 6.4-9
What does Scripture reveal to us concerning the mystery of Jesus’ God and man realities? He came here to be among us, Jesus the Son of God, God Himself in every sense, yet also fully man. Continue reading Jesus’ mother and Father – the God-man
A tapestry is woven, and there are many different sorts of threads which run through it. If you imagine looking up close and tugging on an individual thread, you might also imagine seeing where else that thread runs through the tapestry. Studying the Bible, especially by reference, is illustrated in this way too. Continue reading Our Biblical Tapestry
When someone is directed to do something – is given the opportunity and has the means to do it – they will also be held accountable for their response. In this case we are told to do so by God Himself, and He keeps perfect accounts of how we respond. Continue reading Why must we pray?
Only people whose High Priest is Jesus, who are indwelled with the Holy Spirit, are recognized by the Father as His children. The Father has chosen to use priests as representatives between God and mankind. Continue reading To Whom and how we pray
Though we are sinners, as Righteous through Christ we may now approach the Throne of God in the Most Holy Place in Heaven. We may stand before God in the Holy Spirit, clean under the Sacrifice of the Lamb’s Blood. Continue reading Sanctification; preparation for prayer
If we go to God the Father in prayer, we must be doing it in the belief that that He is listening and willing to respond. The truth is, that without this faith, we are just speaking into the air at no one. Continue reading Praying in God’s Will; at the Throne in confidence
Every believer in Jesus has the right be heard by God in prayer. But did you know that there are such a things as useful prayer and ineffective prayer? Continue reading Prayer is a gift from God. Prayer is a command of God.