Monthly Archives: April 2025

First Stone in an Avalanche

Posted on April 30, 2025 by salooper57

They now understood that the resurrection – the coming back to life of everyone who had ever died – had commenced. That brought them to the remarkable conclusion that the “last days” had begun and “the renewal of all things” (those were Jesus’s words) was at hand. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Changing Evil for Good, Darkness for Light, Bitterness for Sweet

Posted on April 26, 2025 by salooper57

They acted decisively to stamp out the menace. And when they were done, they had stamped him into the ground, into a hole in the ground; and they buried him there. As far as they were concerned, the fire of extremism had been snuffed out. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Holy Week, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Easter: A First-Hand Account

Posted on April 22, 2025 by salooper57

For the first time I could remember, it wasn’t just me. It was us. I was saying things like, “We should go to the market. We should bake some bread. It felt so good to say “We.”
But we were us only because of him. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Faith, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Ace the Test: A Case Study

Posted on April 19, 2025 by salooper57

What follows is something like a chess game. The king refuses to speak to the diplomatic team from Assyria but sends representatives out to them. The Assyrian king’s underlings are not important enough to speak directly to Israel’s king. If they have something to say, let them say it to his subordinates. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shall He Be King? (Jesus on Palm Sunday)

Posted on April 15, 2025 by salooper57

As we go through life, doing our work, struggling over hardships, helping others for Christ’s sake, we don’t realize that God is using these things to build us. We won’t fully realize that until we stand before the Lord in glory. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Sermons, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Potential, Choice, and the Cost of Being Real

Posted on April 12, 2025 by salooper57

I have paid (and continue to pay) the piper of potentiality. What I have received for that payment has been me—not a potential me, but the real-deal, existential me. I hope I’ve been worth the price. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Strange Disappearance of St. Peter

Posted on April 5, 2025 by salooper57

But something in him did die that night: his self-confidence, self-importance, and misplaced sense of honor. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The End of All Things: It’s Near

Posted on April 2, 2025 by salooper57

When Peter tells us to love each other, he knows it will be a stretch for us. It will take us out of our comfort zone, but that is where people usually meet God. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Church Life, Encouragement, Faith, relationships, Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment