Category Archives: Church

The Conversion of St. Paul (Acts 9)

Posted on May 13, 2026 by salooper57

He layers the events of our lives with meaning. He infuses them with potential. He transforms them to bring good, even when we cannot see it, even when we have no idea of what he is about to do. Continue reading →

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Pentecost: What Does It Mean? (Acts 2)

Posted on May 6, 2026 by salooper57

Jesus’s tomb was a womb and hidden within that womb was the life of the world. The earth quaked on that first Easter morning because it was in labor! Continue reading →

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The Baptism of the Holy Spirit: What Is It About?

Posted on April 25, 2026 by salooper57

What does the baptism with the Spirit accomplish? Three things primarily. First, the baptism of the Spirit unites us to Christ. The Spirit is the vital connection between Christ and us, conveying his life to us and making us resurrectable (Romans 8:11). Continue reading →

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You Need a Theology of Suffering

Posted on April 18, 2026 by salooper57

The American church, which lacks adequate theologies of both suffering and prospering, does not know how to instruct, comfort, or admonish those who are experiencing one or the other. Continue reading →

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The Ministry of Jacks and Queens

Posted on April 4, 2026 by salooper57

Ancient Greeks thought that serving others was demeaning, which is why the Sophist asked, “How can a man be happy when he has to serve someone?” But Christians believed that serving others was a mark of greatness. Continue reading →

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Is This How Christians Can Reach the World?

Posted on March 21, 2026 by salooper57

We want to keep our dignity in place and our options open—and dignity and options are not characteristic of slaves and servants. (Or so people think who have never been slaves and servants.) Continue reading →

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War in Iran: Déjà Vu All Over Again

Posted on March 14, 2026 by salooper57

…most Americans are completely unaware of the rich history of Christian thinking regarding what constitutes a just war. And that nearly guarantees that we will keep finding ourselves back in the same unhappy place. Continue reading →

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When Jesus Blew the Apostles’ Minds (John 4)

Posted on January 31, 2026 by salooper57

As she lowered her container into the well, she would have kept an eye on him. You can’t trust a Jew, she would be thinking. Continue reading →

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I Wasn’t Seeing Myself Accurately

Posted on January 24, 2026 by salooper57

Most of the photos were candids, though a few were posed. It was at least a month before I saw the pictures and, when I did, I was surprised by what I saw … of myself. Continue reading →

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Closer to those Outside the Church

Posted on November 30, 2025 by salooper57

Watch a TV sitcom and see if that is how married couples are portrayed. My guess is that you will find just the opposite: the women treat their husbands like fools and the men don’t know their wives at all, and don’t want to. But that’s not just TV; it’s real life – your neighbors’ and coworkers’ lives. Continue reading →

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