Category Archives: Peace with God

Seeing with the Mind’s Eye

Posted on March 29, 2025 by salooper57

…faith is not seeing the outcome we want but seeing the God we serve. Faith sees him who is invisible to the outward eye but perceptible to the eyes of the heart, and it sees him when circumstances are favorable and when they are ruinous… Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Peace with God, Prayer, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is Your Gospel Missing Something?

Posted on March 22, 2025 by salooper57

I was afraid of the Judgment. I don’t need to search far to find things that I have said, thought, and done that exposed me as a sinner—and sometimes a fool. The idea that all that will be revealed—how could anyone speak of that as good news? Continue reading →

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

Proof of Faith (I Peter 1:6-9)

Posted on January 28, 2025 by salooper57

God loves to praise his children. He will bring up things we have long forgotten. “Oh, I loved it that day when you stopped on the interstate to help that old couple from Missouri.” “I was so proud of you when you gave your little sister those beads that you wanted for yourself.” “But Lord, I was only 5 years old.” And he will say, “Yes! Yes! Wasn’t it wonderful?” Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Peace with God, Sermons, Spiritual life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop Worrying About What Will Happen: Start Thinking About What You Will Do

Posted on January 25, 2025 by salooper57

That’s just the opposite of the way most people live. They make themselves responsible for outcomes, which leaves them susceptible to constant worry. They don’t make themselves responsible for actions, which leaves them ineffective and blaming others for failure. Continue reading →

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

The Visited Planet

Posted on December 21, 2024 by salooper57

If we were to make a list of the things from which we need to be saved, sin would probably not be at the top. If it made the list at all, it would come somewhere after hair loss and high cholesterol. Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Bible, Peace with God, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holy Communion: What Is All It About?

Posted on December 12, 2024 by salooper57

“For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself” (1 Cor. 11:29, KJV). If that verse has ever scared you (or some pastor has scared you with that verse), you might want to read this sermon. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Church Life, Encouragement, Peace with God, Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Searching for the Gate of Heaven

Posted on December 7, 2024 by salooper57

In language intended to evoke Jacob’s experience at the “gate of heaven,” Jesus told the disciple Nathaniel, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Peace with God, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus, Don’t You Care?

Posted on November 9, 2024 by salooper57

Again, those telltale words: “Don’t you care?” There is something in us that is not quite sure that he does. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Encouragement, Peace with God, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Hardest, Gladdest Prayer: Learning to Call God Father

Posted on June 8, 2024 by salooper57

When we recite the Lord’s Prayer, as millions of people worldwide do regularly, we begin with the word, “Our.” However, in the Greek in which the New Testament was written, the first word of the prayer is “Father.” It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Peace with God, Prayer, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

How to Tell People That a Friend Has Died

Posted on February 17, 2024 by salooper57

What is the appropriate way of letting people know that an acquaintance or friend has died? This can be a real problem. As a pastor for many years, it was too often my duty to announce to the congregation the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Peace with God, Theology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment