Category Archives: Spiritual life

How to Drain That Other Swamp

Posted on June 15, 2024 by salooper57

In 2016, Donald Trump reintroduced the phrase “drain the swamp” into Washington-ese. He may have remembered how Ronald Reagan used the phrase in 1983 when he said he was in Washington to “drain the swamp.” However, the slogan predates these … Continue reading →

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The Role of the Holy Spirit in Prayer

Posted on June 11, 2024 by salooper57

This sermon is based on Matthew 7:7-11 and Romans 8:26-27. It explores the ongoing relationship of the Holy Spirit with the believer in prayer. Understanding that prayer is a joint venture between God and the believer is crucial to an … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Who’s Asking: Mark 11:22-25

Posted on June 6, 2024 by salooper57

Here is a link to the sermon Who’s Asking. It explores the question: “What kind of people get answers to prayer?” Hope you enjoy and find it helpful. The sermon begins at the 36:35 mark. https://www.christianworldmedia.com/watch?v=XYO44rkrb5-k

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The Gift of the Spirit (Acts 2)

Posted on May 29, 2024 by salooper57

I have been trying to figure out how to capture video from our streaming service so that I could post only the sermon on my blog. Two requests for help have gone unanswered to date. So, if any of you … Continue reading →

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The Dehumanizing Sin of Greed

Posted on April 27, 2024 by salooper57

In the fifteenth century, the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella financially backed Christopher Columbus’ expedition, provided him ships to sail, and paid crews to man them. They were motivated, at least in part, by profits. Columbus’s voyage across the Atlantic … Continue reading →

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Talking About the Problem of Prayer Is a Problem

Posted on April 20, 2024 by salooper57

Pastors and Christian authors frequently speak and write about “the problem of prayer,” as if its problem was singular and well-defined. Prayer has many problems. It is not just the problem of unanswered prayer, but of answered prayer: why was … Continue reading →

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Faith Enables People to Embrace Change

Posted on April 13, 2024 by salooper57

Many of the churches in our community have participated in an initiative that we called “Bold Faith.” The churches, which come from various denominational perspectives, focused on the same biblical texts during their sermon time each week for a month. … Continue reading →

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A Child Shall Lead Them: Lesson in Patience and Grace

Posted on March 30, 2024 by salooper57

My wife and I have been nomads since last November. After thirty-five years, I left my position as senior pastor of the church we love and, though I was open to new employment opportunities, it seemed that we were retired. … Continue reading →

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Holy Saturday: Waiting in the Shadow of Uncertainty

Posted on March 23, 2024 by salooper57

In his song “Maranatha,” Michael Card sings that “waiting is the most bitter lesson a believing heart has to learn.” I understand the sentiment, but doesn’t it depend on what kind of waiting we are doing? Waiting for the birth … Continue reading →

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