Category Archives: Spiritual life

A Shot Across the Bow: Coming to Terms with Death

Posted on May 28, 2022 by salooper57

Death, like a Victorian era visitor, often sends a calling card to announce its arrival. But death is no gentleman. It sometimes comes silently, like a robber. At other times, it delivers a warning. It fires a shot across the … Continue reading →

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

Why We Can’t Seem to Forgive

Posted on May 17, 2022 by salooper57

Why do we have so much trouble forgiving? We either don’t want to forgive or, wanting to, we find ourselves incapable of it. It probably not that we aren’t trying hard enough, but that we aren’t in a place in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church Life, Family, Sermons, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Honor Your Parents

Posted on May 9, 2022 by salooper57

How do we honor our parents? Can we honor parents who are, or were, dishonorable? Why should we honor them? This message is for people who have (or had) honorable parents and for those who have (or had) dishonorable ones, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Encouragement, Family, Marriage and Family, relationships, Sermons, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Is the Holy Spirit Optional? (Wide Angle)

Posted on April 27, 2022 by salooper57

(Reading Time: Approximately 3 minutes) Sometimes Christians get the idea that the presence of the Spirit of God in our lives is an option, something we can take or leave, like heated leather seats and dual zone climate control. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Spiritual life, Theology, Wide Angle | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Storms of Doubt (Sermon: John 20:19-31)

Posted on April 25, 2022 by salooper57

A hopeful sermon to share with doubters, deconstructors, and those who care about them.

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

Four Ways that Reading the Bible Helps

Posted on April 23, 2022 by salooper57

I have a picture of baseball great Mickey Mantle. It had been my brother’s, but he died at age 14. After my parents passed away, the picture came into my possession. Mickey Mantle pictures are a dime a dozen, but … Continue reading →

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

“What Does This Mean?” The Gift of the Spirit (Wide Angle: Acts 2)

Posted on April 17, 2022 by salooper57

(Reading time: approximately 3 minutes.) In Acts 2, St. Luke tells us that the sound of a mighty wind came from heaven and filled the house where Jesus followers were staying. What looked like “tongues of fire” separated and rested … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Spiritual life, Theology, Wide Angle | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Different Way to Read the Bible

Posted on April 2, 2022 by salooper57

(Reading time: approximately 3-4 minutes) My family started reading the Bible together when I was in middle school. Hearing my dad read the Bible was a new and unexpected experience, one that left a lasting mark on me. We started … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Faith, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Soul Work: It’s an Inside Job

Posted on March 26, 2022 by salooper57

Once, when all my tinkering failed to restore the boiler to working order, we hired a repairman. I took him to the boiler room, showed him the control module, and waited around to learn what I could. He examined the controls for a short time, then turned to me and said: “Don’t ever touch that again.” Later, when I was coiling his extension cord for him, he took it away from me and did it himself. The look on his face said everything: “You’re an idiot.” Continue reading →

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

The Psalms: Biblical Theology Class #11

Posted on March 24, 2022 by salooper57

The Psalms: the role they play in worship, personal devotion, and the attainment of wisdom. This class looks at how the psalms have been used by believers through the years and gives today’s believers ideas for benefitting from the Psalms … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Biblical Theology Class, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment