Category Archives: Spiritual life

Abortion Is an Important, but not an Ultimate, Issue

Posted on July 23, 2022 by salooper57

With humans displaced from God (and, therefore, from each other), secondary errors are unavoidable. In the absence of God, humans invest penultimate things – many good and necessary in themselves – with ultimate standing, to their own detriment. As G. K. Chesterton noted long ago, “When a man stops believing in God, he doesn’t then believe in nothing; he believes anything.” Continue reading →

Posted in In the News, Spiritual life, Theology, Worldview and Culture | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Prayer We Repeat Over and Over

Posted on July 9, 2022 by salooper57

In the church circles in which I have moved, and lived, and had my being, people sometimes speak of “a life of prayer.” They have in mind a person who prays more frequently than others. But beyond a life of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Prayer, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Is Christian Lifestyle Instruction Odd?

Posted on June 21, 2022 by salooper57

It is easy to forget how odd some of the things serious Christians say and do must seem to people who are not familiar with the faith. I suspect there are times when people think Christians must be from another … Continue reading →

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

Forgiveness: How to Forgive

Posted on June 6, 2022 by salooper57

How can we forgive? This message explores the answer to that question by offering biblical instruction from Colossians 3. This is the second of two messages on the subject. The first can be found here.

Posted in Bible, Family, relationships, Sermons, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Is Christianity Hard or Easy?

Posted on June 4, 2022 by salooper57

Is Christianity hard or easy? That was the question C. S. Lewis asked and helpfully answered almost 80 years ago. Lewis believed that Christianity is hard – impossible even – if approached from one direction, and easy – or at … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life, Worldview and Culture | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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