Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

Divided We Fall: Paul, Romans, and a Fractured Faith

Posted on September 20, 2025 by salooper57

Do we feel about the divisions in today’s church (between black and white, old and young, female and male, left and right) the way Paul would, or do we regard division as something we’ll just have to live with? Continue reading →

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The Family Business: A Sermon from John 5

Posted on September 18, 2025 by salooper57

When bad things happen in our lives, we might think about God the way my parents thought about the police: Why isn’t he doing something? Someday, we’ll discover that he was. But, unlike the police, he wanted us to join him in his work. Continue reading →

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God Is Father

Posted on July 24, 2025 by salooper57

Our biological parents often don’t really know us. They make the mistake of treating us as if we were younger replicas of themselves. “But you like to fish. I’ve been taking you fishing since you were in diapers!” “Of course, you’re going to play the piano.”
… But our heavenly Father knows who we are. Continue reading →

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The Ascension and Spiritual Gifts (Eph. 4:7-16)

Posted on June 4, 2025 by salooper57

Who would have guessed? Those little pieces were important. And so are the gifts that God gave to each of us. You can say, “My gift is probably not important,” but Jesus gave that gift to you for a reason, and gave you to us for a reason. Continue reading →

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Jesus and the Fishermen

Posted on May 31, 2025 by salooper57

Their reply is a terse “No.” When you have been fishing all night and you haven’t caught even a little one, and somebody says, “Well boys, you didn’t catch anything, did you?” you don’t feel very talkative. Continue reading →

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Is There an Old Testament Confession of Faith?

Posted on May 24, 2025 by salooper57

I once took a class from a teacher who described the God of the New Testament as loving and forgiving, but the God of the Old Testament as angry and vindictive. He had not read the Old Testament carefully enough. Continue reading →

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A Change Is Coming

Posted on May 22, 2025 by salooper57

I am neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I am going to die on June 23, 2031 – at least according to the website, http://www.deathclock.com … I’ve got 6 years left on earth. They have me dying seven days before our 52nd wedding anniversary. I first read that about 20 years ago, and 2031 seemed a long way off. Seems a lot closer now. Continue reading →

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There Is Love: The Amazing Promise of the Resurrection

Posted on May 7, 2025 by salooper57

“Death used to be an executioner, but the gospel has made him just a gardener.”

But what a gardener! When he plants those who belong to Jesus, they rise with a splendor that is indescribable, unspeakable, and full of glory. Continue reading →

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Potential, Choice, and the Cost of Being Real

Posted on April 12, 2025 by salooper57

I have paid (and continue to pay) the piper of potentiality. What I have received for that payment has been me—not a potential me, but the real-deal, existential me. I hope I’ve been worth the price. Continue reading →

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The Strange Disappearance of St. Peter

Posted on April 5, 2025 by salooper57

But something in him did die that night: his self-confidence, self-importance, and misplaced sense of honor. Continue reading →

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