Learning to love others the way Jesus loves us
Part three of three In this final revisit to Habakkuk, the thing that stood out to me is the importance of in -person church attendance for knowing God in community. It's something I didn't consider before lockdowns and I wonder whether the slow return to physical fellowship plays a role in the Western world's current… Continue reading Choosing Joy
Personal acclaim and a desire for social influence must be secondary (at least) to our acclaim of and influence for the Kingdom of God. "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). When I started writing this series all… Continue reading Everything is Secondary: part five
Professional ambition must be secondary to our ambition for the gospel of God. "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for… Continue reading Everything is Secondary, Part 4
Ethnic allegiance must be secondary to our allegiance to God. "So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching the good news… Continue reading Everything is Secondary 2
A five-part series about priorities This is a five-session devotion considering the pre-eminence of Jesus over everything else in this mortal life. Ideology has taken over faith in many churches and among many people who call themselves Christian. I don't think anyone will argue that the world is bitterly divided in 2024. Wars, both heavily… Continue reading Everything is Secondary
Fourth Sunday in Advent Thee let old men, thee let young men,Thee let boys in chorus sing;Matrons, virgins, little maidens,With glad voices answering:Let their guileless songs re-echo,And the heart its music bring,Evermore and evermore!Christ, to Thee with God the Father,and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,hymn and chant and high thanksgivingand unwearied praises be,honor, glory, and… Continue reading Hymn and Chant and High Thanksgiving
An Advent devotion in four parts Of the Father’s love begotten,ere the worlds began to be,He is Alpha and Omega,He the Source, the Ending He,of the things that are, that have been,and that future years shall seeevermore and evermore! Aurelius Clemens Prudentius Part of my mission with Defaulting to Grace is to bind together followers… Continue reading Of the Father’s love begotten
Misunderstood verses #7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” Matthew 7:1 This is another verse that gets thrown around as a way to not deal with personal sin. “You can’t judge me because Jesus said you can’t.” It falls into the “my truth” and “your truth” category of misleading statements used to deflect… Continue reading Matthew 7:1
John 6:66-71 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus… Continue reading What Jesus?
Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe Baucham, V.T. (2021) Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe. [Kindle] Salem Books. Those of us who grew up in California understand earthquakes better than most people in the US. We are aware that the State is riddled with fault plane boundaries,… Continue reading Book Review
Defaulting to Grace 