Lent and Advent are two of my favorite times of the year because we have such a rich heritage of Christian hymns regarding Jesus’ birth and the atoning sacrifice of his blood. I’ve written posts about Lenten hymns before, but this year I wanted to draw your attention to a few texts that may be unfamiliar to you. Lenten hymns that have stood the test of time have a rare beauty about them. Their texts and tunes are matched so well that publishers have married them for posterity

I am an avid fan of hymn-writer Isaac Watts (1674-1748). He authored many celebrated songs, a few of which are still used in our churches today. "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" is probably the greatest hymn ever written and Watts' most famous work. Recently, I stumbled across a lesser-known hymn by Watts and wanted to share its powerful message with you today. Now Satan comes with dreadful roar And threatens to destroy; He worries whom he can't devour With a malicious joy.

In loving memory of Pastor Josue Raimundo, Don Lorentz, and Benjamin “Dima” Banner, whose lives—and in different ways, whose deaths—have shaped me and my wrestling with the questions explored in this article. Everyone has experienced this kind of loss at some point in their lives. As we get older, we seem to experience it more – like a bright blue neon sign – a reminder that this life is short and could end at any moment. How does our western culture think about death? What

I recently watched the new Fantastic Four movie with my family. Compared to some of the recent Marvel movies, this one was good, and I enjoyed it. Beyond the cinematic entertainment, the film also carries a fascinating moral dilemma worth exploring. I think I can say without spoilers that the movie’s premise revolves around one ethical decision: would you sacrifice your baby son to save the earth? The plot is reminiscent of the old philosophical riddle about having five adult

Advent, the season of expectation and preparation, turns our hearts toward the marvelous truth that Jesus came so that our joy may be complete. John 15:11 summarizes this profound promise when Jesus tells his disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” This isn’t a wishful thought; it’s the very purpose of his coming. More Than a Feeling The joy Jesus speaks of is not the fleeting happiness of a holiday morning

Life can hit us hard. When it rains, it pours. The struggles we face in our modern 21st century are eerily similar to those experienced by people who lived centuries ago. Suffering is a common thread among humanity… and Jesus is the cure—not to remove our suffering—but to give us peace through that suffering. Jesus told his disciples the night before his crucifixion, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts

If you have been a follower of Jesus for any length of time, you have probably read a book or heard a message on Christian disciplines. Christian disciplines are the activities we engage in on a daily basis in our relationship with God. They include activities like Bible study, prayer, and gathering with biblical community. If you talk to someone who has been a Christian for over a decade, I’m sure they would tell you that there are times when the Christian disciplines are ju

This particular story takes place at a dinner—the same dinner we were talking about last time . In Luke 14, Jesus is invited to the house...

Originally published by So We Speak on January 12, 2022. Susanna Anthony (not to be confused with Susan B. Anthony) is a little-known...

If you’ve been to the movie theatre recently, you’ve probably seen a lot of promotion for the new Lilo & Stitch movie. Despite how you...

In the first article in this series , we explored God’s hesed toward us in the context of grief and despair. Though life is hard and...

When someone mentions “the arts,” what do you think of? I believe a typical picture includes an “anything goes” attitude, whether in the...

Hesed. Hesed is a rich Hebrew word and unfortunately it is extremely challenging to find a word that even comes close in English. The...

“Because our God is holy, He is actively hostile to sin. God can only burn on and on against sin forever.” A. W. Tozer Have you ever...

In my last post, we focused on the significance of Jesus going into the wilderness—a time of fasting and prayer, a period of deep...

Scripture often contains statements that are counterintuitive to how we think in our human nature. For example: Life begins when we die...

Christians have long valued the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness as being significant for their own journey of faith...

Yesterday, people all over the world went to their local church and observed a tradition known as Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the...

Sarah Edwards is known as the wife of famous pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards. To who knew her personally, Sarah was a woman who...

I am fascinated by the narratives within the Bible—why they are included and why such a significant portion of Scripture is conveyed...