“Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” It is likely you have heard or used this phrase at some point in your life. It is often said that this phrase developed due to bathing practices in the middle ages. Due in large part to the absence of indoor plumbing and water heaters, bathing took a lot of effort. The process of preparing to bathe was quite the undertaking as enough water had to be...
A Little Swim in the Deep End: Noah, Baptism, and Victory in Jesus
There are certain passages in the Bible that make you go “HUH?!” One such passage is found in 1 Peter 3:18-22. Apparently, I am in good company. Even the great Martin Luther struggled with this passage of Scripture. He wrote, “This is a strange text and certainly a more obscure passage than any other passage in the New Testament. I still do not know for sure what the apostle meant.” The...
Show Some Respect
From 2008-2011, Capri Sun ran an ad campaign called, “Respect the Pouch.” The commercials were actually quite entertaining. One commercial featured two boys outside enjoying some Capri Sun. Upon finishing his drink, one of the lads blows air into his pouch, inflating it like a balloon. He glances mischievously over at his friend as he places the inflated pouch on the ground, then begins pumping...
The End of an Era; The Start of Another
Taylor Swift recently finished her Eras Tour. The tour featured performances of songs from each of the ten studio albums she’s released over the course of her 16+ year music career. I wouldn’t call myself a “swiftie,” the moniker given to Ms. Swift’s most passionate and loyal fans, but I must confess that I do enjoy some of her music. In particular, I loved her self-titled debut album, Taylor...
Wrong Way on a One Way (Turn Around)
My office at my previous church had a large window. It provided a spectacular view of the beige colored brick wall of the Family Life Center and the alley that ran between the FLC and the main church building. It was a rather narrow passageway, only stretching 12 to 15 feet wide. It could be argued that the alley was wide enough for two cars to safely pass another. But, the leadership of the...
Just Give Me the Gospel (Divinely Inspired)
On several different occasions, though not recently, I’ve been chastised for including personal stories in my sermons. There are those who believe a sermon should only be an exposition of Scripture and nothing more. From their perspective, the addition of experiential testimonies dilutes the integrity of the message and runs the risk of distracting people from the truth, the whole truth, and...
After Easter: Eggstend the Celebration
Every Thursday through the spring and summer months, a local company comes and mows the grass at the church. Normally, this is a rather inconsequential occurrence. One Thursday a year, however, it becomes a must see happening: the Thursday after Easter. While the vast majority of the eggs were claimed by joyful children, there are always a precious few left undiscovered. What the children missed...
The Cup: Take Your Medicine
In preparation for my most recent overseas mission trip, I made a visit to a medical clinic in Indianapolis to update my vaccinations and learn what other treatments were recommended for those traveling to that part of the world. Upon review, I learned that I needed two shots and it was suggested that I should take a treatment to protect against cholera. The nurse left the exam room and returned...
Don’t Fear the Flood
Much of southern Indiana was recently under water. Media sources of all types have been flooded with information regarding… well, the flooding. Locals have posted pictures of the rising water on and around their homes and places of business. One post on Facebook provided a map of Jackson County indicating road closures due to water levels; there were more roads that were closed than were open...
Unseen Idols
By God’s grace, I have had the privilege of visiting the great nation of India on several occasions. My first trip took place in December of 2011 to the city of Warangal. The purpose of our trip was to visit with friends from across the nation who were attending a national gathering of Baptist youth in the region. While we were in the neighborhood, so to speak, we made the rounds to visit some...
Recent Comments