Paul’s purpose in writing his letter to the Galatians is to convince the readers that people don’t have to become Jews or follow the Old Testament law to be Christians. Requiring these things is in direct opposition to the gospel because salvation comes only by grace through faith, not by our performance. There isn’t anything…
Read MoreFruit Inventory, Part 2 of 3
In the book of Galatians, Paul is writing about the freedom we have in Christ and about how we should move from living “under the law” and into the freedom of what he calls living “by the Spirit.” Then he helps us to know whether we’re living by the Spirit by showing us what our…
Read MoreFruit Inventory, Part 1 of 3
On most Saturdays in the fall, especially in the South, there is no doubt as to which college football team a person supports. We don’t try to hide our allegiance from anybody, even when we’re in what might be considered enemy territory. Whether or not I’m actually at a game, I’ll be decked out in…
Read MoreFruit Inspection Time
I love fruit, all kinds of fruit. I especially like fruit when it’s baked into pies and cobblers. I figure a blackberry cobbler topped with ice cream is one way to make sure I get my recommended allowance of fruit and dairy. And speaking of ice cream, oh goodness, my dad’s homemade ice cream with…
Read MoreWalking in the Spirit
I grew up in church, so I started picking up on church words when I was very young. One of the terms that stood out to me was someone called the “Holy Ghost.” That was a little spooky to me because almost every ghost I had heard of was mean and scary. People told ghost…
Read MoreThe L Word
To say that we’ve been going through a difficult time the last three months is an understatement. Back on January 22, 2020, I texted my daughter to ask her if she had heard of a virus that was spreading in China. I had just read a news report about what was happening in the Wuhan…
Read MoreTrials and Cozy Coupes
Sometimes you read something that just sounds ridiculous. When our kids were little we gave them a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. You know, the little plastic car with the red body, yellow top, driver’s side-only door that you powered with your feet? Well, a few years ago I read that someone in England had produced…
Read MoreLiving Through the Pain
When I was in the sixth grade, my friend Felix dared me to try to beat his record of sit-ups. I had no idea what his record was, but since he challenged me in front of the whole class, my manhood was on the line. And in the sixth grade, manhood is very important. So…
Read MoreRejoicing in Our Suffering?
In the world of ridiculous but true news, I read recently where researchers at Ghent University in Belgium are experimenting with a new, more environmentally-friendly ingredient in their waffles. They’re gathering fly larvae in a bowl of water, mixing it in a blender, and then putting it into a centrifuge to produce what can only…
Read MoreThe Pride of Anxiety
When I was nine years old, my parents got us a dog. Lady was a mixed breed and the most loving dog I’d ever been around. We were inseparable. I also had constant anxiety, though, about her dying. It was something that nagged at me my entire childhood. One Sunday afternoon I hopped in the…
Read More