Wrong For All The Right Reasons
“Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” -Jesus Acts of the Apostles 10:15 NLT Peter’s prayer time was interrupted with an “Amber Alert” from heaven. Someone named Cornelius was lost and needed to be saved. There was only one problem- Cornelius was an outsider, a Gentile. The Jew vs. Gentile tension was deep, but not intrinsically born out of hatred or racism. It was a matter of Jewish laws regarding holiness and separation. The Jewish people rightly discerned that they were chosen of God, divinely favored, and special… Read More
Humility Brings Blessing
Humility is not a natural disposition, it is a daily decision. But the benefits of choosing to be humble are well worth the discipline it requires. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10 NKJV King Hezekiah was one of very few Old Testament kings who “did what was right in the sight of the Lord.” He tore down idolatrous images, he cleaned up messes left by previous leaders, and he led his people back to the ways of the Lord – decisions that… Read More
Learning Begins with Humility
[Apollos] had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. (Acts 18:25, 26 ESV) You only know what you know, and you don’t know what you don’t know. Every vehicle I have ever driven has blind spots – areas where sight… Read More
How Do You Respond When You Are Proven Wrong?
Every now and then I am wrong about something or someone. Like many people, I am typically gracious to give the benefit of the doubt, to withhold personal judgment against others; but occasionally I come to a conclusion that, although is based on seemingly solid evidence at the time, ends up being less than accurate. The Jewish believers were concerned about Peter’s recent conversation with a group of Gentiles (non-Jews). They sincerely believed that salvation through Jesus was specifically and solely given to the Jews. Then Peter, who himself had to be… Read More
“After Further Review” – Why Leaders Sometimes Change Their Minds
I have a friend whose father is one of the NFL’s most respected and tenured officials. Gerry Austin, now retired, officiated hundreds of games in his twenty five year career, and, in a job that is often thankless and demands split-second decisions that can result in divisive backlash, Mr. Austin was respected by players, coaches, and fans. Like Gerry Austin, leaders are constantly placed in positions to make judgment calls, and expected to get it right! But, like any NFL official or any leader will tell you, “We don’t always get it… Read More
Pastor Dale Jenkins 