Finding Clarity When Life Gets Complicated
“It’s complicated.” Have you ever felt like this was the most accurate answer to questions people ask you? How’s work going? “It’s complicated.” How’s school? “It’s complicated.” How about your New Year’s resolutions? “It’s complicated.” Your diet? “It’s complicated.” Your wife? “It’s complicated.” There’s even a place on social media websites under “relationship status” that gives you the option to answer, “It’s complicated.” Life can be complicated, but God can bring clarity. Paul found himself in quite a war of social and theological ideals and opinions. He had once arrested and killed… Read More
Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness in a Culture of Shame

Shame may temporarily modify one’s actions, but it inevitably pushes people away from God. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself” is a phrase I have both heard and (I regret to say) said to others, including my own children. The truth is most people are already draped in a heavy, self-woven blanket of shame. Heaping more shame on an already weary soul leaves them demoralized and without hope. Jesus never left people without hope. What is the gospel if not the removal and lifting of the weight of shame? The most… Read More
God is Bigger than your Bad Day!
Have you ever had a bad day that just kept getting worse? Once a zealous protector of Jewish law and tradition, Paul had an encounter with Jesus Christ, who revealed Himself to be the Son of God, the Jewish Messiah, and the Savior of the world. Paul’s life was profoundly transformed, and, as a result, he testified boldly of Jesus. This is where Paul’s bad day begins… Paul’s words stir up an angry mob who try to kill him. Paul is arrested to protect him from further harm. Paul is treated unfairly… Read More
When Truth Contradicts Belief
But when [God]… was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. (Galatians 1:15-18 ESV) Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. (Galatians… Read More