covenant (40)

Ian

Being Pulled

Deuteronomy 9:13–21, Luke 21:34–38, Hebrews 3:12–19 The culture wars are over. Or are they? Just this week, the Chinese government reaffirmed its attack on Christianity, promising to root out any “Westernizing” characteristics to Chinese culture. The conference last month held by the United Methodist Church…

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Ian

First Sunday of Lent

Psalm 50, Isaiah 58, Matthew 6:1–18 Humankind is always trying to figure God out. Humankind will often take a human role/position and apply it to God. It is not wrong to do this, in scripture we see, “Lord of lords.” There is an explicit understanding…

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Ian

Unveiling Transfiguration

Psalm 99, Exodus 34:29–35, 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2, Luke 9:28–36 Sometimes things we are unaware of about ourselves become a separator be us and others. Imagine Moses already feeling the pressure of leading these people. The strain of leadership along with the regular stubbornness of the…

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Ian

More Present

Psalm 139; Isaiah 12; Matthew 1:1–12 The lineage of Jesus. How boring. Did you think that? You are not alone in that. Many people read the lineage of Jesus or just skip it. Wait, did you skip it? If so, please read it now… Why…

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Ian

Guilty and Free

Psalm 103, 1 Samuel 4:1-22, Isaiah 43:14-25 Imagine being someplace you've never been and driving down the road only looking at the rear-view mirror. Your peripheral vision would catch some of the more dangerous things, but you would miss a lot. All too often we…

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