The Bible still matters: Part 3
The Bible is the only source of truth. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, a large crowd looked for Jesus and for answers. He “had compassion on them, because...
A thought: Their message to us
In the upper room, Jesus told his disciple a great deal about what was soon to happen. He told them, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.”...
A thought: Scripture alone
Scripture is the revelation of God—his message from above to all of us here below. Its primary message is the gospel, and that’s the power to open our understanding...
A thought: The Ides of March
Perhaps Shakespeare’s tragedy, Julius Caesar, brought the idea of the Ides of March to English speakers. Without his play, it seems that March 15 might not be...
The Bible still matters: Part 2
Only the Bible reveals that God has made us brothers and sisters because of Jesus. Who is that looking back at you in the mirror? It’s you, of course. But exactly...
The Bible still matters: Part 1
Only the Bible teaches us about God’s grace. Jesus taught two little parables. The first is about a man who found a treasure and was so filled with joy that he...
The path of the righteous
A few weeks ago when I was taking a walk, I passed a car with the license plate “PVB 3V5.” It dawned on me that the plate was a Christian confession that referred...
A thought: The Bible still matters
The Bible is God’s revelation. It’s not speculation. God’s revelation focuses on one person—Jesus Christ. Many have asked why an itinerant preacher two thousand...
A thought: Happy birthday, Brother!
Birthday parties for family members are most often special events—the candles, the cake, the presents, and then the pictures. Years later we trot out the pictures...
A thought: Change
We spent a couple of days in the northern part of Wisconsin. The leaves were green at home when we left. When we arrived, the trees were mostly green except for...
A thought: Our Father
“Our Father in heaven.” So Jesus taught us his prayer. It’s actually our prayer. It begins, “Our Father.” Yet we say it so often it might have become only...
A thought: The difference
I’m looking out my study window this morning. The grass is green. The birds are flying from branch to branch. The robins are hopping on the grass to find lunch....
One ordinary life
Christians often live quiet, humble lives, but their lives matter. How do we measure the value and importance of a Christian life? We gravitate to those who have...
A thought: Imperfect world, imperfect life
This is my third or fourth try at this thought. The past months have brought all kinds of things to mind: first, COVID-19, then the protests, the violence, and the...
A thought: Joy and peace today and everyday
It’s been a test for us all. It included self-quarantine and social distancing. All the while businesses were closed, and contacts with friends and family became...
A thought: Good job!
Good job and thank you! I thought this but couldn’t say it to everyone I thought should hear it. As I write this, we have been asked—mandated—to avoid unnecessary...
In God’s hands
As I write this thought, we are all concerned about the spread of a virus that has already killed thousands. Events and responses change day to day and sometimes...
A thought: Outing death
“Don’t forget, you’re going to die,” the message on the screen read. It was from an app that sends five e-mails each day with the sober reminder that death...
A thought: The Christ
Christianity is not just a label, a category, or a space to be filled in for some pollster. We are named after Christ. The shepherds heard the angels identify the...
A thought: Trusting what we cannot see
Seeing the little baby in the manger at Christmas fills us all with joy and wonder. It is a universal experience because we have all looked with joy and wonder at...
A thought: Partners
I admit that sometimes when I read the epistles of the New Testament, I easily skip over the first couple of verses. In those verses, Paul, who wrote most of the...
Heirs of heaven
John A. Braun What does God see and know about us humans? We often think that he has forgotten us, but God sees all that we have done, all that every human has done,...
Walk by the Spirit: Part 7
Christians have dual citizenship. We are children of God and part of his kingdom, yet we still call this world home. John A. Braun We got off the plane and headed...
Hope
John A. Braun The presence of Thanksgiving at the end of every November helps us to pause and count our blessings. That exercise will be repeated this year as we...