Thoughts on Theology (Page 4)
Biblical Hope
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2020 is the Year of the Rat. And according to Chinese superstition, the rat symbolizes new beginnings, fertility, wealth and plenty. Once every twelve years, the Year of the Rat promises to bring beneficial situations, opportunities, encounters with special people, and luck. But I don’t suppose I need to tell you 2020 has turned out to be anything but those things. We still have a few weeks left to go, but I think we are…
Surrender is Not About Surrender
His queen is bearing down on my defenseless king. I know it. He knows it. It’s my turn and I have no meaningful options, except to delay the inevitable. So what will I do? Offer a draw? Resign? Never. I logout. I don’t like the word, “surrender,” and I don’t think many of you do, too. The word gives off a message of admitting defeat. After all, isn’t it a battle term? When we sense an imminent defeat, and we…
Fear of the End of Life
Is it strange to you if I were to tell you I openly talk to my family about my own death?—actually, quite regularly. They don’t seem to appreciate it, and I wonder why. Seriously, if someday my doctor were to say to me I could no longer eat as much of my favorite foods as I would like to eat, and if God says okay, I would say to myself it is time for me to go! Are you someone…
Discipline in the Church
Today, I am going to talk about something no one likes to talk about: Discipline. No one likes to receive discipline or to give discipline. We don’t even like to talk about it. What’s even worse than discipline is church discipline. It is very sensitive, and demands wisdom and prayer. But it is also very necessary because God takes sin seriously. Matthew 18 lays out the steps as good as anywhere in the Bible, how to discipline an individual within…
The Nobility of Being a Human
Memory Verse for the week of October 4: So God created mankind in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Genesis 1:27 (NIV) I love the creation story. I find myself pausing often to marvel at the creation in its glory at all seasons of the year. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we have the advantage of seeing the grandeur of the creative artwork of God when Mt. Rainier pops above…
Why “Christian”?
Christ is the invisible image of the invisible God.Colossians 1:15 Have you ever given deeper thought to what it means to be called a Christian? The title of “Christianity” was not something that the early disciples and apostles came up with for themselves. In fact, they often referred to themselves as “followers of the Way.” The designation of being a “Christian” actually came from outsiders who where trying to describe this unique group of people who put Christ at their…
What You And I Can Say About the Bad Things That Happen to Us
Last week marked the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our nation. Even though the memorial services were smaller in scale and more intimate compared to those of recent years because of the pandemic, they were still the same solemn ceremonies that mark one of the truly darkest days in our nation’s history. For me, 9/11 was the saddest 24 hours I have ever spent in my life, period. Perhaps it is the same for you, too. In…
Being Merciful is Hard to Do
In my daily life, when I make a mistake, I face a penalty or punishment. When I am having a bad day, and I say insensitive things, I take out my frustration on my wife or children, I chew my dogs out, I know what is coming for me. It is time to pay. There are consequences for what I have done. I feel ashamed, but at the same time, I am way too prideful to say I am sorry.…
Everyone, Meet Hupomeno
When I think of the word “endure,” I think back to the day my colleagues convinced me to join them in a 5k run through Central Park in New York City. Till this day, I have not forgiven my friends. On what I thought was the last day of my life, I huffed, and I puffed. I almost died. I made sure everyone in the world knew how unhappy I was. After a struggle I never will forget, I finished.…
How is Joy Different from Happiness?
There was one day after I became a follower of Christ, someone at my church told me that happiness was different from joy. He told me that joy is one notch higher than happiness. There is happiness. Then there is more happiness, or joy. Another time I heard someone say that happiness is a feeling that comes and goes, but not joy. Still another said that happiness is worldly, but joy is divine. What about you? What do you think?…
Forgiveness vs. Reconciliation
If I asked you what is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, what would you say? The Bible says we are to forgive one another. As a matter of fact, Christ said we are to forgive one another not seven times, but seventy times seven. On the other hand, the Apostle Paul said that God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. So, is forgiving one another the same as reconciling to one another?…
An Assignment
This week the only thing I ask you to read is not my words, but God’s word. I preached out of this Old Testament minor prophet book about two months ago, when the pandemic first broke out. This word from the Lord is even more relevant right now. Read it several times and take notes. Read the 3 chapters of the book of Habakkuk. Let God speak to you. Billy Arnold
Bringing Justice, Reconciliation and Grace to a World in Chaos
As you wrestle with your own responses to the news of the day and the many messages out there, please remember that when we have found Jesus ourselves, we are appointed by God to be messengers of justice, reconciliation, and grace.
Developing your Own Prayer Life
Prayer truly is the privilege of entering into a conversation with the Creator God, our Almighty Father. This is the Holy of Holies that we can now access because of what Christ has done.
More Than Just Mom
Celebrating titles that God gave to all women This Sunday is a wonderful day to celebrate all the women in our lives who have raised us, loved us, challenged us, and given so much for us. As a daughter and a mother, I can truly say that “mom” is a great title to have! I have been thinking a lot about some other titles that God has given women—titles that are rich and powerful and full of meaning (much like…