In Memoriam: Ron Leasure
Meeting Bro. Ron I don’t recall the first time I met Ron Leasure. It was likely in passing, like so many seemingly insignificant moments in our lives. A simple introduction by a fellow minister – “Casey, this is Brother Ron” – followed by a firm…
‘Context Matters’: A Review of ‘Reading Romans Backwards’ by Scot McKnight
Does the Context of Romans Matter? Context matters. If I tell my wife, “She’s cute, isn’t she?” and I motion to our six-year old daughter, I’m going to get a completely different reaction than if I say the same thing and motion to an attractive…
Is Death the End? Three Reasons It Isn’t.
Death Is No Friend “Is death the end?” It’s a perennial question for us as human beings. Is there anything more frightening than death? Is there any more pervasive fear? Any foe more common to humanity? Throughout Scripture, we’re reminded that death is no friend….
Worship 101: Worship is Sacrifice
Worship is sacrifice. Just ask the people who lived 4000 years ago. Back then, life was completely different. Not only were there no cars or computers, there were no churches or synagogues. In that day, if you wanted to worship one of the gods, you’d…
Family Devotions: 5 Pieces to the Puzzle
What are Family Devotions anyway? If you’re a parent, you need to understand a hard truth. The church is not your children’s primary spiritual teacher and discipler. You are. With that said, it is the church’s job to equip you to disciple your children. Though…
Is it Okay to Question God?
The doctor averts his eyes and quietly says, “It’s cancer”. The phone rings and a voice whispers, “He’s gone”. That dark cloud hangs over your head, crowding out all of life’s hopes. As we face death, disease, and depression, one thought seems to return again…
Irenic Disagreement
As I was reading The Mosaic of Christian Belief by Roger Olson, I came across a quote that I think is worth repeating. While discussing the diversity in Christian thought through the ages, Olson encourages us to seek “an irenic approach to expounding Christian beliefs”…
A Review of ‘Modern Revivalism’ by William McLoughlin
Is ‘Modern Revivalism’ Modern? I grew up in a church that was heavily influenced by the American revivalist tradition (as most evangelical churches have been), though I didn’t know that at the time. For me, it was just the way the church was and always…
Searching for the Heart of Christianity: A Review of ‘A Change of Heart’ by Thomas Oden
Luck? Coincidence? Or Providence? There are people who always seem to be in the right place at the right time. Some might call them, “lucky.” Others might marvel at the power of coincidence. But Christians believe that being in the right place at the right…
I 🖤 the Church of God
I love the Church of God. And I’m not just talking about the universal body of Christ (though I love that too). I’m talking about the ‘Church of God Reformation Movement’ that began in 1881 when D.S. Warner and others looked around and noticed two…