Jesus said, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or […]

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As […]

“The tall blade of grass gets cut first.”–well-known Eastern proverb”Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”–well-known Western proverb (often attributed to Oscar Wilde) So which is it? Is the path to the good life found in the Eastern way? In conforming, losing your self in the group, working towards the greater good and for a higher […]

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for […]

“The cure for an exclusive church is an extending church.”–Jonathan Bauer, pastor Divisions run deep. And there are all kinds of ways you might divide yourself from other categories of people. Unfortunately, this is even true of some churches. Some churches see a divide between themselves, the “religious” and “pious,” and others. Whether purposefully or […]

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This […]

“Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”–Martin Luther King, Jr. Greatness doesn’t always make the headlines. A mom rocks her baby to sleep, even though she can barely stay awake herself. A middle manager calmly diffuses a tense situation, even though the employee has gotten on his last nerve yet again. A lifelong friend […]

“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”– C.S. Lewis, author …And they lived happily ever after, the end! Fairy tales feature perfect princesses and knights in shining armor, blood-loving dragons and black-hearted villains—clear good and clear evil. We loved fairy tales as children, especially because the good guys always got […]

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no […]

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone […]