Have you ever arrived at a ban­quet or a special event and been surprised at the beauty of the table that has been set up for the occasion? Sometimes, a decorative “centerpiece” draws your attention. Sometimes, it’s the place settings. And, sometimes, it's the food itself.In Psalm 23, we are reminded that the Lord prepares a banquet for us. There is a sense of intentional care and hospitality, as ...  Read More

“The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7Every culture gives a special place to weddings. They are celebrations of beauty and life. They declare not only the love between a man and a woman but also the community's hope for the future. Great time and effort are invested in planning and preparations. Family and friends travel from great distances to ce...  Read More

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16As you read John 3:16, I don’t know what comes to your mind. I don’t know what’s on your heart. I don’t know what you believe.What I do know is that the world we live in is full of pain and strife. We turn on the news or read our feeds and we see images of c...  Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned in a sermon that surveys show that the number one question people would want to ask God if given the chance is, “Why is there pain and suffering in the world?” We then spent time talking about the “why” of sin and suffering. However, closely related to that is the question that makes it more personal, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Or perhaps said mor...  Read More

The world in which we live is either the sphere of our control or the sphere of our accountability. The core of our life is either filled with time and chance as expressed by our soul-less existence or the core of our life is occupied by the creator God who revealed himself, who gave us choices though we fell. That is the sphere and the core, now for the outer edge.At the end or edge of our lives ...  Read More

How many of us have ever muttered these words, “Why does God allow suffering?” We all have when we see, experience, or witness tragedy. For Christians, though, these questions can be even more acute because we believe and proclaim that at the bright center of the universe, there is a good, loving, and all-powerful God. In fact, there is a classical argument against the very existence of God that g...  Read More