Savedthroughfaith.com

Years ago my wife and I met a newlywed couple that provided us with no small amount of comic relief. This was seen starkly one day at a church meeting when we met them in the parking lot and the wind was at their back. We smelled garlic–a lot of garlic! As they approached it was overwhelming. Behind a full-toothed grin the new hubby said, “My wifey can cook!” During the events of the morning we got disconnected. My wife and I tr...

Every preacher I know wants to get better; we are all clawing forward amid the windstorm of our own inability. In this I don’t pretend to be an expert but I do have the sand in my face. I’m with you trying to get there. Previously I cited 4 ways to improve your preaching from a more administrative, preparatory way. I have also highlighted ways to help in prayerful preparation. However, in this post I want to talk about a few items...

President Obama’s recent statement concerning his views of same sex marriage has generated no small amount of discussion and controversy. In what was doubtlessly a political calculation the President made that statement couched in political and attitudinal terms. That is, this new take is his personal view. He has personally has come to a place where he can now accept and stand behind same sex marriage. This change is not restricted solely...

There was an interesting article in the weekend edition of USA Today. The article highlighted the fact that Mother’s Day is one if the highest attendance days of the year for churches. With research compiled by Ed Stetzer the article showed that families rally around Mom and go to church to show her honor on her special day. This should make us appreciate the standing devotion of women in our culture. The article also contrasted the compa...

“Why was that big guy hugging you and Mom in the middle of the road?” That was the big question from our kids before bed last night. The story that answers it tells us something about us as image bearers. After picking our son up from baseball practice last night we were headed home. In the grassy median of a busy four lane road I noticed a woman abruptly fall down. We made a quick U-turn and headed back up onto a side street. My wife...

Runners love their watches. This is because runners love to measure their progress. As a runner myself I am always looking down at my watch measuring my splits and trying to stay on pace with my goal. We like to achieve our goals therefore we measure our goals. Leaders are no different. As leaders we may not be looking at our watches but we are always evaluating our progress and pace toward the goal. But how do you know you are getting there? Wh...

Every May about 30,000 people come to visit us in Omaha. The people are great; they’re friendly, happy, and help the local economy. We like them. However, we may not even notice them if it were not for their lanyards and large badges. So we do see them; and people like me, locals from behind a pair of Oakley’s out walking our kids, we watch them. I also try to learn. I am talking about the great multitude that comes to Omaha to atte...

People operate with inconsistencies and even contradictions in their world views. This is perhaps no more apparent then when sports writers and reporters attempt to weigh in on moral issues. I experienced this first-hand the other day as I listened to ESPN-Radio. Jeremy Schaap, the reporter from ESPN’s Outside the Lines, has become known for his documentaries on controversies within the sports world. In his recent commentary on The Sporting...

As glorious as the accomplishment of the redemption of Christ is the gospel would not be “good news” if we had to do something to merit or achieve it. Like a skinny, boney-kneed, white kid trying to dunk a basketball we would just never get high-enough[1]. Potential salvation is a mission-impossible salvation because it depends on weak, helpless sinners. But this is not the case. Just as God worked personally and powerfully in the accomplishm...

I have always been a list guy. If I can get it down on paper then I may actually get it done. The downside to such lists is that you may develop such a lengthy list that even Methuselah couldn’t live long enough to get it done. This brings me to my point: pastors need to make a “not to-do” list as much as a “to-do” list. In planning to execute the necessary tasks of the day we must also plan to not do certain thing...