It has been a very long winter in Minnesota. I am looking forward to spring. I am also looking forward to the lasting results of the Asbury Revival of 2023. Stephen A. Seamands was a senior student during the Asbury Revival of 1970. He later returned as a faculty member at Asbury Theological Seminary for nearly 40 years. He commented that the atmosphere of the revival was quiet and serene. It was like a veil was pulled back and students could see Jesus for the first time. Similar revivals began on other campuses of both Christian and secular schools. Seamans believes that it will take at least 30 years to totally understand what happened in 2023 and what the lasting results will be.

I believe the immediate results depend upon individuals ...

Do you have child or young adult who is not a Christian or not living for Christ? Perhaps they are hostile to the Christian faith. What can you do? In his short letter to Philemon, sent from prison, the Apostle Paul details four principles to solving problem relationships. We would do well to pay attention to these ancient principles for they apply to problem relationships with our children, relatives, or others even today.

First, some background on the epistle of Philemon. The Apostle Paul is languishing in a Roman prison awaiting his court date with Caesar. While in prison he has encountered Onesimus, a runaway slave. Onesimus had stolen money from his master, Philemon, and fled to Rome. Paul led him to faith in Jesus Christ. Now he is ...

Everybody knows lying is a sin so why do we do it? For some people lying is second nature. We call these people “pathological liars.” Here’s what the website, webmd.com, says about pathological liars,

But pathological lying is often done without any reason and regardless of consequences. These lies are extensive and elaborate, and the urge to tell them is compulsive. Pathological liars often make up stories, even if that causes them harm. They may lose jobs and ruin relationships because of their lying.‌

It isn’t ......

I grew up in a home with a Jewish father and a Gentile mother, however, in honor of Passover we always without exception ate roast leg of lamb at Easter. I was taken aback to learn that many Christians eat baked ham at Easter. Ham comes from pigs and pigs are unclean animals. Then I became a believer in Jesus and learned that the dietary laws under which Jews live did not apply to Christians. It was a totally liberating but, I must confess, a little guilt-producing thought. Here’s the background on Jewish dietary laws.

It was a burdensome life for observant Jews living under the laws of the Old Testament. Scholars have counted 613 Old Testament laws which Jews must obey: 365 negative laws and 248 positive laws! Imagine the kind of ...