Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Debate among Christians can be healthy and useful. Of course, staying within the fundamental structure of core Christian doctrine is essential, including the deity of Jesus Christ, the fall of mankind, salvation through repentance and grace, and biblical authority. In addition, I recognize flexibility with practices and teachings that do not compromise core truths: views regarding the return of Christ, methods of water baptism, and physical healing, to list a few. The Letter to Hebrews is not only a rich study of Old Testament law and practice...
Theological debates have long been part of church history. Some scholars and even amateur scholars are well acquainted, prepared, and ready to battle different viewpoints within Christianity while others sit on the sidelines and ask “is this even necessary?” I simply contend that we must be Biblically balanced, recognizing our own personal opinions or presumptions with a key provision: God’s Word is the final authority and our theology must fall in line with the proper understanding and context. We should never try to force the Bible into...
Have you ever had a break in your train of thought? I’m not referring to one of those forgetful moments either, those occur for a variety of reasons. I’m talking about a moment when you pause from your line of reasoning by taking a short Segway to communicate another valuable thought. Well, Bible authors have written in a similar fashion often, all for an important purpose. We find this to be the case in the later verses of Hebrews 5 continuing into chapter 6. “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you becau...
Priesthood order has long been part of church history, dating directly back to the family line of Aaron (Exodus 28). The Old Testament is marked by a rich history of Levitical Law, customs, and traditions which hold true to this day for Jewish and other religious observers. “Priests” are generally understood to be one who is an agent between humans and God; they often perform certain rites and administer specific sacraments. The Epistle of Hebrews takes an in-depth view of the priesthood order and customs, one which is worth our con...
Christian organizations and city government, both businesses that I know best, strengthen their purpose by reviewing, and at times rewriting, their mission statement. From this then flows, among other things, planning, then long-term goals and disbursements. At times entities can get off mission. It might seem an oversimplification, but drawing back to the Bible, and Christ’s very simplicity has helped the church not just a few times. I’m a strong proponent of Biblical values and find that the Epistle of Hebrews makes a firm case for per...
Have you ever complimented someone for being a great person? What about speaking to others highly about another individual? We all have a certain person we admire, which is fairly standard. Dating back for centuries the Jewish people have looked up to Moses as one of the greatest leaders of all time. “Moshe Rabbeinu,” Moses, our teacher is their title for him. Known for standing up to Pharaoh and demanding he let the Jewish people go, he is revered for parting the Red Sea and securing their escape. Is there anyone greater? The author of Heb...
The Letter to the Hebrews provides a clear review of Christ all in one spot! You might like to get your Bible out and read it. It is not long. In 2013 authors Steven Skiena and Charles B. Ward wrote Who’s Bigger? Where Historical Figures Really Rank, (Cambridge University Press), is a book examining a wide scope of data on who are in fact the most influential people. The top five included; 5-Abraham Lincoln, 4-William Shakespeare, 3-Muhammad, 2-Napoleon, and 1-Jesus Christ. Written some time close to the Destruction of the Temple in AD 70, Hebr...
Dear Editor, At the January Town Council Meeting, I voted in favor of the proposed Rec Board Amended Resolution for several reasons. At our previous special meeting, there was overwhelming support from around our community to make collaborative improvements to the facility. In addition, the efforts proposed include a plan to pursue more funding options, larger representation to give input on the board itself, specific organizations are not left out (existing or future) and there will be future input by the public on the project. That Complex...
At the beginning of winter not long ago, fishermen Jose and Ezequiel went to sea off the Mexican coast as was their routine, but that afternoon a storm pounded their small vessel and had its way with them. They survived, but a day and a half later the men were far adrift and captive to the will of nature. Without a compass, they were left to survive the elements. Ezequiel died almost exactly four months after they set out. Jose continued to drift day after day. For several days he spotted ships that might rescue him, but no one ever saw him....
The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of twenty-seven New Testament writings with no clear author. Students have debated its scholarship for centuries. Many suggest Paul, and whoever the author was, his knowledge of the Old Testament was extensive, especially the first five books of The Law. Fundamentally, Hebrews is recognized as being inspired by God according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which is a vital benchmark of canonization. Two prominent themes are woven through Hebrews; the superiority of Jesus Christ and perseverance in Christ. According to...
Fear as a subject, I have come to comprehend, has graduating degrees. But, the Christmas season has had a positive effect on my mood: Reading through God’s word I am encouraged by both gospels Matthew and Luke: Have no fear. Acknowledging our fears is a step towards discovering the very peace of Christ. Working out this column I looked at fear from the eyes of three individuals, Mary, Joseph, and King Herod. “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin…The angel went to...
Christmas is in the air with school plays, business parties, and church, and community events. Last-minute decisions are being made about travel, or what will be served during the day’s celebration. Here in the Whitehall valley, there is no question about having a “white Christmas” this year, and honestly, I prefer the typical warmer weather we are accustomed to. Most importantly, I am grateful because the message of Christmas is for every day of the year—Jesus came to save us from our sins. Confusing messages have abounded regarding Christm...
Our lives circle around tradition, especially this time of year. Over at least the last decade most, maybe all, adults agree tracking consumers has become excessive. It is my opinion that this creates a slippery slope where we lose value in some of our most precious Christian teachings. By no means am I being a Scrooge, we surely can celebrate different holidays, but let’s keep the true meaning in focus. As Americans most of us are accustomed to a Christmas tree, some go all natural and trek out into the woods dragging that tree through the f...
Well-known poet Maya Angelou has said, “Everyone grows old but not everyone grows up.” It is one of those understated facts that on Wednesday you might find humorous and on Thursday it irks you. There are some adults that never grow out of their youthful patterns, and some even try to relive their passions vicariously through their children. Age does not guarantee maturity. I like to think that Maya Angelou would enjoy me saying that the Christian sojourn is aided by learning from the Bible. Peter, a steady disciple of Jesus, closes his letter:...
I hope you had a great time with your family and friends this Thanksgiving. Traditions comprise a large portion of our daily lives, many without much thought or effort. Certainly, Thanksgiving dinners involve much effort, but I’m referring more to our attitude or disposition. Are we motivated by genuine gratitude, or do we pass out thanks carelessly? Most of us say “thank you” without much thought or emotion. It’s customary to thank the waitress when she brings the meal to the table. Are we thankful when the wait is long for that meal? Likewis...
I would liken grace to a nicely knitted lifeline, that which saves us from our sin and self. Grace encompasses many virtuous strands such as love, mercy, forgiveness, humility, self-sacrifice, and more. Another virtue that the Bible ties to grace are generosity. God is the one who extends His grace to us so that we can practice sharing grace with others. Our radical generosity reflects God’s radical generosity. The early church practiced generosity remarkably Acts 4:32-35, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any...
We often use idioms to make a point clear. A “pickle” refers to a difficult situation or a quandary. Most likely you have escaped by the skin of your teeth a time or two from a pickle you’ve created yourself. I have. Leaders learn what to do through experience. Preparing for a recent sermon I turned to the Martyr Stephen, and studied God’s Word. The Bible provides us with examples in which people displayed quality character when encountering difficult circumstances, one being Stephen. Acts records how the church was growing in spite of intense...
Montanan men and women going back to the pioneer days have put a premium on self-reliance. As such, even modern Montanans shun outward appearances of weakness. So, we consider weakness as a handicap, something that keeps us from reaching our goals. Weakness, as a characteristic, goes against an early American standard. Work hard and you are supposed to be rewarded. How often do you see weakness celebrated? Never. The Biblical perspective on weakness is unconventional. God often chose the humble over the proud or the frail over the strong;...
Certain people leave lasting impressions on us, don’t they? I have been taking some time to research the character quality of grace from the Bible’s perspective, and I have been recalling personal examples. The exercise has been off and on for over a month. We are inspired by those who are positive, often aiming our life in the same direction. Likewise, we also watch those who display negative attributes, affirming that such a quality is something we do not want to emulate. Who is it that inspires you? The late preacher Billy Graham said, “When...
Life is often likened to a long-distance race. The high school and college activity of “track and field” dates to the ancient Greeks. In Montana, the high school athletic association added cross country, a totally different type of athletic event, that caught on quickly and is extremely popular. Saint Paul told a great deal about human nature, comparing life to a race. Maybe his main point was “pace yourself accordingly.” It would be a mistake to view our faith as a short race or sprint. Life challenges face us all, and I’d say right now anxie...
Picture yourself settled in your favorite living room chair watching one of the longest races at the Olympics. You have caught some of the athletes warming up. Now, they are in the blocks. They seem to stop breathing as the starter calls out, “Runner’s on your mark…Get set...” BANG, he starts them. Do you realize our conversations with others can start off with a bang or a thud? If we start with a demand, a negative assertion, or assertions, what can we expect? Probably failure. We can do better. The Bible teaches us to be filled with grace....
In this life we encounter various relational road blocks, one specifically I would like to address is offense. Such a hazard can be detrimental to our relationships that we cherish or even possible new relationships on the horizon, so we must guard our heart and our words from the negative responses associated with offense. I might be able to offer some wisdom from a Biblical perspective. I’m absolutely convinced that we often fail to operate in grace towards others, “Grace requires patience.” In fact, there is little peace without patie...
Gimmicks abound all around us, allowing a few people to claim to know everything. One can search the Internet regarding almost any HOW TO, and it will produce a list of apps desiring your next click. The Internet has changed the world of advertising in the USA. You have to be careful, however. Some results are schemes. That is part of our broken world, a world full of broken people. Tragedy is found around many corners; a person sadly takes their own life, someone dies or is seriously injured in a vehicle accident, and another receives the...
Most people aspire toward greatness. Even the most passionless person aspires in some area or hobby to do it well. Boys and girls, men and women dream of achieving accolades in sports, acting, a career, etc. “The sky is the limit” goes the saying, yesterday but today, too. My goal is to grow in Christ-like qualities. What about you? Virtues of Christ are admired universally by others. We surely relish when another person extends us mercy, maybe, especially if we don’t deserve it. Of course, patience is welcome when we are on the recei...
When the subject of heaven and hell come up, some people listen intently, almost as if they are searching for an answer. But, others seem to run and hide. Over the last two months of columns, I have walked this journey with you, the reader. I want to say now, here at the end of struggling with you, the matter boils down to God’s grace and justice. Either we will confront our sinfulness and acknowledge the need for Christ to be our personal Savior, or we will face God’s justice by rejecting his grace and thus spend eternity in isolation and lon...
