When Russia invaded Ukraine The phrase "Is Russia Gog and Magog" suddenly became a trending topic on google. This is probably because during the 70's, and 80's there were Bible teachers who speculated that the Soviet Union was Gog and Magog (Rev 20:8, Ez 38:2). This was a popular teaching among End Times enthusiasts until... […]

I was extremely frustrated with the churches where I had worked. I had begun to see the Bible as ambiguous on some essential issues. I had spent nearly a decade in church ministry and had a degree from Bible College. I had started my seminary work but burned out because of the inconsistencies I saw […]

I have often heard people use the phrase, "Jesus is my Lord and Savior." This is a legitimate way to express one's relationship to Jesus. However, the phrase can be misleading if it's not understood in context. I have heard more than one overzealous pastor try to usher new converts into the kingdom by claiming […]

In the famous encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar, we see a very clear division between Salvation and Discipleship. In chapter 4 of John, where this story occurs, there are two metaphors used to illustrate these two concepts. Salvation is illustrated by water in John 4:7-14. The narrative then […]

Imagine that you walk into a local store. As you look through the items, you find something that you're interested in buying. You pick it up and see no price tag attached. You hold it above your head and ask the clerk about the price. “How much is this,” you say. It’s a simple question, […]

In this introduction, I am going to make a handful of claims. I am not going to use the intro to defend those claims. Instead, the rest of this book will be employed for that purpose. The basic idea that I’ve devoted nearly 50,000 words to explain in the following chapters can be summed up […]

I used to travel and play music with a worship band while I was in college. We were doing an event in the Dallas area one summer. Usually, we would play for a half hour, and then the speaker would deliver his message. We had a set of songs that we often played, including one […]

I don’t remember the day I was born, but my mother tells me it was an event to remember. Once I was born, I could never go back. It was a done deal, a one-time event, an irreversible transaction. It is likely for that reason that Jesus used birth to illustrate what happens the moment […]

Image that you’ve just completed a month of work and are waiting on your pay check. The boss hands you an envelope with your wages and says, “here’s your free gift.” Why would that be the wrong thing for the boss to say? Obviously, your wages are not a gift. If they were a gift […]

As a kid, one of the biggest choices was between orange juice and milk. Out of boyish curiosity, I once mixed milk and orange juice together. I stirred it with excitement thinking I had come up with the ultimate breakfast drink. As I timidly tried the new flavor I found that the mixture was no […]