Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Standing out in Bible passages about Jesus' teachings for the whole world is Ephesians 1:4-6, which inspires our study of Paul, who wrote while a prisoner in Rome. “For (God) chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to son-ship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” In short, from established scholars to youth, it has been a contentious point since...
Incarcerated but Free: Four New Testament Books for Today I’ll call him Bob. We traveled for not a few years on business, and when he was the driver, he would get into the zone and could talk. We could go twenty miles, and he could talk the whole time. I’d sit quietly for those miles, and he would just jabber away. Talk about “talking a person’s ears off.” I was his captive, no foul. This gives us our title for this new series: Life Behind Bars. We will study four Epistles, otherwise known as the “Prison Epistles.” We will examine the b...
Most people ponder if there is life after death. Poetry, song, books, and columns explore this subject that has been on the minds of individuals for centuries. As Christians, we base our beliefs, hopes, and aspirations on the Bible, which has endured ridicule and history itself. I like other clergy members, scholars, and fellow Christians see the Bible as the consistent source for truth, without those fundamental teachings presented in the pages of Scripture our faith is meaningless. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 establishes, “All Scripture is G...
Generally, our assumption regarding “justice” is linked to societal wrongs, and while that may be true in some cases. Please allow me to broaden the scope with a Biblical foundation. Throughout the Bible, justice is often closely tied to love, which involves demonstrating kindness and mercy to others. One of the most prominent texts in the scriptures is Luke 10, where Jesus uses the Parable of the Good Samaritan to make a direct point: Christians who claim to love God should demonstrate love in action towards anyone they encounter. His...
It is true “work” is a four-letter word; however, the nature and design of work is God orchestrated and valuable for life. Is it just me, or has our society begun to lose sight of the importance of a good work ethic? In part, yes! Could this be attributed to the “entitlement” generation that has slowly developed, where individuals demand support? Another factor could be that throughout history, affluent nations tend to create this type of scenario, abundance and luxury lend to comfortable excess. When this occurs, underwork becomes normati...
Living in rural communities all my life, and especially in Montana, I’ve grown to love the sky that is often breathtaking. There is something special about driving in the dark of night and noticing just beyond the horizon bright lights of one of the “larger” cities. In perfect weather conditions, there are many nights here in Whitehall where a person can see the glowing lights of Butte, mixed with the array of stars. Jesus used a familiar description, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasone...
As Christians, we share doctrinal views that include core Biblical truths, such as salvation through Christ by repentance. Then there are secondary teachings that we can hold varying degrees of thought on, such as the method of water baptism or the timing of the rapture, which are not salvation issues. One subject that is often debated or possibly neglected includes the Christian and being part of a local faith community or the church. I’ve often said, “You can be a Christian and not go to church.” A person can repent of their sin and choos...
History has always been a great teacher. We can either learn lessons from history or fail to listen to history. In our modern age, I believe there is a tendency among Christians to somehow hold a view that we are morally above early Jewish believers. For example, when reading about Moses and the Israelites during the period when the 10 Commandments were given, many today think, “How could the Israelites be so blind to their idolatry?” The worship of golden calves is blatantly obvious as an idol. There is danger in picking apart the Isr...
Has your family walked through the dynamics of settling a late relative’s estate? Neither my wife nor I have experienced this yet, as our parents are still living, for which we are grateful. Over the years, I’ve known other families who have gone through some very difficult circumstances settling estate matters, all the daunting legal details, and sadly, unhealthy expectations within the family where possessions are contested. I’m reminded of the parable Jesus discussed in Luke 15, which is often referred to as the parable of the prodi...
The late pastor, Timothy Keller, gave an insightful overview of the exiles in Jeremiah 29 regarding their purpose in the teaching series Gospel in Life. This specific group of priests, elders, prophets, and citizens was held in captivity for 70 years. Jeremiah wasn’t always respected by many of these leaders; in fact, many of these influential leaders tried to kill him. When King Nebuchadnezzar exiled them to Babylon. Jeremiah was challenging them to turn away from their rebellion against God and trust again in His faithfulness, even while t...
For the most part, my life has been centered around “church” life, from crawling under the pews as an infant in diapers to being taught and trained by incredible servants, and now serving in leadership as an adult. I’m grateful for all the years of spiritual development opportunities that continue to this day. In the past five decades, I've encountered several statements and theological assertions that warrant reexamination to ensure their validity and proper Biblical application. One of which includes “Every promise of the book is mine,...
In the business world, decisions are made constantly based on the “bottom line,” which is often referred to as net income or profit. We also use this phrase to refer to what matters most or in making a final decision regarding various aspects of life. For the follower of Jesus, the bottom line is that we should strive to live unoffendable and be free from anger. Brant Hansen says, “Being unoffendable involves constantly reminding ourselves that we don’t deserve God’s forgiveness- and yet God has chosen to forgive us anyway.” Living by this pers...
I’m a “Jack-of-all-trades guy,” or at least attempt to fix or take on projects often, sometimes out of the wish to save money, or even to assist other people. One of my favorite resources is YouTube, where you can find a “how-to” tutorial on almost anything. Sometimes these videos are beneficial, and other times I learn little; it just depends on the presenter. At other times, I rely on instructions, but I’ll admit that there are days when I skip over reading them, dive into the task, fail to understand how something works, and then return...
We’ve grown accustomed to a litany of cries for injustice, some for honorable causes and others not so honorable. How can a person delineate a true cry for injustice? Does it come down to the colors of the political parties, red or blue? Honestly, I don’t think that’s the proper litmus test. In recent weeks, some so-called “peaceful” protests turned quickly into destruction, anarchy, and chaos. Fortunately, here in Montana, movements were much tamer, but this question of injustice is certainly on people’s minds. Interestingly, the timing of a...
The effects of anger are overwhelmingly negative, creating physical, emotional, and spiritual issues. I’ve appreciated sitting with other Christians for several weeks to discuss the myth of righteous anger. We’ve mistakenly bought into this idea that somehow anger is good. Ultimately, discovering that God or Jesus is the only one who can have righteous anger. Too many people go through life holding onto anger and, in return, suffer, often having a domino effect on their personal lives and the relationships surrounding them. What happens whe...
I must be honest; there are days when I’m shocked by another person’s behavior. Maybe you’re a bit like me? Life is cruising along, and the day is going well, then suddenly, someone says something or acts in a certain way, and now I’m leaning towards an offense. I certainly don’t live like my heart is on my sleeve all the time; I’m a bit more guarded and hopefully a little more graceful. Yet, those moments arise when someone’s behavior catches me by surprise. Such a “strange” experience. After all, we are human, and we all act human. Brant...
There are certain myths that we somehow learn to accept, and if we aren’t careful, they can take root in our lives and become a reality. Many of which are dangerous, harmful to our relationships, and unbiblical. One specific myth is the notion that we can have righteous anger. Brant Hansen, radio host and author of Unoffendable contends that this notion is incorrect. In life, the opportunity to be offended can occur daily, and some people carry unrighteous anger as if it were a badge of honor, believing it to be righteous anger. A neighbor l...
In the darkest times, a person’s faith can be challenged. This has long been the case, dating back to Christians in the First Century, especially those difficult days between Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection. Although Jesus had been teaching and preparing His followers for what was to come, they didn’t quite grasp all that had taken place. As we read the Bible and the prophecies of Jesus regarding His betrayal and death, we can put two and two together; however, we are far removed from the intense emotions and experiences that His f...
The Bible provides specific and ample evidence of the incredible challenges Jesus encountered during His life and ministry, demonstrating His loving sacrifice. As humans, most of us admire another person who overcomes and perseveres through life experiences. Seldom are we honestly drawn to those who live carefree or posh lifestyles? This is exactly why Christianity is far different from many world religions; the One who created us came to earth in human form but remained fully God, lived a perfect life, and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our...
Throughout history, certain people have clamored for signs regarding the Second Coming of Jesus. Some lean towards honest curiosity, others towards shaky intuitive thinking, which can be problematic. Who better to address the question than Jesus? In Luke 21, we read of this conversation, “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown d...
The subject of wealth and prosperity comes up often in the New Testament. Jesus taught about money and possessions nearly 15% of the time, including the matter in 11 of His 39 parables. As a truthteller, He most often cuts to the motive of an individual’s heart, which reveals that person's character. First-century Jewish society was extremely polarized. The affluent treated the poor harshly, including the religious leaders who were excessively judgmental. Jesus stood up for people of good character. “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich put...
Christians worldwide just finished celebrating Easter, an event that commemorates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The central theme of the Bible hinges upon one powerful truth: Jesus came to redeem all of us who are lost in sin by His atoning sacrifice on the cross. We can be seen as righteous through Christ’s accomplished work of the cross and the empty grave. All through a simple act of faith and repentance by placing our trust in Jesus Christ. Is it possible for rocks to cry out loud? This may seem odd, but the theme is seen t...
A common sentiment throughout cultures and history is the dreaded visit of a tax agent or tax collection day. In the U.S., April 15 annually is set for income taxes, although hundreds of thousands of businesses file quarterly. There are also strong sentiments on what our government does or does not do with our money as taxpayers. Rather than getting into a tangled mess about taxation, I would like to draw your attention to the streets of Jericho during the first century. A chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, had a life-changing conversation with Je...
The subject of prayer never gets old, and the Bible is filled with valuable principles and advice. The pages also discover both exemplary and poor examples of prayer. As readers, we can learn from all this by examining our motives and personal practices about prayer. Luke chapter 18 begins with two parables, but I contend they are interrelated. Over the last two years, I’ve spent considerable time exploring the parables of Jesus as recorded by Luke. I find them powerful, interesting, and insightful. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to s...
Discipleship, as taught by Jesus, involves unconventional thinking based on the principle of servant leadership. He lived out His teachings, taking on the attitude and position as servant, even to the point of death, as He laid down His life for us. Jesus's sacrifice as the incarnate God speaks to His nature, character, and love for humanity. Throughout the Bible, Jesus is referred to in many ways: King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Master of the Universe, Creator of everything, all of which speak to His authority and dominion over all creation....
