Correction Without Condemnation

I never liked getting yelled at as a child. Even as I grew older, I was always uncomfortable, even embarrassed, when someone would correct me. It took years for me to understand and accept what my Mother told me many times early in life: “It’s for your own good.”

Even my Fit Bit scolds me when I haven’t moved enough, sort of like my younger years when I would be lounging on the couch and my Dad would remind me that it’s time to get up and mow the lawn.

Most of us don’t like to be corrected or criticized, but eventually we realize that it is, in fact, for our own good. Where we draw the line, however, is at condemnation. The God that we serve admonishes us, but He does not condemn. The Gospel of John, one verse after the most famous of all verses (3:16), states that “God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Romans 8 (1-4) affirms that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

The Power of God’s Forgiveness

Having recently returned from a few days in sunny, but not so warm, Florida, I found
myself mesmerized by the soothing sound of the ocean and the gentle waves as they
landed softly on the shore. What really caught my attention was the power of the waves
to erase all of the blemishes along the shoreline and leave the sand perfectly smooth
and pristine, as if it had never been touched.

All of this caused me to reflect on the great power of God’s forgiveness and His ability to
wipe away our sins and make us whole again. No matter how deep or wide the marks of
sin on our soul, the agonizing sacrifice of our Lord on the cross, and His glorious
resurrection from the tomb, are so powerful that no evidence of the damage or
destruction ever remains.

Scripture has a lot to say about forgiveness, including this passage (from 1 John:1-9),
which states, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.”

Sometimes our sin overwhelms us and causes us to think that what we have done or
failed to do is unforgiveable, but that is simply not true. We need to know that He
passionately wants to restore, reconcile, redeem, and renew us, so that none of us
would be lost. In the end, His abundant grace and infinite mercy leaves us perfect and
pristine, just like the freshly washed sand on the shore.

When it Comes to Spiritual Food, Be Sure to Clean Your Plate

When it comes to food, I am just as likely to get it on me as in me. Whether it’s ketchup,
mustard, gravy, or spaghetti sauce, chances are I will wear it after a meal or a snack. I
know, I need to be more careful in the future.

It’s kind of the same with the Word of God — sometimes we are able to consume it
entirely, but other times, it slips away and fails to enter our hearts. Jeremiah 15:16
reminds us that “[His] words were found, and [we] ate them, and [His] words became to
[us] a joy and the delight of [our] heart, for [we] are called by [His] name, O Lord, God of
hosts.”

God’s Word is, indeed, of great value, and none of it should be wasted. Isaiah 55:11
says that when God’s Word goes out from His mouth, it will not return to Him empty,
but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.

When we were growing up, our mothers often told us that we had to “clean our plate”
before we could go back outside and play. Perhaps we should apply Mom’s advice to
our intake of Scripture. When it comes to the Word of God, we have an endless buffet of
spiritual wisdom, which provides guidance, clarity, comfort, and peace. So we should be
sure to “dig in” and even go back for a second helping.

Opportunities to Spread the Christmas Spirit Extend into the New Year

The call came in early on Christmas morning, but I was not there to hear it. A woman’s
voice left a message on the church’s answering machine at about 7:30 a.m. “We’re a
family of five, and we have nothing to eat,” she said. “I was laid off, my husband lost his
job, and our three children are hungry. Is there anything you can do to help us?”

How does one say “No” to such a request? I quickly returned the call, doublechecked
the address, and loaded up a box of cereal, bread, peanut butter, jelly, Ramen Noodles,
and several cans of vegetables and fruit. I then left the church in search and headed to
their apartment. When I finally arrived, the couple came out to greet me, and they were
extraordinarily grateful, but I couldn’t help but wonder, if I did not respond to their needs, who would?

The moral of the story is that so often, there are people living in poverty right in our own
community. Not only can we not afford to look past them, it is also our call as Christians
to actively look for them. Jesus said, “whatever you do for these, the least of my
Brethren, you do unto me.”

My invitation to all of you in this new year, is to actively seek the downtrodden, and
reach out to them by providing assistance in any way you can, just as our Lord instructs
us to do. By doing so, we will find that the true Spirit of Christmas can last all year long.

By now, most of you have put up your Christmas tree and decorated it with lights, ornaments, garland, and tinsel. In our household, Sheri does almost all of the work in setting up our tree and decorating it. All I do is pull the tree out of the box and hand it to her. After that, I watch from the comfort of our couch, sometimes pausing to point out where a particular ornament should go, followed by dirty looks from my spouse.

However, once the tree is fully lit and decorated, I love to gaze at the lights and ornaments, and reflect on the memories of Christmases past. Every ornament tells a story of days gone by when we were a child or a young adult or a first-time parent. It also reminds us of those who helped to shape our faith journey, but are no longer with us.

Christmas can be both joyful and melancholic, but the promise of new life in Christ should bring us considerable happiness. Christmas is also a time to look around and check on others who may not be enjoying the spirit of the season in the same way we do. Perhaps you know someone who is struggling with health problems, or the loss of a loved one, or the prospect of loneliness during the holiday season.

This provides us with an opportunity to lift up the downcast and downtrodden, and bring them happiness by inviting them to dinner, or calling them on the phone, or stopping by for a visit. Such gestures will not only brighten their spirits, but they will also bring you unbridled satisfaction and enjoyment. May your Christmas be merry and bright!

As winter grips our area and cold weather sends shivers down our spines, we tend to shift our thoughts to what we might do for the next four months. We don’t really hibernate like many of our four-footed friends, but we do like to spend time inside near the fire or under a blanket — or both — this time of year.

One of my favorite activities is to feed the birds during the winter season. I am so fascinated by how they live their lives and gather their food when conditions are less than favorable. I am particularly intrigued by cardinals, whom ornithologist’s tell us stay loyal to one mate their entire life.

In a spiritual context, a cardinal is often interpreted as a symbol of hope, faith, and God’s presence. The vibrant red color is associated with vitality, life, and the blood of Jesus, while the bird’s year-round presence represents God’s constant and faithful constancy. The cardinal can also symbolize messages of encouragement or reminders of God’s care and love. So watch the cardinals this winter and allow them to lift your spirits.

Scripture tells us that there is a lot we can learn from the birds. For example, the Gospel of Matthew (6:26) invites us to “look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” 

Indeed, in all seasons and in all types of weather, God will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Let us rejoice in this promise and share it with others all year long.

Thanksgiving: A Day to Savor Our Blessings

Freshly sliced turkey, thick rich gravy, savory seasoned stuffing, delicious mashed potatoes, sweet creamy coleslaw, tasty green bean casserole, and how about a generous slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream to cap off your Thanksgiving feast!


Do I have your attention yet?


It’s that day — that very special day, when we gather to celebrate our many blessings and break bread with family and friends.


Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when we allow ourselves to overindulge, figuring that we can work off the extra calories the following week…or maybe the following year. It is also a day to reflect on God’s presence in our lives and the many gifts He has bestowed upon us.


Let’s be sure to use this day to show our gratitude by the way we reach out and lift up others as God has lifted us up. Take a few minutes to call someone who may be spending the holiday alone. Think about visiting someone in the hospital or an assisted-living facility. These are the most meaningful ways to show our appreciation and spread the love of Christ to others.


Okay, time to get back to the table before all the food disappears, but before you go, take a moment to offer a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for God’s many blessings, and prepare for the sacred season to come.

A Reminder Once Again to Focus on the World to Come

Like most of you, I did my civic duty and cast my ballot on Election Day last week at Church of the Nazarene on Oak Hill Road in Wooster. While there, I was struck by the majestic beauty of the building, and to be quite honest, I was a little envious. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love our church. It is both charming and exquisite, but everything at the Nazarene Church seemed pristine and almost perfect.

After leaving the church, I had to remind myself that God doesn’t care where we worship or even what we look like when we do. He sees past the façade and focuses on the substance of who we are. Historic cathedrals and modern-day shrines are beautiful, but what really matters is not where we pray or even how we worship. What really matters is that we engage God in a sincere, devout, reflective, and genuine manner.

Colossians 3:1-4 states it very well: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

We can engage with Jesus anywhere at any time — and the more often, the better! One day we will reunite with Him in a place of glory and majesty beyond words and more elegant than the most stunning church here on earth.

Who’s Your Superhero?

I have a good friend, about my age, who has a massive collection of plastic superheroes. Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Ironman, Captain America, and a variety of others. His office is filled with action figures in all shapes and sizes.

Whenever I visit him at work, I marvel at the scope of his collection, even though I have never really been into that type of hobby. Now, on the eve of Halloween, it’s quite likely that we will encounter at least a few superheroes in costume at our door tomorrow night.

But the real question might be, “Who is our superhero in life?” Who is it that saved us from disaster, rescued us from the darkness, or simply picked us up when we were down? Perhaps it was a parent, a sibling, or a friend. Beyond that, however, we know that there is only one true superhero.

Jesus became a sacrificial lamb for us, so that we could be saved from eternal damnation and instead receive the promise of the glory of His Father’s Kingdom. So even though we don’t think much about our faith on Halloween, maybe we should.

Philippians 2:6-8 reminds us that “He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men…humbling himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus is, in fact, the consummate superhero. No one else comes close. So on this Halloween, when Trick-or-Treaters come and go, perhaps we should take a brief moment to think about, reflect on, and give thanks for our ultimate superhero.

Learning from Nature and Scripture How to Live Together

Nature seems to have a communication system all its own. Plant species find a way to co-exist and even cooperate with one another. This came to my attention earlier this week when I was driving home from the church on Mechanicsburg Road. I looked up and noticed a canopy of trees covering the roadway, casting a pleasant shade from the sun. As I looked more closely, I realized that two of the trees — each on opposite sides of the asphalt below — had come together and met in the middle, intertwining their branches to form a bridge-like structure for squirrels to cross and avoid the dangerous traffic.

All of this caused me to wonder why we, as humans, can’t, or won’t, do the same thing. After all, aren’t we more intelligent than the trees and the small animals who live there? And when we come together like that, we have an opportunity to build harmony and eliminate conflict by providing a pathway of safe passage for all.

Psalm 133:1 says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers (and, of course, sisters) dwell in unity.” Matthew 5:9 says, “How blessed are those who make peace; they shall be called Children of God.”

I think we can learn a lesson from nature and from Scripture, as well as Pop Culture, like the 1965 ballad by The Youngbloods, which offers this refrain of wisdom: “C’mon people now, smile on your brother (and sister), everybody get together and love one another right now!”