Posts by 10Minas Blog

How could Jesus call Matthew, a corrupt tax-collector, to be His disciple? Or others with personality handicaps that would make them unfit to represent many of our fine churches? Like impetuous Peter for example. And why did He choose a woman from the red-light district as a special friend? Didn’t He know her history and…

We are “being the Church” when we come alongside our brothers and sisters in need. It’s simply the flow of the Life of Jesus from us to others. Elaine and I were planning to make some chicken-noodle soup for a FB friend who has major health issues. We’ve been touched by her pain, her persistent…

I recently read the genealogy of Christ in Matthew One and was reminded of His messy lineage. Wow! One might think that Creator God would have orchestrated a sequence of exemplary, law-abiding, and morally pure citizens through whom the Messiah would come. People whom He could feel honored to claim as His own – –…

If a pastor or elder asked, “Ken, what do you really expect of us?”, I’d say, “Jesus expects you to shepherd the flock.” That’s simpler when you don’t prioritize managing an institution. In addition to giving regular care, a good shepherd will be alert for wolves and will have a plan to protect the sheep…

Surely it is obvious to Christians that something big is going on. Surely we can feel the encroaching darkness. Surely we know that the stock market; the ongoing growth of personal wealth; our booming housing market; and Washington’s incessant borrowing to expedite our transition into a socialist society – – are unsustainable. The bubble will…

Don’t we immediately think of timing when we hear “soon”? We get all excited about “the soon return of Christ” because it means that He’ll deliver us out of the mess that we’ve made of His creation. But there’s more and it matters.  A powerful “therefore” is implicit in Jesus’ use of “soon.” He left…

WORDS TO BE HEARD WITH OUR HEARTS 25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; 4 but the…

So, picking up from last time, can we assume that “soon” in the text* means soon in a way that should influence how we live – – or am I reading something into it? Am I taking things to extremes? When Elaine says “Supper will be ready soon,” it gives me a sense of anticipation…

MANY scriptures clearly communicate an urgency about the Church being prepared for our Lord’s return. It is presented as a life and death issue which profoundly shapes the Christ-follower’s life, but can we argue that we take it seriously?  Scripture’s use of the word “soon” is perplexing to an earth-bound mind and it’s easy to…

The Garden reflected the character of God, but since original sin our world portrays the character of its god of whom Jesus said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar…