Ordinary Grace Blog
The Latest Posts
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When We Just Can’t See It
“He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus… has sent me to you so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’’ Acts 9:17 In 2005, Lori and I attended my college reunion. Other than a similar gathering ten years earlier, I had not returned…
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The Best Foundation
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” –Matthew 7:24 During my childhood, our family lived in five different homes. For those of you who spent your entire growing-up years in one place, such frequent re-locating might seem strange…
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A Place For Us
“Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah…in the land of Canaan Genesis 23:19 The verse above comes from a chapter that tells of the death of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, at the age of 127. “Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her” the…
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A So-Called Church
“Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?” –Matthew 7:3 A few years ago, I took the opportunity to worship at another church located a half-hour away. I didn’t get to do that very often in the years that I…
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A Journey with Mom
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.. Her children rise up and call her happy.” Proverbs 31:26, 28a This post appears on Mother’s Day. On the subject of moms–biological and relational–I am a particularly blessed man. Everyday Lori, our daughter, and daughter-in-law inspire me with their love…
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An Uncomfortable Faith
“Peter said to him, ‘Lord, you will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’” –John 13:8 26 years ago, I spent four days touring Washington, D.C. as a chaperon on our son’s fifth grade class trip. In many ways, it was terrific event. I had been…
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Scattered, But United
“Let us make a name for ourselves, otherwise we will be scattered.” –Genesis 11:4 The words we just read come from the Tower of Babel narrative. The people had migrated to a place located in modern-day Iraq where they launched a massive building effort. Scripture says that when God sees their activity that the Divine…
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God’s Word and Our Words
“The LORD revealed himself to Samuel by the word of the LORD. And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.” –1 Samuel 3:21-4:1 One day many years ago, I was sitting in a preaching class of students in their last year of seminary. Each of them, including me, was about to graduate and…
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A Longed For Day
“he shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.” Isaiah 11:3 “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,” Isaiah writes “and…
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Whatever It Takes
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” –John 20:29b There’s been a lot of attention in recent years to what is known as “Near Death Experiences.” That phrase refers to the times in which a person is pronounced clinically dead, but is then revived and soon begins to share…