[Pearls Ep 161:  Answering atheism Tuesday.] The Transfiguration reminds us that we are strangers in a strange land. As we considered in yesterday’s message, Christ’s divinity was hidden.  Why?  Because a fallen world wasn’t able to receive Him in his glory. At His transfiguration, Christ was speaking with Moses and Elijah.  Both were exiles because Read More >

[Pearls Ep 161:  Bringing Sunday into the week.] As we carry Sunday’s gospel message into the week, we consider how Christ, with His transfiguration, reminds us that we must maintain a supernatural perspective on our life and the world around us. First, life is often hard.  There are those times of great tragedy that shake Read More >

[Pearls Ep 161:  Preparing for Sunday.] One-score and three years ago the Smiths went to Disneyland. Hell didn’t quite freeze over, but there were reports of a few flurries down there. Steve is something of a scrooge when it comes to Disney. But the girls were just the right age for it (10 and 11) Read More >

[Pearls Ep 161:  Preparing for Sunday.] This Sunday brings us Christ’s transfiguration as told by Matthew (see the postscript). The Transfiguration isn’t just some far off, miraculous event.  Not only is it a key to Christ’s mission on earth, it tells us quite a bit about the day-to-day realities of our life. In this week’s Read More >

[Pearls Ep 160:  Answering atheism Tuesday.] Today we complete our look at how the three temptations of Christ in the desert reflect our three enemies – satan, the world and our fallen nature. In the final temptation we encounter the allurement of the world: Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, Read More >

[Pearls Ep 160:  Bringing Sunday into the week.] We’re looking at how our three enemies (satan, the fallen world and the flesh) are reflected in Christ’s temptation in the desert as told by Matthew (Mt 4:1-11). Today we’ll consider the temptation to turn the stone to bread: “If you are the Son of God, command Read More >

[Pearls Ep 160:  Preparing for Sunday.] With the Gospel reading for this 1st Sunday of Lent (Mt 4:1-11), we’re looking at how our three classic enemies – our fallen nature, the world and satan and his minions – are reflected in the three temptations of Christ in the desert (click here for the Pearls video).   Read More >

[Pearls Ep 160:  Preparing for Sunday.] Welcome to Lent.  We pray you had a good start with a holy Ash Wednesday. Hopefully you’ve had the opportunity over the past weeks to consider your Lenten discipline of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  But perhaps Lent has snuck up on you, as things have a way of happening. Read More >

[Pearls Ep 159:  Answering atheism Tuesday.] Tuesday’s posts are generally under the theme “Answering Atheism.” That is not to say that Tuesday’s posts are necessarily packed with zingers to be used as “atheist stumpers” (though we do often show the logical fallacies of atheist thought…)  Tuesday’s posts are more intended to affirm the Gospel message Read More >

[Pearls Ep 159:  Brining Sunday into the week.] Sunday’s Gospel reading compels us to love our neighbor as we love ourself. There’s an interesting presupposition nestled in that. It assumes we’re doing a good job of loving ourself. Well, to love someone means to “desire the highest and best things” for them. We can recall Read More >