Nov
8
The Unpardonable Sin
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As a pastor I’ve been asked the question with some regularity, usually by a young person, “Is there a sin that can’t be forgiven?” In fact, the question was posed to me recently by one of our youth at CoJ. The question is most often provoked by a study of either Mark 3:28-29, where Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin;” or Matthew 12:31-32, which similarly says - “And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
In my experience, youth seem particularly vulnerable to the thought that there likely is a particular sin that is so heinous that God just can’t or won’t forgive it, and moreover, that it’s quite possible he or she (or a close friend) has already committed it.
First of all, to this I say that the Scripture passages cited above have a particular context in mind - Jesus’ exchange with the Pharisees, 
a sect of the Jews of His day, who strictly adhered to the Law of Moses and were proud of their ability to do so. The Pharisees had made the assertion that Jesus’ popularity and miraculous works were the result of Satan’s influence in His life. Jesus called this, “the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit,” or attributing the work of God to the devil, a serious offense with the gravest possible consequences, according to Jesus. Yet, as we search the Scripture, there are numerous forms of serious sins committed by a wide assortment of people that God seems willing and able to forgive. Why does Jesus single out this sin? What is meant by “the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit,” which Jesus asserts is “unforgivable?” Read more
Oct
18
The Key to a Great Marriage
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Last week Martha and I were invited guests to a luncheon sponsored by KTIS Radio in honor of pastors and their wives. In addition to a great meal, the 350 who were gathered heard a stirring, heartfelt message on marriage, presented by Dr. Gary Smalley, Director of the Smalley Relationship Center in Branson, Missouri. Dr. Smalley opened his talk with a simple, succinct, and stimulating statement. He said, “The most important but often overlooked key to a truly great marriage is SECURITY.”
I’ve attended my share of marriage enrichment seminars emphasizing the importance of skills such as listening to, understanding, respecting and appreciating one’s mate as the vital ingredients in the formula of marital oneness and success. Smalley would agree that these skills are important and have their place, but only when a proper foundation for marriage is laid, which is, in a word - “SECURITY.” Read more
Oct
16
Teamwork
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If you’re a baseball fan, you know that the Colorado Rockies, after barely qualifying for post-season play, have swept their way into the World Series, winning three straight over the Chicago Cubs and four straight from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Since mid- September, they have won an unprecedented 21 out of 22 games, mystifying baseball gurus across the land.
Over and over the Rockies manager and team members are being asked, “How do you explain your recent success?” Over and over their first answer is “I don’t really know.” Certainly their winning percentage defies the odds. But as they continue talking
it becomes obvious that their success has come the same way it does for any winning baseball team - the right combination of great pitching, stellar defense, and timely hitting. What is truly amazing about this incredible winning streak, however, is that on any given day it could be anyone on the Rockies 25 man roster who makes the big play that propels them to victory. Their formula for success has been “Anyone, anytime.” There are some excellent ball players on the Rockies, the names Holliday and Helton come to mind, but most of them are not well known. They’re a humble bunch of guys beginning with their manager, Clint Hurdle, who said the other day “There’s only two kinds of baseball players, those who have been humbled by the game and those who are going to be.” Read more
