Category Archives: Old/New Covenants

Playing from victory

(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.) “You play from victory, not for victory.” Cooper Kupp, Super Bowl LVI MVP I had to think about it for a while to make sure I heard him correctly. Yes, … Continue reading

Posted in Old/New Covenants, sports | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Find new strength

I fell for one of those internet schemes the other day. You know the ones that sucker you into a 20-minute video where some doctor in a lab coat is revealing the secret to his new-found energy at 75? It … Continue reading

Posted in Integrity, Old/New Covenants | Tagged | 4 Comments

The new people of God

It doesn’t make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God’s mercy and peace be on all those who live by this … Continue reading

Posted in Old/New Covenants | Tagged | 2 Comments

Carrying around the death of Jesus

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:10 I always thought this sounded kind of gruesome: carrying around the death of Jesus. … Continue reading

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What we have inside

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Who would have thought these verses would have given me so much trouble? Well … Continue reading

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No Hall of Fame

We are sore pressed at every point, but not hemmed in; we are at our wit’s end, but never at our hope’s end; we are persecuted by men, but never abandoned by God; we are knocked down, but not knocked … Continue reading

Posted in Old/New Covenants, walk by faith | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Perplexed

Perplexed, but not in despair … 2 Corinthians 4:8 This is not about victorious living — this is about ordinary life lived out through the surpassing power of God.  It’s not about you (or me). It’s about the all-surpassing power … Continue reading

Posted in grace turned outward, Old/New Covenants | Tagged | 5 Comments

One a day multiple challenges

One of my favorite passages of scripture is 2 Corinthians 4:8-12. It immediately follows the famous “jars of clay” verse, and confirms why God would want to put a valuable treasure in an ordinary clay pot. But more on that … Continue reading

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It doesn’t matter what your excuse is

A bruised reed He will not break. Isaiah 42:3 I can see it now. Jesus, on the night in which He was betrayed, goes to the olive grove called Gethsemane taking Peter, James and John with Him, and urges them … Continue reading

Posted in discipleship, grace, Old/New Covenants | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Being the beautiful person that you are

“Give me one good reason I shouldn’t be angry with you right now,” my wife said in the throes of a heated argument. “Because I’m cute,” I replied, hoping to diffuse the tension of the moment, and it did. “Well … Continue reading

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