Choices
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Judas: Divine Sovereignty or Human Responsibility?
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the… Continue reading
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One Plow, Two Paths
Two friends decided to go into business together. One loved the Lord. The other did not. They shook hands, pooled their money, and signed a contract. At first, the business prospered. But then decisions became challenging. The unbelieving friend wanted the store open on Sundays.“Foot traffic is highest,” he said. “We can’t afford to close.”… Continue reading
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Choose Your Wisdom Wisely
“Who is wise and understanding among you?…” (James 3:13) It’s one thing to admit being wrong – we all make the occasional mistake. But who wants to admit to lacking wisdom? Not me. And probably not you either. So when James transitions into the topic of wisdom in James 3, he does so with what… Continue reading
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Heartbreak, Humanity, and Hope
Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made… Continue reading
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At What Point Does “No Big Deal” Become One?
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. – 1 Cor. 6:12 I read this verse over the weekend and for some reason I keep thinking about it. It’s not like Paul was saying “don’t do… Continue reading
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In Old Testament News: Nation Rejoices as Forty-Year-Old King Dies; No Funeral Planned
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. – 2 Chronicles 21:20 Obituary for Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat It is with a distinct lack… Continue reading
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But He’s Such a Good Fellow!
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 Many today don’t want to think about God, about eternity, about heaven and hell. For to think about such things inevitably leads to some very uncomfortable questions, of which require even… Continue reading
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Kudos to Those Who Didn’t Rob a Bank Today
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. – 1 Cor. 10:13 Temptation is like sailing into a… Continue reading
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Have You Prayed About It?
One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles… ~ Luke 6:12-13 (NLT) The weight of the world rested on Jesus’ decision. From a group of followers, He… Continue reading
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The Things You Refuse to Leave Behind Can Leave You Left Behind
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.– Matthew 4:19-20 A lot of people come to Jesus. And along with them they bring their worries, their concerns, their problems, their aches and pains, their sorrows and frustrations. Coming to… Continue reading
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Just Because Something Isn’t Bad Doesn’t Always Mean That It’s Helpful.
“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” – 1 Corinthians 8:9 Robert throws a big Super Bowl party every year. Wings, nachos, loud friends, and a cooler full of beer – it’s tradition. People look forward to it. It’s one of the things he’s… Continue reading
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The Power of Small Choices
“Good and evil both increase at compounding interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.” – C.S. Lewis We often think of life’s biggest moments as the ones that define us. But more often, it’s the small, daily choices that shape who we become. A… Continue reading
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When God Edits Your Life Plans Without Asking
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”Proverbs 16:9 Have you ever been turned down for a job? Or maybe applied for a bank loan and was denied? Perhaps you didn’t get into the school that you desperately wanted to attend, or maybe you came up with a great idea… Continue reading
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The Ultimate GPS: God’s Positioning System
There is a way that appears to be right,but in the end it leads to death. – Proverbs 14:12 Have you ever made a decision that seemed perfectly reasonable at the time, only to later discover it led you down the wrong path? Proverbs 14:12 warns us about this very thing – a way that… Continue reading
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The Lord’s Regret
Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” 1Samuel 15:10 One of the worst decisions I’ve made in my life was about 20 years ago when, in a moment of utter weakness… Continue reading
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Making the Most of Our Days
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 It’s easy to lose track of time. We get caught up in work, chores, the needs of our families, and our routines, often forgetting how quickly the days pass. Psalm 90:12, which is attributed to Moses, encourages us to… Continue reading
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The Source of Wisdom
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person… Continue reading
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Paul’s Dilemma
“I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that… Continue reading
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Faith Doesn’t Grow in the Comfort Zone
“Lord, if it is you,” Peter replied, “Tell me to come to you on the water.” Matthew 14:28 Recently while I was away on a trip with a good friend, we were looking for a place to eat. I casually mentioned to him (according to Google Maps) that there was a chain restaurant about 30… Continue reading
About Me
Welcome! I’m Scott (aka Former Blackout Artist), and I’m so happy you decided to drop in! I hope you find the content here spiritually enlightening and uplifting. Most of all, I hope that my love of Christ is revealed through my writing and that it encourages you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!
Former Blackout Artist 