Christian Living
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A Love That’s Truly Inseparable
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39 Have you… Continue reading
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Deer Hunting With God in My Honda
I’ve owned many different makes and models of automobiles over the years, and most of them had one thing in common: they seemed to have an uncanny appetite for innocent deer. One in Georgia, two in Kentucky, and two in Pennsylvania. Five deer in total! Instead of clear-coat sealant, perhaps I should ask if the… Continue reading
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While You’re Waiting…
“After the Lord was taken up into heaven, there was a brief period of waiting. The place of the traitor Judas was filled, but nothing else seems to have been done. No signs of power just yet! Just a little company of plain men and women, meeting for prayer in an upper room! But that… Continue reading
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We Are Hopeless Without Jesus!
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. – James 4:17 I believe Jesus’ parable about The Good Samaritan is a pretty accurate illustration of what James is talking about here. We have the priest who saw the wounded man. Then the Levite saw… Continue reading
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Today’s World is Just One Big Data Center
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? – T. S. Elliot Think about it. We have more data than ever, more education than ever, and more technical understanding than ever. And yet we aren’t really any wiser, or more grounded, or any better at… Continue reading
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Sent to Speak, Called to Obey
The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’” The old prophet… Continue reading
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Peace is Purchased Only Through the Currency of Humility
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1 There’s perhaps no clearer mark of true Christian maturity than controlling the tongue. Many can speak boldly, many can master a room. But few can speak gently and with self-control. Let us consider our Lord Jesus Christ. He was… Continue reading
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What Are You Building?
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unlessthe Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.– Psalm 127:1 I’ve always loved building things. One of my fondest memories takes me back to my senior year of high school, where I was in vocational school (carpentry)… Continue reading
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The Most Comforting Thing You’ll Read Today
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. – Hebrews 13:8 How many people do you know who love you just as much on your good days as your bad days? Who you can always depend on when you need help? Are they trustworthy? When they say they’re going to do something, do… Continue reading
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The Judgment of Getting What You Want
“The worst thing God can do to human beings in the present is to let them reach their idolatrous goals. His judgment is to give us over to the destructive power of idolatry, and of evil.” – Tim Keller Romans 1:18 tells us that “God’s wrath is being revealed,” and not always in the way… Continue reading
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Sometimes the Most Spiritual Thing We Can Do is Pause
In 1 Samuel 24, David shows self-control in sparing King Saul’s life. Two chapters later, he spares Saul’s life once again. It’s evident that he understood the gravity of those two moments; David knew that it wasn’t God’s will for him to take the life of His anointed. So instead of acting in a place… Continue reading
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They Didn’t Get It. Do we?
The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what [Jesus] was talking about.– Luke 18:34 Jesus couldn’t have been any clearer to His disciples. He told them exactly what would happen—His suffering, His death, and His resurrection. He told them three times! And still,… Continue reading
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You’re Not an Afterthought
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? – Romans 8:32 When I read Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome, it’s like standing before a buffet with all of my favorite foods. It’s so hard… Continue reading
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You Better Hope This Isn’t “Your Best Life Now”
You’re stronger than you think you are – you can overcome anything you set your mind to. Believe in yourself and follow your heart. At some point, someone has encouraged us with some of those sentiments above. We’ve probably even said a few of those things to someone else going through a tough spot in… Continue reading
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Who Would Want to Go Back?!
As a volunteer in a local prison Bible study a few nights each week, I often hear men say to me, “I’ve learned my lesson! When I get out of here, I’m never coming back!” You might be surprised to know just how many of those men serve their time and get out, only to… Continue reading
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In These Times, Being Wise Means Being Radical
Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but wise. – Ephesians 5:15 You don’t have to look very hard to see that we’re living in evil times. It’s as though the world has gone upside down and decided to stay that way! The things that once seemed sacred – faith, family,… Continue reading
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What Does it Mean to Grieve the Holy Spirit?
Did you know that the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, has a personality? He has the ability to feel joy, sorrow, and anger just like we do. Given that God sees each Christian as His holy temple and has given them His Spirit to dwell inside them, we believers are to live… Continue reading
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Getting to the Root of the Problem
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the… Continue reading
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The Hardest Open-Book Test
2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (ESV) The church in Corinth was giving Paul some serious headaches. One report after another, he would… Continue reading
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God-Grown is Better Than Home-Grown
“So that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:10-11 (ESV) Paul knew that wisdom and discernment can only come from a deep reverence and love… Continue reading
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Avoid Dabbling
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” ~ Mark 8:36 Ahab was considered the worst king ever in Israel’s history. 1st Kings 16:30 reminds us, “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.” He repeatedly disobeyed… Continue reading
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A Promise that Only God Can Keep
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by… Continue reading
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Would Jesus get in the car with you?
“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” ~ Titus 2: 6-8… 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 