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What do you fear?

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; (Psalm 22:16-17 ESV)

The future. Getting sick. Violent people. Something happening to my children. Money. Loss of a friend or spouse. There are a million things to fear. When my mind begins to spin up on these fears, often we can’t pull it back. Our fears can overtake us. Overwhelming and paralyzing us. What do we do with fear? Is there any aspect of it that is good?

: Andy Wulff; 17 June 2016

Do you romanticize the early Christians?

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 5:1-2 ESV)

The things that were happening in the early church were pretty amazing. The Spirit had swept in a literal roar. The gospel had been preached and people were coming to faith in great numbers. People were willingly and sacrificially giving of themselves and their possessions to serve one another. In light of these descriptions, it’s easy to romanticize these early Christians.

: Andy Wulff; 27 May 2016

Fight or flight?

Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. (Psalm 109:1-3 ESV)

Fight or flight? They say there are two responses to an attack. I think this includes physical, emotional, verbal, and spiritual. We can retreat. This might be through physically "getting out of there," or it might just be shrinking into ourselves. We do what we need to in order to get to a place of safety.

: Andy Wulff; 10 June 2016

No good deed goes unpunished.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well. (Acts 4:8-10 ESV)

"No good deed goes unpunished." If that phrase existed when the apostles lived through the events in , they probably would have said it. Last week we saw the miraculous healing of the man lame from birth. This caused a crowd to gather and Peter took the opportunity to declare the person and work of Christ. He pointed back not just to the miracle but to the power, works, and salvation available in Jesus. The people were excited, but the religious leaders weren’t. In fact, the apostles actions and teaching earned them a night in jail.

: Andy Wulff; 20 May 2016

It's Just The Way I Feel

"It’s just the way I feel." "You shouldn’t feel that way." "Be angry, but do not sin.""‘I just don’t feel led to do that." "I just don’t feel like anyone could love me, probably not even God." "My sadness seems like thick fog that I just can’t see through...."

All of these have been read or said to me in church. We are people built with emotions. Some people live by their feelings. They are swayed by their heart. Others will do whatever is necessary for their intellect and their will to wrestle their emotions into submission. But what should we do? How should we feel?

: Andy Wulff; 03 June 2016

What is your response when someone asks for money?

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. . . But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” - (Acts 3:1-6 ESV)

When someone asks me for money, I’m usually caught off guard. I’m not sure what to do. Most often my response is one of avoidance and skepticism. I’ve heard their stories. I regularly doubt that the money they are requesting is going to the real need. Out of my embarrassment and awkwardness, I try to pass by. My cultural repugnance overcomes my gospel conscience. Peter and John

: Andy Wulff; 13 May 2016

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