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Salvation

Jul 08
Love0

The Pesky Reality About Our Trials

By Christian Living, Heaven, Salvation No Comments

None of us ever ask God for trials.

We pray for healing instead of sickness, peace instead of conflict, and provision instead of uncertainty. Adversity interrupts our plans, steals our comfort, and exposes our weaknesses. Hardship arrives uninvited, overstays its welcome, and forces us to ask questions we never expected to face. These intrusions are pesky because of the havoc they wreak.

The most disconcerting reality about life’s troubles, though, is not found in the wake of its collateral damage. The greatest nuisance is not the pain our trials bring but the truth they expose. In one sense, our burdens build faith into our lives in a profound way (James 1:2-4). But, in a different sense entirely, our problems have a way of exposing genuine devotion to Christ or the lack thereof.

Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount with a familiar story about two men who built two houses on two contrasting foundations (Matt. 7:24-27). Outwardly, the homes appeared nearly identical. Their materials were the same and their design was consistent. The difference, however, remained unseen to the human eye beneath the surface. The first house enjoyed the firm foundation of a rock while the other emerged above the shifting sands.

Over the course of time, both homes encountered the same rain, floods, and winds. It was only after the storm struck that the critical distinction between the structures was clear. One house stood tall because of the security beneath it. The other had a great fall due to its faulty footing. Jesus’ parable is obviously about much more than residential construction. His lesson focuses on how we live our lives. Like these homes, we cannot fully discover what we are made of until the wind begins to blow.

The storms did not build the foundations; they exposed them. That truth should make every Christian stop and think. Adversity has its way of uncovering who we really are and what our foundation is (or is not). Even more remarkable, though, is that the fuller context of Matthew suggests these verses are not primarily about our earthly challenges and difficulties.

Christians, like all people, will face hard times. But the emphasis here points us to a greater storm that is coming. Previously, Jesus warned that not everyone who professes to know Him will be welcome in the kingdom of God (Matt. 7:21-23). The clouds of divine judgment are forming and one day every person will stand before the Lord to give an account. Justice will rain down; holiness will flood the earth; and the relentless righteousness of God will blow across our sinful lives.

No wonder our Savior issued numerous warnings about the coming judgment of God. He told us there are two gates, one that is small and the other that is wide, and two paths, one that is narrow and the other that is broad, from we must choose to enter. (Matt. 7:13-14). He warned that there are two kinds of fruit (good and bad), and that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit (Matt. 7:16-20). Two different confessions will separate the sheep from the goats (Matt. 7:21). And now, lest we miss the point, there are two differing foundations upon which we can build our lives.

This impending storm transforms the way we view our temporal problems. Trials become much more than unwelcome interruptions; they are dress rehearsals for eternity! Every burden we face exposes whether our faith rests fully on Christ or merely upon the sands of religious activity. Adversity has a pesky way of laying bare what lies beneath the surface.

The Bible consistently teaches that genuine faith perseveres. James explains that trials produce endurance (James 1:2-4). Peter says God refines our faith like gold in the fire (1 Peter 1:6-9). Paul reminds us that suffering produces perseverance, proven character, and hope (Romans 5:3-5). None of these passages indicate that our commitment through hardship earns salvation. Instead, persistence through difficulties reveals the reality of saving faith. In other words, earthly storms give us a glimpse of what will happen when we stand before God one day.

If we consistently abandon Christ due to our weariness, we should honestly examine whether we have ever built our lives upon Him. On the other hand, believers who continue trusting, obeying, and loving Christ through the hurt and pain of a fallen world gain increasing assurance that their lives rest upon the only foundation that cannot fail. Our perseverance does not determine God’s verdict. It points toward it.

One day every person will face the greatest storm of all when we stand before the Lord. Those who build their lives on Jesus Christ need not fear that day because our Savior already endured God’s judgment in our place. Until then, every earthly trial reminds us to keep trusting Him. Those who stand upon Jesus through the temporary storms of our broken existence can look toward eternity with confidence—not because of our strength—but because the Rock beneath us will never fail.

Adam B. Dooley
July 8, 2026

Jun 18
Love0

Narrow Faith in a Broad World

By Christian Living, Eternity, Evil, Heaven, Judgment, Obedience, Priorities, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Sin, Surrender No Comments

Nearly every area of life depends upon narrowness and exclusivity. None of us are eager to be a surgeon’s guinea pig on an operating table, preferring instead a physician who understands the single most effective method for heart surgery. After we board a flight, we trust that the pilot understands the right and wrong way to land the plane. Need a prescription filled? You will not seek out a pharmacist who is comfortable throwing whatever pills are available into your medicine bottle. When making a deposit at our local bank we settle for nothing less than a teller who transfers our funds into a specific account, without changing even one digit in the account number.

Instances like these powerfully demonstrate that narrowness and exclusivity are not only kind, but also the keys to avoiding calamity and heartache. Yet, when it comes to spiritual matters, many strangely conclude just the opposite. Ours is a world that often views moral truth claims as harsh, and their messengers as hateful and bigoted. In this climate, insisting that Jesus is the only way to heaven is out of bounds. Articulating biblical morality falls into the category of hate speech. Speaking with confidence or certainty emboldens critics to chide your hubris and hypocrisy.

But how do we explain this?

Why do so many resist the straightforward claims of Scripture?

Simply put, the path of the majority is broad and deceiving. Jesus explained, “The gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it” (Matt. 7:13). Though we should take no pleasure in it, the popular course of the masses leads to damnation and destruction. Inclusivism and tolerance are buzz words on the broad road. With no boundaries or restrictions, those on this path are free to live however they choose.

We could rightly call it “Just Be Yourself Boulevard.” Live your truth is the theme, and following your dreams is the primary ambition. Rightly, Jesus contrasted this enticing road to hell with the narrowness of the heavenly highway. “The gate is small,” our Lord insisted, “and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:14).

The implications here are as necessary as they are sobering. First, hell is real and eternal. Gehenna (Matt. 10:28, 18:9) was the most common word Jesus used to describe a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 13:41-42). With fire that is unquenchable, the torment of hell is everlasting due to the imposing glory of God (2 Thess.1:9). Unfortunately, our discussions of these realities demonstrate that we have no idea what we are talking about. We tell people to go to hell. People talk about partying in hell. We speak so flippantly about God’s final judgment that there is little to no fear of its coming.

Yet, according to Jesus, the majority of people, those whom we know and love, are on a devastating path that secures their future condemnation. Populating the broad path are the likely suspects. The fornicator is there. The adulterer is there. The homosexual is there. The liar, thief, agnostic, atheist, and humanist are all there. But there are also scores of religious people who blindly walk along this expansive route. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and denominations of all stripes are there, all of which have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:5).

That preacher who reduces salvation to earthly prosperity and gain? He’s on the broad road. That minister draped in a rainbow flag as she openly celebrates sin and encourages others to do the same? She’s on the broad road. Those denominations that brazenly ordain homosexuals to lead their congregations? They are on the broad road. The networks of churches across denominational lines that jettison biblical truth for worldly wisdom and philosophy? All of them are on the broad road.

So much of what passes for Christianity here on this earth is far from it in the eyes of God. It may sound harsh to point out the obvious, but isn’t warning those in danger really the most loving thing to do? The Bible repeatedly warns us to stay alert against falsehoods like these. “Certain persons,” lamented Jude, “have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ”(Jude 4).

So, what are we to do? Walking through the narrow gate of salvation requires leaving everything behind in order to follow Jesus. None of our worldly achievement, ambition, or affluence earns our right to eternal paradise. The narrow path is a vivid picture of how we live our lives, reminding us that God’s grace saves andsanctifies (Eph. 2:8-10). The Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus shared these words, is a record of the life changes that accompany a genuine walk with God. Obedience to Christ does not save, but it serves as powerful evidence that we are born again.

Thus, entering the kingdom of God begins with the realization that we are sinners deserving of death (Rom. 3:23, 6:23). Next, we are to repent of our sins in order to turn toward Christ (Acts 20:21). We respond to the gospel by confessing Jesus as our Lord in light of His resurrection from the dead (Rom. 10:9). Because these steps are the beginning rather than the end of our journey on the narrow road, we should repeatedly examine ourselves, looking for the signs of internal and external change, as the markers that our faith is real (2 Cor. 13:5).

If these claims were untrue, all talk of the narrow road would indeed be an insult. But, if Jesus was telling the truth, and He was, the most loving, compassionate act is to warn people of the deception and danger along the broad path. So which road are you traveling? All who are willing are welcome on the narrow road, but it requires total surrender. Choose wisely. Your eternity depends on it.

Adam B. Dooley
June 18, 2026

Apr 01
Love0

The Jesus No One Wanted

By Cross, Easter, Resurrection, Salvation No Comments

Seemingly contradictory qualities or phrases are what we call a paradox. These competing ideas are often as mysterious as they are antithetical. We remember the Great Depression. We crave jumbo shrimp. We talk about old news. We refer to leather as genuine imitation. We even boast that Microsoft Works. On the surface notions, like these make no sense—or at least not in the way we initially suppose.

Believe it or not, the Bible is full of paradox. Jesus teaches us that the first shall be last (Matt. 20:16). We are told that whoever saves his life will lose it (Matt. 16:25). We read that the least among us is the greatest (Luke 9:48). Truths like these give us pause, but they remain true, nonetheless. My favorite biblical paradox, though, surrounds the story of Easter. Palm Sunday, in particular, vividly reveals that the God of Scripture does not always appeal to us.

The biblical scene is familiar because we often depict it in plays and recollections of Jesus’ resurrection. Days before dying on the cross, the Lord entered Jerusalem to the welcome of an adoring crowd. On the surface, it appears that the multitudes eagerly worship Jesus as they cry out, “Hosanna!” while waving palm branches (John 12:13). Closer examination, however, reveals that self-preservation rather than worship was on the people’s minds. The word hosanna literally means “save us.” Contextually, the declaration carries a time constraint, meaning save us now!

To better understand, we must appreciate that first-century Jews believed their Messiah would be an earthly king who would immediately establish a worldly kingdom. In other words, the salvation the people sought was deliverance from the Roman Empire. The palm branches were a reminder of a previous rebellion called the Maccabean revolt. When the warrior Judas Maccabaeus drove out the Greeks around 160 B.C., the people celebrated his victory and heroic status by waving palm branches in Jerusalem. Anytime a celebrated warrior returned to the city, he received the same sign of approval. For us, the modern equivalent would be waving the American flag. The motivation behind this celebration was political, not spiritual. The Jews wanted a Messiah, but one of their own making!

The problem was not that Jesus wasn’t a king, but that He was not the kind of king the people wanted. God’s messianic king was not riding a horse (a sign of war), but a donkey (a sign of peace). Jesus did not come as a warrior to crush the Romans, but as a Savior to die on a cross for the sins of the world. What seemed like an irreversible defeat was actually the doorway to victory. Even the disciples did not understand the bitter path Jesus was walking. The Apostle Peter would later draw his sword to instigate what he thought would be the beginning of a holy war. And yet, Jesus refused to acquiesce to the shortsightedness of the crowds or His closest followers. He was, and is, determined to be the Savior we NEED, even if He isn’t the Savior we WANT.

Far too often, we are guilty of the same error. We want a God who prioritizes our comfort rather than our cleansing. Sometimes what we seek is a means to success instead of a commitment to live a crucified life. In our weakest moments Jesus can become just another good-luck charm that exists to do our bidding rather than a sacrificial lamb who takes away our sins. Need to win the big game? There’s a Jesus for that. Need a new job? He is sure to supply. Want to justify a lifestyle contrary to Scripture? Our fabricated Jesus would want us to be happy. Unfortunately, sentiments like these are a more accurate reflection of our culture than the God of the Bible.

Retired Methodist preacher and theologian William Willimon once remarked, “If you listen to much of our preaching, you get the impression that Jesus was some sort of itinerant therapist who, for free, traveled about helping people feel better.” This is the kind of God we want—because the true Messiah doesn’t appeal to us quite as much.

As we celebrate our risen Savior this Easter, let’s ask ourselves the hard questions about what motivates our faith. Are you willing to worship God more than yourself? Do you value God’s glory more than getting your own way? Will you faithfully serve God even when He tells you, “no”? Are you committed to living for what is eternal instead of what is temporal? Though we don’t always recognize it immediately, we are far better off because Jesus cannot be reduced to our categories or wishes.

Adam B. Dooley
April 1, 2026

Dec 17
Love0

The Tensions of Christmas

By Christmas, Comfort, Doubt, Murder, Obedience, Salvation, Second Coming, Waiting No Comments

For many, images of glowing lights, nostalgic carols, bountiful tables, and family gatherings are synonymous with Christmas. Jubilant declarations of peace on earth and good will toward men warm our hearts with the hope of Jesus Christ. Yet, amidst our celebrations is a dark underbelly that, though suppressed, competes for our attention every December. The tension between the nativity story’s promises and the world’s fallen realities can be jarring.

Thus, in what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, our grief feels sharper. Our burdens seem heavier. Our conflicts appear more irreparable. Our brokenness becomes impossible to mask. Loneliness chases us mercilessly at Christmas. The deafening silence of an empty chair at the family table exposes our hidden sorrow. Our anguish, doubt, and anxiety compound while the world around us makes merry. The burdens of life can easily steal our festive joy.

These tensions should not surprise us.

We quickly forget that imperial injustice forced Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem on the first Christmas, making their already impoverished lives more difficult (Luke 2:1-7). Once they arrived, there was no room nor compassion for them at the local inn. All the while, in the background, were harsh, gossipy believers who reeked of superiority as they whispered about a pregnancy mistakenly assumed to be illegitimate. Circumstances like these were hardly joyful or triumphant.

In the months following our Savior’s birth, Herod plotted Jesus’ demise even as magi from the east were anxious to celebrate His arrival (Matt. 2). Matthew’s account of Bethlehem’s welcome reception for Jesus is nothing like a sentimental postcard, but abounds with jealousy, injustice, sin, and suffering instead. The contrasting hatred of King Herod with the hopeful presence of the wisemen exposes the same tension we often feel at Christmas even today (Matt. 2:1-12).

The good guys and villains in this familiar story are easy to identify. Perceiving the Christ child as a threat to his fragile kingdom, Herod plots to kill the toddler (Matt. 2:8). Equally offensive in the narrative are the religious leaders who knew exactly where the Messiah would be born but refused to worship Him due to their own insecurities (Matt. 2:4-6). The ordeal is not without hope, though. The presence of the magi is proof that Jesus would be a Savior for Jew and Gentile alike. Their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were fitting for the newborn King (Matt. 2:9-11).

The point is not, however, that we should celebrate some while loathing others. Matthew wants us to stop and consider who we are more like. Do we put our hope in Jesus, or do we express hate for Jesus? Before answering, we should acknowledge that the answer may not be as simple as it seems.

Far too often we are much more like Herod than we care to admit. Without scriptural diligence, we may very well worship a god made in our own image rather than the biblical Jesus. One who exists to make us happy. One who requires nothing of us and gives everything to us. One who is anxious to build our kingdom rather than his own. Could this be why we love the festivities of the season, but scoff at the notion of God’s holiness? Or that we are willing to bellow out Christmas hymns while simultaneously enjoying our blatant disobedience to God’s Word?

We might sing O Little Town of Bethlehem without having any interest in worshipping Jesus in every place, every day. We might sing O Holy Night without the slightest intention of living a life of holiness and obedience. We might sing Away in a Manger without being anxious for God to have His way in our lives. We might even ask Mary Did You Know? while never considering what we know and how it impacts our daily lives. Like Herod, we can easily be guilty of craving our own kingdom and doing anything to get it. Like the chief priests and scribes, we might choose to ignore what we know from Scripture simply because it interferes with our lust for power or influence.

And this is precisely the problem.

Tipping our hat toward Christ is not equal to bowing to Him as our King. Our Savior requires more than our leftovers. Mere acknowledgment of Jesus for the sake of the season is not salvation. He desires to be more than a good luck charm that justifies any means we choose in pursuit of our goals and aspirations. Christ refuses to be remade in our image. Part of the tension we feel is due to our chasing dreams that are outside of His will. Herod may very well be staring back at us in the mirror.

But, even when our lives resemble the worshipful hope of the wisemen, we remain in a broken world where many of God’s promises have yet to be realized. Sinful consequences obnoxiously obscure the comforting future reserved for the saints. Thus, we find ourselves waiting for what will be even though it currently is not. The tension is real, but Christmas is an invitation to keep going when you do not understand God’s ways, do not agree with His timing, and do not feel His presence.

Adam B. Dooley
December 17, 2025

Dec 03
Love0

The Best Christmas Article Ever

By Christmas, Grace, Salvation No Comments

If I were to ask you to name the best Christmas movies of all time, I am confident several titles would make the list: It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street,  A Christmas Carol,  A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas,  Home Alone, and Elf (no, Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie).

No matter how many times you’ve watched these holiday films, chances are you will do it again this year, and every year, when Christmas rolls around. Box office hits like these become as much a part of our seasonal tradition as the music we listen to, the decorations we hang, or the food we enjoy.

Rarely, however, does a new movie come along that you instantly expect to enjoy from now on. Last Christmas, however, with the theatrical release of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, I knew immediately we would share it as a family every December. Based on the children’s book written by Barbara Robinson in 1972, the play tells the story of the Herdman children, the meanest kids in town, who took over the local Christmas pageant even though they had never heard the Nativity story.

Seeing the events surrounding Jesus’ birth through their inquisitive eyes offers a powerful reminder of what our favorite holiday is all about. Frankly, their fresh perspective is a needed experience for all Christians. Surprisingly, “the worst kids in the history of the world” have much to teach us as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Their mere presence in the storyline reinforces the biblical truth that Christmas is a season for outcasts.

Don’t believe me? Even a cursory reading of Jesus’ genealogy reveals our categorical bias often identified as THOSE PEOPLE. I may fall short, we reason, but not like THOSE PEOPLE. I need salvation, but not as badly as THOSE PEOPLE. Church is for everybody, but THOSE PEOPLE would not be comfortable here. Yet, despite our internal prejudices, the family tree of our Lord is full of every kind of reject imaginable.

Consider the five women listed in our Savior’s lineage. For a society dominated by men, where the testimony of females was inadmissible in court, including these names was taboo. Amidst 39 recorded fathers, these five women stick out like thorns in a rose. Just as strange, though, are the female names omitted. Matriarchs like Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah are absent in exchange for Tamar (Matt. 1:3), Rahab (Matt. 1:5), Ruth (Matt. 1:5), Bathsheba (Matt. 1:6), and Mary (Matt. 1:16).

Four of these five women were Gentiles of the worst kind. Tamar and Rahab belonged to the forbidden Canaanites, a people known for their wickedness (Deut. 9:4-5). Ruth was a Moabite, a people descended from incestuous Lot (Gen. 19:30-38). Bathsheba was a Hittite by marriage to Uriah (2 Sam. 11:3). Jews viewed each of these groups as unclean by birth.

Even more remarkable is that three of these women were moral outcasts as well. Each experienced sexual liaisons that would have made Hollywood blush. Matthew hints at one such sordid affair by saying, “Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar (Matt. 1:3).” The statement hearkens back to the book of Genesis, where Tamar dressed as a prostitute in order to deceive Judah into fathering her child (Gen. 38).

Next, the record reveals that “Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab (Matt. 1:5).” We tend to be more familiar with Rahab because the New Testament heralds her as a hero of the faith (Heb. 11:31; James 2:25). In light of her later praise, it is easy to forget that what Tamar pretended to be, Rahab actually was—a prostitute.

Finally, the Bible’s curious way of referring to Bathsheba should not be lost on us. Matthew says bluntly, “David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah (Matt. 1:6).” With no effort to hide the uncomfortable truth, Scripture reminds us that Bathsheba was an adulterer.

But what is the point of all this dirty laundry? Simply, the invite list for the biblical Christmas party had a lot of unexpected guests. These were not people who felt comfortable in church. They were not family members you would be eager to tell others about. They were outcasts.

By the way, the more recognizable, respectable names on Matthew’s list were not all that impressive either. They, too, were outcasts. Two times he mentions King David (Matt. 1:1, 6). Yet, in addition to being an adulterer with Bathsheba, Israel’s most famous king was also a murderer who plotted to have the husband of his mistress killed (2 Sam. 11:1-27).

When Abraham’s name appears (Matt. 1:1-2) it conjures up images of Israel’s greatest patriarch. Nonetheless, a closer examination of Old Testament history exposes his devastating flaws. Twice Abraham denied his wife, Sarah, allowing Pharaoh to violate her (Gen. 12:10-20, 20:1-18). Worse still, he repeatedly doubted God’s promises throughout his life (Gen. 12-21).

Each name surveyed bears similar outcomes. Judah, the father of the messianic tribe, sold his brother Joseph into slavery (Matt. 1:3). Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived, surrounded himself with hundreds of wives (Matt. 1:7). Despite his reforms, Hezekiah felt morally superior (Matt. 1:9). Wicked kings like Abijah, Joram, Ahaz, Manasseh, Amon, and Jeconiah presided over the decline and demise of the nation.

Some lived as social outcasts because their sins were open and bare, while others functioned as secret outcasts because their transgressions were hidden beneath the surface. And the same is true for us.

We are all outcasts by nature. Christmas is a reminder that none are so bad that they cannot be saved, but none are so good that they need not be saved either. Jesus was born through sinners, for sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). Jesus’ family tree proves that God will accept those whom the world rejects if you abandon your sin and come to the Father through the Son. The Lord is willing to meet us in our failures, because that is where we need Him most.

Adam B. Dooley
December 3, 2025

Oct 22
Love0

Love in the First Degree

By Accountability, Christian Living, Faithfulness, Holiness, Love, Obedience, Priorities, Righteousness, Salvation No Comments

“Loving God and loving people is all that matters.”

Those were the words in an angry email I received the day after preaching a sermon about personal holiness. Intended as a less than subtle rebuke, the writer was eager to correct what he labeled as my “overemphasis on obedience.” Any directives about resisting temptation or regulating behavior were, he insisted, hateful and legalistic. Or, to put it differently, conforming to the standards of Scripture was an unnecessary distraction to the simple hermeneutic of loving God and loving others sincerely.

On the surface, the argument is convincing. After all, Jesus Himself identified the two greatest commandments as loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) while also loving your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). The problem, though, is a false dichotomy that fails to consider how we best exhibit genuine love for God.

The moment we substitute loving God for obeying God, we step outside the boundaries of our Savior’s intention for His people. Nowhere does the Bible teach that we simply love God rather than obey Him. Quite the contrary, the consistent witness of Scripture reveals that the greatest expression of our love is obedience. In fact, Jesus not only insisted that we love Him, but He also clarified how we can best do so. “If you love me,” He said, “you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).”

Concluding that since salvation is a gift of grace, we are free to live however we choose is both reckless and misleading. The Apostle John warns us that, because “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all, if we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth (1 John 1:5-6).” The analogy of darkness presents the deceptive waywardness of sin as antithetical to the light of a relationship with Jesus.

True believers refuse to misconstrue the grace of God as an excuse for remaining in their transgressions. No one was clearer on this point than the Apostle Paul, who asked rhetorically, “Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be (Rom. 6:1-2)!” Though we are born again by grace through faith apart from good works (Eph. 2:8-9), the goal of salvation is transformed lives characterized by radical change (Eph. 2:10). The seed of redemption is, without question, the grace of God revealed in the gospel of Jesus, but the fruit of salvation is obedience to and joy in the ways of God.

Perhaps an illustration will shed light on the marriage between our love for God and the actions He commands. Admittedly, no human relationship can completely mirror our connection to Christ, but let me share a story that comes close. Years ago, while dying of a crippling neurological disease, David Ireland came to grips with the reality that he would never hold, kiss, or play catch with the unborn child in his wife’s womb. In his book, Letters to an Unborn Child, Ireland desperately communicated his love for his future son or daughter.

In one of his letters to the child, David included the following description of his remarkable wife: “Your mother is very special. Few men know what it’s like to receive appreciation for taking their wives out to dinner when it entails what it does for us.”

“It means that she has to dress me, shave me, brush my teeth, comb my hair, wheel me out of the house and down the steps, open the garage and put me in the car, take the pedals off the chair, stand me up, sit me in the seat of the car, twist me around so that I’m comfortable, fold the wheelchair, put it in the car, go around to the other side of the car, start it up, back it out, get out of the car, pull the garage door down, get back into the car, and drive off to the restaurant.”

“And then, it starts all over again; she gets out of the car, unfolds the wheelchair, opens the door, spins me around, stands me up, seats me in the wheelchair, pushes the pedals out, closes and locks the car, wheels me into the restaurant, then takes the pedals off the wheelchair so I won’t be uncomfortable. We sit down to have dinner, and she feeds me throughout the entire meal. And when it’s over she pays the bill, pushes the wheelchair out to the car again, and reverses the same routine. And when it’s over—finished—with real warmth she’ll say, “Honey, thank you for taking me out to dinner.”  I never quite know how to answer.”

The point is that you will do anything for someone that you love. For Christians, that means obeying God is never a burden. Gratitude, rather than guilt, drives every believer to honor Christ in word and deed.

Good works may not be the cause of our relationship with the Almighty, but they are the consequence of it. Scripture describes faith in God that fails to produce life change as dead and worthless (James 2:14-26), even as it encourages us to look for deeds appropriate to repentance (Acts 26:20). Jesus Himself explained, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8:31-32).”

Openly celebrating or continually practicing sinful behavior is entirely contrary to saving faith, no matter how passionately we insist otherwise. Frankly, doing so is the opposite of loving our Savior.

Adam B. Dooley
October 22, 2025

Oct 07
Love0

Unexpected Birthday Blessings

By Aging, Birthdays, Christian Living, Eternity, Salvation No Comments

The older I get, the faster birthdays seem to come around. Admittedly, celebrations look much different as an adult than they did during my childhood, yet every trip around the sun is a gift worth commemorating. My life is full of people that I love, colleagues that I appreciate, a calling that invigorates me, and blessings borne out of walking with the Lord from an early age. Truly, God’s lines for me have fallen in pleasant places and His mercies overwhelm me (Ps. 16:6).

Though aging can bring with it some less appealing changes (Ecc. 12:1-8), the fruit of longevity also ushers numerous treasures that are typically foreign to youth. While I do not consider myself to be an old man, serving as a middle-aged pastor certainly feels different than when I began in my early twenties. With each passing birthday, God seems to drop new joys into my life.

For instance, the longer we live, the more wisdom we tend to acquire. Obviously, there are exceptions to this principle, but generally, the more mileage we have in the rearview mirror, the more equipped we are to judge our surroundings with insight and discernment (Job 20:29.) While young men tend to glory in their strength, and rightly so, gray hair is just as honorable later in life because of the wisdom that so frequently accompanies it (Prov. 20:29).

Biblical exhortations reinforce these expectations. God commands older men and women to model godly behavior for those who are younger precisely because aging helps Christ followers to mature (Titus 2:1-8). Good deeds, sound doctrine, reverence, dignity, and sensibility are the outcomes of Christian maturity. No wonder Scripture insists that we respect those who are older even when they stumble in the faith (1 Tim. 5:1-2). Granted, adding years does not guarantee spiritual growth (1 Cor. 3:1-3), but it should at least compel us to evaluate our progress in the Lord.

In addition, advancing in age should increase our awareness of and our need for God’s daily provisions and care (Ps. 71:9), furthering our opportunities to praise Him (Ps. 71:18). The promises surrounding eternity also become more precious as our conversation and thoughts turn toward our forever home (Phil. 3:20-21).

These contemplations are not morbid, though, because they bring with them a renewed awareness of each day’s value. By numbering our days, we learn wisdom and godliness with greater urgency (Ps. 90:12). Tucked away in the book of James we discover what I believe is the key to maximizing every day that God gives us. “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow,” insists James. “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away (James 4:14).” In other words, the only certainties in life are its unpredictability and its brevity.

The blindness of life gives us needed perspective. Living into old age helps us to realize how little we can control. Much of our daily reality is the opposite of what we anticipated in previous years. Our lives are full of many good days, for which we are thankful, but also many difficult days. We anticipate having children, but not miscarriages. We expect golden anniversaries, but not divorces. We look forward to milestones and accomplishments, but we never daydream about funerals. We hope for laughter, but we don’t foresee all the tears. But the blindness of life is valuable because it compels us to live each day to the fullest. Our ignorance about the future helps us to be more intentional about the present.

The brevity of life gives us clear priorities. Scripture compares our time on earth to a vapor that appears for just brief time. We are like the morning dew that is gone by noon. Like steam from a stove that disappears in an instant. One day you’re young; the next day you’re old. One day you start your first job; the next day you’re retiring. No matter how much we try, we cannot slow time down. If we aren’t careful, our best plans will slip away from us and never materialize.

Most of us fall victim to the lie that we have all the time in the world to turn our good intentions into reality. Thus, James 4:16 adds, “As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.” Regarding our relationship with God, these deceptions can be devastating. We often comfort ourselves with time that we may not have.

So, what is the greatest birthday lesson of them all?

The time to know God, love God, and serve God is NOW. Any priorities we are putting off until later need to move up on our to-do list. Every single birthday is a gift that cannot be covered by wrapping paper or topped with candles. We should learn from the past without living in the past (Ecc. 7:10). We should devote each day to the Lord (James 4:15). And we should trust our unknown future to our eternal Savior (Job 23:13-14).

I am thankful for another year of life and all the lessons that arrived with it.

Adam B. Dooley
October 7, 2025l

Apr 18
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The Easter Substitute

By Cross, Salvation No Comments

Did you know that the Valley of the Fallen, just outside Madrid, Spain, is home to the tallest cross in the world? The impressive structure stands a remarkable 492 feet tall and can exceed winds in excess of 100 miles per hour. The cross of Jesus, though, stands even higher, rising above the vain ambitions, petty concerns, and despicable sins of our material world. Rising above the politically correct winds of naturalism, humanism, and secularism, our Savior’s cross has yet to break under the misguided whims and carnal agendas of modernity.

One of the blessings surrounding this time of year is the opportunity to revisit the familiar stories of our faith in order to celebrate their significance anew. I find in my own life, no matter how many times I read the Easter narrative, some detail always resonates with me in a fresh, meaningful way. Focusing on the unique perspective of each biblical author unveils the divine agenda behind each of the New Testament’s four gospels.

This year, Mark’s recollection of Jesus’ final week has been particularly inspiring. In his effort to portray Jesus as the unexpected king, Mark repeatedly emphasizes the substitutionary nature of our Savior’s sacrificial work. By highlighting how alone Jesus was on the cross, we get a glimpse of the magnitude and meaning of His redemptive work.

For instance, substitute followers surrounded our Lord because His disciples all fled for their lives when Jesus needed them most (Mark 14:50). Despite His previous command to take up their crosses and follow Him (Mark 8:34), the presence of Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross of our Savior is dreadful reminder that our Savior was forsaken (Mark 15:21). Likewise, after their desperation for places of honor on Jesus’ right and left hand (Mark 10:35-40), two thieves on crosses of their own replace James and John as partakers of Christ’s bitter cup (Mark 15:27) .

The greater act of substitution, though, is found in the reality that Jesus took our place on the cross by becoming sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). Often referred to as substitutionary atonement, Mark recalls two incidents which reinforce the concept that Jesus became our scapegoat.

First, we see the glory of substitution in Pilate’s offer to set one prisoner free, resulting in the choice between Jesus and Barabbas (Mark 15:7-15). The name Barabbas means “son of a rabbi” or “son of the father.” Hidden in the oldest manuscripts of Matthew 27:16 is the revelation that this man’s first name was Jesus. In other words, his full name was Jesus Barabbas.

Thus, when standing before the crowd, Pilate was essentially asking them, “Which Jesus will you choose?” One was a known terrorist; the other was the King of a heavenly kingdom. One was a man without God; the other was God in human flesh. One was a taker of human life; the other was a giver of human life. When the crowd chooses Barabbas, a dramatic portrayal of substitution emerges.

The imprisoned one who was guilty is set free in order that he might live, while the free One who was innocent is imprisoned in order to die. Or, if you prefer, the One who was guilty of no sin took the place of the one who was guilty of great sin.

Sound familiar?

Simply put, Barabbas is a profound picture of you and me. By shedding His blood on the cross, Jesus absorbed the punishment we deserved. The theme of redemptive substitution runs throughout Scripture. “All of us like sheep have gone astray,” wrote the prophet Isaiah, “Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him (Isa. 53:6).” Similarly, the Apostle Peter later wrote, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God . . . (1 Pet. 3:18).”

Second, Mark’s emphasis on the miracle of darkness from high noon until 3 p.m. also points to Jesus as our substitute (Mark 15:33). Just as the plague of darkness covered the land of Egypt when the first Passover lamb was sacrificed, now darkness again hovered over the earth as God’s final Passover Lamb bled and died. First century Jews rightly understood darkness as a sign of God’s judgment.

The prophet Amos predicted the moment as sign of Yahweh’s anger with His people (Amos 8:9). As the cursed One hung upon a tree, God the Father poured out His full wrath on His Son, consuming Him as a burnt offering for sin (Isa. 53:4-10). Wave upon wave of our sin fell upon the sacrificial Lamb who faced the judgment of God so that we would not need to. Though the brightness of angels lit up a dark sky at His birth, the darkness of God’s holy indignation dimmed the noon sun at Jesus’ death.

The whole scene reveals not only the ugliness of sin, but also the beauty of God’s mercy and grace. While conversations of sin sometimes grate on contemporary ears as old-fashioned and out of touch, we cannot understand the cross of our Savior without grasping why it was necessary in the first place. I am so grateful that God sent His only begotten Son to be our substitute.

Adam B. Dooley
April 18, 2025

Feb 18
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What Is Winter Trying To Tell Us?

By Salvation, Sovereignty, Trials No Comments

“I am so ready for spring.”
“Do you think school will be canceled this week?”
“Maybe we will have one more chance to go sledding.”

Reactions like these are not uncommon during the winter months. In the span of 24 hours, I have heard all three comments, along with the accompanying lament and enthusiasm depending on the perspective. As I write this column, our area is bracing for what may be the second big snowstorm of the season. Most adults are anxious for warmer weather while our children are looking to score at least a few more days home from school due to snow.

But what if I told you that winter holds much greater significance than stoking daydreams of summer vacation or the playfulness of childhood? Surprisingly, the Bible teaches that every winter has a predictable message that we would be wise to heed. So, what can we learn from a wintery mix of snow and ice? What spiritual truths do cold feet and runny noses point to?

First, the predictability of winter reminds us that God is in control. The constancy of creation points back to the faithfulness and power of our Creator. An often overlooked promise in Scripture is the monotony of our seasons. After the worldwide flood in the days of Noah subsided, God promised to never destroy the earth the same way again (Gen. 9:11). Even before the covenant sign of a rainbow (Gen. 9:12-17), God insisted, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Gen. 8:22).”

In this sense, every season, including winter, points back to the faithfulness of God to keep His promise. Prerequisite to this understanding is the fact that the Lord not only controls the seasons, but that He also utilizes each to do His bidding.

A recent study leading our congregation through the narrative of Job reminded me again that the God of the Bible is not only bigger, but also more intentional than we often realize. The book’s poetic expressions communicate the literal strength of the Lord. During the winter months, He instructs the snow and rain to fall, creates ice with His breath, forces beasts into hibernation, and directs both northern and southern storms (Job 37:6-10). He stores the snow and hail for times of distress, war, and battle (Job 38:22-23). He gives birth to both ice and frost in order to imprison what is below (Job 28:29-30).

No wonder the psalmist marveled, “He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes. He casts forth His ice as fragments; Who can stand before His cold? He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow (Psalm 147:15-28).” The severity of winter points back to the magnitude of our God.

Second, the beauty of winter reminds us of the purity God provides. Two times in Scripture the Bible compares the cleansing of God’s forgiveness to the flawless scenes of winter. Despite having sins that are like scarlet, God promises to make them as white as snow (Isa. 1:18). Likewise, King David’s longing for purity left him begging God to wash him so that He could be clean like snow (Psa. 51:7). Every falling snowflake and every white blanket that wraps the earth is a picture of grace, reminding us God’s forgiving embrace through His Son, Jesus Christ. Ours is a God who makes all things new as the old passes away (2 Cor. 5:17).

Finally, the burdens of winter remind us that our greatest trials are temporary. Despite the beauties of the cold season, the hardships it often brings make it an appropriate metaphor for the trials of life. Blistering temperatures, icy roads, and power outages leave us looking forward to the arrival of spring each year. The Song of Solomon celebrates the end of winter as an opportunity for a new beginning (Song Sol. 2:11-13). The subsiding of harsh weather reassures us that our difficulties will soon pass, hopefully bearing the fruit of endurance (James 1:2-4).

Though it seldom feels like it at the time, most of the adversities we face are only temporary inconveniences. The majority of our problems are not permanent experiences. Chances are, you WILL come out on the other side of whatever you are facing. Even the heaviest burdens that can sometimes last a lifetime are temporary against the backdrop of eternity (Rom. 8:18). Winter doesn’t last forever, and neither do our troubles.

Adam B. Dooley
February 18, 2025

Jan 06
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The Future is Sooner than You Think

By Christian Living, Faithfulness, Future, Salvation, Sanctification No Comments

“The older you get, the faster the time goes.”

Those were the words of my grandmother at the beginning of a new year when I was just a boy. While the speed of time doesn’t actually change as we age, I understand much better now what she meant. As we age, days and weeks blur together. Months and seasons seamlessly intertwine. The longer you live the more difficult it becomes to distinguish between years and decades.

As 2025 begins to unfold, two biblical lessons regarding time emerge that will help us navigate whatever is ahead. Tucked away in the book of James is a powerful verse that has guided me well over the years. The Bible simply says, “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away (James 4:14).” In other words, the only certainties in life are its unpredictability and its brevity.

There is a Blindness to Life

None of us know what the future holds. In 1958 a new house was just $12,000; a new car was $2155; a movie ticket was $1; a stamp was 4 cents; and a gallon of gas was just 24 cents. For those of you who lived back then, did you ever imagine life would be like it is today? Frankly, sometimes it feels like there is no rhyme or reason to what unfolds on a daily basis. Life is full of many good days, for which we are thankful, but the years bring many hard days, too.

We anticipate having children, but not miscarriages. We expect golden anniversaries, but not divorces. We look forward to milestones and accomplishments, but we never daydream about funerals. We hope for laughter, but we don’t foresee all the tears. Intrinsic to James’ instruction is the need to live every day to the fullest. Simply put, if you’re always waiting for tomorrow, you might be terribly disappointed when it arrives.

There is a Brevity to Life

Even worse, though, than the uncertainty of life is its brevity. The Scripture compares our time on earth to a vapor that appears for just brief time. We are like the morning dew that is gone by noon. Like steam from a stove that disappears in an instant. One day you’re young, the next day you’re old. One day you start your first job, the next day you’re retiring. No matter how much we try, we cannot slow time down.

If we aren’t careful, our best plans will slip away from us and never materialize. Most of us fall victim to the lie that we have all the time in the world to turn our good intentions into reality. Thus, James 4:16 adds, “As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.” Regarding our relationship with God, these deceptions can be devastating. We often comfort ourselves with time we may not have.

I’ll get serious about my walk with God—tomorrow.

I’ll read my Bible and pray more—tomorrow.

I’ll share my faith with my friend—tomorrow.

I’ll take my church membership more seriously—tomorrow.

I’ll serve my community more—tomorrow.

Unfortunately, as the old song says, far too often tomorrow never comes. Every second, 3 people die. Every minute, 180 people die. Every hour, 11,000 people die. Every day, 260,000 people die. Every year, 95 million people die. Most of these people had one thing in common—they never thought it would happen to them. Even as you read these words, you might be thinking, “You tell THEM, pastor!”

What is the lesson here for all of us?

The time to know God, love God, and serve God is NOW. Any priorities we are putting off until later need to move up on our to-do list. And if I may, can I tell you what God wants most from you? Scripture admonishes us that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). And what does this mean? Today is the day to call on the name of the Lord and be saved (Rom. 10:13).

Saved from what, you ask? In a word—sin. Romans 3:23 declares, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and Romans 6:23 explains, “the wages of sin is death.” So, today is the day to look upon Christ who died on the cross and was raised from the dead in order to take our sins away. In fact, Romans 10:9 celebrates, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Why not give your life to Jesus, today?

Adam B. Dooley
January 6, 2025

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