Philip Dampier's Blog

In a world of trouble and turmoil the child of God can sing for joy. I’m speaking of real, honest joy. Not the kind that comes and goes produced by comedians or a humorist author. The real kind that comes from a peaceful inner being. The kind the world wants…

These words were supposedly spoken by Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms in 1521. Many historians believe they were actually a part of his defense. For certain he did say, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go…

People used to believe that the God of the Old Testament was different than the God of the New Testament. They saw the New Testament God as loving and full of grace. The New Testament God was forgiving and kind. He so love people that he sent his son, his…

Those  had to be the most wonderful words that the man with leprosy had ever heard in his life. We don’t know how long he had been suffering from this disease. We do know that he was separated from his family. He could only wave at his wife and children.…

This question was put to two disciples who were following Jesus. Its a good question I think for all of us to consider. Jesus has a lot to offer. He is the grace of God and we all need grace. He is the prince of peace and we all need…

  My chair on the back porch has a special view. Between the Sasanquas I can see a brilliant orangey colored rose bush. This week the blooms have been particularly noticeable. It is a beautiful rose. It is the only rose bush in our garden that doesn’t belong to us.…

There is a major difference in living in darkness and living in light. Paul tells the church at Ephesus that formerly they were once darkness but now they are light. Yes, we all lived in darkness, our minds darkened by our ignorance of God and his way (Eph. 4:18). The…

I remember singing this song as a youth with the accompanying fear that what the eye was seeing was not always so good. I know the idea was to make me aware that I couldn’t hide my evil deeds or thoughts from God. Considering how hard it was to hide them from…

Our yard is especially beautiful this year. The English dogwood is covered in its amazing white blooms and lights up the entire yard. For some reason the rose of Sharon’s are blooming early. Roses are fragrant and multicolored in the beds. But the real prize in the yard is the pomegranate…

We might answer Paul’s question by naming a lot of people including Satan himself. The point Paul is making is that God is the one who decides who is saved and who isn’t. God is the one who says who is justified and who isn’t. Satan of course would like…