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Make Our Mark
It’s 1953 and Ben Hogan is all the rage. He sits atop the golfing world. His hair is slicked back and his short sleeve shirt cannot hide his toned muscles. He’s a phenomenon. He’s strong. His wide smile and trophy-laden arms tell a story of successful youth. Everyone wants to be like him as his name is etched into the record books. However, time has a way of dismantling even the strongest among us. Time is the great equalizer. Muscles deteriorate and eyes grow dim. The scripture tells us that youth is fleeting and beauty fades. The last picture of…
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Priorities
A pastor recently called me to lament his inability to raise money for a small church project. Rhetorically he asked, “Where are the givers who helped Moses build the Tabernacle?” I told him, “They’re at the movies.” According to the Labor Bureau of Statistics, the average home spends about $230 a month on media per month. That figure includes paid-TV, monthly Netflix and other in-kind services; home internet; Redbox and DVD sales/rentals, etc. The figure does not include cellphone service, which could tack on another $40 to $80 per month, per phone. Nor does this figure include the price of…
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… go unto the House of the Lord …
Let us not neglect our church meetings, (the assembling of ourselves together) as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 (TLB) College football is a growing sport, consuming more audience in the critical advertising segment 21-35 year olds. While the NFL lost 6% of its viewers 2 years ago and almost 10% in the past season, it is still a powerhouse of entertainment for Sundays. While televised sports consume the majority of the weekend, sports activities are also in full force as families…
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“Stone”
On a small knoll, Jonathon the son of Saul made a statement that echoes through time. He said, “There is no restraint for the Lord to save by many or by few.” He said, “God can work through and for any number of people.” The factor was always God. The catalyst for victory was Him from Whom all blessings flow. Jonathon was but a player, an instrument, in the hands of the Omnipotent One. When the kings and armies of Israel were outnumbered by their opposing forces, it was the Lord Jehovah Who gave the victory. In addition, when they…
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Balance …
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John saw Jesus glowing in a translucent light. Atop that mountain were Moses and Elijah speaking with the Lord when The Voice came from the clouds. It was a scene of great spiritual significance unsurpassed by normal events and is often considered 1 of 5 of the Lord’s most pivotal moments. I don’t have time to divulge the greater gravity of the mountaintop meeting, only to point out Peter’s response. Peter wanted to make three tents, or tabernacles in honor of the Lord, Moses, and Elijah. In essence, Peter wanted to established…
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Offset …
“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5 To be clear, I believe that we are commissioned to be good stewards of the environment. God gave this earth to us to manage it in the cleanest and most respectful way. We are commanded to be stewards of every area of our lives and it is incumbent upon Christians to be prudent, save, conserve, and reverence all of God’s…
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Entitlement …
When David sought a place to repent, he bought a threshing floor from a man named Araunah. The man would have given the land to the king, but David said, “I cannot offer God something that cost me nothing.” As many of you know, this verse is the pivot point of the ministry, which God has entrusted into my hands. My sacrifice to God is the burden I carry. Sacrifice is a lonely word. In some cases, it’s a very distorted word. Some think that coming to evening worship service; giving their tithes; or singing in the choir is a…
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Faith on Trial
If you could hear it with your heart, then please let me speak into the depths of your soul: Don’t lose faith and don’t give up. This life, with all of its ups and downs; the ebb and flow of both triumphs and tragedies are working on your behalf. Even things that tend to afflict our minds are working for us, or as Paul wrote 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; Peter presented the trial: 1 Peter 1:7 That the trial…
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The Secret Things …
In the middle of God’s numerous instructions and miracles, God inspires Moses to say to Israel: Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. It means that some things only God knows and those things belong to Him. We are not accountable for the hidden by God. However, the second half is altogether different. Moses writes that we are accountable for all that He has revealed to us, “that we may do…
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“what then”
God’s amazing creation consists of natural adrenaline which lifts the body and spirit above the realm of reality, even if but for a moment. The moment, regardless of what it might be, may not be felt until a few days have passed. Both highs and lows; successes and heartbreaks might not be felt for some time. Nevertheless, a few days later, reality sets in and the realization is settled. I know that this is not considered spiritual, but I submit that God has made our bodies to be sufficient in physical and mental health. So in triumph or defeat, we…