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His Glory Shines
The words and actions of the Lord and are often confusing to many of us. Consider John 3:5-6. Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days. It could have been written in this manner: “the Lord loved Lazarus so much that He did not go see him.” The difference between us and those living in that moment is that we see the plan unfold while they could not. Martha was managing the moment; tending to her dying brother and hoping that Jesus would hurry to heal…
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The Scripture shapes us
Ed Stetzer provided the details: “Our culture has 3 Christian sub-groups: cultural, congregational, and convictional. The first two identify, but do not shape their lives around the Christian faith. They see themselves as connected through heritage or involvement.” The last shape their lives around their faith. Stetzer says that Christianity means “different things to different people, and that while all are valid, not all are equal.” Of course this philosophy has become the mindset of so many that it’s difficult for people to hear what the scripture actually declares. The scripture is by no private interpretation. Neither the Bible nor…
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Lost souls are worth ……?
What is the price of a single soul? A new car cost about $30,000. A new built house—$150,000. A new career might cost every Sunday. Jesus asked the question, “What would a man give in exchange for his soul?” The Lord explained further that if a man should gain the whole world, it still would not match the value of his soul. Think of it; all the fame, wealth, gold, and possessions that the entire world might grant does not measure up to the price of a single soul. Jesus spoke of a man who built larger barns not knowing…
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Fight the good fight of Faith
Jonathon is the son of Saul. He is a young man full of faith and courage. The scene is set wherein Israel is depleted of their military weapons. Jonathon has one of the two remaining swords. Ahead is a garrison of Philistines, some 20 armed men, waiting for war. Jonathon says to his armor bearer “Let’s go fight. Perhaps the Lord will help us.” The scripture gives us no indication that God told him to fight. There was no Spiritual unction that caused him to engage. Jonathon just believed that the Lord could save by many or by few. He believed…
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Children of the Light
By mere deductive reasoning, all those who walk after the flesh are condemned. Most would not accept condemnation regardless of how they live, but Paul writes: Rom 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” If you are walking after the Spirit, there is no condemnation. If you are striving to follow the leading of the Lord, there is no castigation, but to walk after the Spirit one must be subject to the things of the Spirit. It’s a total submission of the human…
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Living Without A Filter
Air conditioning is rarely appreciated until it doesn’t exist. Technicians report that the lifespan of a unit depends heavily on the maintenance of the filter. A $5,000 unit can be destroyed by a clogged $10 filter. Incredibly enough, most problems with A/C units deal with dirty filters. A new unit is far more expensive than the price of a filter, but people don’t pay much attention to their filters. By now someone in your family has probably seen clips from the 2015 MVA’s. T.V. ratings were down for the MTV show, but social media picked it up by sharing the…
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…to the uttermost part of the earth
In 1948 Jim Elliot paraphrased the 16th century preacher, Philip Henry, when he wrote; “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Elliot was one of five missionaries killed while evangelizing in Ecuador. The people to whom he brought the message of an abundant life were also those who ended his life. Yet to Elliot and his family, the Gospel was worth the sacrifice. David Livingstone spent most of his time preaching in Africa. He too gave his life for the cause of Christ and died there in some nondescript place. Bud…
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Everything that can be Shaken, will be Shaken
In the early morning hours of September 11, 2001 the world shifted. Most notably the landscape of New York changed. Dust and smoke billowed into the sky; buildings that stood for decades lay as rubble. Notwithstanding the great tragedy of lives lost; the mentality of America began to change also. War was followed by financial collapse and the prayers once offered turned to scorn. The landscape changed once again. Nativity scenes and The Ten Commandments were removed from the lawns of our courthouses. The standard of marriage has been redefined as well as gender identity. The great staples of our…
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Foundation of Prayers
Moving on seems to be a collective thought. We do love the “here and now.” People 40 years ago were not interested in the struggle of those who wearily fought the world wars. They disregarded the former sacrifice and began fighting for a sexual revolution. The next generation came along with a more sarcastic view and again thought it all began with them. I could go on, but suffice to say every generation can barely grasp the sacrifice of those who came before. Blood on fields throughout the world has long since dried, but it paid for our freedom. Sweat that…
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Religion is being redefined
News Bulletin: “Christians in a post-Christian Culture.” We saw it coming, but the speed and vehemence of the “new normal” often takes our breath away. Many are scrambling to find a place to stand while the world morphs into a perverse pose. Religion is being redefined – the Bible is being trashed, believers are on edge for the next big social confrontation. We now have to ask ourselves questions: “What will it cost to speak out boldly against sin?” Are we willing to lose our jobs and public positions?” “Will locals defame our reputation, and is it worth raising their…