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“What does God see?”
When the twelve leaders of Israel came back to report their findings to Moses about the land of Canaan, the vast majority held a negative report. In spite of God’s clarified victory, ten men declared defeat. Only Joshua and Caleb came back with positive report as they reiterated God’s spoken word. Everyone saw the same land. Each were witness to the same enemy, issues and obstacles. They also all saw the same reward; grapes, honey and fruit. The difference was in their vision. Ten spies saw through eyes of doubt and the lack of human resource. The majority ignored God’s command…
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We must preach the Word
Sound teaching and preaching. Direct biblical statements. Holiness. The name of Jesus in baptism. Take your pick; they are all under assault. While the apostles preached an exclusive message, modern Christianity seeks to clarify the Bible’s intent so as to broaden it’s range of acceptance. Bible doctrines have become too narrow for the casual Christian. Yet Paul wrote that if anyone preached a different gospel than what he preached, “let him be accursed.” He said that if an angel from heaven preached something different, “let him be accursed.” (Gal 1:6-10) Paul and the rest of the apostles were serious about the…
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Bless our Lord and Honor our fallen
A claim was made that the first Civil War soldier’s grave ever decorated occurred in Warrantor, Virginia, on June 3, 1861. From that moment there was a thought to set aside a day to honor all those killed in the war. They called it Decoration Day. The Civil War rocked the country; tore apart families; planting deep seeded resentment throughout. Yet as time went by, and breaking into the 20th century, America determined to honor all those who had died in battle. Thus the name was changed to Memorial Day: Honoring our fallen soldiers, but as the years passed, Memorial…
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Truth – Light
An old story tells of a man who awoke in the middle of a long night. His eyes quickly adjusted to his dark surroundings as there was no light to guide him. The night lasted for many years with no appearance of the sun. His life was lived out in blackness until one day the clouds were peeled back, revealing the powerful sun. Yet after so many years of living in the dark, he covered his eyes and escaped back into his home. He did not know how to live under the sun and it took him time to adjust…
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Paid in Full
A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an her apron, she read it, and this is what it said: For cutting the grass: $5.00 For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 For going to the store for you: .50 Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: .25 Taking out the garbage: $1.00 For getting a good report card: $5.00 For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00…
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Rooted and built up
In respect to the spring that is upon us, there is a truth that remains about life; in particular, this Christian life. While flowers bloom and trees find their leaves, the fact is that their strength remains hidden beneath the ground. Roots. Often unappreciated, unseen, uncherished; yet roots bring nourishment and sustaining stability. Even the mighty oaks in all their splendor cannot exist except their root system is secure. Those hidden wonders spread out almost 3 times the crown width which means that whatever beauty can be seen pales in comparison to what it takes to maintain it. Paul admonished…
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About my Father’s business
Summer baseball. Fresh cut grass. Picnics with colorful paper products. The warm sun feels good. The economy is stable, at least for the moment. It should set me at ease, but I awoke with the words of Jesus ringing in my ear: Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Four words keep playing over in my mind like a skipping record: “when ye think not.” Jesus told His disciples, Matt. 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the…
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Things of Life
How often are we trapped by the temporal things of this life? I cannot say in full. I do know, however, that we are not living this life without reason. There is a Heaven where the Lamb is the Light. There is a life after this one. Heaven will reveal the splendor of the Almighty God. It will host eternal joy; everlasting peace; and a myriad of wonders unseen by the mortal eye, but there will also be an absence of things too. In fact, some of the greatest things about Heaven will be what is not there. Consider the Apostle…
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Our Soul Purpose
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Hidden in the list of these locations lies a truth about the driving force of the Soul-winner. Paul had been both welcomed and reviled in Iconium. In verse 5 “when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and of the Jews with their rulers” to stone Paul, he left. Paul went to Lystra and laid hands on a crippled man who was healed, but men from Iconium came and stirred up the people…
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The Cross
The contrasting elements of quality versus the inexpensive has become part of our American culture. Paper plates and disposal cups are common among us. Things readily accessible have taken center-stage while patiently waiting on the better, longer lasting item is rejected. The drama of this life has been rewritten to include fleeting pleasures and quick fixes. Hollywood tells us that problems are resolved within a two hour window while television programs take less time, but the truth is that things of value take time and sacrifice. The things which are the most precious and have the greatest worth entails a…