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An Army
Consider the path of the prophet Elisha. He is leading the nation, traveling through nondescript regions, guiding and directing. A Shunamite woman takes note of his anointing and presses Elisha to stop by her house. The scene is layered with meaning; expectation, honor, and blessing. The scripture describes her keen insight into the anointed man of God, thus provoking her husband to “make him a room so that when Elisha passes by, he will stay with us.” Her house is rearranged, displaying a change in priorities. The reward comes in the form of a baby boy. It was the greatest…
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Commanded
I often wonder how much of the American experience distorts the biblical command. It is striking to see the plethora of modern filters placed on the Bible, making it appear to be something different than its original intent. Time and distance mingled with religious tradition has clouded basic scripture. We are commanded to run from sin, not accommodate the world. Redefining what is right and wrong, is to defy God’s forever-settled Word. Case closed. We are commanded to return ten percent of our income as a tithe on the gross. God called it “first-fruit.” There is no negotiation or circumstance…
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Broken
The oldest olive press was found in Tel Hadar in Israel. It is a manual press consisting of a large round stone in a shallow stone base. The extraction of the oil was labor intensive. In simplicity, both the weight of the olives and the heavy stone moving in a circular motion, made the oil possible. Each olive was crushed until the oil seeped from its shell. A mesh like substance was then collected in a leaf and then filtered, separating the pure oil from the pulp. Olive oil was used for four main things: Anointing, preparing food, burning for…
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Peace
Acts 9 is a description of Paul’s conversion. He stayed in Damascus for a while, guided by Ananias. In time, he was sent to Jerusalem under the careful eye of Barnabas. Paul’s persecution of the church had been well known, leaving doubt that he had become a disciple. In the conclusion, Luke writes Acts 9:31 “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. The early church was “strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit and grew in numbers.” Their main oppressor, Saul – who became known as Paul – had been converted, resulting in a…
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The Greatest Victory
Consider the aftermath of the Lord’s crucifixion. Mistakes were made, of this we are certain. Passover and Sabbath laws were violated. Threats against the Roman Empire were levied and so much more. The chief priests let their anger rule them and it cost them even before the weekend was over. After the death of Jesus, Pilate was petitioned by the religious sects to secure the tomb where the body of Jesus lay. The words of this teacher from Galilee rang in their ears as they remembered His self-proclamation of resurrection. Even though the pharisees did not know how Jesus might…
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Make Him Known
Of the plethora of nuances brought about by modernism, there is a constant insatiable appetite for people to know and be known. The irony is not lost when we hear pseudo-celebrities ask for privacy as they post hundreds of selfies. A cartoonist sparked a firestorm of laughter when he depicted British royals traveling the United States on what he called, “The World Wide Privacy Tour.” Everyone seems to want recognition. The cellphone is a personal camera which makes everything on display. It’s both a sad cultural commentary and a depiction of humanism. The fame of people, men and women, all…
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Release of Yourself
Self-healing methods have once again found its footing in the American culture. More people are realizing that the pharmaceutical companies are not in the business of making people better. While the medical industry has refined its technology, there are glaring deficits which produce coping methods instead of resolutions. Combined with the increase in cost. Both food and medical expenses have increased beyond anyone’s expectation. Thus, the home garden and “healing” remedies are on the rise. However, of all the self-help ideas and adaptations, there is one which rises above them all: The healing power of forgiveness. First, God forgave us,…
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Lest You Forget
Did you forget? With all the changes in seasons, vacation planning, political activity heating up, it’s easy to forget. America’s natural barrier oceans keep us somewhat protected, but they also seem to remove us from the turbulence that yet brews abroad. Israel is still at war. The focal point of the world is embroiled in a fierce battle for survival. This small landmass is surrounded by enemies on all sides, including other nations in distant lands. Antisemitism has spiked, though the media is careful to bury this growing conflict. The matters of the Endtime bring about stress points, especially in…
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Redefining Christianity
History has a way of repeating itself. Unfortunately, mass consciousness leads collective thought off the proverbial cliff, thinking that the majority must be right. This is a warning for those of us who espouse the exclusivity of Jesus’ Name in baptism and Holiness: The spirit of the age is against the church. It begins with the redefining of terms, creating new definitions, and historical revisionist. Ultimately, biblical doctrines and Christian principles become points of contention. Several news outlets have now classified Bible believers as “Christian nationalists” denoting the belief that our rights come from God and not government. The fact…
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Defiance
Defiance is not always a positive term. The natural assumption leans toward rebellion. However, there is a time when each believer must be defiant against the demands of the enemy. Jesus defied many of the traditions demanded by the pharisees and they called Him out on it. He healed on the Sabbath. He and His disciples picked wheat on the Sabbath. Jesus touched the leper, which was forbidden. These are a few examples of the many things which He did to provoke a reaction from the religious rulers. They said, “He eats with publicans and sinners.” Jesus defied the unwritten…