You never know the strength of your structure until the storm hits. Houses can look nice, strong and solid, but it is not until the winds howl against them and the waters rise to move them that you really know their strength or weakness. A structure that can take repeated blows from the weather and wind is a place where you can hang your hat. The strength of any building, as all builders know, is the foundation. If it is well laid, then even a shoddy frame may stand. Foundation is everything. However, the thing about foundations is that they are usually hidden. That part of the structure is not the attractive part, and so many times, a home buyer is unaware of the strength of his place until the storm hits. Of course, if there are flaws, it may be too late to fix them. We are passing through a big storm, but not without purpose. Life’s storms hit everyone, but lives built on the Rock (Matthew 16:16-19) will survive and will stand (Matthew 7:24-27). God uses the storms of life to show us what we have and what needs to be shored up. So, how are you holding up? There Stands a Rock S.S. Journal Some build their hopes on the ever-drifting sand,Some on their fame, or their treasure, or their land;Mine’s on the Rock that forever shall stand-Jesus, the Rock of Ages.

Someone described today as the “Age of Phobias.” There are many who are buried under their fears. The fears one has within are often as dangerous as the foes without. Fear is the enemy of achievement and advancement. Fear has been referred to as “the most crippling of emotions.” Fear can lead God’s children to function ineffectively and to be unhappy. Do we remember as a child singing, ‘‘Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf?” Let me tell you, I was! There were a lot of things I feared as a child, but with maturing, my thinking and reasoning changed (1 Corinthians 13:11). I found something in my Lord that enabled me to deal with many of my fears (1 John 4:18). Bible fear may refer to running away or fleeing panic-stricken from battle. Growing up should cause us to realize “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:4 7), and ‘giants’ of fear are defeated by Him. Fear can also mean reverence for an exalted ruler, especially God. All need enough knowledge to fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) and to obey Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Fear may refer to the feeling one experiences in the presence of someone who is infinitely his superior. There are many mighty men in this world, but there is only one Almighty before Whom we should bow in complete submission (Jeremiah 42:11; Exodus 18:21). Before Him we should have the attitude of awe and humility (Proverbs 15:33; Acts 10:2, 22). The most terrifying thing should …

Jesus was fulfilling His mission– “running for a touchdown.” Premillennialists believe that Jesus, when He was rejected and crucified, caused God to change His plan for the Kingdom: (1) that Jesus will yet return to the earth, (2) set up an earthly kingdom and (3) rule on the earth for 1,000 years. Truth. The Lord was not “caught off guard,” He was not “blindsided” by His opponents. He wasn’t surprised by the cross looming before Him. He knew what was in man (John 2:24-25). Scripture shows plainly that Jesus came as prophesied, lived among men and fully completed the work God gave Him to do! In His High-Priestly prayer, Jesus said, “I have finished the work You gave me to do” (John 17:4). The work Jesus came to do included the cross and to be killed (Isaiah 53:3-6; Matthew 16:21). When the writer of Hebrews wrote saying the blood of animals could not take away sin (10:4), he further wrote: Therefore, when he came into the world, He said: Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, “Behold, I have come – In the volume of the book it is written of Me – To do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that he may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:5-10 NKJV) It …

Death ends all opportunity. This life is our one and only opportunity to live and act in view of eternity. God wants us to fear Him. Solomon said fear is the “beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). If we can start with this perspective of God, the knowledge obtained from that point on will be properly “filtered.” No one is going to escape facing God on Judgment Day (Revelation 20:11-15). Those who had a healthy fear of God and operated out of that fear (obeying God) will have nothing about which to be concerned. Evildoers ought to “Be afraid. Be very afraid!” This kind of fear is a genuine attitude for one to have toward God. There is nothing frivolous about this kind of fear. Nobody wants the kind of fear that equates to horror, but the godly fear – which is reverence – is productive.

Preaching gets a bad rap in the population at large. Along with product advertising and political speech, except for those who already believe, people typically listen to preaching with suspicion or just disregard it altogether. Some of the negative attitudes toward preaching are well-founded (e.g., reactions to some television evangelists). Some preachers counter negative reaction to preaching by trying to sound like they are not preaching. Instead of proclamation or exhortation and rebuke, they share reflections and musings. This is weak preaching of the wrong sort. The apostle Paul’s preaching “in weakness and fear” was a renunciation of rhetorical eloquence (“lofty speech”) and theological speculation (“wisdom”). It was a simple, straightforward proclamation of Jesus Christ, crucified and raised! Rejected as a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, the preaching of the cross is nevertheless declared to be both the power and wisdom of God. “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).

Back when I was teaching school, a new school building was built, but there were no sidewalks yet to take students and others from one building to another. I remember someone questioning the superintendent, Al Whitten, about the lack of sidewalks on which to get around. I distinctly remember Mr. Whitten’s reply. He said, “When you see where students are going to walk, you build sidewalks.” Whoever would have thought about letting the students determine where the sidewalks were going to be! To me, that was a good bit of wisdom and insight. Every one of us has been where there were sidewalks on which to walk, but people created their own walkway, which was usually the quickest and shortest way to get to their desired destination. Those walkways were usually bare because the grass was trampled so much. When God created the earth and all that is in it, “He saw every thing that He had made and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). God created only good, but He did have one exhortation for Adam and Eve as he said, “You shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die” (v. 17). God’s walking plan was perfect and simple. He had one rule, and He expected Adam and Eve to stay on the sidewalk. However, that old serpent, the devil, knew how to tempt Adam and Eve to get them to sin, and …

Over three thousand years ago in the near east, a family tragedy led to events that would change the world. There had been hard times in the Promised Land, and an Israeli family sought a better life in the country of Moab. Things did not work out, and, sadly, three members of that family died. Three women were left widows, one a stranger in a strange land with foreign daughters-in-law, named Orpah and Ruth. In Ruth 1:15 we read that Orpah left to go back “after her gods.” Ruth refused and said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (v. 16). Ruth was a Moabite, an alien in Israel, but had little to fear in that regard. God had strong words regarding treatment of foreigners in His promised land. “And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34). She would face no prejudice because of her origins; in fact, God’s providence blessed her with a kind husband and a wonderful life. Some have thought that this family was somehow superior to others, but …

The destiny and reward of the saved is a blessing about which John wrote in Revelation 21 and 22. Heaven is a place where the children of God will dwell with the Godhead. They will share in Their glory, and the blessing that was lost in Eden will be restored. What is Heaven to the saved? Heaven is a place of divine association. ‘‘And I heard a loud voice from Heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God’” (Revelation 21:3). Heaven is a place of peace and comfort. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4; see Hebrews 13:14; 11:16). Heaven is a place of beauty beyond compare. John gave an amazing description of Heaven in Revelation 21:9-21 by describing all kinds of precious stones and jewels with the names of the apostles on 216-foot-high walls surrounding the city. The city is 1,500 miles in length, width and height. There are twelve beautiful gates, each made from a single pearl. The streets are transparent gold. Heaven is a place lighted by the glory of God. ‘‘But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of …

The ideal congregation hungers and thirsts after righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Whether one be younger or older, this characteristic should mark each member of the body of Christ. The security of the blessing pronounced resides in the promise of Jesus that each one so doing shall be filled. This is truly a wonderful promise, knowing that if we pursue righteousness as we ought, the Lord has given His word that our spiritual appetite for righteousness will be satisfied. To hunger and thirst after righteousness suggests a deep-seated craving that compels one to go to great lengths to fulfill its demands. Invariably, one thus becomes a diligent student of the Word (Acts 17:11). May we be emboldened to trust in the Lord’s promise and thus be motivated to hunger and thirst after righteousness as we have never done before. Perhaps we will thus be led into a course of spiritual growth that we would not have otherwise anticipated in the infancy of our spiritual journey. Great spiritual accomplishments are invariably associated with the progressive development of righteousness in the life of an individual child of God.

Marvin Killian was a six-year-old English lad whose parents lived in an impoverished section of London, England. During a bleak, chilly winter, both of his parents died of pneumonia, and the young boy was left alone. His only relative was an aunt who lived in the far away city of Liverpool. Kind people of the neighborhood purchased a railway ticket and packed all of his earthly belongings in one small bag, before placing him on the train. Arriving in Liverpool just before dark, the lad was hungry, tired and very apprehensive. He expected his aunt to meet him, but a servant named Caesar came riding upon a great black horse. Caesar helped him up on the horse, and they started off. Anxiously, the lad asked Caesar if his aunt would already be gone to bed when they arrived at her house. “Oh! No, Sir!” Caesar answered. “In a little way you’ll see her candles in the distance, burning for you.” Surely enough, there it was! When they reached the house, Marvin saw his lovely aunt standing beside the gate, waiting for him. When Caesar helped him to the ground, she ran to him, embraced him and smothered him with her kisses. Taking him inside, she washed his face and hands, and sat him down to a warm supper of beef stew and bread pudding. She drew him a warm bath and helped him get into his pajamas. She knelt with him as he said his prayers, and sitting beside his …

In Psalm 118:22, there was a prophecy made, “The stone which the builders rejected shall become the head of the corner.” Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, Ephesians 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:6 leave no doubt that the prophetic reference was to Christ. We want to examine in a little more detail what was meant by “the head of the corner.” There are at least two theories about it. First, it referred to the keystone of an arch that holds the arch together. Second, it is the chief stone at the angle or corner of the building that joins the two walls and is a part of the foundation. The reference in Psalm 118:22 is presumed by some to refer to a historical event in the building of the Temple, at which time those who built it found a stone that they did not recognize as fitting at any particular place. They cast it to one side, for all the stones had been previously cut before they were brought there (1 Kings 6:7). When they came to the place in the building where it was needed, they eventually found it. I find no reference in any biblical literature to uphold that assumption. I find some tradition of a few Rabbis that suggest it. It seems probable that David is merely using a figure of speech in a Messianic prophecy, not referring to some actual historical event where the builders rejected the chief stone. However, whether it was an actual historical event or …

Hebrews 13:17 reads, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (ESV). It is essential that each congregation of the Lord’s church continue to appoint men who will lead the congregation as shepherds or elders. First Timothy 3 and Titus 1 both give the qualifications of the men who are to fulfill this function of leadership in the church. As important as it is to find men who are mature Christians and who meet the biblical standards of leadership, one must keep in mind that this is only one part of what helps a congregation function as God designed. Another part of having a faithful congregation is having faithful followers. Hebrews 13:17 states that the congregation must be one which faithfully follows godly leadership. This passage teaches members of a congregation that they are to follow in such a way that they help their elders enjoy their job as shepherds. This is done in part of being good followers. I am sure we have been in a situation at one time or another, such as at school or at work, when it seemed that there were too many coaches and not enough players. In situations like that, nothing gets accomplished, and the same is true in a congregation. If a congregation did not have leaders to …

The foundation is ever so important when constructing a building. Concrete reinforced with rebar is the usual construction method. There are building codes and constant inspections to ensure regulations are met. Builders are held accountable for any errors in the foundational support. Constructing a building without these codes could cause the building to collapse. According to God, it also makes a difference where we build our spiritual foundation. Christ gave the example of one who built his house on sand. Many heard the sayings of Christ but did not do them. When the winds came and the rain descended on the house, it fell because it was not founded upon rock (Matthew 7:24-27). Here, the rock for us is the Word of God. All of the church’s activity must be founded in the rock of the Word of God. In another sense, Paul told the Corinthians that “no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (l Corinthians 3:11). Many churches claim attachment to Christ, but unless they have submitted to His will, they are not His church. Therefore, Jesus Christ is not their foundation. Notice that in Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16). In verse 18 Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall …

Just for Today decide to be happy today, to live with what you have,your family, your friends, your business, your job, your good fortune.If you can’t have what you like, maybe you can like what you have. Just for today be kind, cheerful, agreeable, responsive,caring and understanding. Be your best, dress your best, talk softly,and look for the bright side of things.Praise people for what they do, and don’t criticize them for what theycannot do. If someone does something stupid, forgive and forget. After all, it’s just for today. When all is said and done,it might just turn out to be a really nice day.This is my wish for you.

There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9), so the times in which we live are nothing that haven’t been seen before. In particular, the polarizing that has happened over the last decade, which evolves into hatred and violence, is not new. In fact, it can be successfully argued that hatred and violence against those who are not like us is one of Satan’s oldest tools. Still the question lingers: “What can we do against such hate?” “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ ‘But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven’” (Matthew 5:43-45). On another occasion, a scribe heard an interchange between Sadducees and Jesus, and recognized that our Lord had answered them well. The scribe asked Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all? Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31). If more of us will play the part of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), then we can begin …

As Christians, we serve a wonderful and caring God who seeks to give us all that we need to adequately navigate lives in service to Him. He is described in 2 Corinthians 1:3 as the God of comfort, and such He certainly is – both through His Word and His promises. However, there is another reason mentioned why He is the God of comfort. It is so that we might also be able to comfort others as we have been comforted. This, of course, raises the immediate question, “Who needs our comfort?” An understanding of the answer to this question is pivotal to our ability to adequately fulfill our mandate as comforters. There are many categories that could be considered. The first one that comes to mind for many people is responding to the physically needy. This is certainly one of the reasons God gave commandments concerning the need “to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). We are commanded to see to the physical needs of our brethren, as well as to those outside the body of Christ. Paul wrote, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10). Therefore, it is obvious that God intended for us to use our ability to comfort others who are physically needy. A second category needing …

The apostles’ doctrine (teaching) had an immediate impact on the infant church, as we see in Acts 2:42 that the new Christians “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…” It is obvious from the instant and continuing growth of the church that the apostles impressed upon those disciples the necessity of teaching others the Gospel, the ongoing need for evangelism. The church today knows about the Great Commission, that we are to take the soul-saving message to all people everywhere. We know that this was done by the early church, and thus, we know that it can be done! Like in so many things, we know better than we do! We all appreciate and benefit from words of encouragement and commendation, but there are times when we can also benefit from words that are not so encouraging but are needed for correction and rejuvenation. Evangelism Today There was a time in the lifetime of many of us when the Lord’s church was the fastest growing religious group in America. What a glorious time that was as the church was actively engaged in both group and individual evangelistic efforts, and we saw that the efforts were indeed successful! However, that was then, and this is now.I believe that no one would dispute the fact that the church is not as evangelistic as it was a few decades ago. Why Is This True? I believe that there is one word that perhaps answers the question better than any other – apathy. Apathy involves a lack of passion, feeling, emotion or excitement. Please …

Recently, one mantra that became quite popular was “I am living my own truth.” It contends each person lives by his or her own standards of truth for his or her life. One celebrity tried to use it to escape criminal charges by declaring she was not guilty because according to her truth she did what was right. This is one example that demonstrates the pluralistic nature of our culture – embracing multiple or alternate competing views simultaneously. This principle is especially evident in religious matters. Many assert that God is Whoever or Whatever one desires Him to be. They assert that there is no objective instruction to guide people in their pursuit of faith. Of course, this is an issue because the Bible makes many claims to be the only objective truth that leads to faith and to a relationship with God (Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3; Psalm 119:105). Consider one of the most well-known passages in John’s Gospel account. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6). This passage is exclusive and runs perpendicular to our world’s pluralistic worldview. Anyone approaching God must do so through Jesus Christ. We must approach God through Jesus because He is the way to God. In Jesus’ approximately 33-year earthly life, He showed the world how God desires each of us to live. Thus, a disciple must live as Jesus did and …

Surely, we all have some knowledge regarding this insect and this fowl – the honeybee and the buzzard. Both have been placed here on this earth for different purposes as designed by the Creator, God Almighty. While their functions are vital, they are radical in contrast. The buzzard is rather despised by the human family. We esteem this bird as being unsightly in appearance and undesirable because of its work, the devouring of dead carcasses. Yet, in the balance of nature, this scavenger has a rightful place in our environment. The honeybee, on the other hand, is well esteemed and respected. While we dislike the sting of such a small insect, we do appreciate the delicious honey that it makes for us. The bee can be seen visiting the beautiful flowers and various blooms in the vegetative kingdom. No wonder the honey that this bee makes is so sweet. Strangely enough, the buzzard and the honeybee remind us of the various attitudes and dispositions found in different people. First of all, some folks enjoy dwelling on the ungodly, the gossip, the hearsay, the ugly, the bad, the filthy, the hurtful and the immoral. They seem to get their kicks over telling or hearing a good piece of juicy slander. The worse it stinks, the better they like it. This old world is filled with individuals who love filthiness. The Bible refers to people who “speak foolishness” and whose “heart will work iniquity” (Isaiah 32:6). Paul wrote of the unrighteous in …

Since God exists and the Bible is the Inspired Word of God, we are assured that what the Bible teaches about the nature of God is absolutely true. Although humans are limited and unable to exhaustively comprehend everything about God (cf., Job 11:7; 26:14; Isaiah 40:28; Romans 11:33-34), there are some truths that can be known about God (Deuteronomy 29:29). God has sufficiently revealed Himself through nature (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:19-20), through the Bible (Psalm 19:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17) and, in a limited sense, through humanity, because every human being is made in the “image” and “likeness” of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God’s nature is made up of His essence and attributes. For the sake of study, these can be separated and examined. However, they are so interconnected and interwoven with one another that they are inseparable in the total makeup of God. Essence refers to substance; that which underlies all outward manifestations; that in which the qualities, or attributes, inhere (Thiessen 119). If there were no essence there could be no attributes. Humans are, in a limited way, like God’s essence in that we are spiritual in nature like God. Attributes are the objective qualities that inhere in the substance (essence); they denote the way in which God exists and operates (Thiessen 123). The non-moral attributes of God are those that do not involve moral qualities (e.g., omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence). Humans cannot be like God in these attributes. The moral attributes of God are those that involve moral qualities (e.g., …

Someone suggested David’s words in Psalm 37:4-5 are a good representation of the way God’s children view death. The shepherd king wrote, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” The Christian’s view of death begins with life. David instructed, “Delight yourself also in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4a). Paul portrayed this when he declared, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). The widow willingly gave all she had because of this type of thinking (Luke 21:1-4). David continued, “Commit your way to the Lord” (Psalm 37:5a). Commitment to the Lord led Dorcas to make all sorts of garments for the widows (Acts 9:36-43). Their tearful display of her works resulted in Peter raising her from the dead. Paul gave up his own life and lived with Christ making the controlling decisions in his daily walk (Galatians 2:20). The Christian sees death as desirable because of what follows. David said the one who delighted in the Lord would discover that He would give him the desires of his heart (Psalm 37:4b). The apostle to the Gentiles desired to be with the Lord (Philippians 1:23). Living a life fully committed to the Savior resulted in the Lord bringing to pass what Paul trusted Him to do (Psalm 37:5b). John described Heaven in wonderful terms (Revelation 21:1-6). Paul confidently looked forward …

Stephen Hawking died at the age of 76 from the effects of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). He was known for his work as a theoretical physicist, especially in the area of black holes. Hawking did not rule out the existence of God but did not necessarily believe God had to exist. In one of his famous quotes he said, “God may exist, but science can explain the universe without the need for a creator.” Many would disagree that science is able to do that very thing. Despite the theoretical suppositions of how the universe could bring itself into existence, they only raise more questions, not answer them. Theories rise, based on human concepts, are pursued, abandoned due to a better understanding of what can and cannot work within such theories, and new ones take their place. In reality, science is no closer to explaining the creation of life apart from God because it is an impossibility, a deception from the mind of finite beings. Another statement he made was, “If you believe in science, like I do, you believe that there are certain laws that are always obeyed.” And yet, for science to push evolution, certain laws have to be negated, such as the laws of thermodynamics and biogenesis. Choosing which to ignore and which to retain to promote a preconceived idea is circular reasoning, which proves nothing. Consistency is perhaps one of the hardest things for us as human beings to grasp. Of all the statements Hawking made, this …