Most churches get various phone calls through the course of a day. Throughout my time as a preacher, I’ve received numerous calls on a variety of subjects. I must say, however, occasionally I get a call I had never considered before. This happened this past week. An anonymous caller was wanting to know if we had singing. I responded yes, but she again asked if we sang in the service, and I asked if she was speaking of our assembling together. She again responded yes, and I responded we do indeed sing, as God wants us to do so in worshipping Him. She sighed, thanked me, and hung up. I didn’t get the chance to talk to her further about this question, but it dawned on me she had reference to our assembling this particular Sunday on Easter. It then started to make sense. Many people feel the need to “go to church” on Easter Sunday, as that seems to be the time the world considers such is required, or what one should do, annually anyway. However, in a world of COVID, she had decided it was dangerous to attend where people sang, as she feared getting the virus if she was in the presence of people singing. So, she was determined to find a church that wouldn’t sing, so her conscience could be appeased. How tragic it is that Satan has so deceived people that their fears and desires compel them to dictate to God how He should be …

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American naturalist, essayist, poet and philosopher. He was best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. In it is the oft quoted statement, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” He basically addressed what he saw as a problem in life, to which many people resigned themselves. If you feel a sense of desperation in life, then change how you think, how you feel and how you live. Find what offers meaning, purpose or joy for your existence. He did this himself for a little over two years at Waldon pond. There is more to this, though, than what Thoreau considered. Putting this into a biblical perspective, I am reminded of what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes. As one with seemingly unlimited resources and time, he pursued all kinds of lifestyles, seeing what good they had to offer. He tried riches, alcohol, various physical pleasures, work, gaining knowledge and skill, and other such things. The result of them all is captured in his phrase, “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:11 ESV). The physical by itself offers nothing lasting, nothing that will satisfy but temporarily and nothing that brings a true sense of purpose. In the end, Solomon reached this decision. “Let us hear the …

“He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ And he said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door.” ‘For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able’” (Luke 13:22-24 ESV). The context of this passage shows Jesus engaged in His teaching ministry in the area of Perea, which was north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan River; He was making His way to Jerusalem (Luke 13:22). Many believed in Him, but one had a question of utmost importance to ask the Son of God regarding the number of those who will be saved. Will the number of such be few? Perhaps couched in the question is the desire for this unknown person to know whether he would be part of that number. By Jesus referring to the path that leads to life being like a narrow door, He told this person, and us, the pursuit of life eternal is well defined by God, and only those who are willing to persistently follow His will can enter. It reminds us of His words in the Sermon on the Mount. There our Lord pointed out the broad way was large enough to accommodate a variety of beliefs and practices, and many would travel that way, but it only leads to destruction. One must take the narrow path, following the well-defined will of God, which …

If you drive around town, you will find places of worship are still prevalent in our neighborhoods, even in a COVID world. The self-identification of such places is interesting. For example, there is Pathway, Grace Creek, Grace Crossing, The Ministry Church, Motion Church, Highridge, Revive Church, New Horizon, New Beginning, Solid Rock, Faith, Church in the Wind, LifePoint, and numerous others. Perhaps the philosophy is that having a catchy phrase will attract attention or a larger audience. You might ask, “So what? What difference does it make?” It is interesting how many things in the New Testament are specifically identified with Christ. For example, Mark speaks of the beginning of the Gospel of Christ (Mark 1:1). We desire to share in the love, mercy, and grace of Christ (Ephesians 3:19; Jude 1:21; 2 Corinthians 13:14). In Christ we have hope, joy and peace (Ephesians 1:12; Philippians 4:4; Colossians 3:15). All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), and the promise of eternal life is based in Him (John 17:3). Everywhere you look in Scripture, God’s blessings and provisions for us are in Christ. When our Lord is so prominent in everything mentioned in Scripture, why do so many groups leave Him out of their self-designations? Why would so many religious affiliations absent references to the Lord in how they describe themselves, in how they want others to think of them, remember them and identify them? Of course, none of these previously mentioned designations are found anywhere in the New Testament. …

Mole rats, as their name suggests, are pink, nearly hairless, subterranean rodents. They have short, broad heads with powerful jaw muscles and very large incisors, which they use to dig tunnels. While this may seem of no consequence for us, they may have led to an amazing archeological discovery that, yet again, affirms the truthfulness of Scripture. Previously, a rock discovered in 1993 containing an inscription about the “House of David” was one of the few tangible, extrabiblical evidences for David. Archaeologists working at the Tel ‘Eton excavation site used the piles of dirt dug up by these burrowing rodents to discover something surprising. “The mole rat told us that there is a small settlement in a place where nobody thought a settlement had existed,” Professor Avraham Faust of Barllan University explained to Haaretz. The remains discovered show the existence of a large building – called the “Governor’s Residency” by the archaeologists – that dates to the time of King David and demonstrates a powerful kingdom. While no artifacts that mentioned the names of David or Solomon were uncovered, the site did reveal signs of a social transformation in the region. “This has bearing on the date in which social complexity evolved in Judah [and] on the debate regarding the historicity of the kingdom of David and Solomon,” Faust said. Radiocarbon dating from foundation deposits, olive pits, and coal found on the floor of the building pointed to the 11th or 10th century BC, the time of the unified Davidic …

It’s a question asked by many in all kinds of circumstances, “Where is God?” It can be a global situation, a national crisis or one’s personal condition, but there are times in many people’s lives where their understanding of God is confronted with a harsh reality they believe doesn’t line up with what Scripture teach, or what they personally believe about the will of God. In such times as these, the question is often asked, “Where is God in all this?” The answer is, “He is where He has always been.” He is on His throne, reigning over the world, seeing His will is fulfilled, preparing us for eternity. It is true that many people are drawn to God and recognize His authority in difficult times, but there are also those who are shaken in their faith by the trials of life. It’s a matter of our understanding of Scripture and our trust in what it reveals about Him to us. You see, while God is love, all have sinned, and we must deal with the consequences this brings to life. The “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and its effects in our lives are harsh and cruel. Just as Adam and Eve were warned what would happen if they disobeyed God, so it is still true today. While sin can shake us to the very core of our existence, it is the reality that comes with allowing the devil to play his part in our lives, in our …

In this life, we can hope for many things to happen, but in actuality, as we use this term, it is more of a wish than a reality. We may hope for rain or for sunshine, for good health or for healing and for all kinds of things. However, because of our limited understanding, we can’t see beyond today, and many of the things for which we hope may not come to pass. Certainly, this is not the case when we consider our lot in life as it relates to our relationship with God in Jesus Christ. By definition, hope is (a) to cherish a desire with expectation of fulfillment (as a verb), or (b) the object of such desires (as a noun). Both of these elements are essential for hope to be real and genuine, something that offers a positive motivation in one’s life. If there’s no desire or expectation, then hope doesn’t exist; one can be characterized as being “without hope” in Scripture, which is almost a synonym for despair (Ephesians 2:12). There must be something tangible for which one hopes, something real within the realm of possibility, for hope to exist (Colossians 1:4-5). In addition to this, there needs to be a degree of conviction in what one hopes, some assurance in its validity, a promise that certain things are true and that one’s hope is legitimate. When it comes to the hope we have from God in Christ, it is firm and secure, which encourages and …

Complacency is defined as “self-satisfaction, accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.” A person who is complacent would like to keep things the way they are indefinitely. The problem with such an attitude is life does change, whether we want it to or not. Such feelings can keep us from improving ourselves or responding positively to problems that arise. The result can be troublesome, even devastating, for those who are complacent. Of course, we realize God and His Word will never change. Peter reminds us, “Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this word is the good news that was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:23-25 ESV). We must never change or depart from the pattern God provides through the Bible. Though God and His Word are constant, we can become complacent about His Word to us and our response to His Word. When Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19), His words apply to all of us, not just to the apostles or to foreign missionaries. When we sit in a comfortable building to worship and become familiar with those who attend with us, it’s easy to become complacent, to just keep things the way they are. In two …

Maybe you have, or haven’t, heard the term Christianish before. I first heard it used on a talk radio program and became curious about it, as the conversation in which it was used didn’t really offer a good context to determine what it meant. According to the Urban Dictionary, it is “the practice of Christianity lite.” Someone who is Christianish “believes in selective moral teachings of Jesus, and may or may not believe in the resurrection, miracles, and other traditional beliefs.” Sometimes this term is used for those who are considered to be a Christian in name only. I believe it is a modern term used to refer to what was once called cafeteria Christianity, where one felt he or she could pick which teachings of Scripture to follow and feel free to reject the rest. One illustration refers to those who can’t be bothered with reading the Bible as being Christianish, meaning they define what it means to be a follower of Christ by their own feelings and choices, rather than what is revealed in the Word of God. While there are, no doubt, those who could be described as nominal Christians or Christianish, the real question is, “Does this please God? Does He allow us to pick and choose how we are committed to Him?” I’m not talking about the process of growing and maturing in Christ, of seeking to follow Christ as He desires and struggling against fleshly thoughts and desires. I’m speaking of redefining what we are …

I once received a phone call from a woman who was very distraught over things being taught and practiced where she worshipped. Taking of the Lord’s Supper any day of the week, instrumental music being advocated and other issues were being promoted as acceptable. In the course of conversation, she mentioned how, when discussing whether these changes were scriptural or not, the response she received was, “We don’t want to limit Christ.” To say you don’t want to limit Christ sounds noble, but the fact of the matter is quite different when we alter the pattern found in Scripture. God’s Word – Scripture – is indeed our pattern. As an inspired apostle, Paul reminded Timothy, “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13 ESV). He reminded the brethren in Rome, “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed” (Romans 6:17). That this pattern was the standard applicable to all congregations is seen in his words to the church at Corinth. “That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17). Following the pattern revealed in Scripture is not limiting Christ but following Christ. Jesus told His apostles, “…All …

Several people have reported seeing this commercial being shown recently on a variety of stations. It should shock us as Christians to the core of our being, and it should shock us as a nation, but the question is, “Will it?” A new FX cartoon “sitcom” entitled Little Demon is being promoted, a new series that is owned and marketed by Disney, but certainly not the Disney that Walt Disney himself created or would ever have envisioned. [Editor’s Note: Little Demon ran on FXX from August 25, 2022 to October 20, 2022. “The series premiered in Asia, Australasia and Europe on September 21, 2022, on Disney+ (via Star) and in Latin America on February 8, 2023, on Star+. In the UK & Ireland, it was released on January 18, 2023. The series was removed from Hulu on May 26, 2023, and neither a renewal for a second season nor the show’s cancellation have been confirmed” (“Little Demon”). Disney corporation owns FXX, Disney+ and Hula. ~ Louis Rushmore] The trailer includes dark images of hell, demons, satanic imagery, as well as an explanation that the main character is the antichrist. Disney offers the following description. “Thirteen years after being impregnated by Satan, a reluctant mother, Laura, and her Antichrist daughter, Chrissy, attempt to live an ordinary life in Delaware, but they are constantly thwarted by monstrous forces, including Satan, who yearns for custody of his daughter’s soul” (“Little Demon”). The actress who voices Laura said in an interview, “I love that we are normalizing paganism. …

“The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. ‘What is the chaff to the wheat?’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:28 NKJV). Jeremiah was a true prophet of God in Israel. He faithfully spoke the message God gave Him to relate to the people, and he endured all the hardship that came with it, as it was not a popular message. Instead, the message was one that spoke of judgment at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar rather than a revival of the golden years of Israel. This was in contrast to those false prophets who spoke of how God would not allow them to be handed over to the Babylonians and that Jeremiah should be put to death for discouraging the people (Jeremiah 38:1-6). God’s response to those who disputed what God had told Jeremiah was counted as men who had nothing but straw to offer. God’s Word, however, spoken by Jeremiah, was counted like wheat, that which had value, which had real worth in what it could offer and provide. Certainly, it was not popular, but it was life-giving and true. God went on to say, “‘Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ says the Lord, ‘and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the Lord.” (Jeremiah …