By: Derek Broome

As a dad, I am constantly evaluating how I am doing as a father. Like all parents, I have things I do well and things that I greatly need to improve. One of the things that I try to think about is that I am not just a dad; I am a Christian dad. There are so many things that, as a dad, I want for my children, but more than anything else, I need to want and to work towards them being faithful servants of God with a faith of their own. However, how do I do this? What are some things that would help me be a better Christian dad and help my children develop a faith of their own? Have a Convicted, Growing and Working Faith (Hebrews 11:1; 2 Peter 1:5–8; James 2:14–26; Philippians 4:9). The excuse given by many children who walk away from God is that they did not see a living and active faith among their parents or other adult mentors. How convicted am I really? Is it evident to others? Make God and the Church a Priority (Matthew 6:33; Mark 12:30; Ecclesiastes 12:13). If God and the church are not a priority to us, why would our children want to make Him a priority for them? God is to be more than first; He is to be our all. Teach the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth (John 17:17; Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 4:1–5). I cannot teach what I do

Well, it’s that time of year again. It’s time to spring our clocks forward by one hour. I know there are people out there who really dislike the time changing because we lose an hour of sleep, but outside of the little adjustments we have to make to get used to things again, there are some really wonderful things seen in the spring of the year. On the ideal spring day, you can hear the birds chirping, the sun is shining and an assortment of flowers are all in bloom. The world basically wakes up from a long winter nap, and new life can be seen all around us. Our spiritual lives can be like a new spring day every day. With each day with which the Lord blesses us, we have new opportunities and new moments to choose to live for Him. Joshua in Joshua 24:15 made it very clear Who he and his family were going to serve when he said, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” New days and new moments give us the same opportunity to choose God and can spring us forward into a life that is pleasing to Him. For those who are outside of Christ, each day is a new opportunity to get one’s life right with God. As we can see in 2 Peter 3:9, the Lord wants all people to repent and to come to Him. Each day we live is another opportunity to repent

Around this time of year people around the world will often ask the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” This question is answered in several different ways by people of all ages. Some will say that they don’t want anything. Others will list something very practical and possibly even something that they really need. However, I want you to imagine for a moment that this question is asked of a young, energetic child who has been thinking about this question since last Christmas. This child is so excited about Christmas that he or she, with perfect recall, can instantly tell you everything that they have ever wanted, and the sky’s the limit. Maybe this child runs back to his or her bedroom and pulls out the list on which the child has been working for months. Sometimes the things on such a list don’t even exist, and that can present a challenge within itself. Imagine a child in a toy store where every toy is instantly the newest favorite thing, that is until having gotten the toy, it is either broken or boredom set in less than five minutes later. Within the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” is a lesson that I think we all need to hear, and it has nothing to do with Christmas. When we read about God in the Bible, we read about an all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present God Who is holy, good, just, loving, merciful and gracious. In fact, His very being

Imagine for a moment that somebody does something really nice for you. What do you say? What do you do? Hopefully, we at least say, “Thank you,” and maybe we even send a card or do something to show our appreciation. Now imagine that somebody does something so amazing and so transformative for you and for your life that words and the polite gesture of sending a card do not even come close to expressing how blessed, how honored and how thankful you truly are. In Luke 1:26–34, an angel appeared to a young virgin girl named Mary and informed her that she was going to have a child and to call His name Jesus. He told her that her son will reign over a kingdom that will never end. That shocked and confused Mary for she was a virgin and had never been with a man. The angel informed her in Luke 1:35 that the son that she was to have was from God. She was going to give birth to the Son of God. After hearing about her relative, Elizabeth, also being with child, Mary spoke again to the angel and said in verse 38, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (NKJV). Nothing was impossible with God, and Mary was faithfully ready to serve the Lord. In Luke 1:39–45, Mary traveled to visit Elizabeth. When she entered the room, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy, and “Elizabeth

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it is really hard to be patient. Right now as you are reading this you might be thinking of something or someone that really tests your patience. Maybe it’s a coworker or a family member. Maybe it’s the line at the grocery store or the bank. Maybe it’s the local, state or federal government. I don’t know what tests your patience, and maybe you don’t struggle with patience at all, but throughout the Word of God, we can see the patience of God on display. Further, we can see how God wants us as His people to be patient. Have you ever looked into God’s Word and specifically looked at God’s patience? When God made mankind, He made us in His image (Genesis 1:27). At the completion of His creation, He said that we as part of His creation were “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Yet, just because we were made in the image of God and considered by God to be good, did not mean we would always make good decisions. In Genesis 3:6, we see that Adam and Eve both chose sin. If this was your creation or your child, how would you have responded? To make matters worse, like Adam and Eve, we all have chosen sin at times and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So, God looks down upon His special creation that He made in His image and sees that we all have chosen sin.

In 1 Kings 19, Jezebel was angry and promised to kill Elijah after hearing what he did to the prophets of Baal. Upon hearing the threats against himself, Elijah arose and ran for his life. In 1 Kings 19:4, we see that “…he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’” (NKJV). In this verse, we hear the words of a faithful servant of God who was struggling. God saw His servant, and in verses 5-8, we see God refreshed him before sending him on his way. After traveling many days, his struggles are more clearly defined in verses 10 and 14, where he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1 Kings 19:14). Elijah acknowledged his zeal and work for the Lord but also highlighted how Israel has rejected God and His servants. Elijah felt alone and scared. I imagine he was also extremely tired, but once again God was there to set Elijah on the right path and to remind him that he was not alone. Have you ever felt like you were the only one who was trying

Have you ever thought about some of the challenges the first century church faced? No, I am not talking about persecution, imprisonment or even physical death, but I am referring to the binding of two groups of people together. Basically, the world of the first century was divided into two distinct groups of people: Jew and Gentile. These two groups did not mix well together. They were kind of like oil and water. Their customs were different, their religions were different, and even their food was different. So, imagine what it must have been like when these two groups of people first came together as the church. It was hard; it was difficult. Yes, it is true that these two groups were brought together by God. They were built up together on the foundation of Jesus (Ephesians 2:19-22). That wall of separation had been brought down, and those who were far off were brought near to be together with God and His one united people (Ephesians 2:14-18). However, they were still people. There were still struggles and problems, and people had to learn, change and grow. God’s plan was perfect, but people were still people. When we look into Acts 15:1, we see one of the big problems that sometimes came between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Teachers from Judea were teaching that Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to be saved. Physical circumcision and the keeping of the Law were points of contention for many. Things had changed, and

Before my wife and I were blessed with children, we discussed how we wanted to raise our kids – if the Lord blessed us in that way. Of course, the number one thing on our list was to raise them in the Lord, and I hope we are doing a good job at that. I know we fall short sometimes. One of the things that we wanted to do to help us raise them in the Lord was to homeschool our children. I know many that disagree with homeschooling for various reasons, but for my family it is what works best for us. Recently, I was being asked about their schooling by someone who was curious about how things were going. He was especially curious about math and wanted to know if we were using the new math. If you do not know, that is a touchy subject with some people. I said we were using old math, which we are, but to be totally clear, we also teach the math that is in the textbooks. We spend a great deal of money on our children’s curriculum, and it would be unwise and wasteful to not teach what is provided and expected. My wife and I want our children to have a great education, to be well rounded and to grow up to be faithful in the Lord. If that means that along the way they learn to do some math in a different way than I learned, that is okay, as

Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror? When I was younger, I looked at myself in the mirror all the time. In fact, I used to look in the mirror so much that people who knew me best would pick on me about always staring at myself. I’ll admit it, sometimes I was looking in the mirror because I was vain. I was younger, thinner and for a brief period of time, I actually had hair. Pride and vanity have definitely impacted my life, but not always in the obnoxious, arrogant kind of way. I’ve also had times in my life when I was looking in the mirror because my confidence was low, and I wanted to see if I fit or measured up to the worldly standard of how a young man is supposed to look. Pride and vanity impact you even if you are not acting arrogant or obnoxious. People with low self-esteem can often think everything is about them but just in a negative way. People with low self-esteem often put the focus on this life and find themselves looking for satisfaction and fulfillment in all the wrong places. Does this mean that looking in the mirror is always a bad thing? Of course not. It’s good to put your best foot forward. It shows self-worth as well as care and can help one have and show a healthy level of confidence from day to day. However, we need to be sure that we are not valuing

We must all continually humble ourselves before God and His Word. We need to check the condition of our spiritual lives, always making sure that we are not letting pride, arrogance, complacency or any other sin get in the way of us being the humble servants that we ought to be. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10 NKJV). God can do amazing things in our lives and in the work of the church, but we must remain humble servants who are constantly looking into the Word and relying on God to give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Like Paul, let us all “…press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). It does not take special events for us to realize the need for spiritual renewal. Let us all be renewed day by day as we dive deeper into the Word of God. [Editor’s Note: Somehow, introspection (2 Corinthians 13:5) doesn’t occur to us as easily as examining the lives of others (Matthew 7:3-4). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]

When I think back on my life, I have a lot of great memories with so many people. I have been blessed with a wonderful family, and I have been surrounded my entire life by more friends than I can count. With each one of these people, I could probably tell you numerous stories of all the great times we had, the things we did and the wonderful memories we shared. However, I could also tell you several stories that were not so great. I could tell you stories of disagreements, pain and loss. I could tell you stories of people doing what people do sometimes. We sin and we fall short; sometimes we let each other down. The saddest stories for me involve the things that I did or sometimes failed to do – times that I failed to do the right thing and times I definitely did the wrong thing. Of all the things I did or didn’t do, the one thing that haunts me more than all the rest is all of the people who have come in and out of my life who I never told about Jesus. As Christians, our lives have been transformed by Jesus and the good news of the Gospel. Why would we not want to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ? Are we ashamed? In Romans 1:16, we see that Paul was clearly not ashamed of the Gospel, for he boldly said, “For I am not ashamed of

Several years ago, I was introduced to a new rendition of the song “Just As I Am.” It was entitled “Just As I Am (I Come Broken).” Within the additional lyrics in this newer rendition, there are words with which I connect every time I hear them. “I come broken to be mended. I come wounded to be healed. I come desperate to be rescued. I come empty to be filled. I come guilty to be pardoned by the blood of Christ the Lamb and I’m welcomed with open arms. Praise God. Just as I am.” Most people have felt broken at one time or another. This is especially true when a person honestly evaluates his life and sees what sin has done to his relationship with God. Thankfully, the Word of God tells us exactly where we can go and to Whom we can turn for help – for all of the pain and brokenness we sometimes feel because of things in this life and due to our sins. Before the foundations of the world, and before sin and pain even entered the world, God had a plan to send His Son to redeem mankind (1 Peter 1:19-21). He knew that all men would sin and deserve death (separation forever from God, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Yet, God had a plan that offers salvation and eternal life to all who would obey (Romans 3:23; 6:23). We all have the opportunity to be cleansed of our sins (1 Peter 3:21) and

One day recently, my youngest came running around the corner wearing a shirt that I just so happen to love. Now, before I tell you what the shirt said on the front, I need you to understand I did not buy this shirt for him. I’m honestly not sure where he got it, but I just wanted it to be clear that I did not buy it for him. On the front of my son’s shirt, that I obviously love, are the words “Cool Like Dad.” This shirt makes me smile every time I see it on him, and I will be a little sad when he outgrows it. Yet, while I do smile every time I see this shirt, those three words have the ability to bring a grown man to his knees. In those three little words there is a comparison. You are seeing an example of where, in this case, a child patterns himself after a parent. For me, the idea of being a good example for my children has been in my thoughts and in my mind since the moment I found out that I was going to be a dad. This is something that I think about, pray about and talk about constantly with my wife. In a healthy way, parents – really all people – need to continually think about the example they set before others, and that includes the kind of example they present to their children. In numerous Scriptures, we are told

Sometimes as a dad, I have to set my children down and have serious talks with them. Maybe they have been misbehaving or not listening, or maybe it is just something that is really important that I need them to understand. In those moments, I am trying to help them see the big picture. I am trying to help them see what is really important and what the consequences will be for not listening and not obeying. When we come to Hebrews 6, the writer was trying to help those who received this message to grow beyond first principles and to move on to heavier matters. He was trying to shore up their faith so that they had what they needed to grow, endure and be fruitful. Specifically in Hebrews 6:9-12, the writer was encouraging them to continually focus on better things, things of God and salvation. This is something he was convinced was possible. They were a people who had proven that they could work for God and serve others, but just like all of us, they still needed to strive daily to be better. In Hebrews 6:11-12, they were encouraged to “show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (NKJV). Like we see in Hebrews 5 and 6, we all are to be diligent to hear and grow in sound doctrine, to work and serve God

I love the spring of the year. It’s like the world is waking up from a long winter’s nap, and in some ways it is. Those winter days can sometimes be cold and dark, and everything kind of seems gray and dull. However, with springtime, we often get to feel that pleasant warmth provided by the sun, and we get to see those beautiful, bold colors provided by the blooming flowers, the trees and the rest of God’s beautiful creation. In the springtime, the world wakes up, and new life appears all around us. This reminds me of the new life that we can have in Christ Jesus. How many times have you heard people talking about searching for purpose or meaning in life? How many times have you heard somebody say they wished they could start over as they thought about all the things they did in their lives? People struggle with things like that, and if we will only look to God, we can find the answers. According to Ecclesiastes 12:13, our purpose here is to “fear God and keep His commandments.” This is to be mankind’s all. Yet, mankind has not always chosen to serve God. Since the first man and the first woman, people have sinned. In fact, we “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We sin when we are “lured and enticed” by our own desires (James 1:14). We have made those choices, and because of our sins,

Growing up, I was surrounded constantly by passionate preachers. I use the word “passionate” not only because the lessons they presented were heartfelt, but also because when the need arose, they preached passionately against the sins about which the Bible warns us. This kind of passionate preaching has sometimes been labeled as preaching “hellfire and brimstone,” which is a reference to the punishment that awaits those who do not obey Christ (Revelation 21:8). If someone were to tell you the preacher is preaching hellfire and brimstone, how would you respond? First, I want to acknowledge that there are many people in our world who have probably never heard this phrase and might not have an immediate response. Maybe this is because they have never heard this kind of preaching, or maybe it is because they have just never given it a label. So, we need to acknowledge that phrases like this are not always understood by all, and that even includes those of us who think we know what we are talking about. Preaching hellfire and brimstone gets both positive and negative responses. Some see it as harsh and unloving preaching that only focuses on sin, condemnation and hell. Others see it as loving and zealous preaching that in a very direct way calls sin what it is, explains the punishment for being disobedient and encourages faithful living before God. As you can see, these are two very different viewpoints on this type of preaching. In a similar fashion, if

Over the past several weeks while worshipping at home with my family, I have had the opportunity to sing a lot with my kids. What I have learned is that my children have very few songs that they love, and they want to sing them over and over again. Yet, how can I really say no? They love to sing, and they love God. So, in our devotional times and in some extra singing we do as a family, we usually sing a lot of the same songs. One of those songs that we have been singing a lot is “Blue Skies and Rainbows.” This has been one of Joshua’s favorite songs for a long time. I know that typically this song is sung with children, but this song has a powerful and an encouraging message. “Blue skies and rainbows and sunbeams from Heaven are what I can see when the Lord is living in me. I know that Jesus is well and alive today. He makes His home in my heart. Nevermore will I be all alone since He promised me that we never would part.” As Christians, even when things are not going the way that we expected, we can know that Jesus is there and that He is alive. He is with us always, and one day He is coming to take us home.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, we are encouraged to have a specific kind of prayer life. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” What do we see when we look at this verse? I think most of us see the need to pray. We daily try to include our friends, family, fellow Christians and people in authority in our prayers because we know how important it is to pray for them. What are a few other lessons that we can learn from this text? I want to draw our attention to the phrase, “all people.” There are people in this world who we have never met. Some live in other countries, and some live just down the street. They need our prayers. Then there are people who we have met but with which we do not get along very well. Yes, even our enemies need our prayers. Then, there are the people who we thought were doing okay, and we sometimes just forget them. This list often includes our family, friends and fellow Christians. Let us not assume that just because we do not see something bad

The past couple weeks have been different from most. I have been reminded of some valuable lessons. About two weeks ago, we woke up to find that water had covered about half of our apartment. The damage to personal items was not that bad, and we are almost back to normal. We only have a few more baseboards and a few more things through which to sort before everything will be back to the way it was. Some things are even better. This incident has reminded me of some valuable lessons that we all need to remember. Our treasure is to be stored up in Heaven rather than here on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). True treasure is not based upon the amount of riches one has or by possessions he may own. So, a few things got wet and ruined. Things can be replaced. My family was safe. We were surrounded by friends and family. God is still in control, and salvation is secure. Even if we had lost everything we own, we would still have all that we truly need. True treasure is found in Heaven above and resides in our eternal home. God alone is to be worshipped. Stuff is just stuff. Worry is for the birds. Matthew 6:25-34 shows us just how much God cares for us and all of His creation. About what do we truly have to worry since God cares? If I am being honest, when I calmed down after my few minutes of “What do

I have heard people say it time and time again, “If I could go back, I would do things differently.” Just like most people, I hate thinking about the sin that has been in my life. I hate knowing that I ever hurt or disappointed other people. I also hate knowing that I sinned against my God. On a good day, when I think about the things of the past, I stop and praise God that I am no longer living the kind of life characteristic of me in the past. However, on the bad days, when my faith is shaken, I can find myself dwelling in the past and in regret. I believe there is something that we all need to remember when we find ourselves dwelling in regret. As Christians, we need to remember the God Who we serve and the forgiveness He so graciously offers. I know there are those who try to escape any personal responsibility for sin, and I hope these individuals will repent and come back to the Lord. Yet, we also have many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who struggle with regret and guilt even when they have done everything that they need to do in order to be forgiven. I think we all, and especially those who struggle with things like this, need to remember that we do not have to live with guilt. While there may be things for which we were once guilty, for which, therefore, we may

There is excitement in the air as a new school year begins. Students, parents, teachers and administrators run around making sure all the final details are in place to begin the new year right. Students arrive to their first day of classes and teachers hand out the syllabi for the new year. Contained in these documents are lists of projects, tests, miscellaneous assignments and all the dates when these things will happen or must be submitted. Also listed in many syllabi are books and materials that will be needed and used to complete the assignments. Essentially, the students have, or are told where to find, everything they will need to be successful in each of their classes. Then, it is time to hit the books. Hard work and dedication can make for an excellent school year. Just like each of these students, we have been given access to everything we need to know to be successful Christians, too. In 2 Peter 1:3 we read, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” The Word of God teaches us about God, His Plan, His Love, His Will and His Promises. The Word of God is inspired, profitable and can truly change our lives forever. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may

In Matthew 25:1-13, we read about ten virgins waiting on a bridegroom. Five of the virgins were wise and came prepared with plenty of oil for their lamps, but five of the virgins were foolish and did not come prepared. When the bridegroom came, the five foolish virgins had gone to purchase more oil. The bridegroom and those that were ready entered the wedding, and the door was shut. When the five foolish virgins came, they were not let in, and the bridegroom said unto them, “I do not know you.” Christ is going to return one day, and that leaves us with a choice to make. We can either choose to be prepared for the Second Coming of our Lord, or we can choose to sit idly by and waste the time that we have right now. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13). Preparing for Christ involves submitting to the Lord, His Word and His Will. Have we had our sins washed away in baptism? Are we living and worshipping the way that God has told us to live and to worship? Are we actively working for the Lord? We need to ask ourselves these questions and more every day as we prepare for Christ’s return. One day Christ will return, and I hope we all will be ready for that great day of the Lord.

Why do we attend worship? First and foremost, our worship is to Almighty God. He is our Creator, Sustainer and Savior. As the church, we must direct our worship to Him, for He alone is worthy of praise. The church is not a place we go, but instead it is a family to which we belong. It is who we are. In John 4:24 it says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” So, as the church, we are to worship God in the ways that He authorized rather than in the ways of man (Matthew 15:9). We are to worship Him in the right frame of mind and for the right reasons. We do not just gather together to worship just because we are supposed to worship, but instead, we come together because we love the Lord. It is out of that love that we are to offer true and sincere worship so that our worship is never in vain (John 4:23). Our hearts and our minds are to be prepared to worship, and we should always examine ourselves before we worship the Lord our God (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). However, why else do we gather together to worship? While it is true that our worship is primarily to God, our worship is also very beneficial to one another. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we see the necessity for us to come together to worship as well as the encouragement that can be offered to

Being a part of the church is an amazing blessing that we as Christians get to experience every day. First, we know that we have been saved and added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). There are so many people in the world who are lost in sin as we once were. It is such a blessing to know that our sins have been washed away (1 Corinthians 6:11) and that we are in a right relationship with God right now. As saved Christians, we worship, work, fellowship and grow closer to one another and to God. It is amazing to be part of the family of God (Ephesians 3:15) where we can develop and work as Christians together. Knowing that you always have a church family to which you can turn is such an incredible blessing in the life of a Christian. For some people, the church is the only family they have. We always need to remember that we are so very blessed to be a part of the body of Christ. The church is such a blessing to our lives when we let it be, but what are we doing with that blessing? Are we keeping that blessing to ourselves, or are we sharing that blessing with the world (Mark 16:15-16)? If we really want those who are lost in sin to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), we have to share the good news of Christ and the blessing of His church with the entire

If I were to ask you to define the word “Christian,” how would you define it? For many people in the world, when they hear the word Christian, they immediately define Christian as someone who believes in God, Jesus Christ and the Bible. While I believe those things to be true, I also believe some clarification is in order. I believe that in order to be a Christian, one must submit his or her life to God, obey His Word, be buried with Him in baptism and follow Him all the days of one’s life. So many people weaken the meaning of the word “Christian” by focusing on belief and faith only and not including obedience and works. This same type of confusion happens with so many of us today when we hear the word “disciple.” What is a disciple? When some of us hear the word “disciple” or “disciples” of Christ, we think about a denominational group that exists today. Most of us, however, when we hear the word “disciple,” immediately think of the twelve apostles who were called by Jesus to follow Him in His ministry. While this is a correct understanding, let us also recognize that there were more disciples in Scripture than just those original twelve men who became apostles. Even when we include Matthias and Paul, we do not have a complete listing of every disciple. In Luke 10:1-4, Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples. While we do not know these men by name, we do

Most kids have at least one thing that frightens them—the dark, water, being alone, dogs or cats. For me, when I was a kid, dogs were one of the most frightening things I could imagine. I had been bitten and scratched up a couple of times, and I was completely terrified. Everyone I knew kept telling me, “Derek, don’t be scared. Dogs can smell fear.” To me that was not helpful. Not only did these animals have sharp teeth and claws, now I knew they had the amazing ability to know I was terrified. The more scared I was, the more nervous I was making the dogs. The constant barking and growling only made me more nervous, which perpetuated the cycle. I was at a loss. Fear, though, can be an especially useful tool. With an appropriate amount of fear, you can learn to not be involved with things that might cause you harm. Respectful fear can help us understand who has authority, and it can lead us to submit to that authority. Yet, while some fear is good, some other fears can be very dangerous. Fear can hold us back and never let us press forward. Fear can entrap us where we feel we have nowhere to go. Fear can have us running in the opposite direction we should be going. Fear can keep us from reaching our fullest potential. When we apply this type of fear to our spiritual lives, we can be assured we are heading for

When I was a kid, there was a cartoon that came on television about two lab mice which would try every night to take over the world. Every night, they would fail, but that would not slow down their determination. They wanted to take over the world. As individuals, we sometimes want to be in complete control. We want certain things done, and we want them done our way. However, do we not realize that this kind of selfish and self-centered mindset leads us toward a life filled with sin? In Genesis 3, we read about Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden. Eve, being tempted by the serpent, saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and that it could make her wise, and she took, ate, and gave it to her husband. Adam, likewise, took and ate as well. Adam and Eve sinned before God because they disobeyed God and instead, they did what they wanted to do. Sin happens when we as human beings decide to do things that we know God has forbidden and when we decide not to do things that we know God has commanded. Selfishness is sin, and it leads us toward more sin in the future. Before time began, God knew that He was going to send His Son to die on the cross for mankind. He knew mankind would sin and, that at times, we would be selfish and self-centered. It is amazing to see how God’s plan for

The car is all loaded. You think you have remembered to pack everything that you will need. You take one last look in the house, you lock the door, and now it is time to go. Yet, this trip is different than any other trip before. Your destination is unknown. The time frame is not certain. All that you know is that you have been asked by God to go, and He will show you the way. While most of us cannot really imagine a scenario in which the Lord would ask us to move like that, God approached Abram in exactly that way in Genesis 12. Abram was asked by God to leave his father’s house and go into a land that he did not know. The Lord promised to bless Abram and to make him a great nation. Abram packed up all his possessions and departed with Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his nephew. When we look at this great story and really the entire life of Abraham, we see an account of faith, trust and total reliance on the Lord. Even though there were times when Abraham chose to do things his own way, he always found his way back to the Lord. To this very day, Abraham is known as the father of the faithful. Now, we as individuals must decide how we are going to live our lives. Are we going to live our lives with total faith and trust in the Lord, or are

There are many verses in the Bible that most people can quote off the top of their heads. Many of these verses are taught to children, and, at times, they are even put to the tune of a song to help engrave them in our memories. Galatians 2:20 is a very popular verse in the Bible and can be quoted by most. While this verse is often taught to children, this verse is still so very powerful in its meaning. It is applicable to all Christians of all ages. First let us look at the last line of this verse, “ …who loved me and gave Himself for me.” As we read in John 3:16, the love of God was so great toward mankind that He sent His only Son to us. However, Jesus did more than just come to Earth. We read in Romans 5:8, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus Christ came to earth and willingly died for all of our sins. He rose on the third day and is now in Heaven preparing a home for those who will obey Him. Before I give my life to Christ, it is important that I recognize what God has done for me and how lost I would be without Him. Now, we come to the rest of Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ…” As we look at this opening statement, I hope that we see the power in these few words. Upon our

In Luke 10:30, we begin reading the account of a man who unfortunately was robbed and left on the side of road. He had been beaten, stripped of his clothes and left for dead. As time went on, a priest passed by, but he would not stop to help. A Levite also passed by, but he too would not stop and help. Thankfully, there was one more traveler who passed by this poor, beaten man. A Samaritan stopped by the side of the road and had compassion for this man. He bandaged his wounds and took him to an inn. The Samaritan not only cared for this man, but upon his departure the next day, he made sure the man would be taken care of and that all his expenses were paid. In some sense, we have all been the man on the side of the road. We have all been overtaken by sin in our lives. We were lost, alone and in desperate need of help. Jesus Christ came and helped us in our most desperate time of need. He paid the price for all of our sins and provided the way for our eternal healing. As Christians, we have all seen the need to submit to God and obey His will. We recognize that through faith and obedience we can come in contact with the healing Jesus Christ offers to all those who are lost and on the side of the road. As we Christians continue down that

You do not know it’s coming until it already has you. Once it has you, it is hard to get away. It’s the spine tingling, nerve shaking, heart racing kind of fear. It’s the kind of fear that haunts you in the night and makes you feel like there is no light. Such fear rocks you to your core until you cannot take it anymore. This is your greatest fear. We all have things that we fear. Some fears are about our physical lives, and some fears concern our spiritual lives. Some fears are healthy and keep us safe, while other fears are harmful and lead to destruction. Healthy fears are in place to keep us from harm. They keep a child from playing in the street or from touching the stove. They teach a man to respect God and to know who is actually in control. Harmful fears immobilize and control. They may keep a person from ever leaving his house for fear of the outside world, or fears may keep a person from ever growing spiritually and from ever overcoming the fear of Judgment. While fear is something that affects everyone in some way, there is a way to overcome that fear and cast one’s fears away. In 1 John 4:7-19, we read about the love of God. The love of God is demonstrated in many ways. It is clearly seen in the creation of the world, and it was poured out on all of mankind in the

When a race begins, a true racer believes he can truly win. Even though all of the evidence and statistics would say otherwise, this racer believes he has a fighting chance to be victorious. It is that same belief that drives him to train harder and harder. It is that belief that strengthens him as he steps to the starting block. The first few steps, he is confident and staying with his opponents, neck and neck. However, slowly, he begins to fade. The harder he tries, the farther back he falls in the field. He is now in last place with what seems to be no hope. At this point, this racer has options. He can quit and slowly come to a stop before walking shamefully off the track. He can slow down and save his strength, because he is not going to win anyway. Or, he can keep running with the same strength and determination he had at the beginning of the race. This racer is determined to keep running. He runs harder than he has ever run before. He passes one person, then two, then three. The crowd is on its feet. No one can believe what he sees. The racers come to the final turn, and everyone anxiously watches to see what will happen. The racer gives it all he has and lunges forward while crossing the finish line. He places 4th and misses the podium completely. While some will only remember who placed in the top three, true

There was great excitement in the air in Acts 2 when the church began. Those who were being saved were added to the Lord’s church just as we are today. As the church in the first century, it began to work for the Lord. Its members met with each other house to house. They continued in the apostle’s doctrine. They worshipped. They worked. They took care of one another. As the church began to grow, more and more congregations of the Lord’s church were being established from city to city. Elders were put into place in each congregation to shepherd the flock, and the Word of the Lord continued to spread. As Christians living today, we are a part of that same church that began in Acts 2. When we are baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38), Christ adds us to His church (Acts 2:47). As part of the body, we serve God. We worship Him in spirit and in truth. We are obedient to His Word. We follow His Will. We come together on each Sunday to worship Him and to remember Christ and His sacrifice. We come together to lift each other up, encouraging and supporting one another, praying for one another. We come together to give unto the Lord from the depths of our hearts, to praise and honor God. We come together. The Lord has set many commandments before us as His church, the things that we must do. While, yes, we should

A man walks into the doctor’s office for his annual checkup thinking that he is in exceptional health. He eats a well-balanced diet, exercises, gets plenty of rest and is very conscientious when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. To his surprise, the doctor gives him some unfortunate news regarding his health. He has a problem with his heart and will need immediate surgery. The surgery goes well, and the man begins his recovery. Now more than ever, this man pays special attention to the kind of care he gives to his heart. This man knows that to the body the heart is an essential muscle needed for life. If the heart is not functioning correctly, then the whole body is affected. Any person that desires to be healthy needs to pay special attention to his or her heart, especially if there is a known problem with the heart. Just like having a good heart is essential for physical health, it is also essential to be pleasing to God. In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel was sent out by God to anoint the king who was to rule after Saul. Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to anoint the king from among the sons of Jesse. The older sons of Jesse passed before Samuel, and he was sure one of these men would be the next king. However, God saw something different in these men. God saw their hearts and would not appoint any of the older sons as king. Then,

Numerous times in my life, people have asked me which verse in the Bible is my favorite. While I could list many verses that are special to me, there is one verse that I generally use when asked this question. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8). Now, you may be thinking to yourself that this is a strange choice. There are many other verses in the Bible which are normally quoted as favorite verses—definitely ones that display the power of God and salvation better than these. So, why would I choose this specific passage? I became a Christian in 1996 at the very young age of 9-years-old. I remember the day very clearly. I asked a lot of questions that day, which is pretty common for me. We talked about sin, separation from God, repentance and how choosing to put Christ on in baptism was for life and very important. I remember the weeks and months that followed in which I was on fire for God. I was dedicated to being this new person. Everything was going great. Unfortunately, soon I fell prey to sin—as we all do. About a year after I was baptized,

I know some of you have already read the title, and the jokes have already started coming to the tip of your tongue. I also know that like myself, many people have had family members who literally can no longer remember who they are, and that is no joking matter. However, I believe once we are past those things, we all can quickly understand what we are talking about. In James 1:23-24, we read that anyone who is a hearer of the Word but not a doer “is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” We all can recognize that it makes no sense to hear the Word of God and then to not use it to help change our lives. We also understand how dangerous those kinds of actions are for us and for our souls. In James, the illustration that is used is a man looking at his face in the mirror, and when he walks away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. Is that helpful, or is that dangerous? When you look in the mirror, there are two things that you see: the good and the bad. If you walk away and forget what you looked like, that does not help you at all. In fact, it could be dangerous. If you walk away, knowing you have sin in your life, but you never do anything to change,

Have you ever had a time in your life where you just needed to talk to someone? Have you ever had a friend come to you and discuss with you the matters of his or her heart? Most of us have had moments like this in our lives where either we or one of our friends needed some help. We have all, at times, received some great help and have given great attention to our friends when they have had a need. Yet, even with all of these things being true, there is a pattern developing among some Christians today. Less Christians are reaching out for help. The world in which we live can be a very cruel place at times. Weaknesses are exploited and used as ammunition to gain popularity or a higher position. Many people who have trusted in a friend or a companion have found themselves hopelessly sitting by while they are ridiculed, passed over and betrayed. Many people do not know who they can trust anymore. As Christians, it is our responsibility to be the kind of people that others can trust. James 5:16 gives instruction to us all to confess our trespasses to one another. Here in this moment of personal weakness, another Christian friend has an opportunity to listen and to pray so that an erring Christian or someone that is struggling can receive the healing that he or she needs. This is a moment for healing, not for revenge or personal gain. We

There are so many decisions to make and so many factors to consider when it comes to families. Let us take a moment and see what the Bible teaches us about families. We must start with two distinct individuals: a man and a woman. They are two people, two souls and two life stories. They have sin; they struggle, and they need a Saviour, like all of mankind (Romans 3:23). Will they obey God’s Word (Acts 2:38)? Will they be faithful to Him always (Revelation 2:10)? Now we see a married couple. That which were two have now become one (Genesis 2:24). Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the Church (Ephesians 5:25). Wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22). The husband should be the head of the family as Christ is the Head of the church (Ephesians 5:23). Will they be faithful to each other (Hebrews 13:4)? Will they get a divorce (Matthew 19:9)? Will they love and submit? A couple decides to have children. The family is to be provided for and given the proper care (1 Timothy 5:8). The Father is to still be the head of the family and to teach his children the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Both parents should actively raise and train their children in the right ways (Proverbs 22:6). Discipline should be used in the home because the children are loved, and it is important for their training (Proverbs 13:4). Will the

Have you ever noticed that our plans for change are scheduled for tomorrow? Tomorrow I am going to begin my diet. Tomorrow I am going to start running. Tomorrow I will start reading my Bible again. Tomorrow has become a day of convenience, a day where anything can be started. It is so great that we plan to change. It is amazing that we have decided to begin a new task and set an exciting goal, but why tomorrow? For some, tomorrow is a legitimate goal and plan. They really intend to accomplish whatever they have put their minds to. For others, tomorrow is an easy way to procrastinate. Procrastinators unite tomorrow! Still, why tomorrow? Even for those with the best intentions, is there not still time left in this day? James 4:13-14 says, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” We see clearly in this text that tomorrow is not something which is promised to us. We do not know if our tomorrow will become a reality. As we plan and live out our lives, the only one who knows what tomorrow will be is God. In James 4:15 we are told to say, “If the Lord wills, we

It’s Monday morning and you are tired. You get to the office, already dreading the day ahead, when suddenly you remember you forgot to print the reports for your boss. You rush over to your computer. It is fifteen minutes before the big meeting. You open your computer and try to access the file. Nothing is working. “What is wrong with this machine?” You finally decide to restart your whole system. Slowly but surely, the system begins to open up. You are barely able to get everything printed that you need, but you make it. Your week has officially begun. Your week is as busy as ever, and you promise yourself that this weekend you are going to get some rest. One activity leads to two, maybe three. Church services on Sunday are followed by more activities Sunday night. It is now Monday morning again. Many people rush through life, day in and day out, and they never take time to rest. Sooner or later, if we do not take care of ourselves, we find ourselves like that old computer on Monday morning, in desperate need to be shut down and restarted. As a Christian, living a life that is so focused on the next activity hurts more than just our physical lives. Our spiritual lives begin to take a back seat to everything else, and eventually we find ourselves looking back, “Wondering how did things go so wrong?” Jesus taught many great lessons while He was here on the

I have grown up in a world where technology is the norm. From the time that I was born until this very day, I have never known a time without technology. Now, that does not mean that my parents did not insist that I go outside. In fact, most summer days were spent outside working, running and playing ball. Yet, the stories one hears of days before technology took over the world are not my stories. They are stories I have been told by people who lived in a different period than myself. They are from people who have experienced life differently than I ever have and probably differently than I ever will. If you were to take somebody that lived one hundred years ago and compare him to somebody living today, you would see a lot of differences in their life experiences. The advances in industry, machinery, medicine and technology have been astounding. In many ways, the advances of the modern era have revolutionized the entire world. However, is there a down side to so much technology? Our world is more connected than ever. Phones, Internet, social media, airplanes and cars have improved so much that just about anything a person wants to do and anywhere he wants to go can be done quickly. With all of those things being said and true, I still have some questions. With all of the connectivity why are we as people, living in our culture, so disconnected? Are we as Christians using

When we look at the life of Jesus, we see the Son of God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in several different stages of life: as a newborn baby, as a young boy and as a man beginning His ministry. Every aspect of His life pointed to the fact that Jesus was here for a purpose. His purpose was to bring salvation to the world. His purpose was to bring about the kingdom, the church. However, many thought His kingdom would be of this earth. They thought of an earthly throne. It is conceivable that many thought of great riches, glory and powerful armies. Yet, that was not the kind of King Jesus was to be. Yes, He was God in the flesh. He had all power at His disposal, but Jesus was to be a different kind of King than the world had ever known. He would not take glory for Himself. Humbly, He submitted to the will of the Father, and humbly, He came to serve. One of the many great lessons Jesus taught while He was here on the earth was about humble service. On one occasion, while Jesus was delivering that great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about a few different ways we can humbly serve God. In Matthew 6:1, Jesus first gave a clear warning to not practice righteousness to be seen by men. He then went on to talk about three different topics: charitable deeds, praying and fasting. In Matthew

There are many wonderful sights to behold as one gazes upon the beauty of the earth. Among those marvellous sights are some of the most beautiful mountain ranges that anyone can even imagine. These ranges are the home of the world’s tallest peaks and the resting place of so many that have attempted to reach their pinnacles. Mount Everest and K2 are among the world’s tallest mountains, and every year more and more people attempt to conquer those mountains. While reaching the top of Mount Everest or K2 might not be on your list of things to do in life, we all still have mountains that we must overcome. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve were faced with a mountain in their lives. Temptation and sin presented itself to Adam and Eve, and unfortunately they succumbed to that temptation and sin. They were temporarily conquered by the mountains in their lives. Genesis 12 brings us a more positive conclusion to mountains that sometimes face us in our lives. Abram was asked by God to leave his home and go into a land that God would show him. Thankfully, Abram had faith in God and was able to conquer that mountain. Matthew 19 once again shows us that if we are not focused on Christ, the mountains of our lives can overcome us. There we meet the Rich Young Ruler who had been faithful in so many things, but when Jesus asked him to give up his great wealth for Christ,

A little boy is sitting with his mom and dad. His parents ask him with great curiosity, “Son, what do you want to be when you grow up?” The son boldly announced, “When I grow up I want to be Batman.” Now, most people have heard a conversation like this take place, and in the place of Batman answers are given like a Superman, a fireman, a police officer, a doctor, a nurse, a  professional athlete, etc. A child does not always really know what he or she wants to be at an early age, but if you examine the types of answers that children give to this question, you will see a common theme. Children want to be something great. They want to be something that makes a difference. In the world in which we live today, we do need great nurses, doctors, teachers, lawyers and so many other wonderful people and professionals. We need people who are out in the world really trying to help people and who desire to make a difference. Yet, instead of just encouraging people and especially young people to pick an amazing career, set some spiritual goals. Noble goals would include one day being an elder, a deacon, a preacher (or a wife and helper of an elder, a deacon or a preacher), a teacher or just a hard worker and a supporter in the church. As each year goes by, it gets harder and harder to find people willing to teach or

My bags are packed and my passport is in my hand. I am going to a foreign land to teach the Word of God. I get into my car to drive to the airport with nothing else on my mind. As I am backing out of my driveway I see my neighbor. I do not know his name, but I wave politely and head on my way. I am going to a foreign land to teach the Word of God. As I am driving down the road, I see a homeless man standing on the corner begging for food or any kind of assistance. My flight is scheduled to leave in two hours. I have to get to the airport. I try not to make eye contact with the man and continue to head on my way. I am going to a foreign land to teach the Word of God. I arrive at the airport with time to spare and check in for my flight. After I have gone through security, I head to the nearest coffee shop to enjoy my $5 cup of coffee. I just want to sit in quiet for a few minutes before my flight begins to board. A woman is sitting next to me that is obviously having a bad day. She is sitting alone with tears in her eyes. Not wanting to be bothered or dragged into her situation, I pick up my coffee and head to my gate, hoping to find a place

The phone rings, rings and rings. Nobody answers. Does that mean that nobody is home? No. Does that mean that the person was busy, not necessarily? Sometime, you may send a very short, vague text message to someone, but in all actuality, unless you tell something earthshattering, you do not even receive a reply to your text message. Communication is a worldwide problem, which is amazing since we have so many different communication devices that are supposed to make communication easier. Countries, states, school systems, families and marriages suffer each day because people no longer know how to communicate effectively. If our communication is so bad with each other, how bad do we think our communication is with God? Prayer is the way that we can approach the throne of God with our every care, which would include the good and the bad in our lives. Yet, for so many people when success and victories come their way, the tendency is to glory in themselves instead of giving God the glory. Do we not realize that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17)? On top of not giving God the glory, what do we do when something bad happens in our lives? For so many people, the instinct is to try to solve their own problems or maybe to share them with a close friend. We may

When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you do? Shower? Eat breakfast? Brush your teeth? Most people have a routine that they follow each day, except for the occasional holiday and weekend. Now, for some people their routine is healthy and productive. They have found the best way to motivate themselves each day and use their routine to achieve maximum productivity. Yet, for others, their routine is harmful, lazy and produces only enough energy to just get by. When we look at these two different approaches to life, we probably all recognize changes we need to make in our physical lives. I know I do, but do we recognize the changes we need to make in our spiritual lives? In Matthew 23, the Scribes and the Pharisees were living their lives just how they wanted. They were telling people to live one way while they were living another way. They were making themselves look good on the outside while on the inside they were full of corruption. They were upholding parts of the Law while they were forgetting other parts all together. In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus continued His examination of their lives and said they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Obviously, their lives were not pleasing to the Lord. What about our spiritual lives? Do we live like the scribes and Pharisees? Are we full of hypocrisy and lawlessness? Many Christians today are caught in the harmful trap of not really living for Jesus.

It is amazing to me how we as people act sometimes. Even when the evidence is looking us right in the face and every bit of knowledge and reason points us in the right direction, we still choose to go the wrong way. This problem is not something new to this generation, but it is something with which we must deal here in the present. In Jonah 1, Jonah was given the task by Almighty God to go to Nineveh and to speak out against the wickedness of that great people. Upon receiving this command, Jonah attempted to flee from the presence of the Lord and go by boat to the city of Tarshish. A storm came upon the water and ultimately Jonah was cast overboard and swallowed by the great fish. Jonah spent three days in the belly of this fish before being spat out on dry ground. Now, if you were to continue the story of Jonah, you would see how after being spat out that he went to Nineveh, preached to the people, the people of Nineveh repented and God spared them. Yet, here is the odd thing that I want to point out. In Jonah 4, we read how Jonah recognized the graciousness of God and had not wanted to come to Nineveh because he knew that God would forgive the people if they repented. This same man that could clearly see some of the characteristics of God forgot something truly important. He overlooked that he

In the study of situational ethics, an action is deemed right or wrong based on the conditions and situation surrounding such action. A decision is made. An action is performed. What will the verdict be? In 2 Samuel 6, David brought the Ark of the Covenant back to the people of Israel. The Ark was placed on a new cart and pulled by oxen. When the Ark came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzza, who was one of the men that was driving the cart, stretched out his hand and touched the Ark to keep it from falling. The anger of the Lord came upon Uzza, and he was struck dead by the Lord. Some people will look at this situation based on the knowledge they have and conclude that Uzza was not guilty of anything warranting death. However, before we jump to any conclusions, let us consider all of the facts. In Numbers 4, we read that special care was given to covering the items in the tabernacle, and they were not to be touched. The punishment for touching a holy item from the tabernacle was death (Numbers 4:15). We can also read in Exodus 25:12-15 that the Ark of the Covenant was to be carried on poles. The Ark was not to be carried on a cart. In Deuteronomy 10:8, we can read that the Levites were the only ones allowed to carry the Ark of the Covenant. Now, looking at this situation, we can see that numerous things

Trust is something with which many people struggle each day. Some people go through their entire lives thinking they can trust no one. The pain, hurt and lies pile up so high that many people do not think they can trust again. While we might want to keep to ourselves and never trust anyone, we all have to trust someone in order to get through life. The story of Ruth is a story full of trust. Ruth first trusted in Naomi in Ruth Chapter 1 following the deaths of Naomi’s husband and sons. Ruth had been married to one of Naomi’s sons, and Naomi had instructed her daughters-in-law to return to their own lands following the death of her sons. In Ruth 1:16, Ruth refused to leave Naomi alone and said to Naomi, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth obviously trusted Naomi. This was not the only time that Ruth demonstrated her trust in Naomi. In Ruth 3:5, Ruth said to Naomi, “I will do whatever you say.” Naomi had instructed Ruth to present herself to Boaz so that he may fulfill the role of kinsman redeemer and provide for Ruth for the rest of her life. Ruth trusted in Naomi and did exactly as she instructed. Boaz would be the kinsman redeemer of the family, and he would make Ruth his wife. In life, people occasionally let us down. Due

I cannot just watch a movie, and I cannot just hear a person speak. I listen, I analyze, and I develop questions. In the past year, I have noticed a topic that has appeared in movies, books and even as part of a class at Polishing the Pulpit. Those observations have led me to this question: “Where are the men?” It is becoming more and more common to see church attendance dominated by women. Worldwide there is a shortage of preachers and adult Bible class teachers. In congregations all over the world, it is becoming more and more difficult to find deacons and elders. In the homes of so many people there are countless problems because of absent fathers. “Where are all the men?” Now before we go any further we have to make sure it is clear that we recognize that we do have great men, fathers and leaders in the Lord’s church. Yet, what are we doing about the future? How will the men be in twenty or thirty years? Will there be a generation full of great leaders or will men be like those in Judges 1-2 that fell away from God after the death of Joshua. So, the question still remains, “Where are all the men?” From the beginning of time, God’s plan was for men to be the leaders in the home and in the church (Genesis 1:16; Ephesians 5:22-24; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 3:1-13). The problem is that so many men have not

Every year around this time of the year we all hear people talking about the changes they are going to make in the New Year. While some are very good at following through with their plans, most people will stop after a few days or maybe weeks into the New Year. This time of year is not the only time that we should examine our lives, but let us look at five important things to remember when trying to plan and improve our lives for the future. Put God First Matthew 6:33 is one of the most popular verses in Scripture, but it may be one of the most unheeded verses in Scripture as well. God, His ways, His will and His church are to be priorities in our lives. We as Christians need to focus on God first and foremost, and we need to trust that the Lord will be with us no matter what. Don’t Work Alone In Psalm 23 we read the most beautiful, poetic and comforting words about God and His care for us, and yet, many of us still resist the help of the Father. Instead of trying to take on this world by ourselves, let us listen the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6; let us trust the Lord and make Him the Leader of our lives. Have Faith, Challenge Yourself We read in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Do we truly believe that? Let us not just set goals

If we were to stop and think for a moment, we would all probably come to the same conclusion that even though there are many terrible things in the world, there are still so many things in this world that we love and cherish. While there is nothing wrong with having things that mean a lot to us and that are special in our lives, it is still possible for these things that we love to be the things that separate us from God. One of the more difficult conversations I have ever experienced in my life took place in a different country many years ago. A young woman was living with a man that had separated from his wife. This young woman had been living with this man for years. They had a child together. She loved him, but she could not marry him. Legally, he was still married, and in addition, he could not have a scriptural divorce. This woman was on the verge of being converted. There and then, she was faced with a decision that would change her life forever, either to stay with the man or put him away, repent and be baptized. We as humans have made the issue of marriage, divorce and remarriage a major issue in the body of Christ today. According to Matthew 19:8, it is because of the hardness of the hearts of men that divorce was ever permitted by Moses. The Word also tells us plainly that divorce was

A young boy sitting in the backseat of the car yells out to his parents, “It’s not fair. Why can’t I have it?” The boy continues to grow older and older. He is now in his adolescent years. “Why, why do we have to go to church?” The boy is now a teenager. “You just don’t understand. You have never been through what I am going through!” The boy goes off to college. “I’m not a child anymore. I can do what I want to do.” The boy is now a husband and a father. “What am I going to do?” His entire life he thought that he was being trained to be a child when in all actuality he was being raised to be a man. His parents taught him that life is not always easy, and we do not always get what we want. They taught him to work hard in this life and be responsible. They taught him to love others and stand up for what is right. They taught him care, compassion and love. Most importantly, they taught him about God and all the things that our Savior has done for us. They taught him about prayer and how our Lord is listening and watching over us. Being a child is not always easy. Sometimes youths make the wrong decisions. Things can be confusing, and at times young people learn lessons the hard way. The same is true for being a parent. Each day is a

In the beginning of the Book of Genesis, we see that God has placed man in the Garden and made for him a companion, woman. Life would appear to be perfect. God had provided for His creation all that they would need in this life and more, but temptation was coming. In Genesis 3:1, the serpent asked the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” The woman answered the serpent in verse 2, explaining that they could not touch or eat of the tree in the midst of the garden or else they would die. The serpent was so cunning and clever, and he knew exactly what to say. The serpent spoke to the woman in verses 4 and 5 and said, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Notice the temptation here is not just about eating food for nourishment. Yes, the fruit was “pleasant to the eyes,” and was very “good for food,” but the tree provided something more than nourishment. It provided knowledge of good and evil. It provided a way to “be like God.” In Matthew 4, we see Jesus, God in the flesh, in a secluded place, the wilderness. The Spirit had taken Him there to be tempted by the devil. Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, and at the end