By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor We are living during a time in history when spiritual things are often held in disdain. In fact, much of our world today has eradicated God and spiritual guidance from everything. As such, many people are growing up in a society and often never assembling with any religious group, let alone with the church purchased by the blood of Jesus (Acts 20:28). As a result of this lack of “church going,” many hold the false idea that they can have Christ without ever being a part of His church. For example, I recently heard a denominational preacher say, “Accept Jesus into your heart and then find a Bible believing church with which to worship.” While this statement may sound good on the surface, it is false to the core. Firstly, a person can never “accept Jesus into his or her heart.” However, one can “obey the Gospel” (Romans 10:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8). Secondly, when a person obeys the Gospel, Jesus adds that soul to the church (Acts 2:47). Therefore, when one is saved, he or she is added to the church, and when one is added to the church, that one is saved. You cannot be saved without being added to the church, and you cannot be added to the church without being saved! The church of our Lord is where the saved reside. If a person walks away from the church, he walks away from Jesus, and thus forfeits his salvation. The church, then,

By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor Sadly, our world is often seemingly characterized as a world filled with hate. As such, some have suggested and actively promote that all we need is love. While it is true that love is certainly needed, sometimes love can be bad. Scripture defines true love and evidences it throughout God’s wonderful will. However, it is true that God reminds that love can be bad. Love of silver is bad! The Holy Spirit was not popular when He wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10 NASB). Love of material things is such a temptation for mankind that Jesus even gave a couple examples of those who loved “things” to a spiritual detriment. A lengthy discussion and parable took place in Luke 12 that illustrate well what the love of money can do for a person’s eternal soul. Another interesting narrative regarding the love of silver centers on a rich ruler who came to Jesus wanting to go to Heaven (Matthew 19:16ff). When Jesus, knowing the ruler’s deepest love, told him to sell his stuff and follow Him, heartrendingly, the ruler walked away! The man sold his eternal soul because his love was sorely misdirected! Love of silver is bad. Love of self is bad! At first, this may seem a bit contradictory. Jesus told us to love our

By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor “It is appointed unto man, once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). No one likes to talk about death. It makes us uncomfortable and often raises questions we simply cannot answer. God has not revealed everything to us in the realm of death and the afterlife. The truth is that anyone who has passed from this life is not able to come back and tell us about what adventures lie ahead. Therefore, we often wonder, question and even sometimes worry about leaving this earth. Although God has not revealed everything about death and the afterlife, He has revealed enough for the faithful to have peace and confidence regarding the appointment we cannot escape. Death is a surety! Often just understanding that we are not meant to live in this earthly tent (2 Corinthians 5:1–2) forever helps us to better cope with death. Our physical bodies are only designed to last for so many years (Psalm 90:10). The wise man, by inspiration, affirmed: All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil;

By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor There is absolutely no doubt that one day it will be my turn and yours to leave behind family, friends, foes and fortunes to keep our appointment with death. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The greatest assembly to have ever assembled will be gathered together that day! “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him…” (Matthew 25:31–32a). The Judge of all the earth (Hebrews 12:23) will be on the bench, and the decisions and choices we have made in this life will determine our unending outcome in eternity. “Only one life, and it will soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last”! According to Scripture, this gathering beyond the grave will be quite an event! It will be… A Sudden Gathering The Holy Spirit was clear that “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52). For the saint, this gathering is a time in which he has been longing (Philippians 3:20–21). It will be a gathering full of excitement as we see our Savior and begin our eternal stay (1 Thessalonians 4:17). However, this sudden gathering will be a surprise for the sinner

By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor In his July 15, 1838 “Divinity School Address” in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ralph Waldo Emerson said speaking of Jesus, “…whose name is not so much written as ploughed into the history of the world…” Emerson’s premise was that Jesus’ life and teachings left an indelible mark on history, like a plow turning soil, demonstrating a deep, transformative power that changed the world. All sane men must agree and see the truth in what Emerson contended. Even a cursory view of His life leaves a lasting impression upon the searcher that Jesus no doubt was a supernatural amazement. There is simply no one who ever walked this earth like Jesus! Consider firstly, His conception. God’s providential law from the Garden of Eden until eternity dawns has been the same for everyone from Cain to the last person born prior to the Lord’s return. That law is unavoidable and undeniable! A man’s “seed” must come into contact with a woman’s “seed” (Genesis 3:15) in order for the life of a human being to begin. Life begins at conception, and without the union of these two “seeds,” humanity cannot exist. However, not so with Jesus. The Holy Spirit prophesied some 700 years before our Lord’s conception that “…a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14b). Never in the history of humanity had this phenomenon ever previously occurred and neither since the day our Lord was conceived has it ever occurred

By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor Much of what God expects of His children involves having the right relationship with others. In fact, much of the teachings in the Gospel accounts that record the Words of Jesus deal with relationships with others. Matthew 5:21–48 is a lengthy section on our proper behavior toward our fellow people. The “second commandment” mentioned by the Lord involves one’s neighbor (Matthew 22:34–40). Even the Judgment scene recorded in Matthew 25:31–46 is made up of situations involving others. While relationships with each other, in and out of the church, are sometimes difficult, Jesus gave the most productive way to get along with others. It is often referred to as The Golden Rule. “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Luke’s account similarly records, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). Contemplation “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you…” How many relational problems could be avoided if we simply asked ourselves, “How would that make me feel if someone did that to me?” or “How would I feel if someone said that to me?” How often would we condemn ourselves in our dealing with each other if we had a recording of our words and deeds to others? Simply put, sometimes we just do not really contemplate these things. In the very first part of the Golden Rule, Jesus

By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor As Paul finished one of the greatest chapters in the New Testament, his inspired pen revealed the answer to life in general and, certainly to the Christian, life specifically. In his inspired treatise on love, Paul concluded, “…the greatest of these [faith, hope and love] is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). What would life be without love? Everyone longs to love and to be loved. The story of Norma Jean Mortenson illustrates this truth quite well. Norma Jean was one of the most famous people of her time, but her story is one of the greatest tragedies, too. Norma’s mother, due to serious mental illness, often found herself in mental institutions, which made it impossible for her to take care her of her daughter. As such, little Norma spent much of her childhood in foster care. In one foster home, when Norma was just 8 years old, a boarder in the house raped this young girl and then paid her a nickel to keep silent. However, Norma told her foster mother, hoping to get the help she so rightfully deserved. However, heartbreakingly, the foster mother badly beat Norma Jean and told her that the boarder paid good money for rent and Norma was strictly told to never speak a bad word against that man again. As time passed, Norma grew into a beautiful young lady. Norma went to Hollywood with hopes of becoming an actress. Certain Hollywood big shots discovered Norma and promised her that they

By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor Several years ago, a Scranton, Pennsylvania man was looking for a crack pipe to fulfill his addiction. He went out of his house and in the driveway sat his girlfriend’s car, under which he crawled and cut a piece of brake line to make the pipe he wanted. His girlfriend, the mother of five children, drove off sometime later not knowing what had been done. Having no brakes and unable to stop, she crashed her car and died. What caused this terrible scenario to occur? There are numerous items that brought about this terrible tragedy, but the root cause of this, as well as most all sin, is lust. When we hear the word lust today, we often limit our thoughts to moral perversions such as fornication, adultery, pornography and other sexual sins. While lust certainly includes these, lust is not limited to these alone. In fact, a study of the power of lust may prove that we all struggle with this sin at times. Clarification. What is lust? Lust has as its focus gratifying and pleasing oneself, which often leads to lethal actions to fulfill a person’s desires without consideration of the consequences. Lust springs forth from selfishness and greed. Someone has correctly said that lust is simply not being content with what God has provided for us. Ouch! That definition is not too kind. People lust for different things. For example, Esau lusted after food to the degree that he was willing to

An aged apostle of the faith, nearing his last section of the marathon for eternal life, instructed his “son,” “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV). Amazingly, and quite sadly, is the fact that we live in a world where the truth has been decimated and facts have been resigned to a person’s own feelings or what one perceives as true. This lethal philosophy is known as postmodernism. Postmodernism is a late 20th Century movement characterized by broad skepticism, subjectivism and relativism. In other words, whatever you feel is truth becomes truth whether it is truth or not. This has plagued our world in general and in religion in particular. However, God does not subscribe to such! Paul, guided by the Spirit of Truth, reminded young Timothy that doctrine (teaching) must be obeyed and taught. By implication, we see that there is a definite doctrine concerning spiritual things, and that doctrine can be known. Furthermore, that doctrine must be shared in order for both the sharer and the student to be saved. Let us note more carefully about this doctrine of which Paul wrote. The Definition The two words most commonly translated “doctrine” in the New Testament are didaskalia and didache. Didache, translated as the word doctrine, is used some 29 times in the New Covenant. These words all center around the idea of teaching. In Holy Writ, doctrine is the body of truth that is taught. Therefore,

Have you ever purchased something that came from the store wrapped in a spectacular package? I sometimes feel as though some products may be a little less expensive if companies did not place so much value and emphasis on the wrapping. After all, it is the product inside that is really what is important. For the most part, the package, once the item is removed, is simply discarded. Why? Because it is all about the product not the package that houses the item. Significantly, the same is true spiritually speaking. To a congregation that sometimes got caught up in the packaging (1 Corinthians 1:10ff), Paul reminded, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:5-7 KJV). Notice carefully that the emphasis in Paul’s life and ministry was on the product (Christ) and not the packaging (men)! Let’s examine this concept more closely. Paul’s preaching was all about Christ. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Someone has correctly said, “You can gauge the effectiveness of a sermon by how long it takes for Jesus to show up.” Like the Greeks of antiquity, our

“Warning, Warning, the Bridge Is Out!” That reminds me that decades ago the robot in the old television show Lost in Space (aired from 1965 to 1968) similarly and frequently uttered a warning. He would say, “Danger, Will Robinson.” Yep! Every time the robot said, “Danger, Will Robinson,” a new danger was about to reveal itself. Fortunately, Will Robinson was alerted, and he successfully circumvented each dangerous circumstance. In the real world, dangers threaten us within our physical and earthly environment. Even more importantly, dangers threaten us in the spiritual realm, too (1 Peter 5:8). Prepared before hand by the Word of God, we can persevere despite confrontation with spiritual dangers (1 Peter 5:9; Ephesians 6:13-17). Imagine that you are standing alongside a road, and you are aware that the bridge is out just a little east of you. Traffic coming from the west doesn’t seem to know of the danger as it rushes toward the perilous void in the roadway. Would you frantically attempt to wave down the rushing vehicle, or would you hesitate, knowing that the driver and passengers might react angrily if you impede their travel? What ought you to do? After all, the occupants of the car might hurt your feelings. What would you do? Most of the world is traveling at breakneck speed toward an abyss far more tragic and eternally more hurtful than an automobile crash into a canyon—as bad as that would be. Christians stand on the side of life’s road as they observe the masses traveling the broad

True Christianity is a religion of the heart. While the outward actions matter, if the inside is not changed, the outward means nothing. Jesus capsulated this truth when He reminded the woman at Jacob’s well that true worship must be done in spirit and truth (John 4:24). “Truth,” which is the action of worship, meets with one’s “spirit,” which is the attitude of worship; they combine to please the Father and uplift the worshiper. This combination is seen in every aspect of the Christian life. What we do matters, but why we do it and how we do it matters as well. When the half-brother of Jesus picked up his inspired quill to write one of the most “practical” books on Christian living, he affirmed that “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27 NKJV). This classic verse on pure religion gives us the inspired details of how to truly live the Christian life that pleases God. Firstly, pure religion involves looking up “…before God and the Father…” God must be the object and motivation for everything we do. Sometimes people will have a motivation to do “good things,” but God is absent in that drive, which makes their efforts vain. Christian “good works” are only good if God defines them as such. Paul made it abundantly clear when he penned, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the

In a recent discussion, a man asked me if I believed that folks can only come to Jesus if the Father draws them. I said absolutely! Then, the discussion centered around not “if” the Father draws mankind to Himself, but “how.” Jesus told a group of dissenting Jews that “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44 KJV). A truer statement has never been uttered! There is not one single soul on earth that can come to Jesus unless He is drawn and persuaded. How, though, does God draw and persuade? The Father drew me to Jesus by His Law. In the very context in which Jesus made the above true statement, Jesus went on to say, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:45). Notice carefully, “being taught and learning” are the direct result of hearing. Thus, logic drives us to the irrefutable conclusion that hearing God’s Law is essential to being drawn to Jesus, and without hearing God’s Law, one could never be drawn to the Savior! The Holy Spirit guided the apostle Paul to articulate it like this: “…and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?… So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:14b, 17

It is quite obvious that the world in which we live is anything but unified. Ours is a divided society. Sadder yet is the lack of unity that exists among religious people. In most communities, even those communities that are rather small, there exists several different religious groups—all claiming to give honor to Jesus, and yet, teaching different things. God is not happy with religious division. In fact, He hates division! In John 17, Jesus prayed that this religious division would not be seen, because if religious division occurs, people lose sight and confidence in Jesus (John 17:21). God is the God of unity! The Father sent the Son in order to make unity (2 Corinthians 5:19). The church in Corinth, many Centuries ago, was faced all kinds of division. God was not pleased, and He sent a letter by the quill of the apostle Paul to correct the division. The Holy Spirit’s response to division will help us to be united. The Possibility of Unity Paul’s inspired ink begins with affirming, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV). Notice carefully how clear Paul was that religious unity is possible! Many today seem to love religious division and are heard to say, “You believe your thing and I will believe mine.” However, that is the very opposite of what Paul

In correcting the abuse of the miraculous gift of tongue speaking, Paul used an everyday illustration that all would have understood. “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will  prepare for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8 NKJV). The context is that those who had the gift of tongues were not to use it unless there was an interpreter, because if the language were not known and was not interpreted, the words would seem to be sheer nonsense. The illustration of a trumpet giving a distinct and certain sound was so applicable in Paul’s day because they were used frequently in antiquity. In Bible times, there were specifically three groups of people who used trumpets with regularity: watchmen, warriors and worship leaders. Trumpets were used by watchmen to warn (Jeremiah 6:1; Isaiah 58:1). Warriors used them to sound the battle alarm (Judges 7:19-20), and trumpets were used by worship leaders to call people to assemble (2 Chronicles 13:12; Numbers 10:8). When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he used the trumpet to illustrate the Word of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:8). Like a trumpet, the Word of Lord must sound forth! Consider the analogy still further. Like a trumpet, the Word of the Lord must be plain! When a trumpet sounds forth in the way it is intended to sound forth, there is no question as to what instrument is playing. I have quite an untrained ear to discern instruments and music, but I can always pick out a trumpet. It gives

One of the extreme frustrations that some Christians face is not understanding that God’s ways are different from man’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Man can only see one dimensional and is even limited in that view of life and its circumstances. God often gets blamed for not loving us or not protecting us when we encounter a difficulty, especially if that difficulty is monumental in size and hurtful. In fact, some have erroneously concluded that God does not exist because a loving God surely would not allow suffering (i.e., “atheism’s ‘unanswerable’ argument”). We see in 1 Kings 17 a narrative unfold that shows more than just one dimension. Due to the wickedness of Ahab and the nation, God withheld rain and dew from the land for three and one-half years (1 Kings 17:1-2; James 5:17). At that time, God instructed Elijah to camp by the brook Cherith and take his sustenance of water from that brook. It was also at this time that God sent ravens with bread and meat to provide Elijah’s food sustenance (1 Kings 17:4-6). Can you just picture that scene? Imagine Elijah cross legged on the banks of Cherith, warm sunshine on his face, full belly of bread and meat, with cool, refreshing, pure water in abundance. Life is good! However, each day that brook seemed to flow a little more slowly, and eventually “the brook dried up” (1 Kings 17:7). I am not sure what Elijah was thinking, but I am sure that if I were

Have you ever found something that was worth a great sum? Stories surface now and then about “supposed” gold shipments that were lost and never recovered. A favorite pastime of many today is magnet fishing. A large, powerful magnet attached to a heavy-duty rope is thrown into the water (often from a bridge) and dragged across the bottom in hopes of finding a sunken treasure. Some claim to have found some interesting items. Discoveries sometimes include bolts, screws, canon balls, firearms and jewelry; even bikes and larger items have been discovered. It seems that many folks are searching for hidden treasures. Long before magnet fishing and lost gold, Jesus told the narrative of a truly hidden treasure. In the great kingdom parable chapter, Jesus related, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44 NKJV). The lessons taught in this short verse are valuable indeed! Firstly, note the fortune, “Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure…” This parable would certainly have attracted the attention of first century hearers because every village had its story of men who had become suddenly rich by finding some hidden hoard that had been hastily concealed in time of war or trouble. Fleshly minds place a high value on things that simply are not really valuable in the final analysis. We all are guilty of that at times. The

When actor Jimmy Stewart enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, his father gave him a letter and enclosed a copy of Psalm 91. Through the years, Psalm 91 has become known to many as “The Soldiers’ Psalm” – and with good reason. Even in more recent years, American troops in Iraq have been known to read Psalm 91 before going on patrol. Psalm 91 is a unique Psalm in many ways. One of the unique features found in Psalm 91 is that in the latter part (vs. 14-16), God spoke, giving a commentary on what the writer had just penned. While God’s promises and protection are available to all, we do not receive them passively. When we are actively connected to the Father, we can truly experience the amazing “shadow of the Almighty” like never before. Sadly, many try to experience God passively or at a distance, but those who “draw near to God” are assured that God will draw near to them (James 4:8). Psalm 91 is all about an intimate relationship with God. Notice the beauty. The Closeness (Psalm 91:1-2) Notice carefully the words that the Psalmist used to portray this intimate relationship with God. “Dwell” comes from a Hebrew verb that literally means “to sit down; to stay.” This is not a “quick visit” with God now and then but rather a life that is centered on fellowship and a close relationship with Him. I cannot help but think of what Jesus said regarding the Vine and the

Think with me for a moment; is it more difficult for you to accept God’s forgiveness, to forgive others for things they have done to you or to forgive yourself? I am quite sure that these can be difficult at times for each of us. However, one area of forgiveness that seems to be difficult for many is learning to forgive oneself. When we do not learn to forgive ourselves, guilt, shame, worthlessness and a lack of joy often manifest themselves. If we do not “let go,” our past can haunt us to the point of wasting the life we currently have. If you are like me, you are prone to remember things that you wish you would have done differently, words you wish you had said differently and reactions that you wish you did differently. Because we are all human, we all have those things in our past. How can we learn to let go? How can we learn to have the freedom of letting go? Recognition One important thing we must do first is to recognize that we are all human! There was never a perfect human on earth except for Jesus Christ. Therefore, since we are all human, we will do human things, and unfortunately humanity is good at sinning (Romans 3:10, 23). Recognizing our own humanity can help us to recognize that those around us are also human. That will help us to develop patience, kindness and forgiveness toward others as well. Was that not exactly what the apostle Paul referenced

When troubles come our way for being faithful to the Lord, we sometimes miss the joy and beauty of what is happening. If you are like me, you do not like trials and persecution any more than you would like a sharp piece of metal in your eye! However, unlike metal in the eye, trials that come as a result of being faithful are beneficial and helpful. Nevertheless, perspective is the key to seeing the beauty in these burdens. In Matthew 11:28-30, our Lord invited all who are wearied and burdened to come to Him, and He would provide rest. However, part of that request involves the “taking” upon us “His yoke.” At face value, a “yoke” does not sound too appealing! Yet, if we consider this yoke through the eyes of the spiritual, we see a different picture. Firstly, the yoke of Christ is a symbol. A yoke was made of hand-hewn wood designed to fit the neck and shoulders of the particular animal that was to wear it in order to prevent chafing and to join two animals together to share the burden. The yoke had become a symbol in the ancient world for submission. When we take the yoke of Christ upon us, we submit and surrender our freedom and will to His will, but we also join ourselves to the One with Whom we can share the burdens of life! The idea of submission is further depicted in Christ’s words, “and learn of me.” One who is under the yoke of

The apostle Paul was such a warrior for Jesus Christ! In his inspired letter to Christians in Philippi, he penned, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:23 NKJV). Paul knew that leaving this earth, filled with its sorrow, heartache, pain and frustration would be a joy, because he knew where he was going in eternity. A person’s entire outlook toward death changes when he or she obeys the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In many ways, for the Christian, because of God’s amazing grace, death is simply a door, a “step” (1 Samuel 20:3) away from the tempest into a calm and peaceful reward. I am certain that is why Paul reminded brothers and sisters in Thessalonica that Christians do not “…sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Hope is what separates Christians from the world! Consider with me just a few of the reasons why it is far better to depart and to be with Christ. Firstly, departure brings relief. A person does not have to live very long on earth to understand that our earthly bodies are prone to physical pain and emotional strain. One of the major emotional diseases of our culture today is anxiety and depression. Physically, cancer, heart problems, kidney failure, liver struggles, broken bones and a multitude of other physical pains surround us all. Yet, departing this life, as a faithful child of God, relieves us from all those plagues. It is almost impossible

“There’s a royal banner given for display to the soldiers of the King. As an ensign fair, we lift it up today, while as ransomed ones we sing. Marching on, marching on; for Christ count everything but loss; for the King of kings, toil and sing, neath the banner of the cross.” Christians are so blessed to lift up the ensign (flag or banner) of our King! A banner or a flag defines and identifies the ones under that banner. Thusly, as we raise high the banner of Christ, we identify with the Savior of the world and allow His will to define us and to shape us. A royal people (1 Peter 2:9) under the royal King’s banner is how Christians live each day. This past week, the White House’s south portico was draped with a Pride Flag between two U.S. flags to honor so-called “Pride” month. This ungodly action was done in an attempt to identify our American government as godless and as a call to all Americans to honor those who identify with the LGBTQ+ agenda. There are several problems with that attempt, but one major problem is that not all Americans and no true Christians rally around such disgraceful banners. Shortly after the children of Israel left Egypt on their way to the promised land, they encountered an enemy of God’s people, the Amalekites. After God defeated this arch enemy, Moses built an altar and called it Jehovah-nissi, which means “The Lord is my banner” (Exodus 17:15). How comforting

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1 NKJV). The inspired phrase, “in Christ Jesus,” that Paul used here is an interesting one indeed. Interesting and yes, it is even a bit heartbreaking when one considers all the definitions given by mankind that have been assigned to this phrase through the years. What does being “in Christ Jesus” really mean? To understand the truth, we must allow the Truth to define and illustrate its’ own terms. No manmade definition of this phrase or any other biblical phrase is fitting! While many folks would agree wholeheartedly that being in Christ is necessary to be saved, many people seem to have different meanings as to what that phrase actually means. If I were to assign my own definition to this phrase, I certainly would add to the confusion. So instead of letting mankind decide, why not let God speak? Firstly, God speaks of the importance of being in Christ Jesus. Paul was clear that all spiritual blessings are found only in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). The only place where redemption is found is in Christ! After reminding humanity that all of us are in spiritual trouble due to our own sinning and falling extremely short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), then, Paul encouragingly penned that we can be “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Later in the same book,

Times are changing! In order for the children of God to bring glory to Him in all we do (Colossians 3:23-24), we must work diligently at not becoming like the world around us. Paul reminded the saints in Rome, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 NKJV). We live during a time when many in the world have become seemingly more negative, harsh, critical, angry and downright hateful. Please understand, I am not suggesting that the world today is worse than it has ever been (consider Noah’s day or Lot’s day, etc.), but this world is worse than I personally have ever seen it. However, I do not want to camp on the condition of the world around us but rather to exhort and to encourage us to be different than our society. What are some practical ways for us to “not be conformed” to this world? Firstly, refuse to complain and protest about things over which you have no control. Let’s face it; life on earth is anything but fair, and that does not change just because one becomes a Christian! The world is set on complaining and protesting that things are not fair and never will be this side of eternity. Christians can easily get caught up into this trap of negative complaints about things over which they have no control. There is an overriding principle for

As Philip’s sermon came to its climax, the Ethiopian asked “…what hinders me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36 NKJV). The answer Philip gave and the response are insightful. “…‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God’” (Acts 8:37). Every person who is baptized into Christ answers that same question with the same answer. If you were asked to explain what it means to believe in Jesus, how would you answer? I often think about how I could encapsulate exactly what I believe about Jesus. In a nutshell, here is what “I Believe in Jesus.” I believe that Jesus is real! The evidence for the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was (but still is) a real person is overwhelming! This evidence clearly appears in the biblical accounts. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life,  ̶  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us; that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3 ESV). The Gospel accounts are permeated with evidence of what Jesus said and did before

On a night so clear it seemed as though you could reach out and catch a handful of moonbeams, a little girl studied the stars and said, “Daddy, if Heaven is so pretty on the wrong side, think of what it must look like on the right side!” I can’t wait; can you? Just imagine the beauty and joy of Heaven. Yet, while we are watching and waiting for heaven (Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:12), God is so kind to allow us to have so much beauty here. Late the other night, I was able to see the wrong side of Heaven’s beauty in the innumerable host of heaven (Jeremiah 33:22). I could not help but to be captivated by God’s amazing creation, and I thought about what Moses wrote. “God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also” (Genesis 1:16 NKJV). Have you ever wondered why? Why did God make the stars? I am certain my finite mind will not know all the reasons, but I can think of a few. God made the stars because it was logical. God is a God of logic and reason! His amazing creation should cause us to know that God exists. Anyone who honors the law of rationality (to justify conclusions with adequate evidence) is truly “without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Any rational, clear-thinking person, seeing the stars, must truthfully see and recognize that “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). It is estimated that there

I must admit it; sometimes I get lost! I never get lost intentionally, but somehow it still happens. When traveling, especially in places to which I have never been, I get turned around, go in the wrong direction and sometimes even repeat those same steps many times. It always amazes me how just one small wrong turn can throw me completely off course. Thankfully, there are lots of helps to aid us in keeping on the right course when traveling (GPS, maps, signs, etc.). Without these helps, I would spend more time lost than on the right path. There are some things that a person must know, even given the great helps of travel, in order to navigate safely and successfully. The same is true when it comes to navigating each day, not physically, but spiritually. Sadly, not all the signs, GPS coordinates and maps are always correct. In fact, there are signs all over the place spiritually that will most certainly cause us to stray off course if we do not remember certain navigating essentials. What does it take to navigate successfully through life? Firstly, we must have a destination. No one can simply just get in a vehicle and drive somewhere without knowing where he or she wants to go. This should be obvious, but amazingly many are trying to navigate through life with no idea where they are heading! Just think for a moment of the chaos in which people would find themselves if they simply got in a car and started

How is success in life measured? Different endeavors usually have different standards for obtaining and calculating success. For example, a hunter is usually thought of as successful if he harvests the animal that he seeks. Materially, a person is deemed successful if he has a good salary, a nice house and many nice things. A sports figure is successful if he or she has many wins and leads the pack in his or her given game. A “church” is usually seen as successful if the parking lot is full, the building is inundated with people at every service and activities are always going on. While I can certainly understand the draw to gauge success in the above-mentioned ways, there is more to the story than meets the eye. For example, a hunter who relishes nature may be successful by simply seeing a distinctive animal track or hearing a unique animal sound. Materially, a person who loves what he does for a living, who is quite content with the place where he lives and who is thankful to have a few things in this life may be more successful than a millionaire. You see, success and failure are not always easy to define. This is especially true in the realm of religion. What may seem successful to man may actually be deemed failure from God’s viewpoint. So, then, what makes a congregation of God’s people successful in His eyes? Congregationally, success is not seen in people but in a Person. If Jesus is not lifted

If there ever were a person to love, Jesus is the One. In fact, given His wonderful attitude and actions, it is difficult to understand why anyone would not love Him! How could anyone be an enemy of Jesus? Ironically, before Jesus ever walked on the earth, inspired prophets attested to the fact that not everyone would love Jesus. “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1 NKJV). “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…” (Isaiah 53:3). One could certainly understand Jesus having enemies if He were a scoundrel, but Jesus was nothing of the sort. Yet, the New Testament verifies that many hated Him. “Therefore, the Jews sought the more to kill him…” (John 5:18). Some even plotted and schemed to put Jesus to death (John 11:53). Sadder still, Jesus knew many hated Him (John 15:18-20). He did nothing to deserve hatred, and yet, many hated our Lord. Why? Why did Jesus have enemies? Firstly, Jesus has enemies because of what He believed. Jesus’ belief system was based on heavenly guidance. Jesus was and is the full embodiment of truth (John 14:6). Everything He taught was truth (John 17:17), and He demanded that those who follow Deity to completely believe that same truth (John 8:31-32). He perfectly and meticulously lived the truth that He taught (Acts 10:38; John 6:38; Hebrews 5:8-9). Jesus also clearly told others that abiding in truth was the only way

The Bible is a mirror in which we, as humans, often see ourselves. The inspired narratives in God’s Word reveal the good and the bad of mankind, and they reveal the fact that we are all similar in many ways. In Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 9:2-8 and Luke 5:17-26, God gave the account of a paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus by four of the paralytic’s friends. These friends could not get to Jesus due to the crowd, and so they climbed upon the roof and tore away at the structure so they could lower this helpless man to Jesus. Of course, the outcome was wonderful! The paralyzed man had both physical restoration as well as spiritual restoration by coming into the presence of Jesus. Amazingly, in this account, we see ourselves in one of these classes. Which class are we? Firstly, there are the helpless. “…one sick of the palsy” (KJV), “a paralytic” (NKJV) (Mark 2:3). Palsy is an abbreviation for paralysis. This man was helpless, in that he could not walk and move about like his contemporaries. He was doomed with no hope in and of himself. That somewhat describes you and me. Spiritually, I am helpless! All of us are completely spiritually paralyzed due to our sins and transgressions (Romans 3:10; 23). We cannot atone for our own sins and are doomed to a painful and miserable life and death apart from Divine help. Secondly, there is the healer. “…they came unto him…” (Mark 2:3). The “him” here is none other

Margaret Bradley, a native of Boston, a University of Chicago medical student and a veteran marathon runner, died from heat exhaustion and dehydration during a July 2004 27-mile day run in the rugged terrain of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Although Miss Bradley was a seasoned runner, the sweltering Arizona heat literally drained her system of the needed moisture to survive. Dehydration can be fatal! The more I research and learn about the health of the human body, the more amazed I am at how common dehydration really is. In fact, some even go so far as to say that 75% of Americans live each day chronically dehydrated. While I am concerned about my physical hydration, there is a more serious dehydration than that of the physical body. Spiritual dehydration not only causes us many problems on this earth but in eternity as well. Many centuries ago, at Jacob’s well, on the outskirts of Sychar, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman who had come to fill her water jar. However, her hydration problems were much more serious than what she realized. As Jesus looked deep within her soul, He saw her dry, dehydrated spiritual life and offered her “living water” (John 4:10 NKJV). There are numerous parallels between physical thirst and spiritual dehydration. Firstly, like physical dehydration, spiritual dehydration can be forgotten. Personally, I must remind myself regularly to hydrate my body. In fact, if I do not set a reminder, some days I will drink very little water, and before I

The apostle Paul was a steadfast soldier in the Lord’s army. His inspired writings keep us on track and encourage even the most discouraged of saints. However, Paul needed encouragement too! He was human and faced struggles that are common to all mankind. In fact, dare I say that Paul faced even more difficult hardships than most Christians will ever face (2 Corinthians 11:25-28). Despite his struggles, Paul had some brethren who seemed to encourage him to keep pressing on even when times were bleak. Brethren like those in Philippi, Rome, Thessalonica and other locations as well encouraged Paul. In fact, when Paul wrote his first letter to those in Thessalonica, he told the brethren that they were “examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” (1 Thessalonians 1:7 NKJV). Their godly influence and faithful example were heard of all around (1 Thessalonians 1:8). Why were folks so encouraged by this local assembly of Christians? What made this congregation of God’s people such a marvelous model of what authentic Christianity is all about? Paul explained, “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). Their Christianity was authentic because it involved at least three necessary qualities. Firstly, there was an alteration. “For they

Someone correctly said that sharing our faith involves tact, and “the best kind of tact” is always “contact”! Christianity is a lifestyle to be lived and to be shared with everyone we meet. Effective evangelism begins with conversation and often this is the most difficult place to begin when it comes to our everyday cohorts. Few folks will approach us and directly say, “I would like to have a spiritual conversation with you.” As such, far too many Christians never have spiritual conversations because we sometimes have no idea where to begin. Yet, spiritual conversations are not as difficult as we may think. How can you and I be more efficient in our contact with others as we share the Gospel with the lost? Firstly, we must have a good awareness. Christianity is an antennas up way of life. We are always looking for opportunities and for open doors. Sometimes these doors of opportunity take many months or even years to fully open. Good awareness begins with people’s needs. For example, divorce, death, discouragement, disease and disaster are all potentially open doors for evangelism. This world really needs a healthy dose of others who truly care and are willing to get dirty to help out. Is there someone you know who has a need? Has someone recently lost a loved one, a job or is distraught about the condition of the world? Be aware of those around you; often they will be longing for us to stop and take time to really care, and that caring can

Christianity was referred to in the first century as “the Way.” In fact, as Saul of Tarsus was still breathing out threats against the church, Saul went to the high priest and desired to go to Damascus and find those of “the Way” and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial (Acts 9:1-2). Several years later, Paul came to Ephesus and spoke boldly in the synagogue for three months, but some to whom Paul preached were hardened and began to speak evil of “the Way” (Acts 19:8-9). Of course, the insightful Bible student understands that “the Way” is none other than Jesus (John 14:6), and those who follow Him become part of “the Way” (Galatians 3:27; 2 Corinthians 5:17). “The Way” is used in contrast to all other ways! There is but “One Way” to please our heavenly Father. Sadly, today many believe there are many ways to please God, but that is completely foreign to the Bible. Becoming part of “the Way” occurs neither by chance nor by accident. Being in “the Way” requires thoughtful and scriptural obedience. The Way begins with knowing. “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me” (John 6:45 NKJV). Under the Old Testament, a person was simply physically born into a Jewish family and became part of God’s chosen race. However, becoming part of “the Way” is different (Jeremiah 31:31-34). One must come to the knowledge of the

A recent email came to me regarding prayers for our brethren in Ukraine. Christians, as well as all others in that region, are in a detrimental situation as Russia invaded their land. The images of war are unsettling, unnerving and show us just how fragile peace and harmony in life can be. While we are praying for Ukraine’s safety and protection, especially those of the household of faith, there are spiritual lessons to be learned from war. War Is Destructive! Most objective observers can clearly see that Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation. Simply because of who the Ukrainians are and because of who Russia is, destructive war was inevitable. For simply being in Ukraine, people are being uprooted, maimed, killed and emotionally changed forever. Many will likely flee to other countries to sojourn in places that are not their homes. Spiritually, the application is valid. Simply because of who we are as Christians and who the devil is as our enemy, we are in a daily spiritual war that is devastatingly destructive as well. Sometimes God’s people ask, “Why me?” We must understand that darkness hates light (1 John 3:19-20) and, as such, Christians are always at battle with spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). We are not home as we fight this daily battle here on planet Earth (1 Peter 2:11-12). Our home is in Heaven (Colossians 3:1-3), and this place of sojourn is merely a battlefield to defend the Master’s cause (Matthew 28:18-20). Sadly, we must understand that this spiritual battle, like

One of the games I remember from my younger years was quite the illustration. In a group of young people, one person would be the “coach,” another would be the “walker” and the rest were all “distracters.” Here is how the game would unfold. The “walker” would be blindfolded and tasked with walking across a room filled with all kinds of obstacles. Beside the “walker” was the “coach” who would direct and guide the “walker.” Sounds easy enough, right? Well, placed around the room were the “distracters,” and their job was to confuse the “walker” and shout louder than the “coach” so that the walker would never make it successfully across the room. The “walker” often would simply be overwhelmed with too many commands and not be able to navigate the room at all. The only way the “walker” could be successful was to focus on the “coach” and block out the “distracters.” It was quite an ordeal but very illustrative of life’s journey. You see, the only way to truly navigate this life successfully and reach our eternal destination is to block out the distracters and listen solely to the Coach! After being specifically told not to preach and teach by the authority of Jesus, the apostles were faced with a similar dilemma. “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:29 ESV). This powerful principle was their priority, and the same must be our priority today if we are ever to reach

Have you ever been lonely? Have you ever felt as though there was no one on whom you could lean – no one to share your burden, no one to wipe your tears as they rolled down your sad face? I am sure we have all faced moments like that in life. Being alone is not a good feeling. Interestingly, Leviticus 16 describes the Day of Atonement, on which day the high priest would go into the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle all alone to offer sacrifice for his own sins and for the sins of the people. No one could accompany him there; it was all up to him, alone, to enter and complete the task at hand. Bible students can see the beautiful picture God was painting in this “type” of lone sacrifice of which our High Priest is the antitype. As Jesus entered the Most Holy Place to offer Himself as the sacrifice for sin, ironically, He did not make an offering for His own sins but for ours only. Jesus left His family, friends and even His foes to sacrifice Himself all alone. Although Jesus knew of His lonely plight before it began, still He entered all alone and forsaken! From His burden-filled, lonely heart came the saddest words ever heard, “My God My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). All alone and forsaken shows a number of things. His Association. “My God, my God…” It is surely bad enough to be forsaken by a mere acquaintance,

Life is all about perspective. “Your perspective will either become your prison or your passport” (Steven Furtick). The way we look at and respond to life’s challenges is so vital to our faithfulness as children of God. Difficult times can lead us closer to or farther from God, depending upon our focus and perspective. Centuries ago, our brothers and sisters in Christ were facing some of the most difficult challenges they had ever faced as Christians. A real danger was before them. That danger was not so much the persecution they were facing but the possibility of their trials wearing away at their precious faith to the point of apostasy. The Holy Spirit charged and inspired Peter to help these brethren obtain a proper perspective during such times. The inspired penmanship of Peter is recorded in the two books that bear his name, 1st and 2nd Peter. The proper perspective of which Peter wrote centuries ago is the same recipe to help us to have a proper perspective today. Peter reminded our brethren about redemption, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV). These persecuted saints were precious. How do we know that? God had “redeemed” them, which literally means to secure the life of a slave by paying a price. We, as well as they, were

Have you ever had a morning where you just did not want to wake up? I would guess we all have been there at one time or another. How about a morning where you thought it was only 5:00 a.m. but then realized it was actually 7:00 a.m.? It was later than you thought it was, and then, chaos ensued. Physically, success in life demands that we wake up and get the day started, despite our lack of desire sometimes to do so. We have all heard the familiar cliches, “Wake up and smell the coffee,” “Wake up and smell the roses” or “The early bird gets the worm.” Everyone most likely sees the importance and the value of physical sleep. However, there is a time to wake up and become alert and active. Spiritually, the same is true. Christians are to be awake and alert to the things going on around them and to be active in the work of the King, always watching and praying (Matthew 24:42). While I am certainly not a “doom and gloom” preacher, there is a time for us to be reminded that “It’s later than we think.” Consider the following observations. The Reminder. God’s two-edged sword is the Christian’s spiritual alarm clock. This wonderful alarm clock has no snooze button and does not rely on mankind to keep it running and set correctly (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21, et al.). Paul’s inspired quill reminded, “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already

My old man was something else! Sometimes he lied, had a bad attitude or disposition, let his temper flare, didn’t always use nice words and was most difficult to be around. Then, though, I was taught the Gospel of Jesus, and as I grew in the faith, my old man became less noticeable. Please understand it wasn’t that he completely disappeared, but he would not rear his ugly head quite as often as he once did. Although many do not like to talk about it, the truth is that every one of us had a less than desirable old man. In fact, Paul pulled no literary punches about the old man that everyone of us used to be. “…There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10 NKJV). A little later, the same inspired penman reminded us of what happened to that rascal of an old man we used to be. “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6). There are some interesting observations I have noticed about my old man to which you may be able to relate. My old man must be crucified daily. One of the most frustrating things I have observed about my old man is that there is a daily struggle for who is in control. I sometimes feel as though my old man is under my control, only to see the situation

I am sure most have heard the old saying, “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” This is usually repeated in the context of the method in which a woman can attract a man. In many cases, this saying may be true physically speaking. However, Jesus spoke about the true way to a man’s spiritual heart and that is through his ears. Matthew 13 records this truth in a convincing way. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15) helps us to understand the importance of hearing and shows what and how we hear affects our spiritual make-up. The Parable of the Sower was so named by Jesus Himself (Matthew 13:18) and is one of two parables that Jesus interpreted for us (the other was the Parable of the Tares, Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43). What can we learn from the Parable of the Sower? The Seed The seed is clearly the Word of God (Luke 8:11). “Seed” is often used to describe the Word of God on many occasions (1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Why is this comparison used? Firstly, seed is alive and has great potential, just like God’s Word. God’s Word is living (1 Peter 1:23; Hebrew 4:12), is powerful (Romans 1:16) and produces fruit. It wins souls to Christ (Romans 1:13), produces the fruit of holiness for those who apply it (Romans 6:22), produces the fruit of Christian character (Galatians 5:22-23) and produces the fruit of good works

Sometimes in the midst of discipleship, the most fundamental and most important facet is lost, the need to love the Lord. Although it may sound a bit elementary at first, loving the Lord is at the heart of everything we do or do not do as disciples (Matthew 22:37-40). Some view only discipleship as a bunch of “do and do nots.” Viewing our service to God considering just “rules” makes our Christianity very mechanical and ritualistic. Quite clearly, that attitude takes away the joy of serving God. This was the greatest downfall of the Pharisees. They viewed their following God as a removal of the heart and volition, as they boiled their relationship to God down to simply a bunch of rules (Matthew 23:23). Why are you a disciple? Why have you made the choice to follow Jesus? The Psalmist summed up an amazing reason for us to consider. I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. (Psalm 116:1-6 NKJV) Like the Psalmist, I love

One day, an expert was speaking to a group of business students. “Okay, time for a quiz,” he told them, pulling out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar, setting it on a table in front of him. Then, he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class said, “Yes.” Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then, he smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time, the class was onto him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in, and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Once again, he said, “Good!” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager boy raised his hand and said, “The

Surely, one of the most troubling and heartbreaking scenarios within our fellowship is to see someone “depart from the faith.” Sadder still, at least to me personally, is when one departs from the faith and then attempts to defend “doctrines of devils” and begins “speaking lies” concerning God’s Truth (1 Timothy 4:1-2). What causes a person to abandon the Truth and to attempt to defend false doctrine and error? While there are most likely many “causes,” consider the following as possibilities. Insult. One thing that causes some to “depart from the faith” is a bitter experience among brethren. Maybe a person feels he got a raw deal from an eldership or suffered an insult or an emotional injury from another member of a congregation. Sadly, such insults are anything but pleasant. Not every eldership conducts itself kindly, not every preacher is always as tactful as he should be, and not every member is as compassionate and courteous as he or she ought to be either. Even Christ, our example, suffered greatly at the hands of so-called friends (i.e., Judas, Peter, the Jews, et al.). Jesus reminded us that there will be heartaches and offences (Matthew 10:24-25; 16:24). Paul had to write an entire letter to a congregation that was not kind to one another (1 Corinthians). However, we must remember that while sometimes our experiences with other Christians are not always what we wish, we are not attached to the Truth or the church because of other members! We are attached to the Truth and added to the church

All kinds of ideas are put forth when the subject of the church comes up in religious circles. Some view the church as a “social club,” while others view it like a grocery store – you pick the one that just feels right and where you can get the most for your money. Sadly, some fail to even consider the church from the Bible or consider the church in light of God’s design and demands. Because of this, the church is often looked at as nonessential, unimportant or optional. However, when one views the church through the eye of inspiration, one can see what the church of Christ is all about. Firstly, the church of Christ is all about liberation. Please do not misunderstand; it is God alone Who pardons and liberates mankind from his sin. The church does not save, but rather the church is where the saved are placed and reside. Scripture abounds with this fact. When Paul wrote to the shepherds of Ephesus, he reminded them that the church was “purchased” with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28; cf., 1 Peter 1:18-19). Christ liberated mankind when He “gave Himself up” (Ephesians 5:25). The essentiality of the church is clearly seen in her purchase price! One cannot truly be liberated unless Christ liberates him or her and places one’s saved soul in the church where Christ is Head of the body (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18), where Christ is King of the kingdom (1 Timothy 6:15; Colossians 1:13) and where Christ is the

A person does not have to go far in the world today to hear the word Christian being used to refer to a host of people. In fact, the word Christian is used to describe almost anyone who is even the least bit moral. Other times, Christian is used to describe a person in contrast to a Muslim or a Buddhist. Often, our nation is referred to as a Christian nation. However, the way the world defines a particular word is not always the same way God defines that word. Then, from God’s perspective, who is a Christian? As we consider this important subject, please remember, it is not you or me who decides who is a Christian, but God and His Word will clearly make that determination! So, who is a Christian? The Fallacies  Sadly, many in our world today believe they are Christians simply because they believe something about Jesus. However, we can know that this is not the case, for God’s Word reminds, “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42). “Just believe” many will tout, but they clearly forget James’s warning, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble” (James 2:19). Some claim to be Christians simply because they are religious. However, God’s Word reminds us of a man who traveled to Jerusalem from Ethiopia

“And be ye kind one to another…” (Ephesians 4:32a). Every command that God gives is always for our best interest! Sadly, sometimes humanity never realizes that the demands and the prohibitions that God outlines in His Word are given so that God’s crown creation – mankind – may live abundant lives both here and in eternity (John 10:10). We find ourselves in a mixed-up world with emotional, mental and psychological illnesses, which are sometimes more prevalent and more widely seen because God’s Word is not being honored and revered. God’s way is always the best way! God’s law of kindness is no exception. We are living in a world where kindness is not the norm, and sadly it is affecting our society in a seriously negative way. Consider with me the importance of God’s law of kindness. Firstly, the demonstration of kindness. The Bible is inundated with actions of kindness. One of the early ones was shown by Pharoah’s daughter (Exodus 2:5-10). This young Egyptian lady knew the law her father implemented and enforced. “…Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river…” (Exodus 1:22). Kindness, spurred by compassion for baby Moses, caused this Egyptian to behave in an unusual way. Notice carefully, saving this child was not the norm; it was anything but the norm. In fact, the norm was to follow the law and slay every Hebrew male child. Kindness changed it all! Even prior to this act of kindness is another almost unbelievable action on the part of Joseph (Genesis 37:12-36). After being abandoned, sold, betrayed and

Are there things in your life for which you have great regret? Almost certainly if any of us could go back and relive certain times in our lives, we would do things differently. Hindsight is 20/20! Most likely, we all can remember times when we acted in an undesirable way or said some words that were less than sweet. Sometimes when we think of such times, we think to ourselves, “I can’t believe I did that!” Sadly, those occasions often bring feelings of guilt and shame to the point that it affects our current thoughts and actions. In fact, sometimes these thoughts bring on depression, a sense of worthlessness, and sometimes even worse. In the Spring of 1959, an Air Force major entered a Texas mental institution for the second time. He had tried to commit suicide twice, and he had been arrested for forgery and robbery. For years, he had been drinking heavily, and his marriage had disintegrated. Yet only 15 years before, he had been a model officer, headed for a promising career. One momentous event precipitated the major’s plunge; he flew the plane over Hiroshima when the first atom bomb was dropped. Shortly afterward, the major began to be haunted in his dreams by throngs of Japanese men, women and children. Then, his own life began to collapse. The psychiatrist who treated him said that the major was subconsciously trying to bring punishment from society to atone for the guilt he felt over Hiroshima. Unresolved guilt was

Have you ever gone into a room searching for something, but when you got there, you forgot for what you were searching? I suppose we all have done that. Often, forgetfulness occurs more frequently as a person ages. In fact, some deal with severe memory loss in their sunset years. While some forgetfulness is inevitable, sometimes amid life’s daily challenges, I forget some things that I really need to remember! Firstly, sometimes I forget my perspective. One thing I have really learned, especially during the last year, is how quickly a correct perspective can become obscured. Occasionally, I find myself getting twisted and tangled with the problems of the world, so much so, that I forget what my perspective should be. By perspective, I simply mean my outlook, my focus – what is truly important. No matter what the world around me is doing or becoming, I must not forget, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). My outlook, no matter what my surroundings are, is to be focused on God and His glory. When I allow the world and all of its problems to become my perspective, I can never ‘let the peace of God rule in my heart’ (Colossians 3:15). I can never be at peace with those around me (Romans 12:18), and I can certainly never rejoice as I need to (Philippians 4:4) as long as my perspective is wrested away from a focus on God. Our

Cultural winds are gusting wildly in our current day. Certainly, transgender is a hot button issue today. Transgender is defined as “denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.” From Hollywood to Washington and in every place between, we see this cultural pandemic exploding. Sadly, children from a very young age are exposed daily to transgender people, many of whom are these young people’s mentors, teachers and parents. As such, some young people are confused as to their own gender and are often left to decide their gender based on personal preference. As we begin, please understand that this author is neither hateful nor bigoted toward those who are not certain what gender they will choose. As a Christian, though, I am both sympathetic and scriptural minded. Christians must stand up, and they must lovingly, patiently and scripturally teach the truth about gender and the Bible. First, let us notice the deception about gender. Some say that birth is responsible for gender confusion. “They are just born that way” many will tout. In fact, the clinical term for gender confusion is “dysphoria” meaning an unease or dissatisfaction with one’s birth gender. Gender dysphoria is the feeling that one’s emotional and psychological identity do not match a person’s biological sex determined by birth. Psychologists have noted two different types of gender dysphoria: “Early onset” and “Rapid onset.” Early onset can be seen in children as young as 2, while rapid onset is usually seen a bit later in a child’s

Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart! A somewhat sad, but very telling narrative occurred between our Lord and some would-be followers in Luke 9:57-62. Each of these individuals had a “reason” why he could not immediately follow Jesus. Some of the reasons given seem somewhat justifiable from the human standpoint. However, no reason that we could ever give for not following Jesus is justifiable in the eyes of the Lord. For those who truly want to follow Jesus, there is a daily price that must be paid (Luke 9:23). However, what is involved in that daily price? What does following Jesus really entail? Firstly, following Jesus includes doctrine. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine…” (John 7:17). Doctrine is teaching or instruction and is the guideline for how we walk (1 John 1:7; 2:6). No one can follow Jesus acceptably and walk by some other standard of authority (2 Thessalonians 3:6). Doctrine is so essential in following Jesus that many of the religious folks in Jesus’ day were condemned for changing divinely given doctrine (Matthew 15:8-9). So important is doctrine that Peter demanded, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (1 Peter 4:11a). Checking doctrine regularly (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 4:1) is so important because Paul warned that some will change the pure doctrine into a “doctrine of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1; cf., Galatians 1:6-9). Because one cannot follow Jesus without proper doctrine, Paul exhorted Timothy, “Till I

The world is changing right before our very eyes! Just in the past 10 years, America has seen some big changes to our culture, the church, the home, industry and a host of other areas. Not all change is bad; for example, technology is a rapidly changing item that seems to make life easier. However, some change is not only harmful to America but sinful as well. One of the areas that is rapidly changing for the worse is the family and home. Not only are many embracing this change, but some are even promoting it. The traditional home is under serious attack! The traditional home by definition is simply a home where father and mother are both present, living together, married to each other, loving one another, and together rearing their children. Sadly, some scoff at the traditional home while others are vehemently opposed to it. In fact, there is a movement in America to change and to transform the traditional home. As such, more than ever, God-fearing, Bible-believing people of faith must rise up and defend the traditional home. We do not defend the traditional home because it is traditional but rather because it is designed and defined by God Almighty! Firstly, consider the plan for the traditional home. Mankind has no authority to change what God has planned. God’s plan from the very beginning of creation was for one man to be married to one woman for life (Genesis 2:21-25). When His opposers tried to trap Him, Jesus brought their attention right back

When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, he demanded, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:15-17). The Holy Spirit, through Paul, expected the saints at Philippi to see the Bible alike! They were to walk “by the same rule,” denoting a standard or a pattern. That pattern or standard is God’s Word. Sadly, many today see the Bible in different ways. Some interpret it one way and others another way. However, the Bible does not mean different things to each reader. If it meant different things to different people, there would be no way we could “walk by the same rule,” for we would all have different rules – different standards. Nevertheless, that is exactly what is happening in our world and sadly, in some cases, even in the church. The question “Can we see the Bible alike?” begs an answer. The Facts The very Book we are discussing affirms that we can see the Bible alike. In fact, to say that the Bible means different things to different people is to completely misunderstand its contents. Moses affirmed that we can all see the Bible alike when he penned, “The secret things belong

Possibly now, more than ever, our fellowship in Christ is being attacked. Personally, I believe true fellowship in the Lord’s church has been under attack for a long time. However, especially since the onset of the Coronavirus, fellowship has suffered greatly. Folks have been “forced” to “hole up” and be separate from others, which is a direct attack on the fellowship we need in Christ. The biblical word “fellowship” is defined as a “partnership, companionship, camaraderie.” It is a beautiful closeness that only can be experienced and enjoyed by those who are in fellowship with God. What is our fellowship in Christ all about?  Firstly, let us note the plan. God’s plan for the early church was quite clear. “And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:46). Notice some of the elements of this plan. Their fellowship was frequent: “And they continuing daily…” This could quite possibly be one of the clearest reasons why some congregations never experience the beauty of real fellowship; they are simply never together. Our meeting together for worship and Bible class can never achieve the closeness that meeting together daily can bring. How can we really know and love one another if we simply just cross paths on Sunday? Their fellowship was also friendly: “with one accord… with gladness and singleness of heart.” It was an enjoyable experience for these Christians to be together. They were not cliquish, clamoring

There is an ever-present disrespect for God and spiritual things in our world today. One of the areas that shows this disrespect for God is in the use of His name. As I listen to young and old alike, television shows, commercials, see texts and read emails, I am both appalled and offended at the disrespectful and vulgar way in which God’s name is so flippantly and vainly used. Sadly, this vain use of God’s name easily rubs off on Christians as well. In Exodus 3, Moses encountered God in the burning bush that was not consumed. God thundered from that fiery shrub, “…Draw not hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). God placed a warning to Moses and to all mankind that when we deal with Deity, we are before Holiness and should stand in reverential awe before Him! There is no more “holy place” than the very name of Almighty God. Sadly, we are living in a time when instead of taking off our shoes regarding the name of God, mankind is tracking up His holy name. Consider with me this holy ground and our attitude toward it as we consider the name of God. His name is revered! The Godhead was clear in giving the Law to Moses and Israel that God’s name was to be respected. The third commandment was clear, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will

Man is a worshipful being! No doubt the desire to worship something greater than ourselves was placed within us by an Intelligent Designer. Although the desire to worship is innate, humanity cannot determine proper actions with which to pay homage to our Creator without a Divine Standard. Thus, God’s Word dictates to man what is acceptable in the realm of worship. Jesus emphasized that worship must be “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). However, sometimes people attempt to worship according to their standards rather than God’s Standard (Leviticus 10:1-3). Not only are the actions (Truth) of worship necessary, but the attitude (spirit) must be right as well. When the actions and the attitude are right, worship accomplishes great things! Worship exalts God! Surely the greatest accomplishment of worship is that it exalts and extols God Almighty! God is more than worthy of any praise and adoration we can give to Him. “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place” (1 Chronicles 16:25-27). When Isaiah saw the throne room of God, he heard the seraphim declaring, “…Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3b). John, the revelator, saw and heard a very similar chorus that included the four and twenty elders saying, “Thou art worthy,

A recent Gallup poll showed that only 24% of Americans believe the Bible to be the literal Word of God. This is the lowest in Gallup’s forty-year tracking. The number of those who view the Bible as merely secular stories and history (some of which they think is false) has risen to 26%. Sadly, far too many people are losing confidence in the Bible. Someone has said, “If I were Satan, I would put as many barriers around the Bible as I could. I would plant thorns and hedges to frighten people away.” Truly, that is exactly what Satan is hard at work doing today. Doubt, skepticism and outright disbelief regarding God’s Book are so popular in our world. Unfortunately, these doubts and disbeliefs are often founded upon bias and prejudice. Many who claim that the Bible is “full of mistakes” and “inaccurate” have never honestly and rationally read and studied its contents. Another point to consider is that when bias and prejudice are the core of a person’s conclusion, truth cannot really be seen for what it is. Many volumes have been written to answer these Bible critics verse by verse, and yet, most will never take the time or the effort to peruse such written documents. Is the Bible really filled with mistakes? Is the skeptic right in his conclusion that the Bible cannot be trusted? This author outrightly and boldly affirms that the Bible is 100% trustworthy, and there are no mistakes in the Book God has

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). To rightly divide the Word of Truth, one must use certain principles of interpretation. Sadly, some approach the Bible in a completely different way than they would approach any other book. While the Bible is certainly not just “any other book,” the rules of interpretation are universal in nature. Context is key when it comes to understanding any communication. This is certainly true when it comes to rightly dividing the Bible. How does one go about properly interpreting God’s Word in its context? Firstly, there is the age context. When one begins to study the Bible, the first thing necessary for an honest interpretation is to determine in which age the penman was writing. There is the Patriarchal Age (creation to Sinai). Key figures during this dispensation were Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There is the Mosaic Age (Sinai to the cross), which included great men like Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah and Jesus. Lastly, there is the Christian age (cross to Judgment Day), which included people like Paul, Peter, John and Luke, as well as includes you and me. At one time, God spoke in different ways (directly to the Fathers in Patriarchy; through the Law of Moses in the Mosaic Age or in Judaism), but now God speaks to us through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3). Therefore, religious authority to which we must turn is not what Moses

“For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). These were Paul’s inspired words to a preacher who, no doubt, was facing some fearful times. Paul was imprisoned for a second time, which imprisonment would result in his death, when he wrote his second letter to Timothy. Can you imagine the fear that must have passed through Timothy as he considered his mentor and “father” in the faith, Paul, no longer being there on whom to lean? Timothy was most likely filled with apprehension, anxiety and doubt. Paul’s words were sent to Timothy to remind him that God does not want His children to live in fear. Fear is a crippling, debilitating, spiritual disease that can overcome and control us. There are numerous things that fear brings about, none of which are good for the Christian and his work for God. Fear is a prison. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, they were fearful and hid themselves from Him (Genesis 3:8). Fear becomes a prison where people work diligently to hide from everyone, especially from God. Fear becomes a prison wherein we hide, trying to avoid anyone and everyone. Fear will immobilize us to our full potential and keep us from growing. A person who is fearful seldom attempts to do anything outside his comfort zone because he is locked up in a prison of allowing fear to control and contain him. If we allow it, fear will

The Bible is replete with the command to pray. God has filled His Book with promises that are connected directly with prayer. Prayer is such a unique privilege and wonderful blessing for the child of God. Yet, we often struggle with prayer. Surprisingly, the disciples of Jesus struggled with prayer as well (Luke 11:1). I sometimes struggle with prayer; do you ever struggle? What makes this spiritual discipline such a challenge for many Christians? Consider the following. Inadequacy. We sometimes struggle with prayer because we feel as though we are inadequate to pray. Sometimes prayer is thought of as a practice for the spiritually elite; in other words, if I feel weak, how could I ever approach God? Yet, it is during those bouts of weakness and uncertainty that we really need time with our Father (1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6). While we are quite inadequate in and of ourselves, with the power of our High Priest, we can “come boldly to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:15-16). Do not let your feelings of inadequacy prevent you from praying without ceasing! Ignorance. We sometimes struggle with prayer because we simply do not know how to pray. Just think for a moment; how do people usually learn to pray? Most often we learn from hearing others pray. While that is not necessarily a bad way to learn, we can seldom go deeper into prayer than those from whom we have learned. Sometimes as children, we are taught quaint prayers like “Now I lay

Living in a world filled with uncertainly is like trying to stand in a pool of quicksand, and many are sinking under its pull. COVID-19 has brought a new type of uncertainty and uneasiness to our communities. Almost everyone, in some way, is feeling the effects of this terrible virus. Americans are affected from a shortage of many daily necessities (toilet paper, hand sanitizers, etc.) to increased unemployment as well as store and school closings. Getting through such times, for most, is a great challenge. How can a person possibly pillow his head at night during times like these? Where can we turn amid such uncertainty? Christians can turn to God’s Word in general and Psalm 91 in particular. Would you, Dear Reader, take just a couple minutes to read Psalm 91 and consider some helpful observations from it? Firstly, God is our shadow (vs. 1). “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” When we consider the nature of a shadow, we learn that a shadow is over us and far beyond the spot where we currently find ourselves. As humans, we cannot know for sure what lies ahead of the here and now. What will tomorrow bring? Will I suffer sickness, disease or failure? What a metaphor for the God we serve! God sees more than we can ever see, and God knows more than we can ever know. We can rest easy, even during trying times, knowing that

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). In my estimation, there is no better place to “see” the heart of God than through the Psalms. The Psalms, which fall into the poetry section of our Bibles, are made up of 150 Psalms, divided into 5 different books. The Hebrew word for Psalms means songs of praise, and many of the Psalms are just that. The entire 150 Psalms are thought to be composed over a 1,000-year period. While God is ultimately the Author (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), He used several different human penmen to record His Words. David is attributed with writing 73 psalms in this collection, while Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, Ethan and Moses are the other penmen of this great assortment. Each of the five books of the Psalms has a unique literary structure. Every book begins with our relationship to the Lord, and each book ends with a doxology (expression of praise) to the Lord. As we briefly note each of these five books, we shall see a unique place that God occupies in our everyday affairs. Firstly, in Book 1 (Psalms 1-41), we see God beside us. A great example of this is found in Psalm 1. Here the man who walks beside God is like a “tree, planted by the rivers of water.” This man is flourishing, prospering and growing because he walks beside

Possibly one of the greatest temptations for Christians is to become enamored and captivated with the world in which we live. Worldliness is surely a sin that will take many Christians to a devil’s hell when eternity dawns. John’s admonition was so clear. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of the Father abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-17). Through the pen of the apostle John, the Holy Spirit set forth five important points for our consideration. The Prohibition: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…” The “world,” as is used here, refers to the sphere of evil that is so very present on this terrestrial ball. Sin abounds all around us, and it seems as though little good and few righteous things are part of this world today. The “prince of the power of the air” certainly has left his sinful mark upon much of what we encounter every day! The Possibility: “…if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Some flirt with this world as though they could never fall from

In contrast to the passing age of miraculous gifts, Paul, by inspiration’s pen, wrote of love. While miraculous gifts were about to cease when Paul penned 1 Corinthians 13, love was a permanent blessing of the church. “Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:8a). The power of love is clearly seen by Paul’s introductory remarks (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Without love, nothing else really matters! One of the wonderful characteristics of biblical love is that it “…thinketh no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:5b KJV) or “is not…resentful” (ESV). Firstly, consider the interpretation. The word translated “thinketh” comes from a Greek verb (logizomai) that is an accounting term, which means to “credit someone’s account.” Therefore, to “think no evil” is to not hold grudges or past hurts done to us by others. There are always enough hurts in life to go around! If a person is not vigilant and diligent, a long ledger of all the hurts done to us by others can be impressed upon one’s mind. Then, bitterness and resentment ensue, and before long, we are so consumed with hurt that we cannot see anything else. Secondly, consider the demonstration. The Old Testament patriarch Joseph demonstrated what it really means to “think no evil.” After being laughed and scorned and on the verge of being murdered, Joseph was sold into slavery. Joseph was treated more severely than most people would treat a criminal. Did Joseph have a right to become bitter from the human perspective? Just imagine your own flesh and blood doing to you what Joseph’s

Do you remember the time before the flood of social media? Times may have been a bit simpler and much less cluttered. It seems that today many are glued to their computers, phones and tablets—tweeting, posting and tagging anything and everything under the sun. Social media has flooded our world! It keeps people informed, inspired and in tune to the world around them. Almost everyone is involved in social media of some type. While social media, like any other tool, is neither bad nor good in and of itself, it depends on how social media is used as to whether it is positive or negative. Let’s examine some of both good and bad of social media. Pitfalls of Social Media There are certainly many spiritual dangers to avoid when involved in social media. Gossip is a real pitfall for those involved in social media. Unfortunately, some confuse the clothesline for Facebook and “air their dirty laundry” and the laundry of others as well. Social media is somewhat of a breeding ground for things that are really none of our business. “A forward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends” (Proverbs 16:28). “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23). How true are these passages especially in relation to in what some involve themselves through social media? Remember, not everything you see on your social media feeds are things to which you should respond or with which you ought to become involved (cf., Matthew 7:12).

Communication is the key to the success in any human connection. In fact, communication is a basic building block in relationships between individuals. Because that is true, it should not come as a surprise that in order for families to have a strong faith, talking to God together is essential. Most families pray at the “appointed” times such as bedtimes and mealtimes. However, setting aside some special opportunities through the week to pray together can have lasting, positive eternal effects for your family. While there are many more benefits to family pray time than I can list in this article, consider the following for motivation to begin or to continue to pray together in your family. Firstly, family prayer time initiates appreciation. Part of prayer is praising and thanking God for His manifold blessings that He gives each day (Psalm 105:1-3; 138:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; James 1:17). Sadly, we live in what has been labeled “a thankless society.” Yet, praying together causes families to stop and think about the blessings they have been given. Someone has correctly said, “He who thinks, thanks.” Interestingly, a heart filled with gratitude causes us to be happier and much more optimistic. When your family joins together in prayer, discuss some of the many blessings that God has given, noting some blessings that are extra special personally to family members. Surely, the very fact that we can pray with our families is a reason to thank God! Secondly, family prayer time inspires agreement. When a family sets

Did God use evolution to create the world? What does it matter? In a recent conversation with an infidel, the question was posed, “Does it matter if God used evolution or not?” The Bible teaches clearly that evolution was not used to create the world and all things therein! If the Bible is true, then evolution is false. The Bible is true; therefore, evolution is false. The rest of this article will set forth the evidence that proves God did not use evolution in His masterful plan of creation. God’s Word gives clear details regarding creation. The Persons of Creation The Bible is crystal clear that time was not the agent of creation, as evolution teaches, but rather, the trinity (Godhead, Genesis 1:26; Romans 1:20)! In Genesis 1:1, the masculine noun used for “God” is the Hebrew word Elohim, which is a plural term referring to the Sovereign, Son and Spirit. Interestingly, this plural form is the name most used for God in the Old Testament, appearing some 2,000 times. Paul reminded the Corinthians that God the Father created the world (1 Corinthians 8:6). John, the beloved, reminded his readers that Jesus the Son created the world (John 1:3; cf., Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1-2; Ephesians 3:9). Job attested that the Spirit of God was instrumental in creation as well (Job 26:13; 33:4). The Procedure of Creation The Bible will never harmonize with evolution in the procedure of how the world came into existence. A host of action verbs detail the procedure

Things just don’t last! Most items we purchase today are simply disposable, and usually we dispose of them more quickly than we hoped. From children’s toys to automobiles, things do not last and endure. However, one of the great evidences that the Bible is from God is the lasting nature of it. God’s Word has gone face to face with numerous obstacles, and yet the Word of God remains! The Bible is truly the enduring Word. Consider the following. The Bible has endured time. The apostle Peter referred to the Bible as “the living and abiding Word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). God’s wonderful Book has endured century after century without fail. The original writings of Scripture were penned upon parchments, papyrus and other very fragile materials. While those materials were transient, the message was not! The Scriptures that we lovingly hold today were meticulously hand copied by Scribes for generation after generation, and yet these sacred writings remain without flaw or error. Early man was somewhat limited in his resources, but in spite of those limitations, the power of God shines through as His Word has remained intact. Of all the writings of antiquity, no other book has as much textual evidence as does the Bible. Only a few copies of Julius Caesar’s works remain, but thousands of manuscripts of the Scriptures endure. Mankind has only one or two copies of Aristotle, Plato, Tacitus and other ancient authors, and yet the Bible is extensively documented and remains a complete whole. Interestingly, we

One the great hymns often sung for “teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16) is a song entitled, “I Know My Name Is Written There.” This song was written by Daniel Sidney Warner, a denominational preacher in the Church of God in the late 1800’s. This song centers around the “Book of Life.” The Book of Life is a very special book that God revealed throughout the pages of inspiration. The things that God revealed about this wonderful book are comforting to those who have obeyed the Gospel and are remaining true to it. The Book of Life—Past The first mention of the Book of Life came from the pen of Moses. In fact, Moses offered to have his name erased from this book for the sake of Israel. “And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written” (Exodus 32:31-32). As noble as Moses’ intentions were, thankfully, for Moses’ sake, God does not operate in such a way. David went to the other extreme and asked God to remove the names of David’s enemies from the Book of Life. “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous” (Psalm 69:28; cf., Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Malachi 3:16). From various other Old Testament passages, it

September 11 is a very special and memorable day indeed! On that day, 2,977 lives were lost, and countless other lives were forever changed by the events of “9-11” that took place on American soil 18 years ago. September 11, 2001 marked a day that will surely always be remembered. Many are made to reflect where they were on that day. Some can recall what they were doing when the air waves came alive with the horrific news that airplanes were crashing into our most awesome structures. Then and the days following, I vividly remember many desiring to turn back to God. The little congregation of which my wife and I were a part was filled the Sunday following these events. However, shortly after those days, many minds began to forget God once again, just as many had done prior to that day. Tragedy has a way of causing folks to look upward. However, as tragedy gives way to time, many begin to look everywhere but up! As I look back to the awful events of “9-11,” I see the same truths that some have forgotten. As we look back, we should always remember the following. God is the only control! Especially during times of calamity, we sometimes forget this awesome truth. No matter what happens, it is God Who is still in control of everything! Job, in answering Zophar, clearly stated the truth that in God’s hand “is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind”

The church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not for the faint of heart. Religion, especially in today’s world, is viewed as a passive way of life. However, God’s Book, the Bible, paints a far different picture of what Christians are to be. One of my favorite analogies that God uses for His people is the parallel to a soldier. Throughout the New Testament Scriptures, God placed serious emphasis on the militancy of His church. Someone has correctly said that the only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. Surely, that is why God placed such emphasis on His people to be militant and not passive. Therefore, each Christian is enrolled in the Lord’s army and, as such, has certain responsibilities. Let us scripturally consider some of the responsibilities that each Christian has in the Lord’s army. Firstly, the Lord’s Army is a choice. Nearing the end of his life, Joshua spoke of the individual choice in serving God, “…choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Jesus closed the Revelation with emphasizing this choice, “…And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17b). In the Lord’s army, there is no “drafting.” There are no soldiers in the Lord’s army who are there by accident! It is a personal, conscious choice to enlist in the Lord’s army. While God would prefer all men to enlist, each person has a

You can change your world, by changing your words! The words we speak are so very powerful. Sadly, Christians can use the tongue to their own and to others’ eternal harm. The warnings God sets forth in Scripture regarding the tongue are many. “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18 ESV). “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble” (Proverbs 21:23). “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10). For further study, consider Proverbs 18:21; 20:19; 26:20; James 3. A seemingly faithful child of God can become unfaithful very quickly by the misuse of the tongue. As God’s children, what are some of the sins we must be vigilant not to do? While the following will certainly not be exhaustive, we shall seek to address some of the more common sins of the tongue. Gossip Someone has correctly called gossip the reputation assassin. Often gossip is thought of as sharing something untrue about another. In fact, this author has personally heard Christians attempt to defend gossip by saying that what they repeated was true. However, the biblical idea of gossip is not just repeating false things about another, but it can entail repeating true things as well. “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (Proverbs 11:13). “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love:

The church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not for the faint of heart. Religion, especially in today’s world, is viewed as a passive way of life. However, God’s Book, the Bible, paints a far different picture of what Christians are to be. One of my favorite analogies that God uses for His people is the parallel to a soldier. Throughout the New Testament Scriptures, God placed serious emphasis on the militancy of His church. Someone has correctly said that the only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. Surely, that is why God placed such emphasis on His people to be militant and not passive. Therefore, each Christian is enrolled in the Lord’s army and, as such, has certain responsibilities. Let us scripturally consider some of the responsibilities that each Christian has in the Lord’s army. Firstly, the Lord’s Army is a choice. Nearing the end of his life, Joshua spoke of the individual choice in serving God, “…choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Jesus closed the Revelation with emphasizing this choice, “…And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17b). In the Lord’s army, there is no “drafting.” There are no soldiers in the Lord’s army that are there by accident! It is a personal, conscious choice to enlist in the Lord’s army. While God would prefer all men to enlist, each person has a

The church of the New Testament is made up of relationships. One of the greatest joys of the Christian life is to have eternal relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ (Philippians 1:3). While these relationships are but a foretaste of Heaven itself, sometimes these relationships are not what they should be scripturally. Often, differing personalities are the root cause of problem relationships in the church. How should our relationships be as “fellow heirs” and “partakers of his promise” (Ephesians 3:6)? The Holy Spirit did not leave us to guess how we are to treat one another in the church. Firstly, consider inspiration’s instructions on the matter. God was not silent about how our relationships should be in His family. In fact, the New Testament is inundated with “one another” passages. “Be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:50), “don’t grumble among one another” (John 6:43), “be like-minded one toward another” (Romans 15:5), don’t bite, devour, and consume one another (Galatians 5:15), be kind, tenderhearted, and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32), “love one another” (John 13:34; 15:12, Romans 13:8). One cannot study the New Testament with an honest heart and miss the fact that inspiration’s instructions are clear about our treatment of one another. Healthy relationships in God’s family are propagated when each member is sincerely concerned about one another! Secondly, consider the divine demonstration on the matter. There is no better example on healthy relationships than that of our Master, Jesus Christ! It was written of Jesus, “…having loved his own which

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden…” (Matthew 11:28a). This is without doubt the greatest invitation that has ever been given! Of course, the One Who gave this invitation really desired and desires that everyone will accept it. “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). Most everyone would like to enjoy what this invitation brings—rest, forgiveness, joy, peace, love and among other wonderful blessings, an eternal home in Heaven when life as we know it is over. While it is true that we can never earn this invitation (it is freely given), each one must accept the invitation on God’s terms. Sadly, not everyone has the spiritual ambition to accept our Lord’s invitation. What is involved in accepting this Great Invitation? Firstly, there must be an awareness. In order to accept Christ’s invitation, one must be aware of his or her condition. If one is not aware that he “labors” and is “heavy laden” without acceptance of this invitation, then why would anyone “come”? On another occasion, Jesus put it this way, “…if any man thirst…” (John 7:37b). If one does not know he is thirsty, why would he seek water? Sadly, many folks are walking around “spiritually dehydrated” and never even know it! On still another occasion, Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst…” (Matthew 5:6a). Until we are aware that without Christ our spiritual bellies are “growling,” we can never accept the Great Invitation! Secondly, there must be an apprehension. Simply stated,

A song that is found in many of our different hymn books has a line that goes something like this, “There’s an all-seeing eye watching you, everyday mind the course you pursue.” The ever-present eye of God is an irrefutable fact. The Psalmist rhetorically asked, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139:7). “He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3b-4). While God’s omniscience and omnipresence are known facts, sometimes we may forget these attributes of God, especially when we find ourselves in difficult times. The prophet Habakkuk seemed to have forgotten about the awesome fact that God is everywhere all the time, and His power never wanes, nor does He sleep! Habakkuk felt as though God was not hearing his pleas and may have even forgotten about the heinous sins that Judah was committing (Habakkuk 1:2-4). In this interesting dialogue between the prophet and God, God reminded Habakkuk that although it may seem that He was not active, such is never the case! God answered Habakkuk (1:5-11) and powerfully reminded him that He sees all, knows all and will vindicate the righteous and bring vengeance upon the unrighteous. Just exactly Who is this God Who never sleeps? He is amazing. “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you” (Habakkuk 1:5). Mankind simply

We live in an angry world! Far too many people spend their time being angry and irritated about things over which they often have no control. Although being angry is not a sin (in fact Paul reminded, “Be ye angry, and sin not…” Ephesians 4:26a KJV), anger is a dangerous playground of the devil, especially for those seeking to follow Christ. Anger that spirals outside of its healthy limits can destroy and hurt the child of God. There are essentially three serious dangers regarding uncontrolled anger with which each Christian must be familiar and work diligently to avoid and overcome. The first dangerous level of uncontrolled anger is bitterness. Every human being has had situations in his or her life, which if left unchecked, can result in bitterness. Often, anger causes us to play the “victim” of our circumstances and our pasts, which becomes a breeding ground for bitterness. Bitterness usually stems from things that happened to us which are unfair. A very difficult lesson to learn is that life is filled with unfair situations! For example, it is not fair for a parent to have to bury his child. It is not fair for a person to be diagnosed with cancer, especially a young person. It is not fair for a little baby to be abandoned and abused. However, even when unfair circumstances come our way, it behooves us to deal with them properly in order to not allow anger to take root and permit bitterness to grow. We have

The Book of Psalms is a divine, therapeutic resource that, if studied diligently, will bring the reader closer to the heart of God. The Psalms are truly a wonderful treasure! The Puritans would sing the Psalms as they made the treacherous sea journey from religious tyranny to freedom. Charles Spurgeon, in his masterful work, The Treasury of David, clearly communicated the value of the Psalms when he penned, “The delightful study of the Psalms has yielded me boundless profit and ever-growing pleasure” (preface). “When I approach the Psalms, I feel the impulse to say, ‘Take off your shoes for you are standing on holy ground’” (Yates ix). Studying the Psalms is a valuable study for Christians today. Firstly, the Psalms are filled with power. Life is difficult at best! As such, we often need a word of hope and encouragement. The Psalms are filled with this divine power. How many times has Psalm 23 been read and meditated upon during life’s losses? Countless funerals and hospitals have been inundated with this encouraging Psalm. In addition, Psalm 91 has often been referred to as the 9-1-1 call directly to the throne room of the Almighty. Psalm 121 reminds its readers of the dependability of God and that He constantly cares for us. These are but a “drop in the bucket” of all the Psalms that display this power to help in times of hardship. For further study, see Psalms 27, 37, 46, 51, 119, 139, et al. The Psalms are filled with power!

Are you a good listener? Listening is a true learned discipline that many of us would have to admit we are still working on. I want to be a better listener! I want to truly learn this wonderful discipline, to really be able to help people and myself better. Listening well is more difficult than it may seem, whether in a counseling situation or in a conversation. You likely think you are better at it than you really are. If we can master its art, it becomes our most effective tool in solving problems, changing attitudes and motivating others! It is often so difficult to really listen to another person’s feelings, hurts, disappointments, joys or concerns. Why? Usually, we are busy thinking of what we will say or how we will react to the other person’s statement or question. The Good Book clearly states, “…let every man be swift to hear…” (James 1:19b). What are some practical ways I can be a better listener? How can I be “swift to hear”? Firstly, focus your attention. If we are not focused on the conversation at hand, we can never be good listeners. We are often far too focused on our reaction, our answer or our feelings that we are distracted on what another is really saying. Learn to repeat back exactly what the other person has stated to make certain that you heard him or her correctly. Phrases like, “So are you saying” or “Did I understand you correctly?” will really help with your

Healthy things grow! When a tree is planted, growth is expected. When a small fawn is born, growth begins almost immediately. The same is true of God’s people. Healthy congregations grow! However, some congregations of the Lord’s church are not growing; in fact, some are “dying on the vine.” Why do some congregation grow while others do not? When an entity is supposed to grow and does not, it behooves us to ask, “Why?” By understanding the reason(s) for non-growth, we can more easily make the proper adjustments and prescribe the cure. Below are three possible “growth limiting obstacles.” Firstly, blurred mission is an obstacle to growth. Sadly, some congregations have forgotten that God’s plan for His people is to tell the “old story” to those we meet! We often sing about “sending the light,” but far too often some congregations are busy with everything except sending the light. We make sure the youth group is pampered and entertained, the older folks are enjoying the activities with which they are afforded and the young married couples enjoy each other’s “Red Lobster” night. Yet, we forget the main objective for Christ’s church. While I am certainly not against wholesome fun and fellowship of fellow Christians, that is not the main objective for Christ’s kingdom. I once heard a brother in Christ say that we must adapt to “compete with denominations.” Dear friends, we have never been nor will we ever be in competition with denominations! Ours is a spiritually defined, divine mission (Matthew28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16;

“The studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands” is a quote that has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson. That quote has come under attack by some as something someone heard him say, but not a direct quote of the former President. Whether Jefferson said it or not does not take away from the truth of the quote. Reading, studying and applying the Bible will always make mankind better! In giving the Revelation, Jesus reminded, “Blessed is he that readeth…” (Revelation 1:3). While Bible reading is often encouraged among religious folks, many times newcomers to the Bible have no idea where to start or how to start. May I offer some suggestions in the reading of your Bible? Firstly, read regularly. To become a proficient Bible reader, one must make the necessary time to read. God’s Word is our spiritual food (1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4; Job 23:12) that nourishes our thoughts, deeds and way of life. If we do not eat the proper food physically, our bodies suffer, and if we do not eat the proper food spiritually, our spirituality suffers. D.L. Moody was once told by a man that he just did not have time to read the Bible every day. Mr. Moody replied, “My friend, if you are too busy to read the Bible every day, then you are busier than Almighty God ever intended any human to be, and you had better let some things go, and make the time!”

When God enlisted Moses to free God’s people from Egypt, He appeared to Moses in a bush, though engulfed in an inferno, which was not consumed (Exodus 3:1-4). As Moses approached this awesome scene, God warned Moses of the sacredness whereon he stood. “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5; cf. Acts 7:33). Years later, the Captain of the Lord’s Host (pre-incarnate Jesus) appeared to Joshua with the same message. “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot: for the place whereon thou standest is holy” (Joshua 5:15). These two awesome occasions remind readers that the real estate where God is present is sacred, sanctified and holy beyond man’s inventions. Today, there is no physical real estate that is holy. There is no longer any such thing as a holy building or a holy hill. Even the buildings in which we often worship are not “sacred.” The question is then, “Is there any sacred real estate today?” While there is no sacred real estate in the physical sense, the sacred real estate whereon we must tread lightly is the Word of God. Because God gave us the Bible, we must approach it as sacred and holy. We must never open its pages with a flippant attitude, for when we study Inspiration, we are “standing on holy ground”! Consider the following. Firstly, note the statements. The statements God’s Word makes for itself show that it is indeed

Christianity is a singing religion! God’s people sing. In fact, singing is a commanded act of worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). However, for the faithful child of God, singing goes far beyond the command. One of the great ways in which private and public worship is given to the Almighty is by raising our songs of praise. The faithful live by the wisdom of James. “…Is any merry? Let him sing psalms” (James 5:13b). The apostle Paul, by inspiration’s pen, declared that our singing must be done “with the spirit and with the understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15). While most Christians understand the need and the requirement for vocal singing as per the New Testament pattern, this author is fearful that the spirit and the understanding part of that pattern often is not considered. What did God mean when He demanded that our singing was to be done with spirit and with understanding? Firstly, “spirit and understanding” include concentration. In the immediate context of 1 Corinthians 14, Paul was dealing with people who were zealous for certain things (i.e., miracles), but they were not interested in the spiritual edification of others (cf., 1 Corinthians 14:12). The entire reason for the miraculous gifts at Corinth was so that understanding and enlightenment could come to all, not just to those who were using the gifts. Although the miraculous has ceased today, the principle is still the same. One result of vocal singing is to edify (build up spiritually) the worshippers (1 Corinthians 14:16).

Churches of Christ (not a “brand name” but a designation) have long been known for having Bible authority for all we teach and practice. Of course, this concept originated with God, not the church (Colossians 3:16-17). In fact, no true doctrine ever originates with the church, but rather the church becomes and remains the true church as it upholds and supports biblical teaching (1 Timothy 3:15). If we fail to uphold and hold fast to “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1), then we cease to be the Lord’s church (Hebrews 3:6)! Just claiming to be the Lord’s does not make it so (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46). Often when we speak of the preceding passages, we refer to those in the denominational world. While it is true that these passages would apply to denominations, it certainly has application to us! When Jesus spoke these words and the inspired penman recorded them, denominations were not yet in existence. Therefore, to whom originally were these passages directed? They were directed to disciples and followers of Jesus—those who would become the church. Brethren, we need to make personal application here. Just because we claim allegiance to Christ does not make it so. Our teaching and practice must be the same as that of the apostles and of Christ (Acts 2:42). We must make certain we have Bible authority for what we teach and practice. Do we? What about doctrinally? It is quite heart-breaking to see the doctrinal differences among those claiming to be the New Testament church. From music, the qualifications

With the excitement of the season’s first falling snow behind us here in the north, comes the potential doldrums of the freezing, blowing winds and piles of cold snow. This time of year creates a feeling of cabin fever for many. A feeling of sadness and boredom is created as one waits for the weather to become less abrasive and more bearable. So too, this feeling can also be felt in a Christian’s walk with God. No matter what we are feeling, God is there, and He is real. It is not hard to feel closeness to God when things in our lives are going smoothly. When the bills are being met, our loved ones are healthy, we are surrounded by friends, we feel we are wanted and needed by others, and we have happiness, God feels real and near. Albeit, life is not always so pleasant. A real test of faith is when one is feeling distraught, empty of joy and full of pain, but he continues to walk with the Almighty. When prayers seem to go no higher than the ceiling and no answers are in reach, yet one continues to give God glory and honor, this is the true test of faith! Perhaps you are dealing with a difficult struggle in life and are feeling this winter of the heart. Don’t give up! You are not the only one who has felt this way. God referred to David as “a man after My own heart,” and still

We live during an age known as the “entitlement age.” In other words, mankind feels as though he is entitled to certain blessings regardless of whether he works for them or not. For example, many believe they are entitled to have food, whether they work for it or not. These same ones often feel as though they are entitled to someone giving them shelter, even if they are lazy and unwilling to fulfill certain requirements. In fact, “I deserve that” is a phrase that is often heard or at least portrayed by some. This mentality has entered into the arena of worship as well. Sadly, many believe that worship is about them and what they like or do not like. Ironically, even some leaders in the church have become more concerned with offending someone than offending God. This is clearly seen in leaders catering to the whims of people instead of appealing to the Word of God. While it should never be our intent to purposefully offend others, we must first be concerned with what God desires. Worship is not about us, it is all about God! Worship is not about my personal comfort or what I prefer or do not prefer. The question we must answer is, “Why should we worship?” Why do we worship the Creator and Sustainer of Heaven and Earth? Why is it all about Him and not about me? Firstly, it is about God because God is consecrated! The idea of “consecration” from the biblical perspective refers to holiness and purity. God is holy; it

No matter who you are, what you do or do not do, or where you live, everyone, from time to time, faces bouts with discouragement. Sadly, often even spiritual people are plagued with discouragement. Discouragement drains a person’s zeal and steals the joy he or she should have. Discouragement stagnates congregations, individuals and good works. Confidence and hope are lost when discouragement is present. Discouragement arises from a multitude of circumstances. For example, if a person spends too much time viewing or listening to the news in our world, discouragement can come. If a person’s ideas or thoughts are shattered by another, discouragement is often the result. If a young person feels like no one likes him or her or that he or she is a “black sheep,” discouragement comes. Sometimes rude and condescending words from others (even from other Christians) bring about discouragement. Sadly, discouragement can come from others who are supposed to love us and to build us up instead of tear us down. Regardless of the circumstances, we all face times of discouragement. Let’s face it; when discouragement comes, life can be very difficult. While this author certainly does not have all the answers regarding discouragement, the following are a few that have helped him during difficult times. How can we better deal with discouragement? Firstly, we must think better! While discouragement is very real, sometimes the thoughts we think are not so real. For example, sometimes our minds can “run wild” regarding another’s actions or words. Then, as we ponder,

There are certain things in life that can occur where there is no possibility of a second chance. Once someone steps off a 10-story building, there is no turning back, no second chance. Once a person puts a firearm to his head and squeezes the trigger, there is no going back, no second chance! It is sobering to realize that “there is but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3). Some choices never permit a second chance! How often, Dear Reader, did you do a certain thing and then later wish you had a second chance? Second chances seldom are reality. However, when it comes to one’s spiritual life, there is a sense in which many do have a second chance. Why? Because God is the God of second chances. Consider the following. Firstly, The Expressions. The Bible is inundated with words that speak of God’s longsuffering, patience and willingness to give His crown of creation a second chance. The Psalmist so eloquently penned, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15). To a rebellious, sin-filled group of God’s people, Micah affirmed, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy” (Micah 7:18). How could anyone ever forget the words of the apostle of second chances? He penned, “The Lord is not slack concerning his

Jesus Christ was certainly a man, but oh so much more than a man! Jesus was both fully Divine (God) and fully human (man). This embodiment of humanity and Deity is known among theologians as hypostatic union. Obviously, nowhere else has this dual nature ever been reality than in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus became man for us, while still remaining God, it makes Him uniquely qualified to perform certain duties for those who are redeemed by His blood. There were three main offices that were necessary to bridge the gap between sinful man and Almighty God—prophets who exclusively spoke for God, priests who exclusively sacrificed to God and kings who exclusively supervised under God. Jesus fulfilled all three of these offices perfectly! Christ as Prophet A prophet of God is one who reveals God, speaks for God and communicates God’s truths to the people. God’s prophets both forthtold (preached current situations) and foretold (predicted future situations). Undoubtedly, Jesus flawlessly performed this when He came to “reveal the Father” (Matthew 11:27) and to reverberate God’s will (John 8:28; 12:49-50). God revealed to Moses that some future day Moses’ prophecies would no longer be authoritative, but the “Prophet like unto Moses” (Deuteronomy 18:15) would be the prophet that mankind would heed. Years later, the Holy Spirit guided Peter to quote Moses and apply that prophecy to Jesus Christ. Additionally, Jesus refers to Himself as a Prophet (Matthew 13:57-58; Luke 13:33). Truly, never a prophet spoke like the Prophet Jesus (John 7:46)! Christ as Priest

The Old Testament was written for our learning (Romans 15:4). What a curriculum the Old Testament can be for those of us on this side of the cross. Such a valuable lesson comes to us from 2 Kings. Let’s set the backdrop before we approach. Elijah the prophet had been translated into Heaven by a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). Elisha’s request of a double portion of Elijah’s spirit was granted. Elisha crossed back over the Jordan River, heading toward Jericho. The sons of the prophets met Elisha and requested a search for Elijah’s body, which after three days was not found (2 Kings 2:16-18). Elisha purified the waters of Jericho and headed for Bethel, where he met some young men. Those 42 young men began to mock Elisha, saying, “…Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head” (2 Kings 2:23b). The Hebrew word used here is a generic term that can encompass anyone from an infant to a mature man—the context being the deciding factor. This term was used of Joseph when he was 30-years-old (Genesis 41:12). This term was used of Joshua when he was 45 (Exodus 33:11). Thus, given the context, these young men were certainly not innocent little boys. Now given the location of this event, Bethel, it is not surprising that a prophet of God would meet with insult. Bethel was one of the two cities where Jeroboam had set up a golden calf (1 Kings 12:32). It is no surprise, then,

Proverbs 13:15, from which the title of this article comes, we would know to be true even if we did not read it in the Bible. This truth can be learned from experience, from a study of history or from observation. Sin is by its very nature difficult. While the devil certainly attempts to paint a different picture, sin always reaps a harvest of trouble! Sometimes sin’s consequences are delayed in coming (Ecclesiastes 8:11), but they will always come. Despite this guarantee, many go on in sin and bring upon themselves the “hard way.” God’s Word is inundated with references to sinners who failed to heed this truth. Firstly, consider Cain. He transgressed regarding the matter of worship. God was clear on what He wanted concerning worship (Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17). However, Cain did what many continue to do today. He self-reasoned that God would accept whatever it was Cain gave. Sadly, how many today attempt to worship God based on their own desires? God is clear on the matter of worship (John 4:24), and regardless what man says will not change that fact! Cain’s transgression, like all transgressions, had to be punished. God rebuked Cain (Genesis 4:10-12) and expressed the hardship of his sin. “And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth;

The Barna Group recently completed an interesting survey, which found that the Bible plays an important role in the American armed forces, even for military personnel who aren’t particularly religious. Some service members who do not regularly read the Bible often turn to the Book during difficult times in their service to our country. Researchers found that 37 percent of non-Bible readers in the military read the Good Book when they are looking for comfort; 30 percent read it during a deployment, and 17 percent read it when they are separated from family. These results show that even among folks who are not regularly filled with Scripture, Scripture still brings a source of help that nothing else can provide. Of course, folks who are regular students of God’s Word have already learned this wonderful blessing and continually draw from His Holy Precepts. Interestingly, whether a person is a believer or an infidel, the Bible is truly a Book for all! Consider the following. Firstly, for the atheist, the Bible is a book of condemnation. The atheist affirms that he knows God does not exist. While any reasonable, logical person understands clearly that statement could never be proven, there are still some who promote this sad theory. However, the evidence for the existence of God is overwhelming! By means of natural revelation (the creation), God has not left Himself without witness (Acts 14:17), so much so that His existence is clearly seen and there is no excuse for someone to not believe in God (Romans 1:20). Therefore,

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To Day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:13-14). The exhortation and warning was given to Christians to remind us of the possibility of becoming “hardened” through the deceitfulness of sin. The word “deceit” means to “give a false impression, whether by statement, appearance, or influence.” Sin is altogether deceitful! It never parades itself in its true light. In fact, sin wears a mask to fool its victims. Sin wears a mask of beauty. On the outside, sin is very attractive. Consider the serpent’s appeal to Eve, “…ye shall be as gods…” (Genesis 3:5b). That sounds great! Interestingly, the serpent also used an item that was apparently good to view, “And when the women saw that the tree was… pleasant to the eyes…” (Genesis 3:6b). This fruit, whatever it was, was attractive. It looked good and something that Eve desired. On the outside, it was beautiful, but inside its appearance was dreadful! When was the last time this world has ever portrayed sin for its ugliness? Satan paints alcohol as cool and inviting, pornography as sexy and alluring, affairs as exciting and youthful, drugs as sophisticated and wise, and fornication as hip and happening. However, once the mask is removed, the real picture is horrible. Homeless people addicted to drugs and alcohol without a family, love or even

When one considers both the goodness and severity of God (Romans 11:22), it behooves us to ask the question, “Why do some people leave God?” God’s goodness should cause a person to fall to his knees in loving adoration for all the continual blessings God bestows. On the other hand, God’s severity should cause a person to continue to walk with God and to stay close to Him to avoid the terrible wrath of a just God. There are many reasons why some people leave God. While I am certain the following is not an exhaustive list, I submit that most reasons fall into one of the following three areas. Firstly, some people leave God because of sin. Obviously, sin separates and divides a soul from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), but often those same sins keep a person from ever coming back. The devil makes sin look so appealing and rewarding. Sin can seem so appealing and rewarding that many believe a sinful life is the “in thing” and to do otherwise would be dull and boring. Thus, some love sin and have no desire to turn back to God. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:19-20). Alexander Pope is credited for correctly saying, “Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be

Throughout God’s Holy Word, the word “beseech” is used many times. In fact, there are some 64 occurrences of this word in the KJV Bible. The word is sometimes translated from a compound verb that means to “call to one’s side.” It carries with it the idea of an admonition or a serious entreating. It is as if the writer is coming to another’s side to plead and beg for a response. The apostle Paul used this phrase many times throughout his inspired letters. He loved his brethren (2 Corinthians 2:4), and Paul wanted them to heed God’s admonitions to grow and become stronger in their spiritual walk. Let’s consider three of those occasions. Firstly, Paul beseeched the brethren to serve. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). Although people can do a multitude of things with their lives, everything pales in comparison to serving the living God. Paul would also remind the brethren at Corinth that even their very bodies belonged to God and should be used in service to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-21). He later exhorted the same brethren to “be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” Still today, Paul, through the inspired text, continues to beseech men to be busy serving. Secondly, Paul beseeched the brethren to segregate. When we think of Christianity, we often think of unity. While among faithful brethren

Scripture is filled with people from whom we can learn a great deal. When it comes to the challenging vocation of fatherhood, there are certainly a few fantastic fathers in Holy Writ that come to mind. Interestingly, no human father has been or will ever be perfect. While true perfection is beyond our reach, we certainly can labor and grow to become the fathers that our Creator expects us to be. Three fathers from God’s Word teach us three character traits necessary to raise godly children. Firstly, Moses teaches us about resolve. Moses was commissioned to lead the children of Israel to Canaan. This task soon became next to impossible due their tenacious ways. However, even during the most difficult times, Moses kept his hand to the plow and did not quit. Raising godly children is anything but an easy task. So many forces are pushing against us. Therefore, Christian fathers must have a determined resolve to execute their God-given duties in a manner that God would approve, the world notwithstanding! Daddies, do you have the resolve to stand against the filth of Hollywood? How about the clothing of Vogue? Do you have the resolve to stand against the political correctness of women’s liberation? Fathers, we must determine before we are ever faced with these that we are going to be God’s men, today, tomorrow and forever! Secondly, David teaches us about repentance. David was a man of many great spiritual traits. When we speak of David, we often speak of his involvement with Bathsheba

Unfortunately, we are surrounded by a world that has in many ways come to love sin. In fact, the love of sin is so prevalent in society that sin is often glamorized and glorified. What was commonly known and accepted as sin has now come to be recognized as sensible. The wide acceptance of sin in our culture today echoes the words of the weeping Prophet of old, “…Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush…” (Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12). The picture that is being painted for our young people is persistently chipping away at our morality today, besides not the truth regarding sin. Only God determines what is sin, and only God will paint the real portrait of what sin does. The apostle of love penned, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). Firstly, God reminds us that sin will take you farther than you want to go! King David’s involvement with sin certainly teaches us this lesson (2 Samuel 11-12). When David sinned by committing sex outside of the marriage relationship, do you think he ever thought that sin would take him down a path of murder, death of a child, another wife for which to care and great distress for the rest of his life (Psalm 32; 51)? You see, the picture that was painted for David while he viewed Bathsheba from the roof-top was one of excitement,

There is little question that guilt is a great destroyer of joy, especially for those who are trying to live with the cross in view. Guilt, whether real or imagined, often leads people to bitterness, low self-esteem and hostility. While guilt can be a good thing (when it leads someone to repentance, Acts 2:37), it is often a feeling that stagnates Christians and drains people of the joy that they should have in Christ. Let’s consider what God has to say regarding the important subject of guilt. Firstly, we must understand the reason for guilt. Guilt is produced by sin. Remember the first couple way back in Eden? What caused them to “hide” from God? Instead of meeting God in the cool of the day, as apparently was their daily custom, they hid from God, but why? They were guilty and filled with shame. Sin had opened their eyes to their nakedness, and they were afraid (Genesis 3:7-11). Consider also, the Lord’s own disciple, Judas. What caused him to leave all the opportunities that were before him and to take his own life? It was the guilt and shame of betraying Jesus. Guilt is directly linked to sin. We often allow sin to reign in our lives, and when our consciences have been trained properly, guilt is the byproduct left behind. Even Peter was not exempt from guilt. In spite of the fact that he vowed to die with the Savior, he denied Jesus. His guilt overtook him, and he went and

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me” (Ezekiel 3:17). God had placed the great prophet Ezekiel as a “watchman” so that Israel would hear and heed the warnings that God had sent to it. Ezekiel was to herald God’s warnings faithfully to caution Israel about the serious situation that existed if the Israelites failed to heed. God’s warnings are serious indeed! The same is true today. God, through His Word, warns us of certain dangers that are ever present as we walk the pathway of faith. To fail to heed these warnings will result in serious eternal consequences! Consider a few of the serious warnings that we must heed in order to gain an eternity with God. Firstly, there is the warning regarding self. Honest self-evaluation is a daily Christian discipline (2 Corinthians 13:5). Paul reminded Christians in Rome to examine carefully, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). There is always the human tendency to be self-deceived. We can think dangerously of ourselves as more righteous than others (Luke 18:11-12), while beams are protruding from our very eyes (Luke 6:42). Jesus strongly warned, “Take heed to yourselves…” (Luke 17:3a). While it is often