We Should Become Less? “Pastor, we have lost two more members to that church down the road”, exclaimed a member of the deacon board! With a very concerned look on his face he continued; “pretty soon we will have nobody around here. What are we going to do?” This dialogue may not be an infrequent […]
From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I (Psalms 61:3 NASB). God Never Promised Us A Rose Garden Many are told that when they come to faith in Christ they will experience love, joy, and peace; which is […]
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3 NASB). Jesus in the Sermon On the Mount laid out for us what it means to be truly blessed. The very first virtue mentioned in the Beatitudes (the beautiful attitudes) is poverty of spirit. Humility is always the door […]
“Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet” (Judges 14:14 NASB). The reference above comes from a riddle that Samson proposes to some Philistine companions at his wedding feast. This riddle can be applied in many ways to God’s providence, where He works good out of evil. […]
True Women’s Liberation Women in our culture are being sold a bill of goods. There are voices in our society that say to them, “you can be just as good as a man”. This is a step down, because you already are equal with men, and maybe then some. Some would say that Christianity denigrates […]
But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NASB). Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was a man who lived Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them.” Through his forgiving heart, he found his destiny and changed a nation. Patrick was actually not from Ireland; he […]
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it (I Corinthians 10:13 NASB). God […]
Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’ 9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ (Judges 9:8-9 NASB) There is a simple […]
The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ (Judges 7:2 NASB) In Israel’s battles with their enemies God seems to delight in placing them as an underdog. George […]
Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” (Judges 4:8 NASB) Deborah and Barak formed a relationship based on mutual need and a common desire to position the purposes of God above theirs. Both were […]