“Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4
Can you remember what it was like to turn 16? Thoughts of obtaining your driver’s license, freedom, and buying your first set of wheels, all seemed to occupy your thoughts. I don’t know about you but I can certainly remember. For me it was excitement beyond description. I could finally get a real job. I would no longer have to depend on my parents for rides. No more school bus. Why? Mustang!
That’s right, I had purchased a Mustang. Even though my dad made sure it came equipped with a 4-cylinder, it was still a Stang. Look out world.
Life involves several opportunities for similar excitement, but none of these will ever come close to the opportunity we have with God. Why do I say that? You guessed it; God is Read the rest of this entry »
Q. Are Christians supposed to be Republican?
A. Here are some points to consider in developing a response to this question:
1. A Christian is to be obedient to Christ. It seems difficult at times to know how this obedience works out in the public arena and yet it is quite simple. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’
Hebrews 13:8
We readily acknowledge the reality of change. What, in this life, isn’t affected by it? Change surrounds us like the air we breathe. This has always been the case, but the pace of change has rapidly increased in the past century.
What will change in your life? Beyond the daily changes of gas prices and interest rates, you will likely face significant change. Some good. Some bad. At times you may feel like Solomon and cry out, ‘vanity of vanities!’ In any event, no matter what comes your way, you can stand sure knowing that the most important thing is eternally constant – Read the rest of this entry »
For some time I have struggled with various forms of Eschatology. As I have studied Scripture, I have adjusted my views, though I’m still undecided regarding a few matters. What I can say is that I tend more toward an Amillennial approach. I have come to reject a number of key elements associated with Dispensational Pretrib Premillennialism. The following may help to explain my budding position. I say ‘budding’ because I am still working to formulate a confident understanding of what Scripture teaches in this area. What all who study Eschatology must understand is that this area of doctrine is secondary in the specific details beyond the return of Christ and the resurrection of the saved/lost to life in Heaven/judgment in Hell.
A Brief Summary
It seems that Scripture describes a simultaneous event when Christ returns. . . Read the rest of this entry »
Does the thought of death scare you? Have you experienced anxiety when thinking of your mortality? Most people, at some point in their lives, do fear the inevitable. This is why funerals can be so uncomfortable, apart from the grief. The reality of our mortality can at times cause fear to well up within us. This doesn’t have to be the case, however. For those who have been born-again death is no longer to be feared. The following poem explains why quite beautifully:
Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give. Read the rest of this entry »
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commands.”
1 John 5:2
Love everyone! This seems to be the universal motto. As individuals have considered how they are to live under this motto, it has taken on more and more meaning. Unfortunately, it has taken on more than it should. Now, ‘Love everyone!’ means, ‘Tolerate everyone!’ Even if what they are doing or saying is wrong, you are expected to keep quite. After all, what is right for them may not be right for you. Dialogue which pursues objective truth has been replaced with superficial subjectivism. True love gets lost in this environment. Read the rest of this entry »
My concern is growing. A disturbing cultural division exists. Unfortunately, this is no new problem. It has been around for generations, and no permanent solution has been found. What is my concern? It is the division between the wealthy and the poor.
Don’t get me wrong; I know that we will always have the poor among us. Jesus clearly taught this in the Gospels. The problem isn’t the reality of economic diversity. The problem arises when we view this diversity inappropriately. Read the rest of this entry »
Q. I heard an AM talk-radio personality state this past Saturday morning that Muslims and Christians in the Middle East use the name ‘Allah’ for God, indicating they worship the same God. Is this so? If it is, does this mean both groups worship the same God?
A. Individuals attempting to prove Christians and Muslims worship the same God us this faulty argument. The God of the Bible and that of the Koran are not the same. To say they are based on the term ‘allah’ is incorrect. Let me explain why. Read the rest of this entry »
Q. Why is it important to ‘join’ a church; is membership all that necessary?
A. Several reasons exist for becoming a member of a local congregation. Let’s take a look at some of them. (The following reasons are outlined in Dr. Donald Whitney’s book entitled, ‘Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church.’) Read the rest of this entry »
Q. What does prayer accomplish if God doesn’t change His mind? If God doesn’t intend to heal someone why ask Him to heal?
A. You are not alone in dealing with this question. We know that God commands us to pray. We know that God encourages us to ask, seek, and knock concerning our needs. We know that God promises to answer our prayers. Knowing all of this, how does the sovereign will of God compliment our activity in prayer? It is important to remember that several things are accomplished when we pray. Read the rest of this entry »