There's nothing to compare!

     Why is it that the “love of God” is the bedrock of our lives as Christians?  First, let us be reminded of what kind of “love” this is.  There are several words in the koine Greek that are translated “love.”  Each has their own connotation.  But the word used for God’s “love” comes from the Greek word agape.  Agape is defined this way:

      “The essence of agape love is goodwill, benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love.  Agape love involves faithfulness,

For the love of truth

     Familiar verses, but do we understand their implications to the purpose for which God gives us breath?

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son....17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  (John 3:16-17)

      You might say, “those are great evangelistic verses,” and they are, but they are more than that to those who are born again.  These familiar verses tell us about

IN THE BEGINNING --- GOD!

     Satan has infiltrated our academic institutions by attacking the very thing that should compel men to revere God...namely, creation.  The Apostle Paul put it this way:

 20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse an

Who is our mission field?

February 3, 2023

It is true that we are living in a divided country...left-right...Democrat-Republican...prolife-pro death...liberal-conservative...socialist-capitalist...expansive government-individual liberty.  We are confronted with these divisions every time we turn on a news channel.  Here’s a warning to all Christians:  do not make your mission field your enemy.  By that I mean, there is a tendency in all of us to allow opposition to our biblical standards as a reason

Materialism or Blessings?

It’s undeniably true that American Christians have been blessed by God in material ways not known by most Christians around the world.  To our shame, we often squander these blessings without recognizing these blessings are given us by God so that we are able to help others in need.  The Apostle Paul gave this counsel to those who have received material blessings:

 17 As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant....18 Instruct them t

Christmas - Good News!

Seems like the world has always struggled with “Christmas”…that is, the birth of the prophesied God-man who was born to deliver mankind from hell.  The date, the name, the trappings, the traditions, the songs, the movies of the season have always obscured and misdirected the reason why the Son of God was born.  But while Christmas was primarily misdirected when I was a kid growing up, now it’s different.  There’s still misdirection, but there is a new spirit regarding Chri

How Good are Good Works?

We all know various philanthropists (e.g. Bill Gates, Rockefeller, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Warren Buffett, etc.) and those who are involved in social organizations meeting various needs.  Take Danny Thomas for another example and his good work establishing St. Jude’s children’s hospital.  Because of their good works, many assume these folks are drawn closer to God because of their efforts.  But the truth is, “good works” often keeps folks from knowing God and being

Keeping Up With The Joneses

According to Webster, the expression “Keeping up with the Joneses” means “showing that one is as good as other people by getting what they have and doing what they do.”  Of course the expression usually refers to “things” or “possessions.”  It actually is a form of covetousness.  But the expression also seeps into the lives of Christians who try to appear as committed to Christ as some other person(s).  The Apostle Paul warns us:

 For we do not presume to rank or compare ou

Thoughts Matter!

Sometimes we feel captive to our old sin nature…especially when it comes to what we think about.  The Word of God continually tells us that what we think about is where the battle will take place.  For example:

 I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  (Matthew 5:28)…. out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slande

Depression

The CDC estimates that 18.5 percent of American adults had symptoms of depression in any given 2-week period in 2019.  More recent data indicate that percentage is increasing.  It’s fairly common to experience times of depression.  Some of God’s choicest servants (e.g David, Moses, Jeremiah, Job, Paul, Timothy) all experienced times of depression.  Depression usually involves self-loathing or a loss of self-esteem.  In major depressive disorder, the feelings of sadness are