Heart-Less
And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 1:16 NJPS Mind – When were you last in the Garden, standing in front of that Tree? You know, the one that promises knowledge, that tempts you to think you can…
Michael Moen at Central Washington University
Some time back I mentioned that my youngest (and tallest) son, Michael, was starting a Bible study group at his university. He wrote a brief account of his hopes to change the lives of students there. He sent me a picture of the group. Some of you have prayed from him. Some have offered additional…
What Matters Most
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” Matthew 23:23 NASB Weightier provisions – Were you able to give an answer…
401(k)
What real value is there for a man in all the gains he makes beneath the sun? Ecclesiastes 1:3 NJPS Value – What’s the point of life? That’s the Teacher’s question. If all of life is nothing more than a test for righteousness, why doesn’t the all-knowing God simply scoop up those who will prove…
Out of Character
Now, I find woman more bitter than death; she is all traps, her hands are fetters and her heart is snares. He who is pleasing to God escapes her, and he who is displeasing is caught by her. Ecclesiastes 7:26 NJPS More bitter than death – This is the only verse in the Bible that…
Paul’s Laws
and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30 NASB Saved – Virtually every evangelical believer knows this passage. The Roman jailer is ready to kill himself because an earthquake has opened the prison doors and he assumes that all the prisoners have escaped. But Paul…
A Popular Mythology
“But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 23:11 NASB Servant – Are you a servant? Have you adopted the Christian virtue of being an enabler for others? You might think you have. After all, servant language is very popular these days. From “servant-leadership” to foot-washing ceremonies, many of us attempt to instill…
God’s Army
“Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My Great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25 NASB Make up – Have you faced the great army of God? It is an army that eats away…
Knowing the Difference
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB Sorrow – If you don’t know the difference, you could die! Remember those warning posters about pills. The picture shows lots of little pills…
