Spiritually Excused?

Proverbs is a very practical book.  If it were part of the New Testament, it would probably have been written by James.  It is about action in the world.  Of course, its content has plenty of spiritual and eternal consequences, but the focus of Proverbs is the here and now.  Do what your required to…

Rain Falls

“and sends rain on the just and the unjust”  Matthew 5:45 I have a hard time understanding God’s battle plan.  If I were running the cosmic war, I would make it as difficult as possible on my enemies and as wonderful as I could for my allies.  I’d be sure that my troops got the…

Redeemed Marriage

Usually I don’t hear much from the Today’s Word audience.  But in the last few days, as we examined several passages dealing with the idea of a redeemed relationship between a man and a woman, I am suddenly getting a lot of replies. We looked at several powerful and interesting verses in the Bible that…

A look at First Peter

QUESTIONS ABOUT SUFFERING 1 Peter 1:13-14 says that we need to set out minds to action, be fully committed to Christ and be obedient – not being conformed to the former lusts of the body. What do you think Peter means when he says that we must set out minds to action? girding up the…

Numbers

David was a great leader.  He had all the attributes we seek in the most worthy commanders.  He came up through the ranks, not from nobility.  He knew the heart of the people because he was one of them.  He showed courage from an early age.  He was not afraid to state his mind or…

WORSHIP?

“Sunday Worship Service: 8:45 and 11:00 AM”.  The Reader-Board in front of the church announced the times for congregational assemblies.  Most of us think of this as “worship”, an English colloquialism that dominates the mindset of the religious devotees.  Part of the regulated organization of life.  Not for everyone (anymore) but at least for those…

The irrelevant Christian

As I left the sanctuary, I struggled with the gnawing feeling that I was missing something important.  Not something that I didn’t hear in the sermon.  No, what I was bothering me was something that God kept pointing to; something that was included the morning’s message about revival. Animated parishioners crowed around the coffee table. …

THREADS OF GRACE

1 Peter 5:7 One of the wonders of the Bible is that in spite of multiple writers, various historical periods and different cultural backgrounds, there are only a few themes that weave in and out of every book.  We can usefully picture these themes as threads woven into a great tapestry.  Every thread contributes to…