Posts from 2022 (Page 4)

                  Once we develop a routine of studying the Scriptures daily to ensure that what we are hearing in our churches is in fact, from the Word of God, it is possible that we might have a situation where someone is teaching something in error; if that is the case, how are we to approach it?  Again, the Bible is such a wonderful tool from God, that it gives us an example of such a situation in the very…

                  As someone who often speaks in public, I have been guilty of combining two words to create a new one. One time I could not decide between the words “dramatically” and “drastically”, so it came out “dramastically”.  That was over 20 years ago, and my wife still remembers the time I created my own word.  In doing some research on this passage, I came across another example of someone trying to take two words to create a new…

                    Several years ago, the band Chumbawamba (Yes…that is the band’s actual name), released a song that had some very catchy lyrics.  The song was entitled, “Tubthumping” (Yes…that is the song’s actual title).  Now, I cannot endorse the language of the song, nor can I endorse what the song is encouraging, however, there is one phase that just keeps getting repeated over and over and over, “I get knocked down, but I get up again. You are never…

                  Although it may not seem like it on the surface, a careful examination of ACTS 12, reveals to us a very interesting crossroads for the early Christians.  Up until this point, the church has just exploded in size and popularity with the only casualty being Stephen.  However, now it seems like the tables have turned on the disciples.  Herod had begun to exercise some of his power and might in being violent towards the early Christians and had…

                  As we continue the idea of having an “AHA Moment”, these moments also serve a purpose of conviction.  I wonder how proud Saul was of himself.  Afterall, he had done everything he could to stop a movement that he felt was detrimental to his culture, religion and way of life.  He had been driven by his studies in the Scriptures and his training to make sure he did all that was in his power to further their view…

                  We all have those “Aha Moments” in our lives.  You know…that moment when you uncover a small tidbit of information that leads you to be enlightened to a concept that you had been previously unaware.  Once that moment happens, your brain begins to move at light speed making connections, firing synapses, allowing you to understand things on a different level.  I believe it to be possible that we can have hundreds of the moments as we look back…

                  As a child, I Corinthians 15.33 was drilled into my brain by my parents and Sunday School teachers.  Being adults, they were fully aware of the power and influence they had in the life of a teen.  They had known and experienced the reality of this passage on countless occasions.  As I grew up and went into ministry, this passage served as a foundation principle of my youth ministry.  Not only did I believe that this verse was…

              The book of Acts really serves as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke.  His purpose in writing the Gospel is to provide an accurate description of all that Jesus did and taught, while also doing so in an orderly fashion.  In the book of Acts, he continues with the same type of preface concerning the church; it’s establishment and growth, as well as a clear description of the opening of the Gospel to the Gentiles.  As we…

              Can you blame Thomas?  I mean just consider for a moment what the disciples are saying, “We have seen the Lord.” Three days before, Jesus was dead and now they are saying that they have seen Him.  He must have thought, “Come on fellas, this is one horrible joke…don’t do this to me.”  He also must have seemed very adamant about his next statement to his friends, “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails…

                                                                                                                    Talk about being between a rock and a hard place; Pilate was stuck right in the middle of T-R-O-U-B-L-E. On one side, he has an uprising of the Jews in the making, just waiting on Him to decide concerning Jesus.  On the other side, he has his wife. Matthew 27.19 tells us that she is highly encouraging him to do nothing with Jesus because He is innocent.  Now I…

              As Jesus prepares to leave the upper room with His disciples, He leaves them with some very challenging, yet comforting news.  “I have said these things to you that in Me you shall have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart: I have overcome the word” (John 16.33).  Jesus was correct; every one of these Disciples will face a great deal of tribulation in their lives as they live for the sake of the…

              Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who was best known for creating a chart  that defined a hierarchy of human needs.  At his foundational level were those physiological needs that must be met for survival, such as food, water and shelter.  However, as you progressed on his charts, you found other basic needs that human beings must have to survive, like comfort, safety and stability.  These levels progress until we reach the final level he calls, “Self Actualization”.   It…