“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians [...]

“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”  Romans 14:4 In my opinion, one of the most important texts found in the New Testament regarding the unity of believers is found toward the end of [...]

“But the fruit of the Spirit is…patience.” Galatians 5:22 7:15am: “Oh yea! Mom, I need you to pack me a lunch today.” Patience. 7:59am: “Of course the slowest driver in town had to be in front of me when I was running late for work.” Patience. 9:30am: “The copier jammed on me and I got [...]

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” Matthew 10:30 Every year the earth goes through an incredible cycle, one that I admittedly know very little about, but by observation am continually amazed. The dormancy and peace of wintertime, to the birth and freshness of springtime, to the flourishing and fun of [...]

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.  Proverbs 1:8-9 When my brothers and I were younger and talked about making new friends somewhere my dad used to chime in with: “Don’t forget, [...]

 “…who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.  In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good [...]

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5 Recently, I was very blessed by the visit of my parents and my grandmother. It was a long trip for them from Delaware, [...]

“For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 97:9 Lord reign in me, reign in your power; Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour. You are the Lord of all I am, So, won’t you reign in me again?   What does it mean for the Lord of heaven [...]

Revenge.  What a dirty word.  It is what people sometimes do when they get mad at someone, or find themselves frustrated in their present situation.  Although not always the case, revenge is normally an angry knee-jerk reaction, and not typically well thought out.  Peoples’ feelings become mere play toys for the recently wounded and revenge-filled [...]

“You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”  (Jesus, Matthew 5:13) Have you ever wondered what would happen if you lost your saltiness?  What if you stopped [...]

I am concerned about marriage in America.  It’s sad when news hits the stands about famous Hollywood people who were recently married and are now getting divorced, especially when it’s their eighth marriage go-round!  But to be totally honest, I’ve come to expect that in Hollywood.  However, I didn’t expect to see it across the [...]

Every day he was teaching at the temple.  But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.  Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.  Luke 19:47-48 Imagine going to the temple of God [...]

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink…?” The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:31-46 Who are the people in your life who need [...]

“God has raised this Jesus to life…” Acts 2:32 The resurrection of Jesus is like no other resurrection account in history.  Sure, Lazarus and some others came back from the dead and those accounts are truly amazing, but they were only possible with the assistance of God and Jesus, and in later resurrections, only with [...]

I can imagine if I was a Jew living in Old Testament or New Testament times I would have felt pretty “safe with God” if I was keeping the law.  I also can imagine I would have felt a sense of bondage or even entrapment to the law.  Nevertheless, the covenant that God established with [...]