There is no way that the author of a hymn has of knowing just how widely it may be used. In every generation, there are songs which briefly appear and just a few years later they are rarely used. There are other songs which have been around for decades, and there must be a reason for this. There was no way for…

In Mark 2, we find one of the most exciting and vivid stories in the New Testament.  Jesus was preaching in Capernaum, “and it was heard that He was in the house.  Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door” (Mark 2:1-2).  Four men carried a paralytic to the house, but…

Discouragement is a very real danger—a weapon that Satan wields very proficiently. Discouragement has the potential to destroy us, thus Paul warned about it (Gal. 6:9). The following are some suggestions that should help us overcome this threat. Focus our eyes on heaven. Life is meaningless without God (Eccl. 1:2). Our eyes need to be focused upon the goal of our life.…

It had to be frustrating for the Lord as He tried to prepare the apostles for the time when they would be at the forefront in the growth of the church. An illustration of this can be seen in how those men responded to the words of Jesus. “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” The…

Would you say that doing things in the right order matters?  Or as long as you complete all of the steps, does it matter in what order you did them?  Have you ever assembled a bicycle?  Have you ever purchased a piece of furniture from IKEA?  Have you ever built a 3,000-piece LEGO set?  If so, does it matter in what order…

“I find it easy to portray a business‐ man. Being bland, rather cruel and incompetent comes naturally to me” (John Cleese). It is easy to be mean, and the world makes it easier. Life seems to be a gauntlet of rude awakenings, playground politics, the rage of rush hour, the push‐and‐shove along the corporate ladder, and the snippy bickering of a thousand…

The appearance of John the Baptist introduced a religious act that was unknown before his time. It was the immersion of an individual in water in order to bring about the remission of sins. Jesus asked the Pharisees the question, “The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” (Matt. 21:25).  Their answer shows just how new it was.…

Picture this in your mind.  There is a fish who is safely tucked away and minding his own business in the rocks and thick grass of the riverbed.  He is doing just fine.  Then, something catches his eye.  There is something dancing around near the surface of the water.  It looks rather intriguing.  What could it be?  Dare he come out of…