We need to be very careful that we learn to use Bible words in the way that the Bible uses them, and not just use them in the way that we’ve heard others in the religious world use them. Some claim to be “apostles” today, but the qualifications required accompanying the Lord during His ministry and witnessing His resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). Some claim…

It is easy as an American to take being an American for granted. All the freedoms, all the privileges, all of the abundance. It is appropriate (and needful) that we have a “Memorial Day” to help us to remember the sacrifices that have been made for us to have this great nation. Likewise, it is easy as a Christian to take being a Christian…

How can we convince people to follow God? How can we attract people to our church? How can we reach the people who seem to be the toughest to reach?  What if we could do the unimaginable? What if we could do the most difficult of all miracles? What if we could raise someone from the dead? Now that would get people’s attention! Right? In Luke 16, there…

How many spouses have been told, “You can never do anything right”? How many children have been told, “You can never do anything right?” Such words are crushing! And while those exact words may not ever be spoken, a person’s attitude and constant criticism can send that message loud and clear to another. Sitting in the critic’s chair is easy to do—whether that’s in marriage,…

There are some warnings that we take more seriously than others. Have you noticed that? Some drivers don’t pay attention to warning signs on the road because, well, some warnings on the road are not as big a deal as other warnings. Some ignore warnings that pop up on their computers, because, well, it’s hard to tell which warnings are real and which are not.…

Isn’t it interesting how some folks just cannot understand why everyone doesn’t see things the way they do? For example, some folks who drink only water think that drinking something like a carbonated beverage is shameful. Similar things could be said about vegetarians vs. meat eaters, Coke vs. Pepsi drinkers, Starbucks vs. Dunkin, etc., etc. But, I have something to share with you about these…

A verse that grips me every time I read it is a text that refers to “the days” of Jesus in “His flesh,” and focuses on those moments when “He suffered” so tremendously for us (Heb. 5:7-9). The scene portrayed in the following words may be that of the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33-36), or while He was hanging on the cross (Mark…

Self-evaluation is critical for every human being. More than that, balanced self-evaluation is a skill vitally needed today. We are (and probably should be) our own worst critics. But, at the same time, we may give ourselves “a free pass” too often. How do we find the balance? Unfortunately, especially for the many people that it affects, I am not the man that I should be. Likewise,…