There is one thing we have in common with everyone else. And itâs not just something we have in common with people who are just like us or our friends, but itâs something we have in common with people we donât even knowâwith people very much unlike us. Make no mistake; we all have a mess in our lives. And even if youâre lucky enough to be between messes right now, youâre still just a decision away from creating a brand-new mess. We are all good at hiding our messes. In fact, we usually are … [Read more...] about Getting Out of the Mess Weâre In
Obstacles
Anger
The American Civil War, like all wars, was a brutal one. More Americans died in it than in all the wars our country has been involved in from that time forward, up through the Korean War. That is hard to believe, isnât it? All we have to do to confirm it is to consult the historical record. 623,000 American lives were lost in the war between the states. How does that make any sense, given the far greater destructiveness of the weapons used in the ensuing century with its rapidly evolving … [Read more...] about Anger
Choose Life
As God prepared Israel for its occupation of the land of Canaan â the land He had promised them â He firmly reminded them of the centrality of His law to their existence. He told them that His commandments were near to them â in their hearts (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). Godâs law set two clear and distinct ways of life before them. On the one hand was life and good, while on the other was death and evil. The law defined these two ways, so they were clearly discernable. The assault on Godâs law … [Read more...] about Choose Life
A Form of Godliness
The Apostle Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy to help and encourage him at a time when the Church was experiencing internal pressure from false teachers. He encourages Timothy to: âHold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Jesus Christâ (2 Timothy 1:13). Paul identified certain conditions that he saw as being challenges that the Church would have to deal with in the days preceding Christâs return. Whatever the time frame for this … [Read more...] about A Form of Godliness
The Importance of Godly Respect
Job made an interesting observation when he was answering his friendsâ accusations as to why so many bad things had happened to him. âA lamp is despised to the thought of one who is at ease; it is made ready for those whose feet slipâ (Job 12:5). While the structure of this verse might at first appear confusing, it is simply warning of the dangers of being âat ease.â It is a mental/spiritual condition of being self-satisfied. The connection between being at ease and feet slipping is made in … [Read more...] about The Importance of Godly Respect
Peace, Peace but There is No Peace
Peace is something that we all desire, seek and want. During the Christmas season, one of the tag lines of the holiday is âlet there be peace on earth.â But regardless of how hard the governments of man and individuals work for peace -- it is elusive. Why is that? One of the reasons peace is so elusive is the way power is used and where it is focused. In general, there are two approaches to the use of power. One use of power leads to strife, conflict, and war while the other leads to peace. … [Read more...] about Peace, Peace but There is No Peace