God has always worked with flawed people. From David's contrite heart to Moses' reluctant leadership, from Abraham's faithful obedience to Peter's impulsive loyalty—perfection was never the requirement. But a willingness to follow, to grow, and to be changed, that is something God can work with. So what is it that makes one person "fit" for eternal life, and another not? Is it simply belief? Is it good behavior? Or is there something deeper happening in the minds and hearts of those who … [Read more...] about A Mind Fit for Eternity
Abraham
Salvation: Who’s In and Who’s Out
One key element of modern Christianity is the concept of salvation. It is often at the center of endless theological debates—salvation by works versus salvation by faith, the question of whether one can lose salvation, or the doctrine of ‘once saved, always saved.’ These debates ultimately narrow down to a singular, anxiety-laden question: Are you saved? This approach often feeds off fear—the fear of judgment, the fear of what happens after death, and the fear of being excluded from God’s … [Read more...] about Salvation: Who’s In and Who’s Out
The Times of the Gentiles
The prophet Amos informed us that “God doesn’t do anything without first revealing His secrets to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Since God’s plan of salvation is central to messages of prophecy, it is important to look at the writings of the prophets within the context of any section of scripture. Doing so tells us why a particular thing was said. The knowledge imparted by prophecy is meant to be very motivational to those who are or who will be in a relationship … [Read more...] about The Times of the Gentiles
A Future and a Hope
We have seen lots of cultural revolutions in this country, but now the foundations of this country are being razed. And part of that foundation is simply God. At least God was mentioned and a certain amount of the moral underpinnings of this country came from that source. And that is being eliminated. We live in an increasingly difficult environment and as followers of Christ we need a perspective to help us deal with the real world. We need a clear vision of how God views and feels about us … [Read more...] about A Future and a Hope
The Abrahamic Covenant
The next several calendar years are looking more and more like they will continue to be years of upheaval. Nothing certain can be predicted, but there are indications that the world order as we have known it is changing. An important focus is what is happening in the United Kingdom and in America. These two nations are in turmoil and what happens to them will have major ramifications for the world at large. As followers of Christ, we need to always keep the big picture in mind. We should not … [Read more...] about The Abrahamic Covenant
A Story of New Beginnings
God uses a pattern of "new beginnings" throughout the Bible. These patterns reveal God's persistent love for mankind even when man is rejecting His way of life. In the beginning, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good . . ." (Genesis 1:31 NIV). Gensis 1:27 says this included the creation of the first man and woman. From scripture we understand God’s purpose is to create a family, the God family beginning with Adam and Eve. Every physical thing that God created, … [Read more...] about A Story of New Beginnings
Ishmael’s Sons
Well, the brothers are at it again! The two sons of Abraham were half-brothers, as they had different mothers. The way they were raised produced an animosity between them that exists to this day and may have a bearing on events shortly ahead of us. Abram, as he then was called, was told by God that he would be taken to a land where his descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:15-16). So, Abram anticipated having children — and a son — as the fulfillment of this … [Read more...] about Ishmael’s Sons