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
King David
The Closeness of God
If we are honest with ourselves, we don’t always have the feeling that God is relevant to our everyday lives. I don’t mean in the overall sense of knowing God’s plan and purpose. I am thinking of something more up close and personal. The longer time goes on, with the subsequent increase of corruption in our societies, the more difficult it is to feel the personal closeness of God -- that He is there for us on a real and personal basis. We may have understanding in our head, but the daily … [Read more...] about The Closeness of God
Handling Conflict
We all deal with conflict daily, in many forms. Even the church has conflict, internal and external, from time to time. With the Bible as our guide, which biblical examples can teach us about a specific quality that foils conflict? Where does this quality come from? What does it lead to? Let’s consider Gideon’s example to identify this quality. Chosen by God as a judge of Israel he was assigned to defeat a threat from neighboring Midian (Judges 6:1-8:21). He assembled an army of 32,000, but … [Read more...] about Handling Conflict
When You Are Accused
It is understood that at some point in our lives we will all be accused of wrongdoing. Shame and dishonor are brought against our name when we are innocent. It's the nature of the world we live in. David, King of Israel had no shortage of experience with false accusation and betrayal. King Saul sought to take his life, his own son Absalom sought to take his Kingdom, and he was often hated without cause. David sums up the intense feelings of betrayal in Psalm 109: “They have also … [Read more...] about When You Are Accused
Navigating Church Dichotomy Without Cynicism
The Church today presents a fairly complex panorama. Many different organizations each claim in their own way to be the true Church. But there are various flavors of culture and to some degree flavors of doctrine. Consequently, it is important to help young people figure out how to navigate the Church landscape today. There is a chasm between what the Church is and what it’s supposed to look like. It’s difficult for all of us. But it is especially problematic for young people who are … [Read more...] about Navigating Church Dichotomy Without Cynicism
The Book Of Life
According to those who take the pulse of societal trends, many people admit to having no meaning in their lives. That seems to be a big factor behind a lot of the anti-social activity we see. They don’t know what their life is about. Religion, politics, and the culture at large fail to give any essential meaning to life. However, understanding the Book of Life mentioned throughout the Bible does enhance the relevance of our Christian lives. King David is one who … [Read more...] about The Book Of Life