Posts with the category “the-front-room”

We have engaged in the annual ritual of moving our clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time.  While there is a national debate on whether or not we ought to be changing the time once a year - and some locales do not make the change - this phenomenon can remind us of the importance of taking care of our bodies and our souls, especially when there is potential disruption.  1st Corinthians 6 (ESV) re...  Read More

The Bible is clear that we are called, as Jesus taught, to be salt and light in this world.  The apostle Paul laid out the spiritual framework in which we operate, clothed in the full armor of God and called to stand for truth.  In Ephesians 6, we can find these words (ESV):11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle aga...  Read More

There are opportunities all around us in order to feed the greed that can come so naturally. And, there are especially ways that prey on young people to condition them to take part in unbiblical behaviors that can warp the mind and even produce addiction.  The Bible warns us not to give in to human desires that can put us in bondage.  1st Timothy 6 warns:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into...  Read More

There are a variety of coping mechanisms that are available to us in facing the challenges and troubles of life.  But, not all of these are good for us.  When we choose to deal with our issues using worldly resources, rather than the resources of the Spirit that God makes available, we are cutting ourselves short of the abundant life Jesus has promised to us.  Consider the words of the Psalmist in...  Read More

It's been said that we don't get a U-Haul to carry our earthly possessions to heaven with us when we die.  But, the Bible does say we are to lay up treasures in heaven.  I think that certainly has to do with being good stewards of the earthly resources God has given to us, so that we are using what God has provided for His glory and the glory of His Kingdom. But, I think you could also say that th...  Read More

When we are in a position of trusting God with all of our hearts, we can learn to look to Him and His love and faithfulness, rather than look to the world to get our needs met. We can see beyond circumstances and recognize His presence with us in our circumstances.  By looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, as Hebrews 12 says, we can possess a sense of resilience - an inner streng...  Read More

The exchange of fire continues between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, with other Gulf region countries having become targets of Iranian retaliation.  Iran has long had proxies in the region who have done its bidding, and there are people who are sympathetic to the cause of jihad, as directed in the Muslim Koran, spread out far and wide, perhaps even extending to the U.S.  This is a result of policies...  Read More

In the midst of a war against a murderous regime that has shown disregard for human life and for the religious freedom rights of their people, we can also recognize that there is a long-standing war on life in our own country, and we should be passionate about ending that.  The military action against Iran is deserved and just, but we should also remember that we must deal with threats to the sanc...  Read More

When believers in Christ come together - in large groups or small gatherings, God has an intent and a purpose.  The Bible teaches that when we come together and pray together, that amazing things can happen.  God wants His body to display a sense of connectivity. And, this passage reminds us about one element that can happen when we meet together. It's from Proverbs 27 (ESV):17 Iron sharpens iron,...  Read More

God is certainly concerned with perpetuating the message of the gospel to generations to come.  The Bible tells us that following the Israelites' entrance into the Promised Land, there came a generation that did not know God, according to Judges chapter 2.  Those who have been around on this earth for a while are called to build a foundation for those who will come behind.  Psalm 78 (ESV) states:3...  Read More

Even though we may profess to know Jesus as our Savior, we can consider whether or not we are acting as a disciple.  That involves surrender - and it entails knowing the Word and following His instructions.  A simple key to doing that is to spend time in His Word.  In Luke 14 (ESV), we can find these verses; Jesus said:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife ...  Read More

While technology has changed the face of interpersonal communication, the personal aspect has certainly been an area of concern.  And, with people spending so much times on screens, it can be devastating to the brains of especially our young people.  The Bible directs us to be sober-minded, to renew our minds with God's truth.  1st Corinthians 2 (ESV) says:14 The natural person does not accept the...  Read More

The Bible teaches us, as believers in the body of Christ, to bear one another's burdens, to be compassionate toward one another, as well as toward those who are unbelievers.  And, we are called to walk with other people through their suffering.  Ephesians 4 (ESV) states:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may gi...  Read More

We live in a fallen world, and we know that there will be times when illness comes, when our world is rocked by painful and sometimes even perplexing health issues.  We know that God is good, and He is sovereign, but we struggle with these moments where face health challenges, which can sometimes lead to long-term illness and even death.  Through those challenging times, we can remember that God i...  Read More

There are many expressions of religion in our world today, and even many expressions of Christianity - while there are many denominations and churches who believe a variety of principles and doctrines, it is our responsibility as Christians to be discerning, to make sure that our practice of following Christ is consistent with the teachings of Scripture.  Because there are a variety of spiritual v...  Read More

It is so clear to me that God speaks to us in a variety of ways.  His primary mode of communication is through His Word - He shows us His truth and His desires for us through Scripture.  And, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, we can personalize what Scripture has to say - perhaps even the Spirit will give us specific direction, but never in contradiction to His Word.  God will also speak to us ...  Read More

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and there will be plenty of talk about love and romance. Unfortunately, while the world might get caught up in the celebration, we recognize that the characteristics of love, as defined and exemplified in Scripture, are often not expressed in modern-day relationships, in a "me-centered" culture.  So, we should take a few moments to reflect on the One who first loved us...  Read More

We can be thankful that God provides direction for our lives and the strength to carry out what He has called - you might have an expiration date, a term, in which to complete a mission.  Or, it could be a call with an indefinite end.  And, it may be clear that the time has come to stop.  We can depend on the Lord to empower us until that time comes.  The Bible says in 1st Thessalonians 5:23 Now m...  Read More

Through our daily desire to be obedient to Jesus Christ, we can make decisions that reflect His will and advance the Kingdom of God or take action that do not contribute to our personal growth or contribute to God's overall plan.  We have to come before the Lord in prayer daily and allow Him to guide our steps.  That goes for the seemingly small choices day by day, which cumulatively contribute to...  Read More

Sometimes there are causes for which we speak out boldly, sometimes we create causes that we have no business talking about.  We have to determine, as it's been said, "the hill to die on."   We have to allow the Lord to show us what is important and how best to leverage our spiritual energy in order to make an impact in this world.  And, we have to avoid distractions.  Before the 31st chapter of P...  Read More

The Lord has directed us to go into all the world, to speak truth, make disciples, and baptized.  That may be across the street or around the world, as it's been said.  And, God will give specific direction as to how we are to personally carry that out - and He's given us the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to obey.  As we have heard the Word, we're called to be doers.   1st Peter chapter 3 ...  Read More

We can be convinced that God loves us and always has our best in mind - and the best thing that any human being can do is to give his or her life to Jesus Christ.  The Bible teaches us that, in accordance with His purpose, and motivated by His love, God is working everything for our good, which is His good, His perfect plan for us.  Here's a passage of Scripture from Romans 8 (ESV), that contains ...  Read More

God's Word WILL change us.  Plain and simple.  Within the pages of the Scripture, we can find the truth about who God is, His love for us, and what He wants to do in and through us. We learn about what Jesus has done for us.  And, we find a power that is not our own, not of this world, that enables us to navigate this world and hold faithful to the Lord.  I'm thinking about 2nd Peter chapter 1 (ES...  Read More

We can recognize that Bible prophecy is pointing to a coming time in which the Church will be taken away, and the Antichrist will be revealed.  A time of great Tribulation will unfold upon the earth.  And, Israel, as I like to say, is a barometer of what will be taking place.  Israel has been at the center of turmoil since it was established, or really re-establish as a formal, official nation in ...  Read More

One of the hideous trends in our culture today is the denial of one's own identity, either willfully or ignorantly, which is an affront to accepting who God created a person to be. Under the guise of so-called "gender identity," people are asked to deny truth and to subtly embrace and even endorse this form of false compassion and virtue signal.  It's not compassionate to perpetuate a lie.  The Bi...  Read More

Since the fall in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve gave in to Satan's temptation, the world has been in a fallen state.  But, as Isaiah tells us, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.  Even though the world as we know it is under sin's power, Jesus came to redeem the human heart and in so doing, empowered Christian believers to take authority over the devil and walk in sp...  Read More

While I spend quite a bit of time on social media to keep listeners informed and challenge them to apply a Biblical worldview to a variety of current events, I also notice there are pitfalls.  Take, for instance, a phenomenon that I see regularly on Facebook: a post will appear from what appears to be a credible-looking source, with a link to an article "in the comments."  Alas, I find a link to s...  Read More

When we see God at work, we can be encouraged in our own faith.  Stories of transformation can be inspiring and help to motivate us to pray and seek Him as to how He would use us for His glory.  Surveys, like I feature on "Survey Thursday," help us to put our finger on the pulse of how God is moving.  In Isaiah 43 (ESV), we find a sweeping description of how God desires to bring people into a savi...  Read More

We can recognize that God's purposes will be expressed through persecution.  In our trials, we can see the mighty hand of God doing amazing things, if we are willing to surrender to Him.  Our faith grows not as we run from Him in times of trouble, but as we run toward Him to experience His grace and mercy.  The Bible says in 1st Peter 1 (ESV):12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when...  Read More

When we reflect on ways that we can serve God, there are multiple opportunities that He may afford us within the course of our lifetimes.  Certainly, we seek to live a life of obedience, and that involves our personal daily walk, the witness we have in our homes, our workplaces, and our churches.  And, there may be an occasion to serve our communities in other ways.  We can be sensitive to the lea...  Read More

The fact that you and I are breathing today exemplifies God's purpose for our lives - we are here on this earth in order that God may be glorified.  Each day is a gift, and we should seek to honor God with this gift every day until He calls us home.  That is the simple purpose to which each of us is called.   Ecclesiastes 12 (ESV) provides commentary on life's purpose:13 The end of the matter; all...  Read More

The death of a long-time comic strip author can challenge us to consider what it truly means to follow Jesus.  Days before his death, he wrote a short statement in which he announced that he accepted Jesus as His Lord and Savior.  Those words spell out a change of heart, but other words in the statement seemed to contradict that.  In dealing with salvation, we can be confident in the two principle...  Read More

At every opportunity, as God opens doors for us, we can express our faith in Jesus Christ. And, we can do so boldly and confidently, realizing that He empowers us and gives us the words to speak.  We can be motivated by His love to speak and act according to His will.  In Romans 1 (ESV), we can read:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who bel...  Read More

Jesus desires to be our companion; actually, much more than that, because He lives inside of us.  And, children can and should be taught that He loves them, He is someone who can be trusted, and He is a friend who is closer than a brother.  But in a technological age, through artificial intelligence, children are being conditioned to seek companionship through toys that can present a danger to the...  Read More

The death of a lady in Minneapolis recently who was apparently a key part of a protest against a federal law enforcement agency tasked with enforcing immigration law has brought strong emotions from various people - after all, a lady did lose her life.  Lawmakers who do not wish for the law to be enforced have decried the incident, denigrated the ICE officer who shot her, and set the lady up as a ...  Read More

Today the nation celebrates the birthday of the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.  As a guest said to me years ago, it's important to note that he was a preacher of the gospel.  The concept of civil rights for all people is certainly a Biblically-driven ideal, and it's no wonder that it grew out of the Church.  But, today, the Church seems to be confused about words such as equality, diversity, in...  Read More

Believers in Christ acknowledge that our time on earth is not all there is - there is life beyond the grave, and we are alive in Christ now and will be alive with Him in eternity.  When we think deeply about eternity, one should ideally reckon how that will be spent. We have been saved from the power of sin and death through Jesus, and that is borne out with the promise of eternity with Him.  The ...  Read More

The beginning of a new year provides an opportunity to not only re-evaluate our lives, but to take constructive actions.  When we go before the Lord and seek His direction, His Word, brought to light by the leadership of His Spirit, can provide us with sound principles that we can apply.  Our desire should not be to make a so-called "New Year's Resolution" because it is trendy, the thing to do, bu...  Read More

I believe that the Bible is clear on the value of human life - and that includes the value of life in the womb.  That is why you find scores of Bible-believing Christians and churches who are adamantly in favor of the sanctity of human life and against taking human life in the womb through abortion.  In an age in which you have pro-abortion forces that have concocted multiple ways in which life ca...  Read More

The role of faith in the lives of people is something that should not be denigrated, but celebrated.  And, all too often, the entertainment industry is criticized for its refusal to present a positive portrayal of faith in our culture.  But not all faith perspectives are the same, and only one leads to eternal life with God.  Christianity, when considered as one of the world's religions, is more t...  Read More