Darnel… Darnel was the kid who sat behind me one year in school. He was the boy that always managed to find himself in trouble. Darnel’s favorite thing was spitballs. And I knew when it was coming. I could hear him shuffling around behind me and my blood pressure would go up immediately. He would cough as he tore up pieces of paper. Then I could hear him chewing on it in his mouth. I was just waiting for the deep breath that meant “Duck down NOW or its going to end up in your hair!” In that millisecond where...

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On Sunday my friend I were talking about growing closer to the Lord. (shocker, right?!) We were discussing the pervasive attitude found especially among the younger generation that says, “I want what I want now. You need to meet my desire my way, on my time.” (For example, when kids call their parents and if the parent doesn’t pick up they will continue to call every 30 seconds.) But that is just a small example of a bigger problem of respect, honor, and obedience. That problem is not just found among young people these days. It is across the board....

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2 Corinthians 4:7-11 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh....

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Matthew 25:14-30 Several questions were asked about the last blog I posted which ought to be shared for discussion. Here goes:I read through the scripture. I don't get it. What does the one thrown in the darkness represent? Why is he thrown into darkness for that? Don't we all not do stuff out of fear? Seems like a harsh punishment. Why would the master give him the talent if he knew that he would throw it away? Isn't the master all knowing? And how is this really connected to hearing God? Again, please go and read the Scripture first. The...

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 Today's Topic is..... The Myth of Security? (Please read my "Open Forum" page and make comments here)

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Matthew 25: 14-30I remember studying this parable years ago and being confused. (Go ahead and get your Bible and read it now or look it up online. Those words will have more of an impact on you than anything  I could ever type.)Most of the sayings of Jesus left me drawing a blank because I was trying to fit it all into my scope of the world. By that, I mean that I had been taught a standard of right and wrong, good and bad, principles, religion, worldview. So much of that kept me for beginning to know God or...

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Colossians 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Several days ago, as I was sitting alone before the Lord and studying His word, I have the most profound experience with Him. He had been opening my eyes and my heart to more of His great promises to His children and I was completely elated. You know those times where you can feel such a mighty peace and assurance from Him? This...

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Community was what the early church had. Everyone caring about other believers. It is not time we prepare for the North American economic collapse and begin to build community among believers? Several couples can collectively purchase a cabin, or house, and a few acres of land in a rural area. Let's prepare to live what we profess....community.  What do you think? (Want to hear more suggestions about how to prepare?)

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 Psalm 62My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. There are times in life where all we want is for someone else to listen. Someone else to come along side of us and hear our hearts. There are some battles that we go through where no one else can walk with us. We can be surrounded by people and yet feel utterly alone with our thoughts, concerns, and struggles. These battles, in my opinion, are battles that are meant...

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Psalm 103:14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.My youngest brother is deaf and has been diagnosed with a number of mental health disorders including autism and bipolar disorder. He was adopted long after I left home I am old enough to be his mother which confuses him. This confusion requires us to have same conversation (with limited sign language skills) about who I am and how we are related at least once a day. As with most autistic children, the emotional roller-coaster is grueling.But, his presence in my life teaches me a...

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 Psalm 86:11 - Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. This scripture is simple, yet it is powerful to one who meditates on it. The life of a true disciple of Christ is marked by love. Love being poured into us, received by us, poured out to the Lord and out to others. But that love, the imitation of what Christ showed us on earth (and on the cross) is not something that is accomplished by works. It is accomplished by transformation of the inner person. Internal transformation doesn't...

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I spent many years in my life making myself unlovable. Love meant pain to me as it does to most of us who have experienced some sort of tremendous pain in our lives. So I decided to abandon the whole ordeal, thinking that if I was to be happy then I had to be alone and self-sufficient. The Lord "threw a wrench" in my carefully thought out plan when He came rushing into my life about ten years ago. But since I have always been strong-willed and stubborn, I only amended my plan instead of abandoning it altogether. He met...

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 The Price of Freedom 2Galatians 5:1 - It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.Yesterday we looked into the price that Jesus paid for our freedom. (Let us not forget the suffering on the Father's behalf as He gave His Son over to a dark and evil world.) Today, let's look into the price that our freedom costs us. The gift of faith is free and we are to continue walking in Christ as we received Him, but the Scriptures also say to work...

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 The Price of FreedomEphesians 4:1 - Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called...The upward calling in Jesus Christ is all-consuming. The price that has been paid for us to be brought into relationship with the Heavenly Father is more that you or I could ever imagine. Can you meditate (direct your thoughts) on the cross for a moment? Use the scriptures to put together a picture in your mind. Let your mind picture the horror of a man who has suffered mercilessly until...

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 Noah's Spiritual Ark Noah’s ark is a beautiful type of Christ as the Ark of our salvation. The world that then existed perished, being flooded with water by God’s sovereign decree. The waves and billows of the flood are typical of the wrath and judgment of a sovereign God that will once again be released upon this earth and America in particular. Without Christ, we are lost, and the wrath of God abides on us (John 3:36). Only in Him will we find safety from the waters of judgment, for Scripture tells us “there is therefore now no condemnation to...

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