When Things Get Tight – Exodus 13:17-18; 14:1-4, 10-14

I wouldn’t be surprised to have confirmation some day that the ante-deluvian world was flat. It appears to me that mountains arose during the flood. But all of them??? I don’t know for sure. We do know that since the flood we have lots of mountains and valleys...

Church Service at Bethany – John 12:1-11

The village of Bethany gives testimony to the authenticity of the Bible. The name “Bethany” comes from the combination of two words. The Hebrew word “beth” means “house,” and it is coupled to another which speaks of the date palm....

The Marks of Maturity – I Corinthians 13:11

  Have you ever seen a puppy or a kitten which wasn’t cute? If you leave out what some of you adults know about mature dogs and feral cats, isn’t true that every kitten or puppy is cute? Yesterday, I went out to Clayton and got to meet Sahalie’s new puppy – as cute as...

The God-Made Man – I Corinthians 15:10

If I was a 5′ 1″ basketball player, I would have to be 9 times better than the man 2 feet taller than me. I would have to be faster; I would have to handle the ball better, and I would have to be able to shoot baskets from center court. Being vertically...

Sons Among the Orphans – I John 3:1

I John 3:1 might be looked upon as bit of medicine. For some it might be an antidepressant; for others it might be a shot of caffeine. If taken properly, this verse could be an antidote to backsliding, or indolence, or even heresy. As I was meditating on I John 3:1,...

Citizens of Heaven – Philippians 1:27-28

After the arrival of the Europeans, the first form of government in North America was colonial. There were the thirteen English colonies as well as French and Spanish colonies. Many of the people living under those colonial regimes didn’t like the treatment they were...

Evidential Christianity – I Thessalonians 1:4-7

Spurgeon told the story that he was once taking a long hike in the Swiss Alps. There were two men in front of him, walking very slowly, looking at the ground on either side of the path. As the preacher caught up to them, he heard them reciting an endless stream of...

Jacob and the Hard Places – Genesis 28:10-15

Have you ever wondered how Jacob could sleep with a rock for a pillow? The first twenty, or so, times that I read this scripture, that is exactly what I thought. Personally I like a hard mattress and a firm pillow. If we can remember, whenever Judy and I have to spend...

That Christian is Different – Acts 4:1-13

Let’s pretend that tomorrow a moving van pulls up to the house next to yours. You go over and introduce yourself to your new neighbor, and he is carrying a copy of the Koran. “Hello, My name is David; I live next door; if I can help you, please let me...

The Discipline of Faith – Joshua 6

I cannot emphasize enough the absolute necessity of regular BREATHING. Breathing is a part of the bio-mechanical, bio-chemical processes essential to keeping you alive. If you choose not to breath you will die. Fortunately, that is a bodily function which God controls...

What is Your Life? – James 4:14

When James asked the question in this text there was a point towards which he was driving. His letter deals with people where were claiming to be Christians, but who perhaps were not. It deals with people whose mouths claimed faith, but whose lives disagreed. It deals...

Job’s Confession of Sin – Job 7:20

By the time we meet Job in chapter 7, he is a man wallowing in the depths of despair – for good reason. He has lost his most precious possessions – all the way from his wife, to his goats and everything in between. And now his four so-called “friends” are...

Self-Government – II Peter 1:1-6

The story has it that a scorpion wanted to cross the river, so he asked the turtle to give him a lift. “No way,” said the turtle, “You’ll get me out in river then sting me until I drown.” The scorpion retorted, “Hey, that is not...

What Makes a Friend – James 2:14-24

Some people say that James’ teaching here contradicts the doctrine of sovereign grace. Martin Luther, for example, didn’t want to include James in his German Bible, because he misunderstood what the brother of the Lord Jesus was saying. Unfortunately, not only did he...

Loosing the Shoe-latchet – John 1:19-27

It was never the business of John Baptist to attract followers to himself. He had a commission from the Lord to send properly prepared people to Christ Jesus. So he had no intention build a school, a monastic order, a religion, or even a church. He had no desire to be...