Ecclesiastes 12:10

  There are those times when it all seems too much.   Paul wrote about a time he was in that place in 2 nd Corinthians 7:5. Worn out physically, surrounded by problems, “ conflicts without, fear within ”.    You probably know that feeling. When it seems the whole world is against you and that includes you. Depressed. Downcast. Low.  In those moments, often is when we feel like God is farthest from us. That he must not care. But nothing could be further from the truth. But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 2 nd Corinthians 7:6     It is in those moments that God will bring us something good if we open up our eyes and see it. For Paul, it was Titus. Titus comes with news that it wasn’t as bad as Paul had feared. Worry then shifts to comfort, sorry to joy. Even in our darkest moments, God can shine a light into our lives that will bring hope.   Even when the world has you down, God can lift you ...

   Let’s be honest, there is somebody who you can’t stand.   You may not even have a goat but somehow, they got it. Just the way they walk and breathe irk you. Even when they are being nice, you want to punch them in the face. There’s just something about them that is like fingernails on a blackboard.   So, what do you do about it?    You love them.   I know, I know, you’re thinking that don’t deserve it. You think about the way they wronged you, what they said, how they act as if your feelings were unimportant. Yet it’s not about them. You need to heal.  That grudge you’ve been carrying has been there so long it has worked its way into your skin. It’s an infection that’s not going anywhere easily. That is why you need to love them.   In 1 st Peter 4:8, we read, “ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins .” It’s thought that Peter here is making a reference to Proverbs 10:...

    Manliness isn’t what it used to be. I’m not talking about man buns or fancy jeans but rather how it seems that the pendulum of what is considered manly has been swinging rather wildly.   At times, the worst traits (promiscuity, vulgarness, violence) are the ones that are promoted. Then society overcorrects and makes all masculinity toxic.   But what does the Bible teach?   In 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 we read, “ Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love ”. Notice the traits that are emphasized in this passage for those who are attempting to “ act like men ”; Protection, Consistency, Faithfulness, Strength, and Love. A man is one who is there. Who watches out for others. That is a Godly man with Godly traits.    Don’t think if you can skin a buck run a trotline and hit a homer that you are a man. Real men are there when needed, ready to do the things that need to be done, ...

  Can we for a minute set down and think how odd it is that we sing in church?   Don’t get me wrong. We like singing. Vocal music is a big part of our world. But I say for most folks, that they don’t think of themselves as a singer, at least not in a public way. We might belt one out in the shower or alone in the car, but we are not about to subject a group to our voices.   So why is it the Lord command us ALL to sing in the assembly?   If you look at commands to sing in the New Testament (Ephesians 5:19-20, Colossians3:16) they emphasize the idea of singing to ‘ one another" . It is a group effect rather than a solo effort. There is something unifying about a group of different voices coming together in song. All the voices are unique yet they unite in one song Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God a...

  It’s clear in the scripture that complaining and fault-finding are wrong (Jude 1:15. Philippians 2:14, 1 st Corinthians 10:10, James 5:9, 1 st Peter 4:9). Yet, it does not seem to slow us down much.  Why is that?  I wonder if doesn’t come down to something I have seen over the years. I’ve noticed that people most often will find fault with you or with others when they are made cognizant of their own failures. It is a reaction to our humbling, make someone else worse. If I feel bad about “A” and I can point to another’s” B” then my “A” isn’t’ as bad. It is a defense mechanism against our pressing conscience. As long as we can “share the blame” it gives us an excuse to not have to make a change.  Maybe that is why it is so condemned in scripture. As Jesus talked about in Matthew 7, we think seeing the speck solves having the plank. It doesn’t. Rather than seeking to justify our actions let's work to fix them.  Next time you are tempted to find fault ...

     The parable of the Prodigal Son most interesting part might just be the twist at the end. The tale beings by telling us “ A man had two sons ” but then places the narrative in the hands of the younger.   We see his arrogance, his wastefulness, his shortsightedness, his misery, his loneliness, his realization, and his humbling. The story seemingly could end as the father runs to the younger son and welcomes him home proclaiming, “ bring out the best rob, kill the fattened calf ”!   But then there’s the beef.   We have forgotten about the other son. The one that didn’t leave. The one who has been with the father the whole time. Yet also one that has lost his way.     To him, the younger brother is the enemy. He has done terrible things; scenarios the older brother has made in his mind as bad as he can make them. How dare the father reward that kind of behavior! He has never even given his good son even a token of that kind of gift! W...