Ecclesiastes 12:10

   A common expression today is “there are many roads to heaven”.  Two major surveys (USA Today/ Pew Research Center) had 52% and 57% of American Christians responding that salvation can be found in a way other than Jesus.  Even those who would say Jesus is the only way might claim that following Him could be done in many different ways.   But the Scriptures disagree. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6   Here we are told there is One God not many.  There is One faith not many faiths. There is One baptism, not various methods. There is One Lord, not many conventions.  There is One body, not many denominations    One not many. One not varied. One not however, we want. Before he went to the cross, Jesus’ prayer for his followers to “ that they m...

  Psalm 73 tells a story that we all have been a character in.  The author writes about how he almost makes the mistake of thinking that the wicked have it good.  He looks at their lives and sees they have it good. They live in nice houses, have good jobs, and have normal lives. He then considers, why am I serving God? If they get to do what they want and are still blessed, and I serve God and suffer for it, why should I do it?  This troubles him until he comes into the place of God. Then, he realizes the mistake he is making in his thinking.  He isn’t factoring in the time.  Everything the ungodly have is temporary, set up on a slippery slope. Soon, it will be all gone. Yet God will remain forever  That is when he sees why God is so important. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever . Psalms 73:25-26  We ma...

  Most folks think they are better than average. Maybe they are right.  A group of really bad people might just bring down the average.  So to test this researchers anonymously surveyed 85 folks between the ages of 18 to 34 in the same place. When compared to their neighbors, the participants rated themselves as more moral, kinder to others, more self-controlled, more law-abiding, more compassionate, more generous, more dependable, more trustworthy, and more honest.  They also rated themselves as higher on all these traits than "an average person", with one exception - law-abiding (that one they said they were average).  There was a reason they might have docked themselves in law-abiding, all the people surveyed were in prison.  They saw their neighbor, i.e. fellow prisoners, as below average but not themselves.   For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to thi...

  Is it wrong to want something? I guess it depends on what we want.   The Greek language had a word ‘ orego ’ that meant “to stretch oneself out in order to touch or grasp something, often used metaphorically to denote a strong desire or aspiration for something”. Paul uses this word in 1st Timothy as a good thing (to be an elder 3:1) and a bad thing (longing for money 6:10).   Our desires oftentimes define who we are. They motivate us to action. They are the focus of our minds and actions.  And they can be both good and bad.  Sometimes we want something better and we run over people to get it. Sometimes, we want something better so we will strive to improve ourselves.  Sometimes we see people with nothing they want and we envy them. Other people will see with no desire and we pity them.  We need to desire good things. Be willing to work to get them. Care enough to try.  We need to not desire bad things. Be willing to forgo o...

    William Cowper didn’t see any reason to live.   He decided that he’d jump off the bridge over the Thames. So, he called a cab to take him there.   But that night in 1763, a thick fog enveloped London. It was so thick the cab driver couldn’t find the bridge and couldn’t even find the way to take William home. In frustration, he ordered the driver to stop and get out to get his bearings. He walked up to the nearest house to read the number and it was William's house. Gone now were William’s thoughts of suicide and instead a new idea came into his head. So, he went in and wrote these words: God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.  You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.     I sometimes wish we could see all the ways God watches over us when need it. There are...