Ecclesiastes 12:10

   There is a new phenomenon that some are calling death by GPS, deaths of people attributable, in part, to following GPS directions or GPS maps. Global positioning system or GPS is a revolutionary technology developed for the military that now is used by millions in car navigation systems and programs like Google Maps. They allow the computer to navigate a person with step-by-step directions on their travel.   The problem is the directions are not always spot on and in some places, like Death Valley or Joshua Tree Park, it can lead to death. People are reluctant to deviate from the prescribed path even when what was in front of them, such as road signs and signals, barriers, and terrain warn them of continuing.   Following in another’s steps is great but only when the one laying them out knows where they are at and where they are going.   This is an issue in religion today. Many follow a path because a leader or family member has told them this is t...

  Tensions in East Germany on November 9 th, 1989 were at an all-time high. With the collapsing Soviet Union, the puppet government in East Germany was having trouble controlling the population that was desperate to leave the communist country. Nowhere was the pressure building more than in East Berlin a city literally divided by a wall.   The ruling party, in order to dampen the fervor, agreed to a temporary arrangement to allow emigration. The idea was to bury the issue in legal hoops and red tape. A dense document was to be read by the media spokesman Guenter Schabowski at a press release. For an hour he read the stiltedly-worded regulations out in full, the first time he had ever seen them. At the end, he has surprised when a reporter asked when the regulation would go into effect. He didn’t know so he responded “as far as I know… this is immediate, without delay”.   That is all it took. Soon people were flooding to the border crossing. Attempt to convince t...

   One of the wisest saying a friend once told me was this: “There is no right way to do the wrong thing, but there is a wrong way to do the right thing”     Simply if you are doing something wrong, it won’t be right no matter how well you do it. Yet there are times when we are doing the “right” thing yet do so in a way that will not be effective or just may cause more problems.   I think that is exactly what Paul is dealing with in the book of Philemon. He knows that he could simply order Philemon to accept back his runaway slave Onesimus. He had the right to do so both as an apostle and by the authority of the Scriptures. Yet he didn’t do it that way.   Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,   yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you — Philemon 1:8-9   Instead, he appeals to him. He appeals to his personal relationship, to Philemon’s integrity, to his confidence in him to do the right ...

  I guess everyone else has it all figured out.   It seems whenever we have some tragedy, some problem some crisis happens, folks come out of the woodwork absolutely convinced that know what will fix it. Pass this law, revoke this act, get rid of this guy, buy this product, start doing this, stop doing that.   Whatever the solution is, people seem to be really sure that it is the way even if another fellow thinks the exact opposite is just as true.   I just don’t know.   I’d like to think it is humility on my part but that is probably not. Thinking you are humble usually means you are not.   I do however know that the older I get the more I realize I have no clue how lots of things are and even less about how they should be.   Yet it seems our world today is so sure of itself. We have an opinion on everything and feel that our solutions are the solutions, even if we have no more to go on that a flimsy news report and second-han...

  Exodus doesn’t tell us the name of the pharaoh that Moses opposed. (Scholars have debated this riddle ever since.) Here is the most powerful man on earth at the time and it never uses his name.     Yet it does tell us the name of the two midwives that refuse to listen to that pharaoh and put to death the baby boys of the Israelites. Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live . Exodus 1:15-17    The nation was promoting these ‘late term abortions’ yet these women refused. And they were remembered for their courage.   In our world today it tend to work the other way. S...

  Tom Osbourne, the legendary coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, was a great recruiter but the one recruit he regrets not getting was Marshall Faulk.  While several big-name programs were after him, Nebraska seemed to have the inside edge. Osbourne had charmed all the people in Faulk’s life, his mother, his teacher, his coaches, even Faulk himself. However, they made one crucial error. They were recruiting him as a defensive back. Marshall wanted to run the ball. So when the less notable program of San Diego State said they’d let him carry the ball, he signed with them.  In his second game as a freshman, he set the record for yards in a single game. He would run all the way to the NFL and the Hall of Fame.     What could he have done at Nebraska, a team known for its great running game? We’ll never know because they never bother to ask Marshal Faulk if he wanted to be a running back.   David did something similar. He wanted to build a nice ced...

  If I have learned anything in my life, it is that for most things we do we have two reasons. The reason we give and the real reason.   The reason we give is the politically correct, well-reasoned, people pleasing response. It, however, isn’t always the real reason. Our real reason may be petty, or self-serving. We may have it but we can’t say it, so we come up with another reason for our action   A great example of this occurs in 1 st Kings:  “Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah." So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt. " 1st KI...

  You may have heard of Occam’s razor.  It’s not the next group to take of the big shaving industry, but a scientific and philosophical rule. Simply put, the simplest answer, all other things being equal, is the best answer. Entities are not to be multiplied without necessity. Less is better. Don’t add things you don’t need. The more assumption you make the more likely you are to be wrong.   It is named after William of Occam a scholar and professor at Oxford in the 1300’s. What you may not know is he didn’t just apply this rule to science but religion as well.   In that day the Catholic Church was the dominant force but William of Occam was a critic.  He spoke out even when it was not popular and dangerous to do so.  He saw the addition that had been made to the Christian religion as unnecessary.  He remarked. “ Scripture and not the decisions of councils and popes is alone binding on the Christian”.  He insisted that Scripture...

  Not everyone loves Mother’s Day.  For some, it’s a painful reminder of the mother than is no longer with them.  For others, it’s a reminder that they could never be a mother.  Still, others don’t have a mother that was much of a mother. For those, the celebration is more pain than joy.   But no one hated Mother’s Day more than Anna Jarvis.   Anna didn’t just dislike the feeling it created for her, she hated the commercialization of the holiday.  She saw the cards as a lazy way to get out of writing a letter.  She hated those trying to turn a buck on the forced sentimentality.  She spoke out against Mother Day.  She protested.  She even went as far to attack a vendor selling carnations.  Her efforts drove her to insanity and she was committed to a Santorum, where she would eventually die.  All because she hated Mother’s day   Which is odd since the whole thing was her idea.   Anna Jarvis s...

  The ability to think is quite possibly the greatest gift given to mankind. We are not the fastest, strongest, toughest or most numerous beings of creation but our ability to think means we rule. Reasoning allows us to flourish and succeed. We can figure a way to overcome most obstacles. If we could stay united, there is much we couldn’t do (Genesis 11:6). However, even when we think we have it all figured out doesn’t mean that we are not dead wrong.   In Genesis chapter three, Eve is tempted in the garden to break the one rule that God has given to mankind. Satan is clever and makes his case with a small but profound life, “What God said isn’t true, you won’t die.” Why would Eve believe this snake over her creator?  The answer is she thought about it. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husb...

 Abraham Lincoln understood that while he was in charge of a democracy, his office wasn’t one.  Once at the end of a disagreement with his cabinet, he announced the vote, “ Seven nays, one aye; the ayes have it .”  He was the one aye and that was all that mattered.   Some folks have got to thinking that the church is a democracy, that each person can have their say and their way. That in the end decisions should be based on what the majority wants. That its’ practices can be voted on and modified at the whims of it members.   But the Church isn’t a democracy, it is a kingdom. And you are not the King! He (Jesus Christ) is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything . Colossians 1:18   Jesus was the King from the beginning. It is his body.  He is in first place.  He rules.  When it comes to his church what he say...

 ( From time to time most preachers will preach someone else’s sermon. While its uncouth to do so too often, it can be very effective to take another’s sermon and re-work it till it fits you and your audience. That is what I have done here and I hope it is true to the original lesson {Acts 17:22-34}) Men of Hope,  I noticed that this is a very religious community. As you walk around the streets, you don’t have to go far to see many different churches each claiming to worship God but in very different ways. It seems that we might not exactly know how he wants us to worship him. But there is a right way. Let me tell you what I’ve learned about from His own Word.        The One True God, is a creator, a designer, Designers have plans for what they want in their creation. If he designed the world that way, you better believe he has a design for his Church.  He has made everything just how he wants it and just how it needs to be. He doesn’t ...

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12   There is a war on against Christianity. Not one in the media or even from any political or national source. It is the one that has been going on from the beginning lead by the Devil.  It is a battle for the hearts and minds of every soul on this planet (2 Corinthians 10:3 -5). The devil uses any means to create doubt, cause delay and get us to ignore the truth of God word.  Let’s examine some of those he uses to do just that: Private I nterpretation This lowly one may not seem like he couldn’t do much damage, but looks can be deceiving. When private interpretation comes into play he causes the authority of God’s Word to come into question.  What is clearly said in the text can be twisted into what I think it says.  Since there ar...

Micromanage ˈmīkrōmanij / verb : control every part, however small, of (an enterprise or activity). control of a person or a situation by paying extreme attention to small details in a way that is usually not wanted or that causes problems   This is a word I hadn’t heard of until a few years ago but when I look back to my past it always been there.  Many folks have found themselves either at work or an organization where you been micromanaged.  It is when someone hands you control and then does everything to take it away.  It comes from a leader that must control every detail in order for them to feel in charge.  Under that form of management you are not really a person, just a part.  There is no room for your own thinking, your own judgment, your own voice. It’s generally considered a bad way to do things.   Then why is it so common?   I think it is a reaction to responsibility.  The pressure of being in charge cause one t...

  There is a popular sentiment in our world today. You may have heard it expressed like this:    One can be spiritual but not religious .    It is not necessary to go to church and give money for many, nature can be a church.    It doesn’t matter what you believe in as long as you have belief.    There are a lot of different ways to heaven.    Religion is personal, everyone's interpretation will be a bit different.   In other words, there is no one right religion.  All points of view, all approach to faith are equally valid. There is no “either/or” when it comes to faith, faith by itself is enough.   Jesus however would have disagreed with this vehemently. " Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. " John 8:24  " For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the wo...

   In the late 1930’s as Europe moved closer to war, The United States was desperately attempting to remain neutral.  Between 1936 and 1937, Congress passed the Neutrality Acts measure design to keep America out of the upcoming forgiven wars.  These acts set restrictions such as, keeping Americans from sailing on ships flying the flag of a belligerent nation or trading arms with warring nations.  Such activities had played a role in American entrance into World War I, and the nation didn't want to be brought into another war.    As the Second World War broke out not only in Europe but in China and Japan, American still wanted to remain out of the war.  They began to involve themselves more with passing of the Lend Lease Act of 1941, which allowed the United States to sell and lend weapons to the Allied efforts. The President warned Americans, “… the Axis not merely admits but proclaims that there can be no ultimate peace between their philos...

    Maybe you think Mark Twain said it best: “ Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself ." - Mark Twain    It’s not hard to think less of our elected officials.  Whether we look to Washington, the State Capital or City Hall, it can be easy to find fault.  And with our form of government, we have the responsibility to involve ourselves in the political process.  So we have to choose candidates, voice our opinions and publicly discuss the issues.  However, it seems as of late the process has become a little more animated maybe than it ought to be.  While it is important to be good citizen of our country, we must also remember that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).  And the Bible has something to say about how we speak about our government officials: Proverbs 24:21   My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise , Ti...

  Initially, there were no or few postal regulations governing packages mailed by parcel post.  So when a Salt Lake City Company wanted to construct a bank in Vernal, Utah, in 1916, they ascertained that the cheapest way to send 40 tons of bricks to the building was by parcel post.  Each brick was individually wrapped and mailed. The postal rules were promptly rewritten.   There will always be those that will in their craftiness come up with ways to skirt the rules.  Those that look for loopholes or create them, thinking they can get away with something.  To combat it, we try to make more rules and regulations but then that makes things worse for everyone and just gives the schemer more ways to do what he was doing from the start.  Simple clear rules are the most difficult to bend or break.   In 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4 we read, “ But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the...

    Well you know they say lightning never strikes twice in the same place.  You know what they say Rome was built in a day.  You know they say that all that salt will kill you.   You know they say you can't go home again.  You know they say we are in for a bad winter…        I sure you have a onetime heard something “they” say.  You might have even quoted back something “they” say.  They seem to have a lot to say about a lot of things.  And if they say it, well it must be true right?  So exactly who is “they”?      “They say” has become a common expression because it lends credibility to a statement by appealing to the majority.  If a group of people are saying it, well it must be true.  This logical fallacy is one that is prevalent in our world.  We survive as a group.  We trust safety in numbers.  So by nature we tend to go a...

    I always had a soft spot for Simon Peter.  As a person of limited intelligence, he has been a good role model for me.  In the Bible, Peter doesn't come off as the brightest bulb in the bunch.  First, his nickname is Rock. [1]  It takes three times before he gets it anything (Matthew 26:75, John 21:15-17, Acts 10:16-17).  Peter is always saying something he shouldn't (Mark 8:33, Luke 9:33-39, John 13:9-10).  And he is kind of slow on the uptake (Acts 12:6-10 [2] ).  Peter doesn't always handle things the best way (Galatians 2:11-14) and even say he finds some scriptures “hard to understand” (2 nd Peter 3:16).     You don’t see those mental flaws however keep him from being a powerful force in the cause of Christ. You can’t read the Gospel without seeing Peter, warts and all. You can’t imagine the church’s rise in the Book of Acts without his influence.  He serves as apostle, ...