Ecclesiastes 12:10

   The nature of family has changed significantly in the new millennium. The number of unmarried partners living together in the United States nearly tripled in two decades from 6 million to 17 million as of 2019. Estimates show that about 40 percent of births in the United States occur outside of marriage, up from 28 percent in 1990. The structure and stability of the home is weaker than ever.   For some, this might not be alarming. The rhetoric is that this “new normal” is more inclusive and diverse and opens people to more freedom of choice. Polls show that large majorities believe society “should value all types of families” and cohabiting couples should receive the same benefits as a married couple. Also, a majority consider living in unmarried households as having either no effect or a positive effect on children.   But the facts don’t bear that out.  Researchers have consistently found that children born outside marriage face elevated risks of falli...

    " Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised ." Song of Solomon 8:7      Let’s say a man show up at your home, knocks on the door and says, “I saw your car in the drive, I always wanted one just like it, can I buy it from you?”, what do you do?     Well, I guess it depends on how much you like your car. If it is new or has sentimental value you might hesitate. If however, he has a briefcase full of $100 bills, it might not matter it was your first car or has great cup holders, you probably are selling.     However, if the man makes the same offer for your wife or your children it won’t matter how much cash he has, you aren’t listening. No, You are probably escorting him immediately off the premises. Some things are not for sale.     Satan is doing that. He wants our families, our spouses, our very souls....

   Out of context, it seems a very strange question Jesus asks in Matthew 12:48, " Who is My mother and who are My brothers ?" When you add on the fact that those very people were standing outside the door, having come to take hold of him because of the rumor circulating about his insanity (Mark 3:21), it makes it seem all the more suspect.   Yet Jesus here is making a very profound statement to all of us.  He says in verse 35,  For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother. " Jesus isn’t confused, he’s explaining that spiritual family is of higher concern than physical.    Later Jesus would exclaim " If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple”( Luke 14:26) . Family can’t be first, God has to be.   I love my mother. I hope you do too. However, a mother’s love no matter how great is...

  Samuel had watched as the sons of Eli defiled the sacrifice of the Lord. He was around to know how Eli warned, scolded and begged with his boys to straighten up. He also knew how they had ignored Eli.   Samuel was the one thru whom God proclaimed the end of Eli families’ reign as priests since Eli had not heeded God’s earlier warning and disciplined his sons. He knew of the fate Eli, a man broken when he heard his son’s death and the loss of the ark.   Samuel had seen what happens when a man serving the Lord forgets to instill that in his offspring. When he doesn’t bring up his children ‘ in the discipline and instruction of the Lord’ .  Yet, he went and did it himself And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel….. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice. 1 Samuel 8:1,3  How could the one who had seen it happen and knew...

  All my life, I have heard that a sin is a sin is a sin.  That basically all sin is the same.  Now technical speaking that isn’t quite accurate. All sin bears the same punishment (Romans 6:23). We can’t afford to pay for any sin.  It doesn’t matter what sin we commit, when we break one law of God we stand condemned. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10     That doesn’t mean however that all sin is the same.  Sins vary by consequences, scope and judgement.  Jesus himself said that there are greater sins (John 19:11). While any sin will bring you into judgment there are some sins that are weightier than others.   Considering this, what would you think is a worse sin? Murder? Homosexuality? Sexual Immorality? Unbelief? All these sins we see are condemned to a high degree in Scripture but I want you to consider one passage of scripture where we are told a sin co...

    I've yet to meet the parent, myself included, that didn’t have a blind spot when it came to their little ones.  We think they are the most special perfect things that ever walked the planet.  Go to any little league game, kindergarten graduation or school recital and ask whose kid is the talented one is and everyone will raise their hands.  The only way the kid might make a catch is if the ball bounces off his head into his glove, but their parents will still see an all-star.  We love them too much for anything less.    So then, parents tend to go overboard when it comes to their children. We decorate our walls with pictures of them, brag about them to anyone who will (and some who won't) listen and are willing to do anything for them.  Sacrifice time, money, self, and all reason for them.  That’s what good parent do .  To ask a loving good parent to give up their kids would ludicrous.   But that's exactly what ...

   Something has gone wrong in your home congregation and you are thinking about packing up and heading someplace else. Should I stay? Should I go? You don't want to leave the place that has been your home, but could that be what is best?  Here are five reasonable considerations on why it might be best to go. 1.       The Church Is Unscriptural And Will Not Change    We all make mistakes, even churches.  They use bad judgment and don’t consider the consequences of their actions.  But when we do wrong and refuse to make it right, it becomes willful rebellion.  When a church embraces something that goes beyond the Word of God, a faithful Christian can’t be part of it.  Our presence is a form of acceptance and that makes us participants in the error (2 nd John 9-11).  If we stay too long, there is temptation to give up right principles and go along.  I've seen many sound Christians p...

    I was recently reading a sermon of Steve Minor’s where he talked about how it seems today we seem to regard busyness a sign of social status. The more things we have to do, more activities and sports we have our children in, the more groups and good works we are in, somehow make us some sort of “all-star family”. Being busy has become a status symbol - almost as if a hectic life is equivalent to worldly success.  He quoted an article by Barbara Stanny where she described the phenomena as ATBS – Addicted To Busyness Syndrome.  The comparison was made that busyness is a drug for some. That over scheduling give us a sense of purpose and meaning; we are busy so it must be important.  We don’t have to focus on problems because we are too busy to think about that. The rush to get all done becomes addictive. To some their world and self-image would shatter it they were not trying to do it all .   This kind of lifestyle has been around for...

Crazy hypothetical: Be The Bad Guy* In order to protect your family and those that you love, you must take credit for a terrible crime. You can’t tell anyone the real reason for your actions. People will always believe that you have done this and you can never be cleared. Do you take the rap? Variables to consider: The Crime: Is there a crime you wouldn't admit to? Your legacy: What if they would know of your innocence after you died? What if your family would know  of your innocence  but the rest of the world would see you as guilty? What are they protected from : Death, Suffering, Finical distress, Punishment from the crime I.E.  They did it but you take the rap The Punishment: Will you be in prison, be executed, a social pariah...  *Crazy Hypothetical is a mental game that gives you a conditional choice that gets you thinking about a subject. I used these for several years as discussion starters in Bible cl...

Crazy hypothetical: Witness Protection* You have just witnessed a major crime. The authorities want to put you in witness protection. These are your options.     #1. You can go by yourself and be absolutely guaranteed that everyone you care about including yourself will be safe. The person that committed the crime will most likely be convicted. You however will never be able to talk, see, and have contact with anyone or anything from your old life again. You must change everything that can that can connect you to your old life.          #2. You can go with your family. You and your family will be 90% likely to survive. Any friends or associates you leave behind will have a 75% chance of survival. The person that committed the crime has a 50/50 chance of being convicted. You will be able to live with your family but never be able to talk, see, and have contact with anyone or anything from your old life again. You must change everything t...

It’s that time of year when all the stores start putting out the lists for school supplies. Parents everywhere will be scrambling to find the right items their young ones will need to do their best in the upcoming year. The right supplies might not make them do any better but we want to give them every chance to succeed. But what their spiritual education?  The best item any parent can supply their child in order to help them grow in the knowledge of God is a Bible. It amazes me how many students come to Bible class without a Bible. Young people need to have and bring their own Bible to church every time the doors are open. Parents need to make sure their children are well equipped when they seek to gain a deeper understanding of God’s word. A Bible doesn’t have to be expensive to be a good study Bible. A good word for word translation that a child can read and comprehend is vital. Children need to understand that God’s word is something they can read and understand for themselves....

It’s that time of year when school starts back and with it extracurricular activities as well. It won’t be long till parents are driving across town to make practices, get to games and attend recitals. It is amazing the schedules many have just to try and keep up with it all. These activities can be great but I am reminded of 1 st Timothy 4:8 which says “f or while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come .” I wonder what a difference it would make in the church and the world if parents spent as much time in spiritual exercise as they do in physical.

In the 1970’s feminist Gloria Steinem popularized the quote “ A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle ”.  It represented the growing notion that the traditional role of man being a leader in the home and family was outdated and absurd. Since then we have seen a reduction in the role men play in American family and with that the many social ills that accompany this philosophy. We shouldn’t be surprised with this. All we have to do is look to the Scriptures to see when men don’t take on their God given responsibilities as leaders, tragedy follows. When Adam didn’t take the moral lead when his wife was tempted, it got them kicked out of the garden. When the great man of God Eli didn’t restrain his sons, it caused misery for his family and Israel.  Almost without fail when you see families struggling in the Bible, it comes from a man not assuming the role God had intended. It doesn’t matter if it’s in society, the church, or the home, when men don’t take on the responsibil...