Many people live with leanness of soul. It is a spiritual condition related to gratitude, and we get a glimpse of it in Psalm 106. The psalm begins by calling the people of God to praise and thanksgiving. The following 12 verses continue by reminding them of God’s great and merciful works. How He showed His power and set … Continue reading Thanksgiving, Gratitude, and Leanness of Soul
It seems the chief end of some local churches is to exist. Maintaining the building, meeting budgets, and preserving attendance by making sure the congregants have a pleasant experience so they will not leave is what drives the decisions of many church leaders. There is nothing wrong with working toward these goals. They are fine as long as those … Continue reading Great Churches are Willing to Go Out of Business
G. Campbell Morgan tells of a friend of his who had a little daughter that he dearly loved. They were great friends, the father and daughter, and were always together. But there seemed to come an estrangement on the child's part. The father could not get her company as formerly. She seemed to shun him. … Continue reading God Wants You, Not Your Work
The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:6) The law of God is holy and just and good; it is inexorable, and we have fallen under its just condemnation. That is at the bottom of what Paul means by the “the letter kills.’ He does not mean that attention to pedantic details shrivels … Continue reading The Letter Kills, but the Spirit Gives Life
Kahinoor "Mountain of Light" Diamond worth $10 to $12 Billion One of the most wonderful diamonds in the world is the 'Mountain of Light'. It now belongs to England, but originally came from India. The gem was put into the hands of Lord John Lawrence for safe keeping. Half unconsciously, Lord John thrust the diamond, … Continue reading The Neglected Value of the Soul
David thought it was over. His sin had been exposed, he had sought the Lord's forgiveness, and it had been granted. A right spirit had been renewed, and a clean heart had been created. Then came the news that his child was gravely ill. The revelation threw David to the floor in anguish as thoughts of his sin filled his mind. Months had … Continue reading The Haunting Effects of Sin
Why does God’s promise to meet our needs often fail to bring us peace? All throughout scripture, we are promised that God will take care of us. Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And … Continue reading God’s Care and Our Concern
Verbal inspiration is the doctrine that the Bible is precisely word-for-word what God wanted to say. It is not merely the thoughts and truths of scripture that are inspired but the very words themselves. Upon first hearing the term, many people confuse the word “verbal” with “audible.” The verbal inspiration of scripture is not the … Continue reading How Can Scripture Be Verbally Inspired?
Profanity is becoming more and more mainstream, but its constant use defiles us more than most people realize. Cursing only has one practical use. The act of being boorish has a way of waking people up when they have stopped paying attention. Using a swear word does have the effect of making people snap out … Continue reading Profanity and the Gospel
If we were asked if we desire the world's attention, most of us would probably say, "no." However, there are often little things we do to betray that answer. There is a hunger for notoriety that seems to plague us all from time to time. Even as Christians, who know God and enjoy him, we still often think … Continue reading Desperate for Nothing
The Fight of Faith 