…you are the light on the hill!

The Second Sin
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” – Genesis 3:12-13 A lot has been said about the first sin. Philosophers often wonder about it, though the average person doesn’t usually give it much thought. But the second sin may, in fact, be more important because we’ll never recover from the first sin as long as we’re guilty of the second. No matter…

Who Won?
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

College and High School football is a huge reality this time of year. Sometimes people argue for months and even years about which team would have won had this happened, or had the other thing not happened. If you are in the typical office workplace, chances are better than even that you will hear some “Monday morning quarterbacking” going on before the morning is over. However, the score will remain just as it was when the final whistle blew regardless of the “self-proclaimed experts” who hash and rehash the game until they are blue in the face. With…

"Lord God, You Have a Funny Way of Working at Times"
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

God is processing Joseph’s way to leadership in Egypt and every stepping stone to get Joseph to become Prime Minister of Egypt appears most painful. This fourth obstacle sees Joseph having his identity stolen – it is taken from him. Genesis 37 verses 31 to 35 –……

Things that go bump in the night
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

I was going to repost this article last Sunday to be "in the season" so to speak. But, God had other ideas. So I guess this Sunday is as good as any to be reminded about the things that go bump in the night... I have been studying something for months now because I see a trend that is frightening. The hours spent viewing several different programs where teams are in hot pursuit of paranormal activities from the netherworld have been heartbreaking. These teams are in earnest, yet have enormous nerve in that they taunt the entities of whom they are hoping to get physical…

Origin Of Nations
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

One of the most dramatic and world shaping events occurred many centuries ago, and the world has never been the same since - literally. We find this recorded in the book of Genesis: "And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may…

Mangled Mind-Psalms 91:15
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

'He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. ' Psalm 91:15 KJV lamcoaelamoanca;owea'fj'alsd'fj.... My mind looks like this when I'm trying to write but getting nothing. Chaos is the word. Or maybe confusion. I'm stretching and striving to put something together, and it isn't working. That's how my spirit looks when I'm concerned about my future or my present. When I compare myself to others or lean toward…

Our Children Are Our Future
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

I’m the proud uncle of two outstanding teenage boys. Both are heavily involved in sports, school activities, church groups, and scholastic organizations. They’ve been raised well, and are both on their way to positive futures with nothing but full lives ahead. One recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, an honor within the Boy Scouts of America organization carrying with it a super-high level of honor and achievement. It’s something that only a small percentage of young people ever reach within that establishment, and it required a huge dedication of time,…

Yahweh Shammah,
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“. . . I will fear no evil, for you are with me;” Psalm 23:4 (NIV) “‘And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.’” Eze.48:35 (NIV) Her mother brought her into the building that housed the daycare center. Her parents were missionaries heading for home assignment in Michigan. They had attended the conference for a few days. On this, their last afternoon with us, she looked up at me as her mother signed her in. Her big brown eyes studied me. “Why are you always here?” “Why am I always here, is that what…

Bible and Quote - March 4-8
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Psalm 51:8b Lord, let me have the comfortable tokens and evidences of thy favour to me: that shall put gladness in my heart in the midst of all my griefs. Matthew Henry, 1662-1714, Welsh-born, English nonconformist minister and commentator Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Psalm 51:9 Most laws condemn the soul and pronounce sentence. The result of the law of my God is perfect. It condemns but forgives. It restores and more than abundantly. Jim Elliot, martyred missionary Create in me a clean heart,…

A Broken Spirit And Contrite Heart
     'Point of Reference' from Fred Price

A fundamental principle of Biblical evangelism is the need for Godly sorrow, which brings repentance that leads to salvation (2 Cor. 7:10); God commanding all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30) An oft-overlooked aspect of the Gospel being, “God will give to each person according to what he has done. To……

The Curse is Gone
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

Ignominy. According to the Random House Dictionary of the English Language it means, "disgrace, dishonor, public contempt." In personal life it would be the result of an act that brought about shame to a person. In athletics it can be a particular figure, event or date. It can even be tied to a particular city or franchise, such as Boston. Boston has lived in ignominy since the "Curse of the Bambino." The trading of Babe Ruth to the hated Yankees supposedly cursed the Boston Red Sox baseball club. Until they won the World Series two years ago. How deep was the curse? This…

Washed by the Water of the Word
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

I have always encouraged Christians (because, let's face it, it wouldn't be remotely reasonable to expect if of unbelievers) to allow the truth of God's Word to shape their understanding of reality rather than the reverse--allowing their sense of what's real to shape biblical truth. Now, sure, the left-leaning types (Ecclesiastes 10:2) will complain "That stuff is just your opinion!", but I'm not talking to them. I'm talking to you Bible-believing Christians. Even you--we--tend to apply our experience and (misguided) thinking onto Scripture rather than vice versa. Brothers,…