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Someone once closed a TV show by singing the phrase "thanks for the memory...". Are we thankful for all our memories - good and bad?

Our memories are the produce of sowing and reaping. Not only do we reap what we sow in present tense, but we also continue to reap from the same sowing in the past tense - our memory continues to stick our sowing to us like glue. If we sow wrong seed, we can be forgiven for eternity. However, we do reap what we sow - in this life, even if in memory. The sharp edge memories may, with time, be dulled. But the memory of what we sowed that constituted…  ( Click for more )

There is a much different world coming - one developing out of this present world that we all know - a world like no one has ever seen before, or will ever be seen again.

One that is not expected, except perhaps by those who are striving to bring it about. However they may see what they do not expect to see or envision. It will be ruled by a one world government; one religion; one world economy. Government, Economics, and Religion. These three aspects of the "new world order", are even now slowly becoming a reality, and beginning to position themselves, eventually to…  ( Click for more )

Pure objectivity in growing is practically impossible, even for the deeply converted Christian. All that is spoken, written, or thought is passed through the prism and filter of personal experience, shaped within a fallen world, inherited from one generation to another, and ruled by an invisible entity. All is shaded, colored, distorted and interpreted by this totality of personal experience. This leaves one great and overwhelming truth: what is spoken, written or thought by God is the only true reality and measure.

We cannot apply what He says to ourselves or others in complete…  ( Click for more )

How do you feel about your growing up (if you have grown up)? Was it tough growing up? Or is it mostly memories of good things and good times? Some have had horrible experiences, with scars for life. All of us have a different story. But in some ways they are the same. We were born, fed, clothed (hopefully), taught, disciplined, experienced events, people, etc., and finally formed a personality - and a character. We finally "matured" - in one way or another as human beings.

Regardless of the memory of our growing up years, whether pleasant or unpleasant, God can take…  ( Click for more )

Are you one who has asked forgiveness from someone, but they refuse to forgive you? This is often an unspoken affliction which bears heavily upon many. The agony involved is so crushing upon the one so afflicted, that it can seem to eat away at the very heart and soul. It hovers like a dark cloud over many of God's people - the cloud of being "unforgiven"... !

There are many who HAVE asked forgiveness of someone, and the one who has been the victim steadfastly refuses to forgive the one asking forgiveness. They remain UNFORGIVEN by the victim. Of all the crosses some…  ( Click for more )

While sitting and pondering what I had just read in my Bible, I noticed a large empty box across from where from where I was sitting. The box had been there for several days without hardly a glance…after all a box is just a box. But suddenly I noticed some words printed near the bottom. The words, I noticed, were also printed on the other side of the box - and all four sides. For some reason I could not keep from staring at the words. The box was meat to contain some moving miscellaneous objects that were to shortly to be moved. There were only three words, rather large…  ( Click for more )

By the time the last article was finished, everything was beginning to look very discouraging. In fact, I was reluctant to end the first part of this two-part article that way. However, what was given in part one was to show the natural result and reality of life lived in our flesh which is not real LIFE. It was intended to be a very short overview, to set the stage for contrast with the wonderful things to come. They are called "The Gospel" the Good News (Grk). Don’t we all love GOOD NEWS! It gives us a new "lease on life" as the saying goes. And the…  ( Click for more )

Several weeks ago we discussed in this column the judgment for accounting and reward that every Christian will give before Jesus (see Archives), which the Apostle Paul refers to explicitly (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Until that time, there are other actions and judgments occurring that can assure us of a favorable hearing before Him. There are other judgments that will be continually going on now in our lives. One that should be occurring but often is not is: the judgment of ourselves. Strangely perhaps, but some never see the need for this. The word here is "see".…  ( Click for more )

Recently, someone, in describing the faults and weaknesses of another, ended with the comment, “but----has a good heart!” This understanding and forbearance has preserved an ongoing friendship for many years. They had been able to look past the obvious, and to look deeper. In a world living by the law of first impressions, it seems that so many never think of looking beneath the surface - of situations, and people. This requires ability to think independently, and unconventionally. Jesus said that “out of the heart” proceed evils, and so it is. He was pointing…  ( Click for more )

What would it take - what would it take - for you to believe? To really believe in Jesus Christ and receive eternal life? If you thought about it enough to devise terms or a set of conditions before you would even consider it, what would they be? What would be your objections to living forever? Can you think of any? Whatever the list might contain, it comes down to objecting to living forever. What is about living forever do you object to? It is apparent that we all value being alive. Else we would not go to so much trouble and anguish to keep it that way. You are going to “die”…  ( Click for more )

What is the difference between the OT and the NT of the Bible? This question has disturbed many over the years, and underminded the faith for some. Under the Old Covenant provisions, all lived under the “administration of death.” It is referred to in this way because it would ultimately result in death because every person sins. The result of disobedience (sin) was (and is), death (1 John 3:4). The result of sin is the death penalty (Romans 6:23). All have sinned (Romans 5:12)), therefore all of us have lived with the penalty of death hanging over our heads because…  ( Click for more )

Here is a mystery. There must be more than one for love to exist. Otherwise it must only be “self love” which is not love at all. Love begins with three (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) who are One. A table of two legs will not stand. A marriage, a Godly friendship, etc., of only two will not endure without love. Real love will not developed and endure without a third element. God is One, but also Three, creating perfect balance in relationship and function. Love is one, but with a multi-faceted outworking. Without two, there can be no relationship. Without three, there is…  ( Click for more )

If you were asked just “what is God’s will“, what would you say? Is the answer something that is mysterious and vague? Is it something that just cannot be really known, even through the Bible? Assuming that we can know His will, how could we define it? Would it need to involve a voluminous treatise on theology, or years of study at a seminary? Believe it or not, God's will is relatively easy to state and define. However, the Bible cannot be eliminated from our consideration. There is no other source to consult. The answer is in the Bible - and only in the Bible.…  ( Click for more )

“Because now we [really] live, if you stand [firm] in the Lord. For what [adequate] thanksgiving can we render to God for you for all the gladness and delight which we enjoy for your sakes before our God?” - 1 Thessalonians 3:8-9 Our labors in Christ should always be "for your sakes" - for those being served, regardless of the setting or the service. Are we "other oriented"? We should be glad and delight in our sacrifice when we see others benefited by a closer walk with God. All the Apostle Paul said, thought, and did was for the sake of…  ( Click for more )

Sometimes, after experiencing sorrow involved in sincere and complete repentance, feelings of guilt and regret remain. And regardless of the conscious belief that God has forgiven, and put all as far away from Him as East is from West (Psalm 103:10-12), somehow it has not been put that far away from our hearts. The sorrow of true repentance remains - and it still hurts. We must realize first of all, that the hurting is good. Not good in itself, but good in the sense that it has accomplished and is accomplishing the purpose for which Jesus has been allowing it. Nothing in our lives,…  ( Click for more )

Many parts of the Bible, those heavily dependent upon context and those that are not, constitute principles that can apply to a wide range of situations and circumstances. As such, many scriptures are capable of standing alone, separate from the original context. Many things in our society are not addressed directly in the scriptures. There are many more that are more difficult to align with a present reality. However, everything that is in the scriptures may be applied in some way IN PRINCIPLE. Thus, the Bible is applicable to all times, in all seasons, for all peoples. Everything…  ( Click for more )

Freedom! - from Israel, to American, to Martin Luther King, Jr., to the Cross, and to countless realities in between, the presence or absence of freedom pervades our conscience and subconscious.(Romans 8:21; Galatians 5:1,13; 1 Peter 2:16). Many in the world have known and are experiencing what it means to be in slavery. They are held in bondage to other people, organizations, governments. It is a slavery of the body and the mind so they can be manipulated for the purposes of others. This is a slavery from the outside. Others feel that they are free, and yet are held in…  ( Click for more )

"Let your conscience be your guide". There could hardly be a more universal saying. But to this advice must be added: yes and no - perhaps - sometimes; and, it depends. The subject of the human conscience is very complex, far beyond any exhaustive treatment in this short article. However, it is a subject that is referred to twenty nine times in the KJV of the New Testament. It is always translated from the same Greek word. There is no word in the Old Testament translated as "conscience". The conscience is there, but treated somewhat more indirectly. For the writers…  ( Click for more )

Prayer is often viewed as a part or segment of time in our lives - hence the expression "prayer life", as though prayer is only a compartment of our many-sided existence. It can become only an event rather than a relationship. A close look at Jesus' life reveals a living Prayer. Yes, there were many time He entered His "closet", for private one on one communion with His Father just He commanded us to do. But His prayer, His closeness to His Father never grew dim and distant. Unlike us, no matter where He went, He was never far away from God the Father. The Father…  ( Click for more )

Most everyone has heard of repentance at some time from someone in their lives. But what is it, really? Can it even be defined? Usually it takes the form of something that someone did - themselves, or someone that they heard about, someone who claimed to be a “Christian”. It has something to do with God, they suppose - a God that is as far away as repentance may seem to be. For others, repentance is something that they did back there when they accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, when they were a child and were encouraged to make “a decision for Christ”,…  ( Click for more )

What is your first emotional reaction when you hear or read, or even see the word "judgment"? Perhaps the range of feelings would be as varied as there are humans to react. There could be flashbacks to childhood when we were called before a parent to account for something we had done. Maybe in school, we were called to the front of the class to be critiqued concerning the pros and cons of our performance on an assignment or test score. For those of us who were once part of military service, there were times when an "in your face" drill sergeant dressed us down…  ( Click for more )

Is every question concerning salvation answered in the Bible? There are things which are certainThere are things which seem to be uncertain - at least for now. Things certain and some things, maybe. Many are in the now of our understanding, some are entirely for later - some for last. So it is concerning our understanding.

Discerning the differences are critical - for faith, patience, endurance and for receiving and enjoying the peace which Jesus left for us (John 14:27). For instance, the final disposition of all of humanity, that is, those who have never heard the…  ( Click for more )

God has appointed for every person on earth to experience a “near death experience”. Not actual death (that also, eventually) but a near death experience. Most are familiar with the term in relation to medical settings in which someone claims to have died, saw certain things or sensations, etc. There is a kind of near death situation when someone is in a coma resulting from accident or illness. These are relatively rare, regardless of the circumstances or beliefs surrounding them. Every day of our lives, we experience a near death experience, or at least most do every…  ( Click for more )

In a recent article in this column, the frightful consequences of being exposed at the judgment as not being known by Jesus was discussed in the context of relationship. This writer can conceive of nothing more frightening or dreadful to contemplate than this. If this is so of anyone, it is also so that that one does not himself know Jesus, regardless of any other factors in his or her life. Not being known by Jesus will result in separation from His presence, because they are accounted as workers of lawlessness. But what about anyone who claims to know Jesus, and does not believe…  ( Click for more )