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The Not Said According to the book of Ecclesiastes, there is time for everything under the sun. The older I get, the more the word time seems to mean. Solomon said, in summary, all that should be said, all that is important to life and living. He left nothing out that needed to be said. He was not attempting to orchestrate by omission, but to emphasize by being concise. For the subject he is addressing, there is no “not said”. What he said was the conclusion of the issue altogether (“all has been said” - “let us hear the conclusion of the matter").…  ( Click for more )

“Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrong doing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence - and is set on fire by hell” - James 3:9-13 (NET), Empires have risen and fallen by a few words! A life can be destroyed or damaged irreparably just by a few words. Words wound and afflict, or sooth and heal. Relationships can be crushed and turned to sorrow and regret in an unguarded moment, by just a wrong word. Words can lead to other…  ( Click for more )

This week will pick up where we ended last week, by examining the subject of closeness. Closeness was mentioned as we ended as the real issue of our life in Christ, and His life in us. God has always had a relationship with that which was originally created in His image. Mankind has been so blinded to their Creator’s interaction with it that they in general do not know Him, or even believe He exists. God’s Word has a one-word description of this condition (Psalm 14:1). And yet, with all this being so, He still loves them to the uttermost (John 3:16; 13:1). The disciples…  ( Click for more )

There are many ways to define and evaluate what is described as faith - great, little, selective, momentary, abiding, general, specific - each a gift of a measure of faith by grace for the time ("you will tread upon serpents", "drink deadly things", etc.). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, Peter had faith without doubt and this must have pleased Jesus. Peter gave up for Jesus all he was, and all he had at the time (Matthew 14:28-31)! However, temporary great faith suddenly became little.…  ( Click for more )

We hear much today about sovereignty, but little about providence. Perhaps that is because of the real meaning of each.. Sovereignty has the meaning of complete independence, hence nations refer to themselves as “sovereign”, as do kings, and even other lesser mortals. Providence is sometimes taken to mean something that occurs without an apparent reason or cause, but something good that is believed to be fate, or of the supernatural - not necessarily of God. However, only God fits the ultimate meaning of both. He the ultimate combination of sovereignty and providence.…  ( Click for more )

You have heard it. It is true. Every event, conflict, or problem in your live and mine - and the world - is spiritual at its core. Things may seem otherwise, at least at first. But by digging a little deeper, and by thinking about the issues, they all seem to have to do with attitudes, states of mind, and thought patterns when all the dust settles. When we really think about it, it is a spiritual problem. Mostly, spiritual problems are “people problems”. The problem with the “problem” is that spiritual things are invisible. What we see is coming from something…  ( Click for more )

Why can’t others understand what you are going through? Why can’t others empathize with you in your circumstances, difficulties, troubles and trials?

We are tempted to wonder at times if there is anyone in the whole wide world who would understand, even if we tried to explain it all. Most of the time perhaps, we prefer not to explain or to tell anyone - except God, hopefully. Even when we do try to share a difficult situation, we can get a gaze that tempts us to want to ask, "is there anyone there"? Does anyone know what I’m talking about, or understands…  ( Click for more )

Sometimes, within families of several children, a parent, no matter how they try, cannot manifest a perceived impartiality. Children internalize this is bias (real or imagined), and often it as internalized as a lack of love, or as not being loved as much as other children. This can lead to an array of problems. There can be scars that last a lifetime. As any parent knows, this is almost always not true. However, can family love actually be qualitative and quantitative? Is love within God’s family this way? Is God’s love this way? To understand, we must turn to God and…  ( Click for more )

How many times have we heard someone exclaim, "Oh! I need a rest..."! In an effort to claim tongue-in-cheek sympathy, someone may comment, "well, there IS no rest for the wicked (quoting a passage from scripture), and the righteous don’t need it!". It may or may not be a joke, depending on the people and circumstances. It seems so often, no matter where we go or who we encounter, we hear "I’m just - tired", or as I heard recently, "I need a vacation!". Vacations are seldom long enough. It is said that it requires at least two weeks…  ( Click for more )

A small group of young men in a country far removed from the Western world had gathered to visit and discuss events of the day in their lives. They were sitting in a circle, so that one might not seem of more importance than another, they said. Looking on was an American who was struck by the scene as the meeting progressed, and more so as he realized how rare to see and hear such a spectacle occurring before his eyes. As the meeting progressed in a joyful tone, peppered with gentle humor and chuckling, he began to realize the secret they shared that seemed to enable such joy and…  ( Click for more )

Recently we discussed the difficulties and dangers involved in practicing a spiritual subjectivism, and the necessity of accepting the Bible as “God breathed” along with emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit, realizing they are both one in Jesus Christ. In accepting the Bible as God-breathed, a question often arises about the Bible itself. Referring to the Bible as “self” seems permissible since it is indwelt by Christ Himself (John 6:31). There is a corresponding, although different, danger in handling the written Word of God as well. A similar subjectivism…  ( Click for more )

“Then Pilate said, ‘So you are a king!’ Jesus replied, ‘You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world - to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.' Pilate asked, ‘What is truth?” - John 18:37 To the world, truth is either scientific, or something is true only if the world accepts the evidence as true. This is the reason many do not accept the Bible as a basis for truth. Perhaps Jesus knew that Pilate was the consummate "postmodernist" of his time.…  ( Click for more )

For a long time a condition has been developing in the Christian community that can undermine faith and spiritual growth, and mislead many of those beginning to come to trust in Jesus Christ unto eternal life. It can seem so legitimate to some, but at its root it is Satanic in its effect. This has occurred slowly, hence the progressive acceptance of it as being a valid and proper approach to living a Christian life, and being a Christian. For lack of a more sophisticated description, I will call it Cafeteria Christianity (or Smorgasbord Christianity). The whole spectrum of it, since…  ( Click for more )

Often in the task of living in today’s world, many struggle with what they feel is unanswered prayer - prayer for themselves, for others, for activities, etc., that may be desperately important. We all want the answer to unanswered prayer. At times - sometimes - it has helped some to recall the refrain of a melody that affirms that “one of God’s greatest gifts is unanswered prayer”. But for others, the “sound of silence” seems the only response from God that can be heard, and it seems impossible to see it as a gift from God - at least at first.…  ( Click for more )

Last week we looked briefly at the conditions that God’s Word reveals will be extant in the church in general in the last days. These things were occurring then as a type - with the antitype to be occurring and progressively intensifying, at the very end time of the "end times" (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). There is a time for all things "under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). All things include God’s "things", that will bring to a close the times and seasons for bringing sin to final judgment, and His children into His eternal family.

In…  ( Click for more )

There is a direct relationship between conditions during the end times, and the phenomenon of spiritual darkness. Whether one believes we are living in the "end time" or not (we are certainly closer to it today than yesterday), 2 Peter 2 is very relevant to our world and our lives today. In reality we have been in the "end time" ever since Jesus died on the cross. It seems timely then, for a close look at 2 Peter 2.

Peter’s first epistle (see Archives "Works Of Grace") was written to explain to God’s people the process of…  ( Click for more )

There are several "lonely" portions of God’s Word. They are lonely because they are seldom visited. Some are lonely because of their seeming boring repetitiousness, lengthy genealogies, or they seem so self-explanatory. Others are not visited because they make one feel guilty, or just nervous or uncomfortable. Being comfortable with our Christian label has been sold as part of the package of being converted, being baptized, joining the church, etc. We subconsciously stay away these lonely ones. Something inside us is saying they could apply to us. Some scriptures…  ( Click for more )

In the movie entitled "Patton", General Patton is portrayed as excitedly saying to himself concerning a successful tank battle that he had read the opposing German Field Marshal’s book! He thus attributed his success to having read the Field Marshal’s tactics, and therefore knew what he would do in advance. This would provide a great advantage to say the least! Other leaders have written of their plans in advance - some notorious, some almost unknown. Our Creator God has also written His plan for His creation in His Book. He has also written His tactics and…  ( Click for more )

Is it Law, or is it Grace - Is it "grace only" or is it "law only"? Must it be one or the other, or - is it both?

Law - God's law or laws, most would agree, show us God's very high standard. His law "leads us to Christ" (Galatians 3:24), who IS the Standard. Jesus is the purpose of the law since He came to fulfill it (Matthew 5:16-22). Therefore we must come to Christ in order to keep the law - because only He can "fulfill" it in us! By thinking that the law of God is no longer needed or that it has been "done away" with, there…  ( Click for more )

"So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you."- Acts 17:22-23

Does this passage from God’s Word seem familiar?

Many have at least an arms length familiarity with the incident, or an academic acquaintance with certain particulars of the whys and wherefores concerning…  ( 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 fall…  ( Click for more )

There is no subject in the annals of Christian history that has caused more concern, questions, and mental anguish than the words "unpardonable sin". So much so, that it is almost completely avoided in public venues and private conversations. They may even cause a twinge of momentary fear in the heart of those who know little or believe little about God, Jesus, or Christianity. Recently we discussed a hidden fear in the being of all of humanity (see Archives ,"The World Does Not Know"). But the fear of committing or of having committed the unpardonable sin also…  ( Click for more )

There have been many discussions about love. Even to make the statement is an understatement. But discussions and arguments, strife and accusations, charges and countercharges about conditional and unconditional love continues relentlessly. Is there such a state or condition as conditional and/or unconditional love? Should love be "unconditional"? Is there ever a time for "conditional love"?

Can love be divided?

In order to reduce the size of a tree that could have so many branches and twigs, we will focus on the love of God as He relates to people, and…  ( Click for more )

There are many definitions and theories regarding self. Even in the dictionary. Many word doublets have been evolved in an attempt to describe the self. It appears that there are so many that the whole concept of self becomes hazy and almost indefinable, and yet most everyone knows what or who is being referred to when they hear the word. So it would appear that there are many "selfs" (not a real word), in the sense of what we are in thought, word, action, feelings, and attitude. Some of these are: myself, yourself, selfish (and selfishness), self centered, self confidence,…  ( Click for more )