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But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me. - Philippians 2:17-18 HCSB

True sacrifice is derived from faith. It comes in proportion to it. The greater our faith, the more we sacrifice to God, and the more we sacrifice to God, the greater our faith becomes. Without faith, sacrifice is meaningless for we need to have faith in the one that we are making our sacrifices to. However, neither faith nor sacrifices are in and of themselves…  ( Click for more )

The instruction of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. - Psalm 19:7 HCSB

We have all been had by unreliable people. We’ve all known people who said they would be somewhere at a certain time or do something for you and did not fulfill their promise. Concerning these kind of people the Bible says, “A man giving false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow. Trusting an unreliable person in a time of trouble is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.”[1]…  ( Click for more )

The completeness or sufficiency of the Scriptures

It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat. The instruction of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. - Psalm 19:6-7 HCSB

Long ago, our ancestor Adam was warned, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die."[1] Adam and Eve did not fully trust the Lord’s instructions and as a result, their spirits…  ( Click for more )

The completeness or sufficiency of the Scriptures

It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat. The instruction of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. - Psalm 19:6-7 HCSB

God’s instructions are perfect in the sense that they are the perfect theory of human good. They are “tamim,”[1] meaning complete, whole, entire, sound, healthful, unimpaired, innocent or possessing integrity.

They are perfectly designed to bring…  ( Click for more )

The completeness or sufficiency of the Scriptures

It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat. The instruction of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. - Psalm 19:6-7 HCSB

The first six verses of this Psalm teach the reader about God’s general revelation. The writer demonstrates that it is possible to know of God’s existence simply by observing the heavens. This is a gift given to all of mankind. “Their message has gone…  ( Click for more )

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not follow your example. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have." When they said, "Give us a king to judge us," Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the LORD. But the LORD told him, "Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king. - 1 Samuel 8:4-7 HCSB

When Israel was in the wilderness of Kedemoth,…  ( Click for more )

For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified to your faithfulness to the truth--how you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - 3 John 1:3-4 HCSB

It should come as no surprise that the Bible has much to say on the subject of faithfulness, seeing that God is Yahweh Aman (Faithful God). When we hear the word “faithful”, we humans tend to jump to the context of sexual fidelity. In fact, there is some Scriptural basis for this, for Quoheleth taught in Proverbs, “Take pleasure…  ( Click for more )

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations. - Psalm 100:4-5 HCSB

Human ideas of faithfulness are so inadequate! Supermarket tabloids celebrated Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley’s first anniversary by touting “And they said it wouldn’t last!” Very soon afterwards the marriage failed. The problem is not so much that their marriage ended quickly. Divorce is so rampant today that no one is even…  ( Click for more )

or “The Insufficiency of Science”

I applied my mind to seek and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. I said to myself, "Look, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge." I applied my mind to…  ( Click for more )

Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. - Proverbs 31:8 HCSB

It amazes me that this would even be in question. Just a few chapters before this one in Proverbs, Hashem warned, “If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited. Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter. If you say, "But we didn't know about this," won't He who weighs hearts consider it? Won't He who protects your life know? Won't He repay a person according to his work?”[1]

There was…  ( Click for more )

See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated "God is with us." When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord's angel had commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus. - Matthew 1:23-25 HCSB

It is an unfortunate truth that most abortionists no longer contest the issue of life beginning at conception. I say unfortunate because in the process of hardening their hearts, they have gone a step further in their depravity. They…  ( Click for more )

"When men get in a fight, and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely, but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman's husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound. - Exodus 21:22-25 HCSB

There are several biblical passages that treat the issue of the destruction of unborn children.[1] None of them are favorable to the destroyers.…  ( Click for more )

The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone- it will come back on him. - Proverbs 26:27 HCSB

Do you remember the Bugs Bunny Road Runner Show? I used to love watching the coyote trying to catch the road runner. “Wile E. Coyote – Genius” it said on his business card. He would buy a catapult from the ACME company and try to launch a big rock. The only problem was that the rock went straight up and landed on him. He tried to move farther away but the platform flipped instead of the arm and landed on him. It seemed that no matter what…  ( Click for more )

But set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. - 1 Peter 3:15 HCSB

You often hear people assert that religion (Christianity in particular) has been an obstacle in the way of science’s progress. Sometimes, they will even view Christianity as a formidable enemy. In many works of fiction, the noble scientist has to work around the rabid, sweaty Christian evangelist who is trying to stop legitimate research out of paranoia, or simple greed for power. Like all…  ( Click for more )

I will honor only those who honor me, and I will despise those who despise me. I will put an end to your family, so it will no longer serve as my priests. – 1 Samuel 2:30b-31a

Eli was a good man with bad sons, a frequent phenomenon in the Bible. Eli’s two sons were supposed to assist him at the temple, but they began to take for themselves meat that was supposed to be sacrificed to God. As if that was not enough, they took the meat by force and they also slept with women who came to worship at the temple! Eli tried halfheartedly to rebuke them but was too weak…  ( Click for more )

"When men get in a fight, and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely, but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman's husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound. - Exodus 21:22-25 HCSB

Anencephaly (pronounced an-en-sef-ul-ee) is a birth defect in which the baby is missing a large portion of the brain as well as skull and scalp.…  ( Click for more )

He (Herod) had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him, and having won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king's bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king's country. So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. The populace began to shout, "It's the voice of a god and not of a man!" At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms…  ( Click for more )

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, and even his own life--he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:26-27 HCSB

There once was Christian woman who faithfully attended Church and Bible studies. Her husband actively led several church ministries. However, one day her husband presented her with a dilemma. She discovered that he had had an internet relationship for months with a single woman who had four kids.

When confronted…  ( Click for more )

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. He said: LORD God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping the gracious covenant with Your servants who walk before You with their whole heart. - 1 Kings 8:22-23 HCSB

From time to time, people ask me what it means to serve God with their whole heart. Every godly person wants the intimacy that comes from d’vekut[1] but it is unfortunately difficult for sinful humans to achieve – even for…  ( Click for more )

Reconsider; don't be unjust. Reconsider; my righteousness is still the issue. Am I lying, or can I not recognize lies? - Job 6:29-30 HCSB

When seeking to understand a passage, it is important (among other things) to know who is speaking to whom. In this case, Job[1] is answering someone. Job was a man who held the position of elder. If we consider the New Covenant characteristics of an elder[2] and compare them to Job’s life, we quickly determine that the man was supremely qualified![3]

Because the person Job was answering was long-winded, we must turn back several…  ( Click for more )

When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him? - Psalm 8:3-4 HCSB

When reading this psalm, I usually focus on the humility that comes from observing the vastness of space but what struck me today was the association of the placement of the heavenly bodies with Yahweh’s protection. The Lord our God provided the heavenly bodies for the benefit of all people everywhere.[1]

The earth is vulnerable to asteroids and comet heads. These arrive…  ( Click for more )

"You must not steal. You must not act deceptively or lie to one another.” - Leviticus 19:11 HCSB

We must be very careful to not allow ourselves to be overly simplistic in our approach to moral dilemmas. For instance, in advocating honesty, Immanuel Kant went so far as to say that if a murderer were to ask where his potential victim was, an honest person would be obligated to tell him![1]

Augustine also said, “…a lie may never be told for the preservation of the temporal life of another.”[2] Respectfully, Kant and Augustine are dead wrong…  ( Click for more )

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. – Isaiah 6:1-3 HCSB

When God sits securely on his rightful throne in our hearts, his robe will fill the temple of our bodies.[1] Angels will stand around us, guarding us[2] and bringing us Hashem’s answers to our…  ( Click for more )

Some, to be sure, preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will. These do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause me trouble in my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice - Philippians 1:15-18 HCSB

[1] A wicked man once tried to disgrace a tzaddik by making it look like the elder had fallen into sin.[2] The righteous man…  ( Click for more )