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The Lord of Hosts says this: “These people say: ‘The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.’” The word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: "Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?" – Haggai 1:2-4 HCSB

In a little town called Cawker City in the state of Kansas lies a monstrous ball of twine that would make any kitten die in paroxysms of pleasure. It weighs 17,980 pounds. That’s almost 9 tons! It has a 40 foot circumference, and is composed of over…  ( Click for more )

"Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him." Jesus replied, "I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "But how can anyone be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked Him. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?" Jesus answered, "I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. – John 3:2b-4 HCSB

“How can anyone be born when he is old?”…  ( Click for more )

El – mighty, strong or prominent One

Finally, the day came when the El said to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I consider you alone to be righteous.” – Genesis 7:1

Genesis 6:9 tells us that “Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with him.” I used to think of what an honor it would have been for Noah to have been judged by God Almighty to be the most righteous man of his…  ( Click for more )

In the course of time Cain presented some of the land's produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented [an offering]-some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you furious? And why are you downcast? If you do right, won't you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it." Cain said to his brother Abel,…  ( Click for more )

Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." Become right-minded and stop sinning, because some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame. – 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 HCSB

If we want to become more like the Master, we need to find others who share a similar ambition and work out spiritually together.

Cultivate relationships with good and wise people. Try to determine what it is about them that makes them spiritually attractive. Analyze their behavior, both the good and the bad. Compare or contrast their habits to the Scriptures…  ( Click for more )

Catch the foxes for us -the little foxes that ruin the vineyards-for our vineyards are in bloom. – Song of Songs 2:15 HCSB

Every once in a while we all get the urge to make a lifestyle change. Perhaps we want to lose weight; perhaps we want to eat better or get more exercise. Unfortunately, most people will go for the gusto and make huge, sweeping changes that they cannot sustain.

They will try to go from burger chomping, milkshake guzzling, greasy pizza, finger-licking couch potatoes to vegetarian Olympic athletes in a single bound. After a couple weeks (or days) of…  ( Click for more )

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form. –Colossians 2:9

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, a young man stood at the rich man’s door with a large package in his hands. He said, “I am the…  ( Click for more )

Therefore just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen. – Matthew 13:40-43 HCSB

It was late at night, early morning actually, when the police car’s lights began flashing. After…  ( Click for more )

"’A son honors [his] father and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is [your] fear of Me?’ says the Lord of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name."

Yet you ask: "How have we despised Your name?"

"By presenting defiled food on My altar."

You ask: "How have we defiled You?"

“When you say: ‘The Lord's table is contemptible.’ When you present a blind [animal] for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick [animal], is…  ( Click for more )

Isn't the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and to not ignore your own flesh and blood? Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. - Isaiah 58:6-8a

Recently a young man, bound in chains of sin and blinded by bitter lonely tears, opened fire and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech. While the VT incident was tragic…  ( Click for more )

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and provided redemption for His people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old: salvation from our enemies and from the clutches of those who hate us. – Luke 1:68-71 HCSB

Many people will make promises to us. In fact, there’s an organization of men who actually call themselves the “Promise Keepers” but who are just as liable to sin as the rest of us.

There is One who has a tremendous track…  ( Click for more )

He was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly His mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to Him. And someone told Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You." But He replied to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother." – Matthew 12:46-50 HCSB

“I intended…  ( Click for more )

Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. – Galatians 6:7-10 HCSB

This year, I am ramping up my gardening efforts. I expanded our family’s garden to include…  ( Click for more )

And they brought the donkey to Jesus and threw their robes on it, and He sat on it. Many people spread their robes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. Then those who went before and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven! – Mark 11:7-10[2] HCSB

There was something ambivalent about this exciting day described in the above verses. If you know the rest of the story, you’re aware that the rest of the…  ( Click for more )

In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. – Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 HCSB

In order to introduce Himself to Humanity, God first chose to use creation itself.[1] Then He implanted knowledge of Himself and of right and wrong deep within our consciences.[2] Then He used various humans to give us a direct revelation of His wishes.[3] Finally, as if all this were not enough, He came to Earth Himself…  ( Click for more )

Is the law therefore contrary to God's promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin's power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all…  ( Click for more )

For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person--though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. – Romans 5:6-9 HCSB

A desperately ill woman sat in a famous doctor’s office. She was blonde and blue-eyed, a true descendent of her Mayflower ancestors. Her beauty remained,…  ( Click for more )

Don't all of us have one Father? Didn't one God create us? Why then do we act treacherously against one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? – Malachi 2:10 HCSB

A righteous man had many children. He loved each for their unique approach to life. One child was quiet and reserved. The next was outgoing and brash. One floated through life blissfully unaware of nearly anything going on, while another was intellectually and emotionally involved in everything. Each was beautiful; each was wonderful.

The man and his wife taught the children to express their love.…  ( Click for more )

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sights of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment. – Ecclesiastes 11:9 HCSB

A little boy dreamed of flying. He ran around the yard with a balsa wood model plane held high above his head as he imitated the sounds of the propellers. As he grew up, he worked for hours building model planes with pre-cast plastic pieces and modeling glue, carefully painting them with various logos. At first the colors…  ( Click for more )

Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. – Galatians 6:7-10 HCSB

Good people do not become so by accident. They do not become good while waiting around for the right…  ( Click for more )

Whatever your hands find to do, do with [all] your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. – Ecclesiastes 9:10 HCSB

It’s amazing how rapidly details can catch up with you. Benjamin Franklin wrote a ditty in his Poor Richard's Almanack that went:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost, For want of a shoe the horse was lost, For want of a horse the rider was lost For want of a rider the battle was lost For want of a battle the kingdom was lost And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

Everything we…  ( Click for more )

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you…This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:7,12-13 HCSB

Many of us would like to become known as tzaddikim: righteous, holy people who are known for their intimate relationship with God and their desire to see their fellow humans united with Elohim. Part of the tzaddikim lifestyle is characterized by the ability to pray powerfully. That is why…  ( Click for more )

As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him. While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when He heard this, He said, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come…  ( Click for more )

"You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 HCSB

Humility is a good thing. We should take care to not practice our righteousness in front of people, to be seen by them. If we do, we will have no reward from our Father in heaven. We should not have trumpets blast…  ( Click for more )