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"I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. "I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son to have life in Himself. And He has granted Him the right to pass judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and…  ( Click for more )

Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. And He was openly talking about this. So Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan, because you're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's!" – Mark 8:31-33 HCSB

In our war on the yetzer hara, the negative impulse, which most Christians identify as the sin nature, we usually focus…  ( Click for more )

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I persecuted God's church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who from my mother's womb set me apart and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone…I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches in Christ; they simply kept hearing: "He who formerly…  ( Click for more )

Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, so understand that those who have faith are Abraham's sons. Now the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed in you. So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith. - Galatians 3:6-9 HCSB

There are many things that I cannot be. I cannot be a kohen (a Levitical priest) because that singular privilege is reserved for those who are descendents of Levi. I may be a priest[1], but not a Levite.…  ( Click for more )

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. - James 1:22-25

Each generation has had its parenting advisors. We’ve had Dr. Spock,…  ( Click for more )

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. - James 5:16

No man is an island unto himself. We are more like an archipelago – a chain of islands with interrelated ecologies. Everything you do affects others around you. Why not use this “ripple effect” to benefit those around you? Do not consider yourself separate. Do not pray only for yourself. Notice that in Christ’s example of prayer, He began by praying for the advancement…  ( Click for more )

His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him…He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever. – Luke 1:50,54-55 HCSB

A rich man had a son who was the apple of his eye and was a good, obedient child. Because the rich man had a lot of love to share, he adopted two daughters as well.

The first adopted daughter, in spite of the father’s best efforts, became rebellious. She forgot her humble beginnings. She forgot how terrible her circumstances were before…  ( Click for more )

Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive. – Colossians 3:12-13 HCSB

A righteous young man was studying diligently at a Bible school. His mentor was very pleased with this student because he seemed to bring a passion for Yah in all he did. With time, however, the mentor noticed that his prize pupil was sometimes late for chapel. Sometimes, he didn’t…  ( Click for more )

Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain? The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart - who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor, who despises the one rejected by the Lord, but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost, who does not lend his money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent - the one who does these things will never be moved. – Psalm 15 HCSB

Once I adopted my children, they were mine, all mine.…  ( Click for more )

I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. Yet you do have this: you hate the practices of…  ( Click for more )

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples: "The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do and observe whatever they tell you. But don't do what they do, because they don't do what they say. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people's shoulders, but they themselves aren't willing to lift a finger to move them. They do everything to be observed by others… - Matthew 23:1-5a HCSB

Like the grand gurus of fashion in Paris, the titans of industry also periodically get caught up in a craze. Some new management…  ( Click for more )

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides Me. – Exodus 20:1-3 HCSB

Elohim did a phenomenal job liberating His people out of slavery and bringing them to a place of safety. They had witnessed miracles and were at this time faced with God’s awesome power. They saw smoke and lightning; heard thunder and trumpets and could feel the mountain thrumming with the very presence of God beneath their feet. Naturally, they trembled and were afraid to approach this…  ( Click for more )

Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth was completed, and she bore a son. Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zachariah, after his father. But his mother responded, "No! He will be called John." Then they said to her, "None of your relatives has that name." So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: And they were all amazed. Immediately…  ( Click for more )

Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them--this is the Law and the Prophets. – Matthew 7:12 HCSB

Sometimes in large companies, memos are passed around describing action that is being taken or rules that must be considered by various departments. Whether or not they are applicable, all departments receive these memos and so a note is usually attached that says “No action need be taken.”

God’s central demand on humanity (in regards to behavior) is to act ethically. There is a pernicious tendency to think that as long…  ( 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. The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd. But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. – Ecclesiastes 12:9-12 HCSB

There once was an intelligent, gifted young man who went to…  ( Click for more )

Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together to discuss the situation. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we leave him alone, the whole nation will follow him, and then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”…So from that time on the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. – John 11:47-48,53

A simple man, a porter, who was fairly ignorant of the Scriptures, was once seen clapping, dancing and celebrating the…  ( Click for more )

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers. Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity-every good path. – Proverbs 2:6-9 HCSB

Josef was the eldest of three sons of a wealthy industrialist. Josef was always a serious and obedient young man. He studied hard, made good grades and easily graduated from high school. He was never a problem kid. He didn’t…  ( Click for more )

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer. I also saw the HolyCity, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have…  ( Click for more )

When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. – Luke 2:39 HCSB

The village of Nazareth sat inside a bowl-shaped depression on the top of the “Nazareth Ridge” some thirteen hundred feet above sea level. It was off these cliffs that the villagers would later try to toss Jesus to His death.[1] It was somewhat isolated, being sixteen miles west of the Sea of Galilee and four miles southeast of the more cosmopolitan city of Sepphoris.

The Nazareth Ridge was a small chalk ridge with…  ( Click for more )

When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named JESUS--the name given by the angel before He was conceived. And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male will be called holy to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons). – Luke 2:21-24 HCSB

Wise men rarely claim to be wise. Knowledgeable teachers…  ( Click for more )

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. So Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit… When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did…  ( Click for more )

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation……  ( Click for more )

Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. – Exodus 20:12 HCSB

A long-standing legend has circulated among middle-eastern and western cultures since around the third century of a mystical Fountain of Youth. It probably originated in a collection of fables, poems and tall tales called the Alexander Romance. In this fantastic work, Alexander the Great crossed the Land of Darkness and discovered this fabled spring. The tale was popular among the Spanish Moors and probably spawned Ponce de Leon’s…  ( Click for more )

Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will punish anyone who misuses His name. – Exodus 20:7 HCSB

I have discussed often in my writings the concept of Kiddush Hashem, or sanctifying God’s Name. I want you to now consider the ramifications of that concept regarding the third of the Ten Commandments.

Many English translations render it “do not take the name” or in the case of the HCSB “do not misuse the name” causing many to apply only the most superficial interpretation consisting of a prohibition on using God’s…  ( Click for more )