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There is a very interesting story in John 5:1-9. 1LATER ON there was a Jewish festival (feast) for which Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways). 3In these lay a great number of sick folk--some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up) waiting for the bubbling up of the water. 4For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up…

Several years ago I wrote several stories , one for each part of the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The story on goodness gave me pause. The idea of goodness is not foreign, but to define it was difficult for me. I’m talking about the biblical definition. If you recall, Jesus said, “There is only One good.” (Luke 18:19) What did He mean by that?

There are two Greek words for good. Agathos (ag-ath-os’), a primary word meaning intrinsic benefit or well; kalos (kal-os'),…

There is one reality none can deny or escape if they live long enough. Getting older. When I was growing up, getting old never crossed my mind. In fact, it never occurred to me until many years had come and gone. The reality for me now is the gone. Last time we showed the futility of life when it is lived just to have a good time without God. Those who refuse to respond to God's offer of eternal life for those who will not surrender their lives, and live His way. They just as well "live it up". At the end they may ask, "is that all there is"? Yes - that is…