After the Holiness Movements (Salvation Army, Nazarenes, Pentecostal Holiness, etc) had their effects on what they could impact, many believers thought their highest call was the work of exposure of sin. One famous TV preacher gets great cheers from his audience when he informs “Washington” of their evil habits from his pulpit. No one in Washington is listening, though. No […]
We have enemies who are devoted to robbing us of courage, truth and success. Identifying them and their habits and learning to discern their deception will greatly improve our likelihood of being effective in our attempts to hear and then obey our King. The resistance that is at work in us may be more powerful and more destructive than what […]
Allied forces invading occupied territories brought freedom in their wake. The occupying forces had brought bondage and death. It was easy to see the second invasion as a welcome army. An army unlocking the doors and gates of a prison camp would be welcomed with thankful tears. We are invaders of the kingdoms and prisons where even the rich and […]
Here are a few fresh proverbs: Peeves make terrible pets. They make too many messes and cost too much to feed. Stop beating yourself up over missed opportunities and mistakes. Several people are already lined up for the job, which means you are free to focus on more important and appropriate work. You’re already not using much of the brain […]
Most concepts that are related to moral ideas or philosophies or quality can be reduced to a proverb. Doing so can make the concept easier to reference or remember or teach. Rules work differently. They define or limit actions. They create liberty to do things in one situation and hinder liberties in another. It is usually a mistake to take […]
It seemed wise to let James, the brother of Jesus write today’s blog. He had something important to share: Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not […]
In Acts 27, the Spirit of God gave a ship captain and a soldier proper warning that going to sea at the moment was stepping into an enemy’s trap (vs 10 & 11). They valued the captain’s experience more than revelation, and proceeded to sail off. Soon, they were sailing way off. In spite of the fierceness of the storm, […]
When Yahweh encountered the people who were building a tower at Babel, He noticed immediately that they were looking for some alternative to His Kingdom in the earth. He is a King, from everlasting to everlasting, so that’s always what He is noticing. His response was engineered to empower them to obey His instructions to fill the earth. He divided […]
One day all of us will step off the map, into the not-yet-proven; beyond warranties and insurance and money-back guarantees. We will surrender to the quest for Jesus’ smile. We will stop caring what it costs and how long it takes and how annoyingly inconvenient it is to follow Him into each other’s lives. We will each lay down our […]
Every day I deal with someone and/or something that’s difficult. From small things like annoying drivers and stepping in puddles I didn’t know were that deep, to personal attacks, flat tires, or trees through the roof. My response to an event can empower it to bless me or curse me. Today’s problem may be what I think of on the […]