Discerning the Signs of Our Times
In mid-January of this year, I blogged about discerning the times and the seasons, and the futility of predicting Jesus’ return, as each prediction will prove empty. Even Jesus does not know when that return will occur, yet people try to predict/prophesy the exact date. We do know everything we need to know. Oddly enough,…
Read MoreWhen God Turns a Deaf Ear to Prayer
I recently overheard a conversation wherein two people were discussing prayer. One was a prayer advocate and the other more of a scoffer. The scoffer asked the advocate, “So, you really believe in the power of prayer, huh?” The advocate responded, “No, but I believe very much in the power of God to whom I…
Read MoreStand Firm to the End
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. – Matthew 7:15, NIV-1978 False Prophets Scripture provides clear direction for discerning between false prophets and true prophets of Yahweh. Chief among those tests is whether or not what the supposed prophets prophesied came to pass (Deuteronomy 18:22).…
Read MoreOur Unity is in Christ Alone
This past Sunday, the sermon delivered to my local church family was a strong message on the unity of believers, drawn from the opening verses of Ephesians four. Over and over, we see the apostle Paul addressing issues of division in the body of Christ, believer against believer. Jesus marched toward his death praying (literally)…
Read MoreDiscerning the Times and Seasons
“Do you think Jesus will come back during your lifetime?” It is a question I have heard extending back as far as I can remember. Others phrase it as a statement of conviction, of surety, “I know Jesus will come back during my lifetime!” I tend to smile and chuckle at the way so many…
Read MoreCourage in the Face of Power
There is some disagreement regarding the origin of the phrase “speak truth to power.” It is not clear whether the phrase originated with civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in the 1940s as a battle cry against black oppression, or if the phrase originated with the 18th century Quaker movement as a phrase that description of…
Read MoreThe Art of Snagging a Good Husband
“Why can’t I find a good man? It seems like all the good ones are already taken!” It was late summer, and extending into early fall. Alean and I were repainting the exterior of our house. One afternoon as I was high on a ladder, painting the soffits, a trio of women were relaxing in…
Read MoreWho Am I That Christ Should Love Me?
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” or so says Andy Williams in his 1963 hit from The Andy Williams Christmas Album. This year desperately needs a “wonderful time.” I have witnessed a broad spectrum of reactions to the holiday season in 2020. Some are working harder than usual to enjoy Christmas this year. Others…
Read MoreStaying Focused on God’s Calling and Purpose for You
There was a time when I habitually listened to ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning as I drove to work each day. On one of those morning commutes, I heard a rather humorous interview between Alabama head football coach, Nick Saban, and ESPN reporter Marty Smith. Saben related a story from an early-career recruiting trip he…
Read More