Finding a focus Once upon a time, two friends were building their houses on adjacent lots. One house made good progress, but the other seemed to struggle. Concerned for his friend, the man whose house was now getting its roof put on made a visit next door. When he asked how things were going, […]
Whose gift is it anyway? “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Though Herodotus wrote these familiar words some 2500 years ago, it wasn’t until 1912—when they were inscribed above the entrance to the New York City General Post Office—that […]
Unintelligent design? Is it possible to make life from scratch using just its raw materials? After all, living and non-living things are made from the same atoms and elements— they differ only in the quantities and arrangements of those atoms. A recent History Channel (THC) program called “How Life Began” leaves the impression that life […]
“… when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” In the early stages of church history, as recorded in the Acts, the ministry of the apostles was accredited by accompanying supernatural demonstrations of power—the dispensing of healing, speaking in tongues, etc.—as the Holy Spirit continued the work that the Lord Jesus had begun […]
Offense or defense? Matthew 16:18 is an interesting verse because most Roman Catholics misunderstand the first half of the verse and many Protestants misunderstand the second half of the verse. This verse tells us, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the […]
What does perfection look like? In Mark 7:37, the multitude praised the Lord Jesus with these words: “He hath done all things well,” and they were right. But I wonder if we spend much time thinking about what those words mean. Our Lord never did anything half-heartedly or second rate. He is the master worker, […]
What are spiritual gifts? They are not: • natural talents • secular skills • evidences of spirituality but they are: • the God-given ability to serve Him in a particular way – Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12 • manifestations of Christ’s character • the permanent gifts all reflect various aspects of the normal Christian life […]
In every other area of life, most people think it is advisable to have a plan: plan your work and then work your plan, they say. Homemakers should plan their grocery shopping with a list and not buy on impulse. Business people live or die by their planning. The wise man said, “The plans of […]
Millennial manifestation It is sometimes surmised that the millennium is one of those prophetic details which, although intriguing, has no significant relevance to the real business of day-to-day Christian living. But, when viewed properly, prophecy is vital to proper Christian living, for “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). A proper […]