The Reality of Our Present World

The answer to this question depends on what the ends or goals are and what means are being used to achieve them. If the goals are good and noble, and the means we use to achieve them are also good and noble, then yes, the ends do justify the means. But that’s not what most people mean when they use the expression. Most use it as an excuse to achieve their goals through any means necessary, no matter how immoral, illegal, or unpleasant the means may be. What the…

No matter what our position in life may be, we all at times encounter disappointment—and that can quickly lead to discouragement. Disappointment is simply an emotional response to a failed expectation or hope, whether because plans went awry or someone didn’t measure up.  But discouragement is a state of mind in which we become faint-hearted and lose confidence in God, ourselves, or others. When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, its inhabitants were discouraged&mdash…

R.T. Kendall writes, “For Joseph, vindication on the spot might have done something for him in that moment; but it wouldn’t have done anything for the kingdom of God. When we are mistreated in any way, we must realize that our suffering has profound and vast implications for the greater kingdom of God. There are unseen reasons for continued suffering. Who knows what God will do with your life if you take mistreatment with dignity?” I had a recent…

The battleground over racisms' ugly tentacles is continuing to dominate the political and social landscapes. With a backdrop of rioting and looting by anarchists and agitators that are simply opportunists, there lies the reality of a world at war. Spiritual war. A battle for the heart of man that Satan has whipped into a desperate frenzy in these last days. The voices are many and the messages predictable. It truly is a heart issue. Racism has been in existence since…

I fell down the basement steps a couple of days ago. In a rush to get the laundry out of the dryer, in my stocking feet, I turned the corner heading downstairs  -  It was like a sheet of ice when I jogged onto the first step of the polyurethaned hardwood. Both feet shot into the air and my elbow hit the second step as I grabbed for the handrail. Imagine me bouncing on that elbow and my right foot before I got hold of the rail with my left hand 7 steps down. Badly…

The Jesus movement was an evangelical Christian movement beginning on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s and spreading primarily throughout North America, Europe, and Central America. Members of the movement were called Jesus people or Jesus freaks. Some of the fastest-growing US denominations of the late 20th century, such as Calvary Chapel, Hope Chapel Churches, and the Vineyard Churches,…

Now five months into the worst pandemic we’ve seen in a hundred years - add a couple of months of daily protest with a few riots thrown in - many of us are asking “what happened to the good ‘ole days?” We remember when the biggest issue to deal with when we got up was what color socks to put on - or what was for dinner? Oh, how we long for better days, just like olden times. But wait……………. Is that really the truth?…

The last few days have felt a bit chaotic. Not just because the world is facing uncertainty around a global pandemic - more because I’m watching people I care about struggle at levels rarely seen in my lifetime. Relationships are strained, bills aren’t getting paid, people are hungry, peace is being hijacked, the political climate is worse than ever, and then there’s the spiritual warfare being waged at seemingly unprecedented levels. Another overused,…

How do you react when you see people being hostile toward Christian beliefs? Do you let your anger simmer, get into an argument on Facebook, or just keep quiet? It’s difficult to know how to respond to those who show antagonism to our faith, but Peter gives us good advice in this passage. I Peter 3: 13-18 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR…