Congratulations to the 2017 graduating class!  How exciting!  A brand new chapter in life lies ahead - yet to be written on!   The lyrics to a favorite  children’s song ‘I am a promise’ come to mind - “I am a promise, I am a possibility.  I am a promise with a capital “P”  I am a...

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, originated in remembrance of those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country - their life.  They are honored and remembered partly via decorating their graves.  In our day this tradition has extended to all those who have died.   Each year, this day is set aside not only to remember and honor those who have died, but also to remember that our freedom has come with a great price.  These men and women exhibited not only honor for their country, but also duty.  I believe honor and duty go together.   Can we truly show honor without...

Are you quick to criticize and judge others?  Do you tend to make quick judgments on people based upon what you see, or think you see, or know of individuals?  You have heard the saying, “you can’t judge a book by its over.”   The truth is, we are known by the fruit we bear in our lives, but at the same time we are not to judge.  Jesus instead would have us to see others thru the lens of God’s “Grace!”   In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said,...

As we take time to recognize, honor and say “THANK YOU”  to our Mother’s, let us  also remember that this day is not meant to exclude or distance anyone, but to recognize the importance of relationships!  From the very beginning of relationships, from the book of beginnings, (Genesis) God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to  Our likeness…so God created man in his own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them….And the LORD God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (cf. Genesis 1:26-2:24)   Women are critical to the health and future of our families, our culture and God’s church.  Without women mankind would...

Jesus said, “…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (cf. Matthew 16: 18)   Rise up, O church of God - its time to storm the gates of hell and fight (spiritually speaking). Its time to awaken church - time is short.  The apostle Paul reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (cf. Ephesians 6: 12)

Our spiritual weapons are prayer and the Word of God!  The times are...

After 70 long years the people of God were released from the Babylonian captivity, now they wanted to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple (their place of worship) which was destroyed, but they were met with opposition.  Ezra writes, “Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah.  They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose…” (cf. Ezra 4: 4-5)   They had laid the foundation of the house of the LORD, to only be met with resistance and opposition.  They could have said, “enough is enough” and “threw....

“Divinely built, divinely ruled, to God she doth submit; His will her law, His Truth her guide, Her path is glory lit.  O church of God!  I love thy courts, thou mother of the free; thou blessed home of all the saved, I dwell content in thee.” - Charles W. Naylor, O church of God

I still love the old hymns - there is such rich doctrine in them.  Doctrine (or teaching of a set of beliefs) is important.  The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 2: 16 that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”   Truth does matter.  But we need to be careful not to be dogmatic and act as if....

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He ROSE AGAIN the third day according to the Scriptures.” - The Word of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4)

What does the resurrection of Christ mean to you personally?  How has it impacted your life?  Do you think and live differently in light of this fact?

Are you teaching your children the real meaning of Easter?  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the reality and hope of our faith!  Without the resurrection we are dead in our sins!  The bible says, “if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!…if in this....

People can be fickle, even God’s people.  Fickle defined as, “changing frequently, especially as regards one’s loyalties, interests, or affection.”

One minute we are on fire for the Lord and His church, the next minute, not so much.  Maybe we get our feelings hurt, or have a disagreement on a certain matter, etc…. and so our affection wavers.   Sports heroes feel the effects of the fans fickleness.   Certainly our Presidents, past and present feel the fickleness of people.  There is one though that....

It has been said that, “If it wasn’t for people and things, life would be easy.”   Well, no doubt people (including myself) can be challenging sometimes, and things can get in the way.   But life is really all about people and relationships.  “God intended for us to love people and use things, not love things and use people.”   People are eternal, not things.   People were always...