“The Shack” The Movie
With the movie version of "The Shack" about to come about and no doubt a fresh wave of adulation ready to sweep through the undiscerning Church, it's a good time to remind you of what is dangerous and unScriptural about it. Here are some excerpts from other writers,...
Adultery, Fornication, Pornography: IMMORALITY IS ALWAYS S-T-U-P-I-D
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; Recently I was asked (for the gagillionth time) what the Bible says about divorce. Predictably, that led to many questions about morality...
The best part of waking up, is Bible in your cup; mind over mattress; no Bible, no breakfast; the early bird gets the blessing.
Psalm 143:8 (ESV) Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Clichés don’t make a spiritual life but they can be good reminders about what is important. While it is certainly...
Sometimes we need a clean slate, a fresh start, a new beginning. God can clean your heart & give a right spirit if you ask.
Psalm 51:10 (NKJV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. One of the blessings of the living the Christian life is the “do over”. God is the GOD of the “do over”. And thank God He is! It is one of the amazing privileges of being a...
Social media brings many friends but is that good? Can you really have hundreds or thousands of friends? What’s a real friend?
Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV) A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. There are some things about social media I really love. It’s put me in touch with old friends. I’ve been able to keep up with distant family....
Considering Divorce?
Malachi 2:16 – “For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce…” I get a lot of emails and questions. Frequently it is about marriage and divorce. I thought I would revisit the topic today since it remains prevalent even in Christian homes. If you know someone...
A Common Response: I Don’t Believe God Exists Because of All the Evil We See Around Us, A Loving God Would Not Allow This
Romans 1:18-20 The anger of God is against all the evil deeds of men who in their wickedness bury and silence the truth about God. That Truth has been made evident to all people ever since the creation of the world; the complexity, design, magnitude and order of...
Sin always leads to death; sometimes its SLOW coming, but it always comes. There is only way one to have victory over it…
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (NKJV) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Sin in your life has one outcome: death. Death of happiness, death of a clear conscience,...
Share in the suffering of the Gospel? Really? Isn’t that pretty much opposite of preaching we hear today about the good life?
2 Timothy 1:8 (NKJV) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, There is a real disconnect between Scripture and what you see on the Top Ten...
People don’t keep promises anymore. God keeps His for one thousand generations. I think I’ll put my trust in Him instead of man.
Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV) “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; Whether politics, academics, sports or business, it seems like broken...
Peace… everyone is searching for it but there is only one TRUE source of lasting peace for troubled and fearful hearts.
John 14:27 (NKJV) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. The world is a scary place. Life can be very troubling. Dealing with this sin-cursed world and flesh is...
Overcome, overcome, overcome… a single word that can define the daily Christian life. Overcome the world, your flesh, evil.
Romans 12:21 (NKJV) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. The world is evil and getting worse. It’s open season on Christians. Just today I read that ISIS is raping, torturing and chopping up Christian girls, taking videos of it, and then sending...
No matter what happens, what tragedy, what calamity, what valley, the righteous always have a place of refuge. The wicked do not.
Proverbs 14:32 (NKJV) The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death. The wicked never escape their wickedness. No matter how much it seems they get ahead, have fun, skirt the rules, get away with things or profit from their sin,...
Need some marching orders? Need things simple? Watch… stand fast… be faithful, be brave, be strong. Any questions?
1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV) Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. I often get questions or hear Christians talk about how hard it is to figure out how to live the Christian life. Truth is, it’s not hard to KNOW, it’s hard to DO. Today’s verse, in typical...
Many people get the best of others simply because it is within their power to do so. Taking advantage of someone weaker is wrong.
Proverbs 22:22 (NKJV) Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; Whether an individual, a business, a culture or a government, exploiting the weak, poor and sick is despicable. And yet, the frequency and severity of it is growing....
Discernment: Knowing Essentials from Non-Essentials… Unity vs. Liberty… Love in All Things
I have been teaching for many weeks on Wednesday night about discernment, and now focusing on knowing essentials vs non-essentials. Thought you might find this graphic I just created useful in your own teaching or personal study. Makes for a very practical and...
Loved any enemies today? Prayed for anyone who has persecuted you? Yesterday? This year? Ever? How come? Don’t have any enemies?
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV) But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, This is one of the hardest commands to follow for Christians. It’s easy to nod your head in...
Life & light… The hope & joy that comes with feeling alive and on the right path. You can find true life and light in one place.
John 1:4 (NKJV) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. Light and life. Just the phrase stirs up feelings of growth, joy, hope, happiness and energy. Jesus is all those things and infinitely more. He is the light of hope in a dark and dreadful world. He...
Lack self-control? All of us do to some degree. A lack of self-control is like an unguarded home. Self-control protects us from sin.
Proverbs 25:28 (NKJV) Whoever has no rule over his own spirit, Is like a city broken down, without walls. “Rule over his own spirit…” Translated: self-control. “A city broken down with no walls…” that’s a description not very familiar to us today but is perfectly...
These are Jesus’ own words, so call Him intolerant and judgmental if you want. Hear ME, believe in ME, I AM the Only Way.
John 5:24 (NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. We live in a “tolerant” culture that is anything but tolerant. “Tolerance”...
Jesus made Himself NOTHING for us; how hard is it for you to make yourself NOTHING for other people in order to serve them?
Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of...
It’s nice to be on God’s side. No matter what we face, no matter the odds, we know that God fights for us and we must not fear.
Deuteronomy 3:22 (NKJV) You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you.’ In the past year more and more people tell me how fed up, mad, discouraged and ashamed they are of what is happening in America. Many of them just want to “check out” and...
Isn’t it amazing, & sad, that our Creator sent LIGHT into our world, and still most of the world chooses pitch black hopelessness.
John 3:19 (NKJV) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. The world is dark. Darker in some places, getting darker in even more. What is darkness? Evil, wickedness,...
Is your life dark today? Shine the True Light on it…
John 1:5 (NKJV) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Life can be dark often, and in many ways. Personal circumstances can range from difficult to tragic. The economy can be a big concern. Relationships can be in turmoil....
In Western culture it is very hard to even understand this command much less live it. We pass over it easily & pretend to comply…
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Be content. What’s that you say… you don’t need a newer, nicer car? You don’t need a bigger house?...
In principle, some people are chased by misfortune even if they have temporary success; prosperity pursues the righteous.
Proverbs 13:21 (NKJV) Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid. NOTE: Every time I write something about a common cultural issue, someone thinks I’m writing this about THEM. This came up in Bible study last week. I NEVER write things pointed...
In a world increasingly hostile to the pure & exclusive Truth of the Gospel, you can rest assured God’s grace continues to spread.
Colossians 1:6 (NKJV) which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; Christianity takes a beating physically and verbally every day. Open season....
If you love Jesus, obey Him, period. Obedience is the single highest authentic indicator of true saving faith.
John 14:23 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. The Christian life as presented today is mostly “what God can do for YOU!” complete with...
I love life and want to see good days. How about you? Is there a way to do that? The Bible says there is…
1 Peter 3:10-11 (NKJV) For “He who would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. Life coaches, personal growth gurus, success...
I hear from people every day in awful and heartbreaking circumstances. We have a God who can restore our joy and uphold us.
Psalm 51:12 (NKJV) Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Life can rob you of your joy. I’m not talking about momentary circumstantial happiness. I mean your JOY, and any good feeling about being alive. Divorce, job loss,...
Humility, gentleness, patience, love; these are the traits of those walking worthy of the Christian faith. Are you walking worthy?
Ephesians 4:1 (NKJV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, Humility: a modest and realistic opinion of one’s true status… not the ego-centric, me-focused, self-esteem nonsense that is so common...
How have you treated your enemies lately? Fed them? Drinks? Heaped any burning coals on their head? No not the revenge kind…
Proverbs 25:21 (NKJV) If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; Even Hitler treated the people he liked well… as long as he liked them. Being kind to those you feel favorable towards is not a test of character....
How do you view the truly poor? Not the “welfare-I-don’t-want-to-work” poor, but the genuinely poor? It matters what you think.
Proverbs 17:5 (NKJV) He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. A lot of people are skeptical about the “poor” today (in Western culture) and for good reason. Our culture has created an entire class of “poor” that...
How do you use your gifts? Graciously and freely? Or grumbling the whole time? We should use our gifts to serve others.
1 Peter 4:9 (NKJV) Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. We are too busy. Me too. It can take the joy out of being hospitable. Just the thought of cramming in another dinner, or inviting someone over may be a source of even more stress for a lot of people....
How do you live a pure life? Obedience. Obedience is the key to many things like assurance and growth. Simple but powerful.
1 Peter 1:22 (NKJV) Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, How do you live a pure life? Obey. How do you live a holy life? Obey. How do you live a...
How about some mercy, peace and love? How about some in abundance? Yeah, me too. Only God offers it, but on His terms.
Jude 1:2 (NKJV) Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. There are all sorts of things multiplying today that we could do without. Immorality, violence, cheats, thieves, corruption, heartache, sickness… seems like there is multiplied bad news, bad times and bad...
Have you reasoned with anyone lately? How about reasoned concerning salvation? Did you tell them their sins are like scarlet?
Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV) “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. We live in an unreasonable time. With the out-of-control growth of...
Have you prepared your mind today? Have you set your hope? Do you long for fully revealed grace? Are you self-controlled?
1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV) Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; “Gird up the loins of your mind…” I dare you to run around today saying that to everyone...
Have you ever done any PURE and FAULTLESS Christianity? Do you know what it is? If not, you should give it try.
James 1:27 (NKJV) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. One of the greatest joys I have is to give to an orphanage and to help local widows. Why?...
God will supply every need you have ACCORDING TO HIS riches in Christ, and that’s the trick: our needs according to Christ.
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Too often that verse is used as some sort of “God is a genie in a bottle” spiritual trick verse to teach people the Lord will supply you with all your...
God is working in you but we fight Him a lot by trying to work our own thing.
Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. What a war we fight inside. As Christians, God lives in us but our old sin-cursed flesh fights Him tooth and nail for control. If we would simply to submit to Him in...
God is never slow about keeping promises; not by HIS definition of slow. By our definition? Sometimes, yes. I’ll stick with God’s version.
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. God keeps His promises. On His timetable. Sometimes we mistake His...
God is compassionate above all; He responds when we sincerely cry out for help. He does not delay. When He hears, He answers.
Isaiah 30:19 (NKJV) For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you. Unlike flawed humans who sometimes don’t hear us, can’t hear us or purposely...
God has a special compassion for the broken-hearted and crushed; if you find yourself at the bottom today, the Lord is near.
Psalm 34:18 (NKJV) The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. It was providential that this verse was next on my list today. I experienced a great example of this verse just this week. I spoke with a family who had...
Go outside. Look up. When’s the last time you scanned the sky hoping to see Jesus on the horizon coming back for you?
1Thessalonians 4:16-18 (ESV) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up...
Go outside. Look up. Look down. Look around. Do you see the work of God’s hand proclaimed? No? Maybe you need some spiritual eye surgery.
Psalm 19:1 (NKJV) The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Not long ago I was sent a video. In this video was a crowd, clapping and amazed. On the stage was a row of top designers, engineers, programmers and scientists. They had...
Feel alone? How? God watches over you when you come, when you go, when you stay, and when you leave; He watches always and forever.
Psalm 121:7 (NKJV) The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. Many people feel all alone. In the midst of co-workers, family events, even big churches… they feel alone. Sometimes it is self-imposed because they make no effort to reach out...
Everyone is looking for the fountain of youth but it can only be found in one place, or more accurately, in one Person.
John 11:25 (NKJV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. In the movie “Braveheart”, William Wallace says “Every man dies. Not every man really lives.” Sounds good but it’s not Biblical. First,...
Everyone is looking for gains… gains in the stock market, gains in their career, and gains in lifestyle. Want some real gains?
1 Timothy 6:6 (NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. God promises “great gain” if we are Godly and content. Simple formula, difficult to achieve… not because God made it hard but because we are a very discontent and ungodly people. GODLINESS: submitting...
Commands are a good thing; a light to show you the best way to live. They are light that dispels darkness.
Proverbs 6:23 (NKJV) For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, As humans we naturally look in all sorts of places to “find out what to do and how to live”. It’s natural and good to want direction, guidance,...