“Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.” (Luke 4: 38-39). Who has ever prescribed a rebuke to relieve a fever? When you hear “faith and healing” do you think of charlatans and fakes who deceive people in order to get money? Have you dismissed all healing except by modern medical science? If so, are you taking…
Living Life On God's Terms
God’s Prophets
Many are named in the Bible. The greatest among men was John, the Baptist, perhaps because he best prepared the people for Yeshua’s appearance and was closest to Him. Anything which is more closely related to Yeshua is greater than other things, because Yeshua is supreme over all creation. (Col. 1: 18). You could invent the cure for cancer, a perpetual motion engine or wings that enabled men to fly like a bird, but these would be insignificant to the person of Yeshua Messiah. The prophets and patriarchs were given vision, faith, and insight to see the Messiah thousands of…
Intercession and Forgiveness
We have a great privilege to be intercessors for others. To Intercede means to make petition in behalf of another. We see the prophet Daniel making intercession in prayer, “While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill— while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.” (Daniel 9: 17-21). Daniel was confessing his sin and the sins of his…
A Future Without Condemnation
“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.” I John 3:20-21. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1. Faith in God assures a person’s salvation and not our own heart which can deceive us. As we move through life after becoming a Believer we have moments of failure and sin as we permit our fallen nature to overcome…
Perfect Infinite Love
We know love from our beginning as infants, without it we die. The Soviets discovered this when they withheld critically significant physical contact from babies in State orphanages. The babies were fed, kept clean and warm, but they were not held and cuddled in a mothers arms, so they died in mass. We grow in love as we age and experience the wide range of loves meaning. The Greeks defined love with three main words: Phileo – love of friends; Eros – physical love, and Agape – God’s unconditional love but there are more dimensions of love than three. How…
More of Yeshua
As much as we know of and about Yeshua’s life and message, Believers yearn to know more of Him. This is the power and mission of the Holy Spirit to reveal Yeshua in Spiritual dimensions. That’s what we have with our family and close friends, a spiritual connection across generations, forged from shared life experiences, challenges, emotional highs and lows, unity and commitment that transcends the senses and rational intelect, yet encompasses these also as a minor facet of relationship, yet unnecessary to the eternal enduring whole. Whether we accept it, He is the person who knows us best, completely,…
Love People More Than God?
“Love God, Love People More” is a new phrase popping up on T-shirts and bumper stickers everywhere. Emphasis is added on the word MORE as folks proudly boast this meaningful life lesson. Actually, their words are belittling to God and His Word. This phrase wreaks of humanism and self-righteousness. Once again, people think they can out-god God. Scripture is clear on this issue. The first four commandments instruct us how to honor our Holy Creator by loving and glorifying Him above anyone or anything. Exodus 20:2-7 states, “And God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out…
God’s Test and Ours
Steel is formulated from iron and carbon in a process with extreme heat to produce properties of hardness and strength. When it is tempered it will bend without breaking. It is tested to ensure that the process has achieved it’s purpose. We are God’s handiwork according to His design and Sovereign will. The processes used by God vary according to his purpose and our place in the Kingdom journey. “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had…
Complete Ruin Total Depravity
I had a conversation with my friend who was telling me about his neighbor that was caught up in the liberal socialism of today’s radical politicians and media. He expressed wonder at how this man could promote such radical impossible ideas. I listened, then suggested he ask his neighbor whether he considered himself to be a good person. My friend responded immediately, “I know already, he considers himself exceedingly good.” I believe such a belief is the gist of all deception and source of wrong rationalization. This is the state of mankind from our ancestors exit from Eden and it…
Stress of Distress
Stress is pressure, heavy concern, the weight of responsibility, duty or circumstances. As it builds there can be a corresponding breakdown reflected in a weak area of ourselves, body, soul, and spirit. When it hits our body we take specific notice. Scripture gives many illustrations, this one was appropriately met. “David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. (1…
People Who Love Yeshua
Mary, His mother, had a faith that was deep, such that, she said very little. Consider her at the wedding feast were she said to Yeshua, “They have no more wine.” To the servants she said, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2: 3, 5). John, the Baptist, was Yeshua’s relative, and His love is reflected in His affirmation of Messiah, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3: 11).…
Taking Thoughts Captive
“Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” II Corinthians 10:4-5. Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,…
Human Construction
We humans are made in the image of God, meaning we have an appearance of Him. The similarity may be in our triune existence of spirit, soul, and body, as God is Father, Son, and Spirit. I believe this is true and it separates us from the other creatures on the planet in so many aspects that anyone but a Scientist can easily understand. But are there other similarities and what of our distinctions. Of course, the distinctions are infinite, but the Bible says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human…
The Sovereignty of God
“It would be foolish for us to expect that this work will meet with general approval. The trend of modern theology – if theology it can be called – is ever toward the Deification of the creature rather than the glorification of the Creator, and the leaven of present-day Rationalism is rapidly permeating the whole of Christendom. The malevolent effects of Darwinianism are more far reaching than most are aware. Many of those among our religious leaders who are still regarded as orthodox would, we fear, be found to be very heterodox if they were weighed in the balance of…
Fatherhood
In the 1950’s there was a TV show entitled, “Father Knows Best”. It was about a family who’s children encountered various trials in their path toward adulthood and how this father was able to guide, advise, nurture, and/or assist his children on their journey. It is a show about family values from the perspective of a middle class American family. I’m surprised that it’s reruns are still shown and have a very respectable 7.5 rating on IMDB. Baby boomers still apparently appreciate this classic view of the family as it deals with relationships that were enshrined in the American middle…
Fatherhood Interview
The following is an interview of the editor on the subject of fatherhood.: Question: This is a topic contrary to political correctness, some might say that it is irrelevant in today’s society which champions all things feminine, single parenthood, gay parenting, and generally ignores the role of fathers. Yet, statistics stands out: – 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census), 5 times the average. – 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes, 32 times the average. – 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from…
Mind Your Own Business
I was an adolescent when I was listening to my Mother and Father commending a practice seen in our friend and pastor. They agreed that he never spoke about a third party and this way avoided gossip, inappropriate disclosure, and presumption. Somehow, hearing that conversation impacted me deeply, so I decided to implement this practice. I know I have had lapses, but I can remember checking myself on many occasions. Even if you complement a third party it serves no good purpose as they are not there to hear it. Of course there are rare exceptions to this rule, but…
Rescuing The Gospel
“Rescuing The Gospel” by Erwin Lutzer is a book about the Reformation. Lutzer was the senior pastor of Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years until retiring in 2016. The book focuses on Martin Luther who 500 years ago nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral in Germany which challenged the false doctrines of the Catholic Church. Luther, through a reading of the Scriptures which were only available in Latin in Germany and thus not available to the average person, came to believe that salvation was only obtained by faith in Christ through grace. This…
Disappointment
This is the most crushing weight of emotion, to be let down, frustrated from things that seem vital. It could be an appointment or a promise or an event associated with much preparation or anticipation. There is quite a lot of it about in life. Regarding property, we take measures to avoid it with warranties and insurance that have their appeal in countering disappointment. Some things are personal and depend on people. These can be highly invested and anticipated with our hopes, dreams, and desires, but there is no warranty for specific service, only remuneration which is rarely an adequate…
Branding
This is a hot topic in the business world where companies spend millions developing or buying a brand. Brand loyalty waxes and wains like the moon, but there still is a significant number of people who trust brands such that their loyalty generates sales. Even the most skeptical people can name a product brand in which they have great respect and confidence. The most thrifty and cheap shoppers may not purchase the branded product, but there are names they wish they could or occasionally do buy. It is this intangible customer loyalty and esteem that gives the brand value. Tylenol…
Press On
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14. This is a very encouraging passage for Christians. So often we are tempted to dwell on past failures and how we have…
The Story you Can’t Put Down
It starts with a hook that catches your attention and plants some interest. It’s a fast story that starts without any but the necessary elements, and the background is added along the way, unfolding like the scenery from a train window. Understanding of the characters is explained by their behavior and interactions more than directly, like a picture that reveals more than words can say. There are good and bad characters and the story is more than a narrative, it bursts, builds, blows down, backs up, and balloons to an unforeseen bewildering ending. All things makes sense, even with surprises,…
The Beauty of the Lord
Songs are sung about the beauty of those we love. It is natural and appropriate, but it is mysterious and not connected with the qualities of one’s appearance, such as the symmetry of their features, the coloring or quality of their skin, hair or eyes. Yes, these things do generally give a person appeal, particularly in photos where we note that he or she is photogenic. Down through history it can be seen that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as certain attributes considered beautiful in ages gone by no longer hold that same level of desire or…
Labor in the Lord
My daughter-in-laws father, who is now retired, was sharing about his work and the confrontations that were regularly a part of it. He recalled a meeting with government officials on behalf of his client where the statutes governing property use, improvement, and modification were at issue. In this instance the flood plane was involved, but loopholes allowed his client to reshape the flood plane without any net reduction. It was a singular victory in an arena that is highly contentious. I shared some of my experience with similar conflict in a different field of regulation and representation. We both worked…
Holding God’s Hand
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” I John 1:5. “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ ” Isaiah 41:10, 13. Recently, I came down with double pneumonia complicated by the discovery of previously unknown heart trouble. The…
