During Jesus’ day, one of the groups of the Jews was known as the Sadducees.  Though they did not believe in a resurrection after death, one day they posed Jesus a hypothetical question.  If a woman married a sequence of seven men, each of whom died before the next wedding, who would she be married to in the after-life? Jesus certainly understood that they were attempting to trap or stump Him with the question.  He simply responded, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God”  (Matthew 22:29). Many of our struggles, anxieties, and doubts arise from the same two issues — ignorance and lack of faith.  Today, many people talk about the Bible, but they fail to read it with any depth or regularity.  Positive thinking and [...]

Human Resource officers report an alarming increase in workers habitually arriving late to work.  While traffic was cited as the number one reason for tardiness, a recent article highlighted some of the more unusual excuses.  One lady reported being late because she incorrectly thought she had won the lottery.  Another complained that her roommate was angry with her and cut the cord to her cell phone charger so her alarm didn’t go off.  One honest fellow said, “ I wasn’t late; I never intended to be there at 8:00.”  My personal favorite was the individual who blamed being late on her cat’s hiccups. We often use excuses, but seldom appreciate them in others.  Recently the cruise ship Costa Concordia struck an underwater reef and flipped sideways costing about 30 people their lives.  Countering charges that [...]

A number of years ago, a 92-year-old preacher in Atlanta was asked to speak to his old congregation.  He was asked to answer the simple question: “What is the greatest lesson you have learned through over 50 years of preaching?”  After a slow shuffle to the pulpit, he briefly, but boldly, said that the greatest lesson was summarized in these familiar lyrics: Jesus loves me this I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, We are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me… Yes, Jesus loves me… Yes, Jesus loves me… The Bible tells me so. Today may not be your best day.  You may have health or financial concerns.  There may be those in your family who have hurt you or written you out of their lives.  [...]

If I were to ask you what was at the center of an atom, you would reply, “the nucleus.”  Similarly, the sun is at the center of our solar system.  What is at the center of the church?  I suppose the simplest answer is that Jesus is at the center.  He is the cornerstone and the head of the church. However, if that question were asked regarding the functioning of the local church, what would the answer be?  What do you see as the most important cog in the church here?  Some would see the elders and their leadership.  Others might point to Mark or myself as full-time evangelists.  Still others would highlight the entire Bible class program or another ministry.  Would someone refer to the “prayer warriors” — men and women who regularly and [...]

As I got ready to come to the office this morning, I asked my wife, “Honey, what do I need to do today?”  She paused a few seconds and replied, “Eat a salad, drink more water, and smile a lot.” This was not what I really meant or what I expected, yet it was very much what I needed.  The same is probably true of most of our resolutions for 2012.  Most of us tend to resolve to diet better, exercise more, and spend less.  We like practical issues rather than spiritually healthy resolutions like, treating others better, showing more patience, and enjoying every day to the fullest.  We might all be benefitted by asking ourselves what the Lord would like for us to do. Three passages capture the heart of what I believe the [...]