Monthly Archives: July 2021

July 21, 2021 · 6:37 am

A Passage To Ponder: 2Thessalonians 3:1-5

Several years ago a Missouri preacher, Steve Shepherd, related a story about a woman who was in the grips of severe depression.

She felt helpless. Hopeless. And afraid. For weeks she wept constantly. She didn’t want to be left alone for fear she would take her own life. When she went to bed, she hoped she would never wake up.

Her Bible Study class intervened and purposed what they called “The Brave Christian’s experiment.” In desperation, the woman decided to try this plan which basically called for God to be at the center of one’s life.

The plan consisted of these five steps. Continue reading →

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July 20, 2021 · 7:18 am

Are You A Practical Universalist?

“One of Satan’s great deceptions is convincing lost people they are not lost. A second deception is convincing Christians that lost people are not truly lost,” wrote cultural apologist and author, Jim Denison, in a recent post on his web page the Denison Forum.

Universalism is a philosophical and theological doctrine that basically believes and teaches that everyone will be saved and spend eternity with God in heaven, regardless of their religious or spiritual beliefs. Continue reading →

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July 19, 2021 · 7:58 am

Word of the Week: Piety

One writer quipped that the word piety has become devalued about like the Canadian dollar. In all fairness to the Canadians, I think you could say that about the U.S. dollar as well.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary correctly states that “Pious has a bit of an image problem. From the beginning of its use in the 15th century, this Latin descendant has been used to describe those who are simply very religious—that is, who are deeply devoted to their religion—but it has for centuries also described those who make a show of their religiousness and use it to assert their superiority. Continue reading →

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July 18, 2021 · 4:18 am

Sunday Seed Thoughts: Power

Power.

Leaders lust for it. People are impressed by it. And others are dominated by it.

Military might. Political position. Economic Status. Physical strength. All are symbols of power.

The power in Jesus’ day resided in Rome. Everyone knew it. Their empirical rule reached across the known world. The power was evident in their army. Their outposts of culture. Their massive building programs. Their roads. And, of course, their ruler. Pontifex Maximus. Continue reading →

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July 17, 2021 · 4:17 am

Weekly Recap: July 11-16

Good Morning from Citrus County, Florida

Well, we’re in the middle of July, Florida’s hottest month, and also its wettest month.  The average high temperatures are 90-92 degrees F, and an average of 8″ of rain, which we’ve already surpassed due to Elsa.

Last summer we were in Montana, and the two years prior in Ontario, Canada.  It sure would be nice to have a brief respite.  But we’re enjoying being closer to our family and spoiling our grandkids.  Plus, we’ve had an opportunity to preach and teach most Sunday’s we’re home for the West Citrus Church in Crystal River where I will be tomorrow.

Today’s post offers a recap of the past week.  And provides an opportunity for you to catch up on any you may have missed.  Also, there’s a bonus past post from 5 years ago, that you will enjoy entitled Bible Bloopers By  Kids. Continue reading →

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July 16, 2021 · 4:16 am

Friday’s List To Live #48

“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking,” opined General George S. Patton.

Disagreements in life are inevitable. My Florida College Bible teacher, the late Edgar Srygley once quipped, “Where two or three are gathered together….you’re going to have a problem.”

Today’s list offers 7 tips on how to disagree without being disagreeable. Continue reading →

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July 15, 2021 · 8:13 am

The Call to Contend for the Faith

Several years ago Christianity Today featured a story about Rob and Kristen Bell, who founded a church in Grand Rapids, identified with a movement known as the “Emerging Church.”

The article relates the Bells increasing discomfort with their faith and the church. “Life in the church had become so small,” Kristen says. “It had worked for me for a long time. Then it stopped working.”

Furthermore, they questioned their assumptions about the Bible itself– “discovering the Bible as a human product,” as Rob puts it, rather than the “product of divine fiat.” Continue reading →

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July 14, 2021 · 8:09 am

A Passage to Ponder: Philemon 1

“Big things come in small packages” is an American idiom that implies that the value of something is not always determined by its size. Such is true of books in the Bible.

For a book to be noteworthy it doesn’t need to be large like Psalms with its 150 divisions. Or filled with intriguing prophecies like Isaiah. It doesn’t demand apocalyptic images jumping off the page like Revelation. Nor does it require riveting historical narratives like Genesis. Continue reading →

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July 13, 2021 · 7:53 am

The Riches of God’s Grace.

Several years Sports Illustrated reported that approximately 60% of NBA players go broke within 5 years of retirement. A more recent survey shows that figure hasn’t changed much in the past decade.

How do you blow tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars so quickly?

Why haven’t current players learned from past players’ mistakes?

What causes these gifted athletes to be so reckless, irresponsible, and foolhardy? Continue reading →

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July 12, 2021 · 6:54 am

Word of the Week: Growing

What do we have in common with a lobster?

Nothing, you may think, except that the tasty crustacean provides for us a delicious and expensive dinner.

Eda LeShan, the late author, counselor, educator, and one-time host of the PBS show “How Do Your Children Grow,” would disagree. Continue reading →

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