Life's Inanities and Ironies

As I sit here in Peru , reflecting on the spiritual battles we face in these turbulent times, my heart is heavy yet hopeful. Inspired by a recent  message I heard, I want to share with you a deeper exploration of how Satan creates twisted, demonic parodies of the holy things God and Christ have established. These are not abstract ideas but real, insidious counterfeits that infiltrate our culture, families, and even our churches. Drawing from Scripture, the insights of Jonathan Cahn in his eye-opening book * The Return of the Gods *, and profound theological comparisons, let's unpack this spiritual warfare and arm ourselves with truth. The Empty House: A Parable for Our Times Jesus warns us in Matthew 12:43-45 about a demon that, once cast out, returns with seven more wicked spirits if the "house" remains empty. This isn't just a personal caution—it's a prophetic picture of societies and nations. For centuries, the gospel of Christ held back ancient demonic force...

 Hello, fellow believers! As we navigate the complexities of faith in our modern times, it's sometimes helpful to draw from ancient stories that, while not part of our core Scriptures, can illuminate timeless truths. Today, I'd like to share insights from the apocryphal tale of " Bel and the Dragon ." Let me emphasize upfront: this story is from the Apocrypha , a collection not recognized as canonical by the majority of fundamentalist Christian churches, including our Protestant tradition . We hold firmly to the 66 books of the Bible as the inspired Word of God. However, like a historical parable, this narrative can serve as a lens to view biblical principles on idolatry, faith, and God's sovereignty. I'll weave in references from the true Scriptures to ground our discussion. T he Story of Bel and the Dragon: A Quick Recap In this apocryphal extension to the Book of Daniel , the prophet finds himself in Babylon under King Cyrus . The Babylonians worship Bel...

 Hey folks, in this time that's spinning with all sorts of chaos—uncertainty, moral mix-ups, and those quick-hit pleasures that never really satisfy—I've always found the Bible to be that solid anchor for my soul. As a conservative Christian , I love digging into the prophets like Isaiah for those reminders of God 's big-picture plan. Today, let's chat about Isaiah 12:1-3 . It's this awesome little hymn of praise that really nails what salvation is all about. It's not just some old poem; it's like a personal GPS showing where God's rescue mission takes us—from the dark side of His wrath right into the bright warmth of eternal joy. I pulled this from a sermon I put together recently, and we'll walk through it verse by verse, like we're sitting down for coffee.   A Bit of Background: A Song That Comes from Being Set Free So, Isaiah 12 pops up right after a bunch of heavy prophecies about judgment on Israel and other nations, but then it shifts to ...

The book of Zechariah , one of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament , offers a rich tapestry of visions, oracles, and promises centered on the temple. Written around 520-518 B.C., during the post-exilic period when the Jews had returned from Babylonian captivity , Zechariah's ministry overlapped with that of Haggai and the events described in Ezra . His prophecies served to encourage the remnant of Israel as they rebuilt the physical temple under leaders like Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest . However, Zechariah's words extend far beyond the immediate reconstruction, pointing to spiritual renewal, the coming Messiah (often called " the Branch "), and an ultimate eschatological temple that symbolizes God's eternal presence among His people. For a conservative Christian audience, these prophecies underscore God's faithfulness to His covenants, the centrality of Christ as the fulfillment of temple imagery, and the hope of His future reign. To explore ...