Life's Inanities and Ironies

 In the quiet chambers of a Persian palace, Nehemiah , a devoted servant of God, received devastating news. The walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins, its gates consumed by fire, and God's people endured reproach and distress ( Nehemiah 1:1-3 ). Rather than despair or indifference, Nehemiah responded with deep godly sorrow: he wept, mourned for days, fasted, and poured out his heart in prayer to the "great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments" (Nehemiah 1:4-5). This passage from Nehemiah 1:1-11 offers a timeless blueprint for believers facing spiritual decay. Nehemiah's prayer is a model of humble confession: "We have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments" (Nehemiah 1:6-7). He doesn't point fingers outward but includes himself in the repentance, echoing the prophet Daniel's intercession...

Frien ds, fellow believers, and seekers of truth, The topics of homosexuality and transsexuality are some of the most debated and emotionally charged issues in our culture today. As Christians who hold the Bible as the authoritative Word of God, it is essential that we approach these subjects not with the noise of the world, but with the quiet and humble authority of Scripture. My aim here is to provide a clear, biblical overview of what the Old and New Testaments say, and to consider what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would have us understand. The Foundation in Genesis: God’s Intentional Design To truly understand the biblical perspective on sexuality and gender, we must begin at the beginning, in the book of Genesis. The creation narrative provides the foundational blueprint for God’s design for humanity. In Genesis 1:27 , we read, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This verse establishes a fundam...

In a world drowning in distractions and fleeting pleasures, the timeless words of Jesus Christ cut through the noise like a clarion call. Today, I want to dive deep into the Parable of the Wedding Banquet from Matthew 22:1-14 —a story that's not just ancient history but a living, breathing warning and promise for every soul. As fundamentalist Christians , we hold fast to the inerrant Word of God, and this parable demands our undivided attention. It's a vivid portrait of God's sovereign grace , human rebellion, and the eternal consequences of our response. Let's unpack it together, expanding on its profound truths to stir our hearts toward deeper faith and obedience. Imagine the scene : A mighty king—our Heavenly Father—prepares a lavish wedding feast for his beloved son, Jesus Christ. Invitations are sent to the elite, the chosen ones—symbolizing God's covenant people, Israel. But shockingly, they snub the invite. Some ignore it, too busy with farms and businesses...

In a world where words are cheap and actions often speak louder, Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount challenge us to examine the depth of our faith. As fundamentalist Christians, we hold dear the unchanging truths of Scripture—the virgin birth of Christ, His deity, atoning sacrifice, bodily resurrection, and the Bible's inerrant authority. Yet, even with these foundations, we must heed the stark warning in Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV): "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" This passage isn't just a distant echo from ancient times; it's a mirror for our souls today. It reminds us that proclaiming "Lord, Lord" or eve...