Life's Inanities and Ironies

Based on 1 Kings 17:1 (KJV) “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” In these days of deepening apostasy, when many churches have compromised with the world and the culture openly celebrates what God calls abomination, the account of Elijah the Tishbite shines like a beacon. God has always raised up men and women who would stand for Him when it was costly. Elijah’s sudden appearance before the most powerful and wicked king in Israel’s history gives us a timeless picture of what it truly means to be **a man sent from God**. The Spiritual Darkness of Ahab’s Reign King Ahab “did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him” (1 Kings 16:30). His marriage to the wicked Jezebel imported the vile worship of Baal and Asherah into the northern kingdom on a national scale. Ahab built a temple for Baal in Samaria and ...

This is written with a heavy and grieving heart for one who has been like a daughter or granddaughter to me. I am deeply troubled and at a loss to understand how someone I know loves both God and her family so dearly could allow herself to be influenced into turning her back on the very people who raised her in the faith and taught her to walk with the Lord. It is my earnest hope that these words, rooted in the unchanging truth of Scripture, will reach her. If she reads them, may the Holy Spirit bring gentle conviction, repentance, and the sweet restoration only God can give. If she does not see this, then I ask those of you who do to join me in prayer for her and her family—that our merciful Heavenly Father would intervene in His perfect timing, soften hearts, break the power of wrong influence, and bring healing and reconciliation according to His Word. If you are the young woman described in this scenario—a girl who has walked faithfully with the Lord, only to turn sharply against y...

1 Kings 2:36-46 (KJV)* In a world that constantly erases lines—moral lines, doctrinal lines, personal conviction lines, and even the sacred boundary between holy and profane—God’s Word still draws clear, immovable lines. One of the most sobering examples is found in the early days of King Solomon’s reign. The passage before us is not a dusty relic of ancient history; it is the living, breathing Word of God that speaks directly to every believer who has ever been tempted to test the limits of divine mercy. The Backstory: Why a Line Was Necessary Before we ever reach 1 Kings 2:36, we must understand why Shimei was even in this position. Shimei was a Benjamite from Bahurim, a man connected to the fallen house of Saul. During Absalom’s rebellion, when David was fleeing Jerusalem in humiliation, Shimei came out cursing David “continually” and throwing stones at the king and his mighty men (2 Samuel 16:5-8). He called David a “man of Belial” and declared that the Lord was finally repaying hi...

Flowers appear throughout Scripture as part of God’s beautiful creation, used both literally and figuratively to teach profound spiritual truths. They illustrate themes of **beauty and loveliness**, **God’s tender provision**, **the brevity of human life**, **purity and cleansing**, **watchfulness**, **restoration**, and **distinction** amid a fallen world. For a fundamentalist Christian approach, we begin with the plain, literal sense of the text and the historical-botanical context, then draw legitimate applications and typological lessons that align with the whole counsel of Scripture—especially pointing to Christ, holiness, trust in God, and the enduring Word. We avoid speculative or overly allegorical readings not supported by the Bible itself. Here is a focused survey of the most significant flowers and plants mentioned, with key verses, context, and spiritual significance. 1. The Lily (and Lily of the Valleys) — Purity, Humility, Provision, and Distinction The lily is one of the...