Life's Inanities and Ironies

In our hyper-connected digital age, where smartphones keep the world in our pockets and social media promises constant companionship, the Word of God issues a startling command: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” The Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthian church are not outdated relics. They are a living call to every believer who longs to walk in purity while the culture around us grows darker and more entangled by the hour. The same Lord who saved us still says, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate… and touch not the unclean thing.” The Command and the Contrasts Paul does not mince words. He asks five piercing questions that expose the impossibility of spiritual union between light and darkness: - What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?   - What communion hath light with darkness?   - What concord hath Christ with Belial?   - What part hath he that believeth with an infidel?   - What agreement hath t...

I was a very fortunate young man. When I first began high school in the small town of Argos, Indiana, the Lord in His kind providence connected me with a group of young people who would become friends for the rest of my life. This vibrant Christian group influenced me in ways I am still discovering more than fifty years later. It was not only those young people themselves, but their families who left such a profound and lasting impact upon me. At that critical season of life, I learned far more about what a true Christian home should look like simply by watching them than I ever learned in my own home. No matter how earnestly I tried over the years, I was never able to fully replicate the warmth, the godliness, and the Christ-centered atmosphere I observed in those homes. How I wished I could have! What brought all of this into sharper focus for me was the news, just a couple of days ago, that one of the "kids" from one of those families had unexpectedly been called home to b...

Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV) > "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." There is a coming day that no blood-bought believer can escape. It is not the Great White Throne judgment reserved for the lost. It is the Judgment Seat of Christ — the Bema Seat — where every Christian will give an account for the life we lived in these mortal bodies. The Apostle Paul writes with Spirit-inspired clarity: *we must all appear*. There will be no exceptions among the redeemed. This is not a judgment to determine our salvation. That question was forever settled at the cross when we trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We are justified by faith alone. But our *works* — our service, our motives, our stewardship, and our faithfulness — will be examined in the blazing light of His holy presence. Works Tested by Fire The Bible is clear in 1...

Beloved, have you ever felt that holy longing deep in your soul? That quiet but persistent sense that this world is not your final home? Like the old gospel songs express it, “I feel like traveling on.” The Apostle Paul gives us the same blessed assurance in one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture. As Bible-believing, conservative Christians who hold fast to the inerrant Word of God and the literal promises of our Lord, we find here a glorious preview of what awaits every child of God. Here is the text from the King James Bible: > For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might ...

In these challenging days, when faithful conservative Christians often feel “troubled on every side,” the inspired words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 shine like a beacon of hope. Cultural opposition to biblical truth, moral confusion, personal trials, and spiritual warfare can press hard against us. Yet Paul, who endured beatings, imprisonments, and constant danger for the gospel, declares that we are afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed. Here is the full passage in the King James Version: > 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 (KJV)    > We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;   > Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;   > Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.   > For we which live are alway delivered ...

The inspired words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:1-5 read: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." In these perilous times, when the pulpits of many churches have been compromised by the wisdom of this world, entertainment-driven messages, and the philosophies of men, it is more important than ever that we return to the biblical pattern for preaching. The inspired Apostle Paul provides this unchanging standard in 2 Corinthians 2:1-5. As those who love the inerrant Word of God and contend for the faith once delivered to th...

In the context of yesterdays post on faithful stewardship and the painful reality of leaders or members who accept responsibility but later abrogate their duties, healthy accountability is essential. It protects the flock, prevents burnout among the faithful remnant, upholds biblical integrity, and glorifies Christ. Conservative Christians value personal responsibility and scriptural authority; therefore, accountability structures must be thoroughly biblical rather than borrowed from corporate models or cultural trends. Biblical Foundation Scripture demands faithfulness, especially from leaders: “It is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Elders “keep watch over souls as those who will have to give an account” (Hebrews 13:17) and will face stricter judgment (James 3:1). At the same time, the congregation is called to honor faithful leaders while testing their life and doctrine (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Church discipline f...

As we approach another anniversary of D-Day — June 6, 1944 — the beaches of Normandy call to us across the decades. On that fateful morning, tens of thousands of young men stormed into hellish fire, determined to break the back of Nazi tyranny. Many never left those blood-soaked sands. They gave their lives so that others might live in freedom. For those of us who hold fast to the old paths, who believe the Bible from cover to cover and reject the spirit of this age, this is far more than a history lesson. It is a solemn spiritual summons. Scripture Commands Remembrance The God of the Bible is a God who repeatedly calls His people to remember. After crossing the Jordan, Joshua commanded twelve stones be set up as a memorial “that all the peoples of the earth might know the hand of the Lord is mighty” (Joshua 4:24). The Passover, the Lord’s Supper — these are divine institutions of remembrance. Deuteronomy warns sharply: “Beware lest you forget the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:12). Whe...

Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. Today I speak especially to those of us who call ourselves conservative Christians—men and women who treasure the unchanging Word of God, who believe in personal responsibility, duty, honor, and building something that lasts for generations. We rightly reject the flakiness of our culture, where commitments are treated like disposable options and loyalty is old-fashioned. Yet, if we’re honest, that same spirit has crept into too many of our churches. How many times have we seen it? Someone steps forward and promises to serve—teaching Sunday school, greeting at the door, helping with the sound system, visiting the shut-ins, or supporting the men’s or women’s ministry. They may say it directly: “I’ll be there.” Or indirectly—through membership vows, standing during a call to service, or simply claiming Christ as Lord while enjoying the fruit of others’ labor. Then, without warning, consistency fades. Texts go unanswered. The slot sits emp...

I was online earlier today and perusing through Reddit. In one of the topics there I come across a question that stopped me in my tracks.  "If there is a God who watches over everything, he has watched every child molestation in history without intervening. Why?” As a Christian for well over 50 years, and a student of the Bible, I knew the answer in my heart, but trying to explain that simply to a Reddit group just made my mind fuzzy. My solution? I sat down dug in to the scripture and a lot of prayer and resources and I hope the following answers this question to the satisfaction of a a sick world. I know that as Christians read this, they will understand and God will talk to their hearts. I am just praying that the same will be true of those that are not saved that God will still convict and talk to their hearts. This is one of the toughest questions a person can ask, and it deserves a straight answer. If God really is watching over everything, why has He seen every single act ...

 Thessalonica was a strategically vital city in the Roman province of Macedonia (modern Thessaloniki, Greece). Founded around 315 BC by Cassander (who named it after his wife, the half-sister of Alexander the Great), it grew into a major seaport on the Thermaic Gulf and a key stop on the Via Egnatia, the major Roman road linking the Adriatic Sea to Byzantium. This made it a bustling commercial, political, and cultural hub—ideal for the rapid spread of the Gospel. By the 1st century AD, it served as the capital of Macedonia and hosted a Jewish synagogue alongside a diverse pagan population steeped in idolatry and emperor worship. Founding of the Church (Acts 17:1-9, c. AD 50–51) The church was planted by the Apostle Paul during his **second missionary journey**, accompanied by Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy. After leaving Philippi, they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia before reaching Thessalonica. Following his usual pattern (“to the Jew first,” Romans 1:16), Paul reasoned i...

One year ago today, I began posting daily devotionals—thoughtful studies of theology and Scripture. At the beginning, I wasn’t sure I could keep it up, but through God’s grace and His faithful inspiration, I have now written and shared more than 365 devotionals over the past year. I’ve always tried to stay a few days ahead, and God has never let me down. He consistently provides the insight, understanding, and inspiration needed to bring you the very best I can offer. While the readership remains modest—usually between 30 and 100 people each day—I’m deeply grateful for every person who takes the time to read what God has laid on my heart. I know these writings aren’t on the level of a Tim LaHaye or a David Jeremiah, and I never expected them to be. Everything I share comes from careful, intensive study of the passages and topics at hand. I simply want to take a moment to say thank you to all of you who have followed along on this journey over the past year. By God’s grace and with His ...

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (KJV) Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We gather today around the infallible, God-breathed words of the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica. These ten verses paint a picture of what a genuine, powerful, and complete Christian testimony looks like. Not a shallow “I prayed a prayer once” story, but a living, breathing witness that turns the world upside down. The Thessalonians were brand-new believers in a pagan, hostile city. They had turned from idols to the living God under fierce persecution. Yet Paul, Silas, and Timothy could not stop thanking God for them. Why? Because their testimony was *complete*. It had every essential element the Holy Ghost requires for a life that truly glorifies Christ and reaches the lost. Let us open our Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 1 and pull out these clear, biblical elements. 1. A Work of Faith, Labor of Love, and Patience of Hope (v. 3) Paul says, “Remembering wi...

 In the turbulent days of the Judges, when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes,” Israel once again turned from the Lord and fell under cruel oppression. For twenty years, Jabin king of Canaan and his ruthless commander Sisera—with 900 iron chariots—terrorized God’s people. In that dark hour, the Lord raised up Deborah, a prophetess and judge, to call His people back to faith and freedom. Her story in Judges 4:1-24 stands as a powerful testimony to what God can do through a woman who walks in unwavering conviction and courageous obedience. Deborah sat under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel, where the people of Israel came to her for judgment. She was not seeking power or prestige; she was simply faithful where God had placed her. When the Lord commanded her to summon Barak to lead 10,000 men of Naphtali and Zebulun against Sisera at Mount Tabor, she delivered God’s word without hesitation: “Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you…? I will draw out Sis...

Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. As we approach Memorial Day weekend, I want to speak to you not about the holiday as it is often observed today—with backyard barbecues, retail sales, and the beginning of summer—but as it was kept in the United States some sixty years ago. In the mid-1960s, Memorial Day (still widely called Decoration Day by many) fell solemnly on May 30 every year. Families, churches, and entire communities paused. They visited cemeteries, decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, flags, and wreaths, attended memorial services, and offered prayers for permanent peace. Businesses in many towns closed. Parades honored the dead with dignity rather than mere spectacle. It was a day of remembrance, gratitude, and sober reflection on sacrifice. Why should conservative Christians today recover and observe this traditional spirit? Because Scripture calls us to remember, to honor sacrifice, and to give thanks to God for the freedoms secured by tho...

The miracle of the never-failing barrel of meal and cruse of oil in 1 Kings 17:8-16 that we looked at yesterday is not an isolated Old Testament wonder. It beautifully foreshadows and is directly echoed in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament. For conservative Christians who hold the whole counsel of Scripture as inspired and harmonious, these parallels reveal the unchanging character of God as Provider — from the drought of Zarephath to the abundance of Christ. ** 1. Jesus Himself References the Widow (Luke 4:25-26) **   In His first recorded sermon in Nazareth, Jesus deliberately cites the widow of Zarephath: “Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months… but unto none of them was Elijah sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.”   By highlighting this Gentile widow’s faith and God’s sovereign choice to provide for her, Jesus underscores that God’s mirac...

In the days of King Ahab, when drought and famine gripped the land as judgment for Israel’s idolatry, the Lord sent His prophet Elijah to a most unlikely place: Zarephath of Sidon, territory of the enemy. There, at the gate of the city, he found a destitute widow gathering sticks to prepare what she believed would be her last meal. In her house was only “a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse” (1 Kings 17:12). She and her son were preparing to eat it and die. Yet the God who sees every empty barrel and every desperate heart had already commanded Elijah to go to her. The prophet asked first for a drink of water, then for “a morsel of bread.” The widow explained her hopeless situation. Elijah’s response was bold and full of promise: “Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cr...

As Bible-believing Christians who hold fast to the inerrant, infallible, and literal Word of God, we turn today to one of the most overlooked yet powerful books in Scripture—the Book of Obadiah. This shortest book in the Old Testament, with only 21 verses, packs a profound message about God’s sovereignty over the nations, His hatred of pride, and His unbreakable covenant with His people Israel. In an age when compromise and cultural pressure tempt even the faithful to soften the hard truths of Scripture, Obadiah stands as a clarion call to humility, repentance, and unwavering trust in the Lord’s promises. Authorship and Historical Setting The book is attributed to the prophet Obadiah, whose name means “servant of the Lord.” While little is known about the man himself, his message is crystal clear and divinely inspired. Conservative scholars date the prophecy sometime after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., though some place it earlier. What matters most to us as fundamentalists is tha...