Life's Inanities and Ironies

 Hey, brother or sister—yes, YOU, the one who believes the Bible is 100% true from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21—can I steal three minutes of your Christmas season? You already know the Luke 2 script by heart. Census. Bethlehem. Manger. Angels. Shepherds. Cute, right? But what if I told you the Holy Spirit hid a bombshell in plain sight that most Christians completely miss? One little verse that turns the whole nativity from a Hallmark moment into a gut-punching preview of Calvary. Grab your Bible (you know, the real one with paper pages) and look at Luke 2:7 again: “She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger.” Stop. Right. There. In first-century Judea, when a lamb was born for temple sacrifice—especially the Passover lambs raised outside Bethlehem—guess what the shepherds did the moment it dropped? They wrapped it in cloths to keep it from thrashing and bruising itself.   A blemished lamb was worthless.   It had to be perfect. So Mary takes...

As we approach the Christmas season, it's easy to get lost in the hustle of decorations, gifts, and festivities. But for those of us who hold to the inerrant Word of God, the true heart of Christmas beats in the pages of Scripture. In Luke 2:11 , the angel's proclamation to the shepherds rings out with eternal significance: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour , which is Christ the Lord ." This isn't just a holiday greeting—it's a divine revelation unveiling the three-fold identity of the Babe born in Bethlehem : Savior, Christ, and Lord. In this blog post, we'll unpack this verse, drawing from the unchanging truths of the Bible. As fundamentalist Christians, we stand firm against the tides of modern relativism and liberal theology. We'll explore how this tiny infant in a manger embodies our redemption, fulfills ancient prophecies, and reigns as sovereign God. Whether you're a seasoned believer or seeking truth, let this...

 This is not my usual topic for this blog but it's something that I feel compelled to put out in the world.  I recently rediscovered the TV show *The West Wing*, and I've been diving into it over the past week or so. I largely missed it during its original run, but it's pulled me in now for several reasons. It's undeniably a masterful series—sharp dialogue, superb acting, and some of the best scripting television has ever seen—but what fascinates me most is the window it provides into liberal thought at the turn of the millennium, during the latter years of the Clinton administration . In my view, that era represents the last time the Democratic Party and the broader American left could reasonably be described as at least semi-sane and grounded in pragmatic center-left politics. A couple of aspects of the show particularly struck me as I watched. First, the way Republicans are portrayed often feels like a mirror image of what we now call "Trump Derangement Syndrome...

 Welcome, dear readers, to this reflection on one of the most profound moments in Scripture—the night humble shepherds encountered the Savior of the world . This blog post is inspired by a homily drawn from Luke 2:7-20, a passage that not only recounts the birth of Jesus Christ but serves as a urgent call to every soul: Meet the Savior today, or face eternity without Him. As believers who hold to the inerrant Word of God, we know this isn't just a seasonal story—it's the historical truth of God's redemptive plan, demanding a personal response. Let's dive in, expanding on the key truths to ensure the Gospel's power shines through. The Humble Birth: No Room for the King Imagine the scene: Mary, heavy with child, and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem only to find "no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). So, the Creator of the universe, God in human flesh, is born in a stable and laid in a manger —a crude feeding trough for animals. This wasn't an accident; it...

In the quiet hush of a Bethlehem night over two millennia ago, heaven didn't just whisper—it thundered into our broken world. As we approach the Christmas season , let's strip away the tinsel and commercial glitter to behold the raw, biblical truth of Luke 2:1-20 . This isn't a cozy nativity scene for greeting cards; it's the explosive moment when God Almighty stepped into human history to rescue sinners from eternal doom. If you've ever wondered why Christmas matters, or if your soul hungers for true peace, read on—this story could change your eternity.   The Sovereign Setup: God's Plan Unfolds Picture this: The mighty Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus decrees a census, forcing everyone to their ancestral towns (Luke 2:1-3). Unbeknownst to him, this pagan ruler becomes a pawn in God's chessboard. Joseph, a descendant of King David , travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem with his betrothed, Mary, who is great with child (Luke 2:4-5). Why Bethlehem? Because Script...

As the Christmas season approaches, our minds often drift to the familiar scenes of the nativity : a cozy stable, Mary and Joseph cradling the baby Jesus, wise men bearing gifts, and angels singing overhead. But what if I told you that our polished retellings of this story might be missing some crucial characters—and with them, vital truths about God's redemptive plan? In this blog post, we'll dive deep into Luke 2:1-20, exploring the theme "Who We Leave Out of the Nativity." Drawing from a recent homily I delivered to a group of fundamentalist Christians, we'll uncover how this passage challenges us to embrace the full scope of the gospel, reaching those society—and sometimes even the church—overlooks. The Humble Setting: A World in Motion, But No Room for the King Luke's account begins with the grand sweep of history: "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered" (Luke 2:1, ESV). Here we see the Ro...

The house was small, the village smaller, and the night had been long—four centuries long. Then came a cry. Not the cry of the Messiah (not yet), but the cry of a baby born to a barren woman and a doubting priest. And with that cry, the silence of God shattered like dawn over the Judean hills . Elizabeth ’s neighbors expected the child to be named Zechariah Junior. Tradition demanded it. But when the Holy Ghost begins a new thing, He does not ask permission from family custom. “His name is John ,” the mother declared. The mute father wrote the same on a tablet, and instantly his tongue sprang free after nine months of divine discipline. The first words out of Zechariah’s mouth were not apology but prophecy: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel , for He hath visited and redeemed His people!” Church, when God names something, the debate is over. He named that child “John”—the LORD is gracious—before he ever drew breath. And He has named every blood-washed believer “redeemed,” “forgiven,...

 “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour…” (Luke 1:46-47 KJV) When the angel Gabriel left, Mary didn’t post a pregnancy announcement on social media. She didn’t call a crisis hotline. She didn’t even wait until the danger of Herod, the Great was past. The moment the Holy Ghost made the promise real in her heart, she burst into one of the most explosive celebrations of God in all of Scripture—the Magnificat . If a teenage Jewish girl facing scandal, shame, and possible death could magnify the Lord like that, how much more ought blood-bought, born-again, Bible-believing Christians celebrate Him today? 1. Celebrate Him for Who He Is— Holy, Holy, Holy    Mary didn’t start with her feelings; she started with His character: “Holy is His name.” The same refrain thunders around the throne right now ( Rev. 4:8 ). God has not changed. Culture has. Politics have. Your circumstances have. But “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, an...

There’s just something about that name. In a little nowhere town called Nazareth , an angel walked into the life of a teenage girl and forever changed history with eight words:   “Thou shalt call his name JESUS .” That name was no afterthought. It was no suggestion. It was the eternal decree of God. Seven centuries earlier, Isaiah had already seen it coming: “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace ” ( Isaiah 9:6 ). The angel simply delivered the invoice Heaven had signed before the foundation of the world. Jesus. Yeshua . Jehovah saves .   The only name under heaven whereby we must be saved ( Acts 4:12 ). The world this Christmas will shout a thousand other names: Santa , Rudolph , Amazon , Eggnog . But Bible believers know there is only one name that makes hell shudder, demons flee, and guilty sinners sing.   That name was promised in the prophets.   That name was pronounced b...

 Imagine the serene tropical dawn breaking over the azure waters of Pearl Harbor , Hawaii, on a quiet Sunday morning in 1941 . Palm trees sway gently in the breeze, sailors stir from their bunks aboard mighty battleships, and the scent of salt air mingles with the hum of routine naval life. Then, without warning, the sky darkens with the thunderous roar of 353 enemy aircraft—waves of Japanese Zeros and bombers unleashing hellfire. Explosions rip through the air like apocalyptic thunderclaps, black smoke billows like demonic clouds, and the once-proud USS Arizona erupts in a cataclysmic fireball, her hull groaning as she sinks into the oily depths. In mere moments, paradise turns to pandemonium: 2,403 American heroes perish in the flames and wreckage, over 1,000 more wounded, their cries echoing across the harbor. This wasn't just an attack; it was a seismic jolt that hurled the United States into the fiery crucible of World War II—a "date which will live in infamy," as ...

For decades Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed the same prayer: “Lord, give us a child.”   Year after year the altar of incense rose with their cry, yet the womb stayed shut. They watched younger couples dedicate babies in the temple while their own arms remained empty. They were righteous. They were blameless. They walked in all the commandments of the Lord. Yet heaven was silent. If you have ever prayed for revival and seen only apostasy,   if you have begged God to save your children and watched them walk away,   if you have pleaded for healing, for deliverance, for a move of God while the church grows colder,   then you know the ache of Zacharias and Elisabeth. We call it “the problem of unanswered prayer,” but the Bible never does. Scripture treats long silence not as a problem to explain away, but as a womb in which God is doing His deepest work. Look at Luke 1 again. 1. God’s delays are not denials      The angel said, “Fe...

 We remember Pearl Harbor . We remember 9/11 .   But there is one night in human history that deserves to be remembered with far greater sorrow and awe: the night Judas kissed the door of heaven shut, and armed men dragged the sinless Son of God into the darkness. This was not just an ordinary arrest.   This was the creature assaulting the Creator.   This was the blackest, most infamous act the world has ever seen. Four portraits of infamy stand out in Mark’s account : 1. The Kiss of the Ultimate Insider      Judas—one of the Twelve—leads the lynch mob. He had seen the dead raised, eaten the multiplied loaves, and called Jesus “Lord” to His face. Yet for thirty pieces of silver (the price of a crippled slave), he sells the Savior.      Church membership, baptism, preaching, miracles—none of it saves without a new heart. Religious privilege without regeneration = treachery. 2. The Violence of Religious Hypocri...

“And they all said the same.”   That’s the line in Mark 14:31 that always chills me. Not just Peter , but every last disciple stood there on the way to Gethsemane and declared, “Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You.” Hours later they were all gone, scattered like smoke. Peter, the boldest of the bold, was swearing he never knew the man. We love to shake our heads at Peter. “How could he?” we say. But if we’re honest, we’ve stood in the same place. Maybe not in a courtyard warming our hands by a fire, but in our hearts we’ve said: - “I would never compromise on doctrine .”   - “I would never look at pornography again.”   - “I would never let bitterness take root.”   - “I would never walk away from the faith.” Never say never. Pride is the original sin, and its favorite lie is “I’m the exception.”   Samson thought Delilah could shear-proof.   David thought one look wouldn’t cost him.   Solomon though...

In these tumultuous times, where the world spirals into moral decay and the church faces relentless assault, it's crucial we return to the unyielding truths of Scripture. Today, I share a homily delivered to a gathering of fundamentalist Christians—a message that ignites the soul and reminds us of God's sovereign justice. Drawing from Ezekiel 25:17, this exhortation calls us to awaken, repent, and proclaim the Gospel with unquenchable fire. Awake, O Saints! The Thunder of Divine Vengeance Awake, O saints! Rise up, you warriors of the faith! Hear the thunderous roar of the Lord from the pages of His eternal Word! Ezekiel 25:17 explodes with divine fury: "And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them!" This is no whisper, brethren—this is the battle cry of Jehovah God Himself, the King of Kings, who will not tolerate the mockery of His holy name! As fundamentalists cling...