Life's Inanities and Ironies

 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 ...

 In a world that increasingly turns away from the timeless truths of Scripture , it's more vital than ever to anchor our faith in the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ . One of the most enduring and transformative gifts He bestowed upon us is the Lord's Prayer , found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 . As conservative believers who hold the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, we recognize this prayer not as a mere ritual, but as a divine blueprint for communion with our Heavenly Father . But why was it so crucial for Christ to pass this on to His disciples—and by extension, to us? Let's explore this together, drawing from the Scriptures to uncover its deep significance. A Model of Humble Reverence Before God First and foremost, Jesus taught the Lord's Prayer to show us *how* to pray, correcting the empty, showy practices of the religious leaders of His day. In Matthew 6:5-8, He warns against praying like the hypocrites who seek public acclaim or the pagans who babble...

In these trying times, when the entirety of creation seems to drift further from God's eternal truths, let us turn our hearts to the Scriptures for encouragement and instruction. Today, I want to share with you the remarkable story of the Apostle Paul – a man whose life exemplifies the boundless grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. As  Christians , we hold fast to the inerrant Word of God, and Paul's testimony in the Book of Acts and his epistles reminds us that no one is beyond redemption. Let’s delve into his origins and the divine providence that led him to stand before the emperor in Rome, all for the glory of God. Paul's Humble Yet Privileged Origins Paul, originally named Saul , was born in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia (modern-day Turkey), around A.D. 5-10. As described in Acts 22:3, he was "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city [ Jerusalem ] at the feet of Gamaliel , and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers." Sau...