Maybe you have heard or even contributed to the debate: Who was more committed to your breakfast plate, the chicken or the pig? The chicken committed the eggs and the pig, the bacon and ham. My preference is eggs over-easy with a thick slice of ham and some good old fashion Georgia ice cream aka grits! My objective was not to make you hungry so let’s proceed to move from our bellies to our hearts.
Read MoreQuestion: Since God loves sinners, then why worry about sin? If God gives grace and forgiveness to sinners, then some people would suggest why not sin more frequently to receive more grace? Therefore one can conclude that I could commit more sin in order to capture more grace, right?
Read MoreIn July of 1995, my wife, Gloria, and I with our three young sons BJ (5) Philip (4) and Seth (3) prepared to relocate to sunny south Florida from snowy Syracuse, New York. We were not financially able to purchase a home. Therefore, we elected to lease an apartment. The apartment that we wanted was in a perfect location in proximity to my place of employment and it also provided plenty of living space for the family. However, there was one significant complication that closed the door to securing the apartment: It was already leased out. We completed an application anyway just in case something would become available. The leasing manager was sensitive to our situation and displayed a delightful disposition toward the new, faith-filled Floridians. But our hopes to move into our new home looked lost and locked in a cell of impossibility.
Read MoreAs we consider today’s passage of Scripture, let’s consider some proactive measures that would inoculate us from the infection of ingratitude. Paul promotes the practice of rejoicing in the Lord in all circumstances. When this practice is an authentic and consistent course of action, especially in times of adversity, it advertises the Almighty and gracious God in our lives. So when we say “God is good all the time and all the time, God is good” it will not be just a cliché.
Read MoreOn Wednesday evenings at my place of worship, service and fellowship we attend and participate in prayer and Bible study. It is also there that we purpose in our hearts to be more than ordinary servants for an extraordinary God. The format for the service follows what I reference as the four W’s: Welcome, Worship, War (prayer) and finally, Word (Bible study). During the War segment of our Wednesday evening service, individuals present prayer requests as well as testimonials of praise.
Read MoreRecently, I was interested in going to the local grocery store to pick up some produce. Speaking of grocery store, as a kid I never referenced the nomenclature. Supermarket, convenient store, grocery store were all basically called “the store”. As I was saying, the purpose of my recent trip to the grocery store was to look for some fruit. Upon entering the produce department, I did not casually select a few items and leave. The fruit I was looking for had to be examined in order for me to entertain the idea of taking it home for my enjoyment. Just as God designed various trees with the ability to produce fruit, He also gave us the capacity to produce spiritual fruit for the purpose to being shared by the body of Christ to enjoy. Just as I subjected the fruit in the store to an examination, God also wants us to examine our spiritual fruit.
Read MoreIn last week’s blog, we declared that if we define a biblical believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as an individual who has been regenerated and redeemed from his or her resolute rebellion, he or she was instantly made a worshiper of God. Consequently, it is critical for believers to be clear in comprehending what constitutes biblical worship.
When was the last time that you wonderfully wrestled in your heart and mind with what I refer to as worthy worship? The term worthy worship refers to worship that is absolutely due to our holy God.
Are you grateful to our God that He rescued you from religion? I am referring to the religion that runs over you with manmade rules and regulations. The religion that teaches that if you trespass against their traditions it would be considered spiritual treason. The religion that Jesus Christ discusses in the Gospel of Matthew:
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. – Matthew 15:9 (KJV)
Read MoreGreat old-school gospel songs still grip me. Faith-filled and far-reaching gospel greats stirred our souls, inspired our intimacy, and tied our trust to God, songs such as James Cleveland’s “Peace be Still,” Albertina Walker’s “God is Able to Carry you Through,” and The Edwin Hawkins Singers’ “Oh Happy Day.” Now that the Passion season has commenced, my head and my heart is again captured by another Gospel song that is apropos to the Passion of our Lord and Lamb of God, Jesus: “The Blood Will Never Lose its Power” by Andrae Crouch. In the opening lyrics, Pastor and producer Andrae Crouch perspicuously points us to when, where and whose blood will never lose its power.