SCRIPTURE: And when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And she went out and said to her mother,” What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And immediately she came in haste before the king and asked, saying, “I want you to gi...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him." Mark 6:3 Now those considering Jesus had just finished itemizing His accomplishments and marvelled at how He handled spiritual and biblical truths; yet they were resigned to consider Him an ordinary fella, stepping way...  Read More

Scripture: “17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 ‘He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather t...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “GOD IS LIGHT, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 This light and this purpose are of God. Let’s explore Paul a bit further: In Acts 26, we come toacknowledge that while living a ‘legal’ life, as he testifies, he obviously was not thoroughly godly,although a legitimate Pharisee. He persecuted Christians. He had a specific purpose, and it wasreligiously dressed up, and he was f...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “GOD IS LIGHT, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men... AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US, and we beh...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “ [Lord] The law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Psalm 119:72And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Open my eyes that I might see wondrous things from Your law.” Ps. 119:18 [NKJV] In light of the above referenced prayer, we should not hesitate to consult a good Bible commentary (or a recommended paraphrased Bible) to assist us in understanding paradoxical verses we encounter. There is also NO substitute for an excellent study Bible. Grappling with biblical paradoxes alerts us to the ...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to beashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [2 Timothy 2:15 KJV] The more I began to investigate seeming contradictions, or paradoxes in the Holy Scriptures, the more I felt like I had jumped down the proverbial “rabbit hole!” {It’s an inexhaustible undertaking, exploring the broad implications of biblical parado...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “For whoever desires to save His life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Mark 8:35 NKJV A sister in a church I attended many years ago was famous for exclaiming ‘Make it PLAIN!’ whenever the preacher effectively expounded upon some biblical principle—which was, thankfully, every Sunday. There seemed to be no troubling quandaries in her m...  Read More

Scripture: “ by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Pri...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and onewhich enters within the veil...” Hebrews 6:19 [NASB] That the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one is perhaps one of the most relatable truths for a Christ follower to immediately grasp. [1 John 5:19] As a biblical principle, it is foundational to our understanding of what opposes us. Adversiti...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4 (NASB) Several years ago, I used to wonder why “Good Friday” is called “good.” Our Savior, the perfectlysinless God-Man, in keeping with divine prophecy, was cruelly and unjustly accused by wicked men, savagely beaten, and nailed to a criminal’s cross—all to pay f...  Read More

SCRIPTURE:  “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.” John 15:24 [NKJV] One of my favorite Christian movies, “The Case for Christ,” (2017), tells of the conversion of former Chicago Sun Times Reporter Lee Strobel. His wife had been found by Christ, and this frustrated and angered him greatly....  Read More

SCRIPTURE: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.. “  1 Peter 3:15 [NKJV] Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday, is celebrated on April 9 th in the year of our Lord, 2023. I pray for many souls that it will not just be another Sunday upon which the most amazing act o...  Read More

Scripture:  "and every spirit that does not confess that JesusChrist has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist,which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are ofGod, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greaterthan he who is in the world." 1 John 4:3-4 False teaching comes in all types, kinds, and forms...  Read More

Scripture:  "And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things whichcannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing." 1 Samuel 12:21 I can appreciate how the Lord levels the playing field,He inspires us without condemning us so that we would yield;Many have strived and positioned themselves to be winners,Yet, the Lord slows us down with the reminder, we all are sinners;We are guilty o...  Read More

Scripture: "Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. 37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me inYou...  Read More

Scripture: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what youdesire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7 Conditional promises are presented throughout the Bible,The Lord’s part is established, however, my choice is vital;The Lord makes it clear that my desires will be provided,Once I ask, how I respond will be the determining factor decided;The “IF” is the key that opens...  Read More

Scripture: “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we a...  Read More

Scripture: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13 Judgement messages...  Read More

Scripture: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 'He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name o...  Read More

Scripture: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears,...  Read More

SCRIPTURE: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 It’s not about you, it’s not about me. We just show up and do what we do. The supernatural working of God is such that He is able to work through these finite, limited, broken down, sometimes imperfect vessels and make a situation look like we’re operating supe...  Read More

Scripture: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 With the exception of those who are sick and shut in, the comfort of our homes and beds on a Sunday morning is to the great displeasure ...  Read More