In the modern-day world of instant gratification and abundance, food is not only eaten for sustenance but for pleasure. Yes, there is hunger in third-world countries, but in modern industrialized nations, there is an abundance of pleasure seeking and often overeating to the point that obesity is running rampant. Fad diets and fat shots abound, but when it comes right down to it, if one wants to lose weight and get their bodies in shape, it still comes down to... Read more
We try so hard to live for God and to please him. And no matter how hard we try, when we get to the end of the day, we whip ourselves and vow to try harder. Sound familiar? What if the secret to a strong, peaceful, and fruitful life isn’t trying harder, but staying connected? In John 15 Jesus says something pretty radical: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine keeper (gardener. husbandman). 2 Every branch in... Read more
Ah, love…Just saying the word makes us smile and a soundtrack of birds singing begins to play in our mind as we think about it. But do we truly comprehend what love is? The dictionary defines it as “Love is an emotion involving strong attraction, affection, emotional attachment or concern for a person, animal, or thing. It is expressed in many forms, encompassing a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue, good habit,... Read more
Sins With Benefits The Bible makes it pretty plain that the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23). But it also says sin is pleasurable…for a season (Hebrews 11:25). Well, sure, there is some pleasure to sinning, or it wouldn’t be a temptation to sin. But is it worth it? Sinful pleasures are fleeting, pleasurable acts considered immoral or harmful that prioritize temporary self-indulgence over long-term well-being or moral standards. Common examples include gluttony (overeating), sexual immorality, excessive drinking, greed,... Read more
Michael W. Smith sings a song called ‘Breathe’ in which he expresses so well thoughts like “This is the air I breathe… Your holy presence living in me… Your very word spoken to me… I’m lost without you… I’m desperate for you.” Can the Holy Spirit be as real and life-giving as the very air we breathe? Ruach (pronounced roo-akh) is the Hebrew word for spirit, breath, or wind. Notice how even when you speak the word, it engages one’s... Read more
What’s In A Name? In these modern times, at least in Western civilization, there is not a high a regard for the meaning of a person’s name. Parents usually just name their children a name that they like or obscurely choose one from some baby name book or website, with no regard for what the name means. When choosing a baby name, sometimes there is consideration given to naming a child after their father or some other relative. One woman... Read more
From the beginning God, the Creator, walked and talked in a tangible form with Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:8 says, “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” As the world became more populated is it possible God also appeared and spoke to other peoples throughout the world? I think it is very reasonable to assume that a loving God has always been involved in the affairs of man... Read more
I was listening to E.W. Kenyon recently, who was talking about the Hebrew word for meditation, which is Hagah (הגה), and it blew my mind! When I think about meditation, I think like probably most of you do, getting quiet and focused and maybe crossing my legs and closing my eyes, and there is value in this type of meditation, but the Hebrew definition of meditation is so much deeper. Hagah is something far beyond what we think of as... Read more
I encounter so many people who claim to be ‘spiritual’ but not in a ‘traditional sense’. I can appreciate that, if it is true but, very often if you dig a little deeper, you will realize such a statement is just a vague, veiled way to throw you off so you will not continue discussing spirituality with them, particularly if you are a Christian. If such a person is honest, very often, it usually means they are not committed to... Read more
He is God of the void. Where we see gaps, he is busy connecting all the dots. I think if we are truthful, we all sometimes look at life as a bunch of disconnected events and nonsensical, jumbled-up elements. I think we see life sometimes as some of us would view a ball of knotted up thread or string or something not worthy of anything but throwing away because it has become such a mess and we don’t have the... Read more
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