We used to joke around as kids about putting the school textbook under our pillow at night and learning what we needed to know for the next day’s test by osmosis. Well, it doesn’t take a genius to know that didn’t work. Being in the proximity of the book that has information doesn’t actually convey the information.  The same ought to be obvious to…

With 24-hour news today and immediate information available on every possible desired detail of any event, we quickly get absorbed (if we so desire) into current events, especially when it involves war (or war-like activity). It becomes all we can think about, talk about, pray about, etc.  What’s interesting is that as spectators, none of us is privy to all the reasons or…

To say that I have spoken to hundreds of people about their marriage situation is not an overstatement. It is almost a weekly occurrence to receive an email or a phone call with questions about marriage, divorce and remarriage. My heart aches for every single one of them. But here is something I have noticed. Every person who has contacted me can fit into one of…

It is increasingly common today to run background checks on certain individuals to assess potential employees, screen tenants, vet volunteers and even for one’s own personal safety. What if you could run a background check on a Bible character like the apostle Paul. You would find his religious background, his family background, his employment background, etc. (Phil. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 11:22; Rom. 11:1; Acts…

For as long as I can remember, various agencies and groups have been trying to affect what we eat: “The FDA says this.” “The food pyramid recommends this.” “The food label shows this.” While the reasons for that may vary, the bottom line is that the food we take in affects us, even if we do not realize it. The exact same reality faces us on…

Joseph was thrown into an Egyptian prison for remaining true to God. So, where was God? God was there with him (Gen. 39)! God was also there surrounding Elisha and Israel while the Syrian army was surrounding them (2 Kgs. 6). God was in the deep mire of the dungeon (Jer. 38). God was inside the fiery furnace (Dan. 3) and inside the lions’ den (Dan. 6). God…

There are a variety of questions in life that people could potentially ask you. Some of those questions could be pretty random at times. But here’s a question that you would likely never be asked out of the blue. There would have to be something in the background that would lead to this. One day a nurse was getting off her shift, and she went…

Sometimes we don’t know that we have a problem or know that we need help or know that a situation is going to arise UNTIL IT HAPPENS and IS UPON US. Then, sometimes in moments of desperation, we’re trying to figure out what to do. Aren’t you thankful that YOUR GOD doesn’t experience that sort of thing? Jesus said, “Your Father knows the things…