Encouragement?

In my quiet time this morning it occurred to me that a word of realistic encouragement might be helpful to some or all of you. As I thought about it two scenarios came to mind… First the macro. These are indeed difficult times and many of us are yearning for the return of the good times of the recent past. In this we are like the children of Israel who longed to return to Egypt. Egypt in the Bible represents the world and its strength and prosperity. Our ancestors had a very consistent record of turning to idolatry after a season of the Lord’s blessing and also first looking to Egypt for help when He brought chastisement on them for their sin. They cycled through this process multiple times. Again, in the macro view I believe that this is a picture of our national...

Can This Be Typical?

I recently had the pleasure of teaching two Sunday School classes as a guest speaker in a very fine evangelical church. The class members were a great bunch but they reall rocked me back when I asked the question; “How many of you have ever heard of the ‘Bema” Judgement seat of Christ?” Only about 15% of them raised their hand. “How many feel that you understand the term and the implications that it has on our lives in this world?” Only two raised their hands. Before I go on, do you understand the term and how it should impact our lives and decisions? If you don’t, would you like to? It is only the next most important doctrine after salvation. The implications of our understanding are eternal. Do you know what I’m talking about? (See II...