The Marvelous Message

Just a few years ago, studies revealed that less than 40% of people who claim a religious background go to church services. Around 28% claim to attend at least once a week, 8% once a month, and 4% once a year. Whether these statistics are accurate or not, for many churches, there is a steady decline in membership each year. I have often been asked why so many people, especially young adults, leave the church and what can be done to ensure stability. Of course, the solution is not so easily attained. There are many reasons people hardly darken church doors. It is all rooted in one’s perception of the church, ranging from misguided notions that faith equals ignorance to hurt emotions one faced during a time of church conflict. Try to describe your view of the American church in one word. I will list some that I have heard others use: hypocrites, cultish, uninformed, divided etcetera. Now, you will find that many of the people that say such things are only mouthing what they have seen,...

For the past several weeks, we have studied about King Saul's behavior and foolish choices found in 1 Samuel 13-14. In these chapters, you will see that self reliance, pride, and impatience would begin to control Saul's steps. Probably though, the most glaring testimony of his fall from being a godly king and a faithful servant of the Lord is recorded in 1 Samuel 15. There is no set time-line given as to when this took place during Saul's reign. Only that from the very beginning of the chapter, Saul is commanded by God, through the prophet Samuel, to completely destroy the Amalekites. Not a single person or livestock were to be kept alive. Because of their cruel and wicked treatment of the Israelites, during the days of Moses, God had declared that judgment would fall on the people of Amalek. There were no spoils to be had in this battle, only that Saul would, “. ...claim everything they have for God by destroying it (1 Samuel 15:3 / GWT)” Upon hearing the Lord...

Once again, Saul's son, Jonathan, was the first one to strike a blow to the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 13, he fought under his father's direct orders, but in chapter 14, he chose to attack a Philistine garrison with only his amorbearer by his side. While everyone else was hiding and biding time, Jonathan slew over twenty men. He then witnessed an earthquake that shook the region and caused a chaotic scene within the camp of the Philistines. Once it was established that the Philistines were in great confusion---some fought each other while others fled---then King Saul commanded the Israelites to attack them. The tides had turned and Israel gained renewed vigor on the battlefield. In fool-heartiness and flippancy, Saul commanded that no one would eat anything until they had reigned vengeance down on his enemies. His brash statement would prove to be costly , because in time, his entire army would become weary and weak with hunger. Not knowing of his father's command, ...

O Foolish Marah! What were you thinking? Everything that I have taught you has been for nothing. How utterly pathetic you are! Yet, you dare tell Dibbah that you were simply following my counsel. You better know that if I was at liberty to leave my mission, I would surely seek you out and demolish you myself! I told you to cause thoughts of self pity in that mindless grungy , but you have gone too far. Sure, he pined away for a time, but you should have known that he was prone to go to t hat enemy in prayer! I assumed you realized that once you had caused him to pity his own piety, you were then to have him think that he needed to cover the hurt and forget the problems with worldly pleasures! To make him see that the only solace was to find comfort in amusement. While he silently cried over the predicament within the congregation, you should have prodded him into binge watching a television show to get his mind “off of things” or made him see merit in taking some lavish vac...

Lord willing, I will continue to post the "letters of Madam Darkshade", but for now, I am posting something I wrote a few days ago regarding criticism and scrutiny. Romans 14:1-3 , “ Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don't get into an argument over differences of opinion. Some people believe that they can eat all kinds of food. Other people with weak faith believe that they can eat only vegetables. People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people (GWT).” 1 Corinthians 13:7a, “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person... (AMP)” We have lost the art of giving someone the benefit of the doubt. In today's society, perhaps even more in the church, people have become avid critics. At some point in life, we all experience both sides of the ju...

Dear Marah, You have proved to be quite the clever temptress. Naturally, this is because you have followed through with all that I have told you to do. I heard how tensions rise during their meetings and that the grungy who prided himself in being vital to the health of the ecclessia is now planning to present himself as the bishop. It is to be expected that there will be some resistance, but this is good. Conflict always yields the most rottenness of fruit. As I mentioned before in the previous letter, this useful tool must be toyed with the idea that everything he is doing is for the ecclessia. Have him feel a slight pride in the way he abases himself. If you need an example, just look to that enemy's own scripture! Did not Simon the Magician feel like it was his moral obligation and humble duty to pursue a higher power? Who do you think planted that notion in him? I have been dancing in the world's ballad for a long time. I know what I am talking about. Fo...

Proverbs 25:25 states,  “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”  Most Americans do not realize the privilege in simply having clean, cold water accessible in their home. When I fill a glass of water, to my shame, I hardly ever think about the millions of people who have died because they have no reliable source of water. Of course, in verse 25, Solomon was illustrating a bigger point than just quenching someone’s physical thirst. He revealed that “good news” can be refreshing and reviving to one’s soul. Do you remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman by the well? He declared, “ But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life  (John 4:14).” There are millions of lives spiritually thirsty. They are destitute of  the water of everlasting life.  They need the love and lig...