The Marvelous Message

Just a couple weeks ago, I took my kids to the children's museum in Tuscaloosa. They have several interesting exhibits, but there was one that day that my daughter insisted we see. It was just a small classroom that looked like it had been plucked out of the 1930s. Of course, she was to be the teacher and I had to sit on a bench for toddlers, acting like an eager pupil. While I listened to her tell me about the “ABQs” and bears, I noticed some old school books that were on display. I managed to grab one, without getting scolded by the teacher, and started to thumb threw it. It was the revised edition of  McGuffy's Third Eclectic Reader,  which was   published in the 1920s. It was filled with different stories and lessons, but a certain poem, entitled  Remember,  caught my attention. Indeed, I was somewhat taken aback over what it stated: Remember, Child, remember, That God is in the sky; That He looks down on all we do. With an ever-wakeful eye. ...

Saul was not always that jealously vicious king children often hear about in Sunday school. At one time, he was humble, perceptive, and bold. Yet, because he made a foolish and hasty decision to offer an unlawful sacrifice to the Lord, Samuel prophesied that Saul would ultimately lose his throne to another (1 Samuel 13). Many conjectures may be made over what went on in Saul's mind once he realized the gravity of his brash decision, but the fact is that instead of fully repenting over his sin, he let the wound fester by allowing doubt and bitterness lodge in his heart. After Samuel's rebuke, Saul camped out in Gibeah with only six hundred men. They were a ragtag team with little weapons and dampened spirits. It is not known whether Saul was planning an attack, standing his ground, or simply hiding from the Philistines. What is certain is that his son, Jonathan, would manifest heroic bravery and unflinching faith. In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan chooses to fight instead of sit idl...

     In my last two articles, I explained two imperative steps that are needed for a diminishing church to thrive once more. First, genuine confession as revealed in James 5:16. Second , renewed dedication as revealed in Romans 12:1-2. As I stated before, I am in no way claiming to be some grand expert in the field of church growth. I am simply magnifying what has already been established in the scriptures. Also, I would encourage you to read the book Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer. It is an easy read, but very informative to what a dying church really looks like and what can be done about it.      You must understand that all of us has to be careful when it comes to relying on steps, formulas, and principles. Because, Christians tend to employ more devotion and care in following a “do good” checklist rather than in simply walking with God. Throughout my life, I have heard preachers say, “If you love God, then you’ll do more for Him!” Ins...

We have our spiritual programs, concerts, and conferences We have mounted our doctrines, promoted our denominations, and pushed our preferences We have booked calendars, busy lives, and countless bibles We have bumper stickers about faith, T-Shirts with scripture, and a mass marketed message of the gospel Yet, there is a steep decline in church attendance, a constant scorn for holy living, and a growing disdain for one's fellow man There is confusion over identity, carelessness over eternity, and an increase of biblical incompetence Perhaps it is because Christians have sought the favor of man above the fullness of the Spirit We have heralded our denominational differences, rather than proclaim the gospel to all who will hear it We mask our fear of complete surrender by hiding in a pew and handing over a tithe We timidly wade the surface of Christ-likeness rather than willingly take the glorious dive We must come ...

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...

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...

When He chose David to be king over His people, God said of him , “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will (Acts 13:22).”   We often use such terms in day to day life. For example, if a man finds out that another man has similar traits, likes, & dislikes he will often say, “Well there is a guy after my own heart!”   However,   what does it really mean to be one “ after God’s own heart ?” To answer this, I want to focus on two factors found in the life of David. You see, David wrote in Psalms 62:5-6 , 8, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved….   Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah . ”   Many of His Psalms reveal his spiritual longing and passion for God. Psalm 62 was written by David during a time of great distress. It is not clear ...