Fight the Quintessential Sin

“And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” (Isaiah 2:17, ESV) Isaiah speaks of a glorious day, a day when the Lord shall defeat the quintessential sin in our lives once-and-for-all. What is the quintessentialContinue reading “Fight the Quintessential Sin”

The Way of Peace

“He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4, ESV) The year was 1969. The Vietnam War (conflict) waged with devastatingContinue reading “The Way of Peace”

100 Percent Pure

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, ESV) Ivory Snow had a commercial slogan that said it was 99 and 44/100 percent pure. This was from anContinue reading “100 Percent Pure”

No Middle Ground (Isaiah 1:24-31)

“Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness. But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.” (Isaiah 1:27–28, ESV) I was a member of a church once that relocated to the corner of Middle Ground Road and Montgomery Cross Road.Continue reading “No Middle Ground (Isaiah 1:24-31)”

The Devout Few

“If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 1:9, ESV) When the Lord brought this message to the nation, it had just experienced a time of great prosperity. Judah, the Southern Kingdom, had experienced a time peace and prosperity andContinue reading “The Devout Few”

God’s Grace

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.” (Galatians 6:18, ASV) When you ask someone to explain the grace of God, I am afraid that their explanations often fall short. The grace of God has been manifested from the beginning of time. It is infinite and all encompassing. In otherContinue reading “God’s Grace”

The Marks of Jesus

“Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17, ASV) By the end of our lives, most of us bear the scars of life. When I go to the dentist anymore, a major portion of my check-up is to see the condition of my previousContinue reading “The Marks of Jesus”

Peace and Mercy

“And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:16, ASV) In 1983, I was sitting in a Minneapolis hotel room, reading a Gideon placed Bible. I was really trying to sort out life. My wife had previously decided to get activeContinue reading “Peace and Mercy”

What Really Matters

“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” (Galatians 6:15, ASV) I heard a story about a man that took a muscle-car. You know the older cars from the 50’s and 60’s that had the big V-8 engines. Well, the car had a bad engine. So, he removed the engine and didContinue reading “What Really Matters”

Having Been Crucified

“But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14, ASV) It is a repeated theme for movies and television shows where a person is in an abusive relationship. The scenario goesContinue reading “Having Been Crucified”