Focus on Eternity

      I watched the Middle School Ministry video that was prepared for my youngest daughter as I sat beside her this morning.   We discussed what the passage found in 1 John 2 meant for her.   I cherished watching my daughter take a greater interest in her Bible theses past two weeks as we’ve been shut inside while many things in our world are difficult to understand right now.  My daughter’s youth minister talked about how we observe what we read in the Bible and how that helps us draw a personal application from the passage.   He indicated that as he was reviewing this passage, his mind wandered.   He found himself skimming over the surface and not finding anything to take away from it.   Then he decided to read it again, pausing, looking at specific words, and trying to get the message inside his heart.   We all can attest to experiences like this when reading the Bible.   As he began to look into the meaning of certain wo...

      This morning I was reading from a passage found in 1 Corinthians 9.  An underlying theme that one can read into the passage is that the church has lacked generosity where Paul is concerned.  He has invested much effort in sharing the gospel with them.  He claims them as 'his workmanship.'  He has fulfilled his calling as an apostle to this church in Corinth that has many questions, and exhibits many problems. Paul talks about the sacrifices of ministry, working without pay, and relinquishing his rights to have a normal family life.  He asks the question, if we sow spiritual things among you, is it too much to request that we reap material benefits from you?  He shares a passage from the Old Testament that indicates that even an ox must not be muzzled while it works.  He explains that this passage isn't only talking about animals but about those who work for the sake of the gospel.  Paul reveals that he has received the ...

Building Relationships              A few days ago, I came to the end of the Pentateuch, the writings of Moses.  After investing nearly two and a half months on this journey with these Divinely inspired books, I felt a little letdown.  It is though I developed a personal friendship with Moses like one feels when they read any excellent novel.   Individual stories, as well as the overall story found between Genesis and Deuteronomy, inspired me and created a kinship with those who received name recognition in Scriptures.  Even though his bones, buried in some unknown location on Mount Nebo where pagan-worship was prevalent, Moses' voice still speaks. Like the blood of Abel, foreshadowing the sacrifice of Jesus, we can receive many life lessons from Moses.         Although Moses initially resisted the leadership position that God appointed for him, at age 80 no less, he grew into an amazing...

Numerous Accounts – Balaam’s Error       The story of Balaam can cause much confusion as we put the pieces in place that describe the full story.   Aspects of this story can be found in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 2 Samuel, 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Psalm, Proverbs, Isaiah, Hosea, Micah, 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelations.   In trying to comprehend this story more fully, I uncovered a 580-page dissertation written by a theological student in 1973.   I might question how very shallow my understanding of a few chapters in Numbers might be when I try to explain the story in a handful of pages.   But because I have invested a better part of a week in following the rabbit trail through Scriptures, and I promised to write a part two, here goes.   Like any reasonable Bible student, I scrolled to the conclusion of this 580-page dissertation, and I read the final pages.   As much as I might desire to know the full meaning behind this stor...