God Can Tell Time

A recent Facebook meme featured a picture of a man sleeping on a sofa and included the following words: “Jesus slept during a storm. Daniel slept in the lion’s den. Peter slept in prison. Elijah slept while running from his executioners. No matter what the circumstances, you should take a nap. The Bible says so.” We can smile at this satirical attempt at biblical interpretation because it is patently absurd. But, sadly, this same kind of reasoning is presented by many today as serious bible study. Random verses, yanked out of their original context and grouped together to form an unwarranted conclusion. Or one verse is used in a way the original author never intended.

Let me give you an example. “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Peter 3:8). This verse is often used as a “get out of jail free” card when encountering other difficult verses where God says something is “near” or will happen “soon.” In other words, you can’t trust God’s words of timing because He may or may not mean it.

But that’s not Peter’s point. Critics were mocking Christians for saying that God’s judgment was “ready” and “near” (2 Peter 3:3-4), just as Peter said in his first letter (1 Peter 4:5-7). If Peter was using the quote from Psalm 90 in v.8 like many modern interpreters, he would be telling the critics something along the lines of: “Now I know I said the judgment was near, but don’t take that literally. It could be thousands of years because God doesn’t tell time like we do.” But that isn’t what he does. In fact, in the very next verse, he tells them that “the Lord is NOT slow about His promise…” (2 Peter 3.9).

God isn’t restricted by time but He certainly knows how to tell it. He communicates timing to us in ways we understand. And we shouldn’t misuse verses to teach otherwise.

God loves you!

Mike

There Is No Place Like Home

Sabrina A. Matoff wrote a short piece entitled “Where You Call Home.” Here are her words: “In the end, it doesn't matter where you were born, but where you called home. Not how big your home was, but the strength of its foundation. Not where you studied books, but how much light guided your way. It doesn't matter what grades led you to college, but how college led you to experience life. Not whether you gained riches in currency, but emotional wealth in your relationships. Not how many people knew your name, but how many individuals knew your heart. Not whether you achieved fame in the public spotlight, but cherished value in your daily routine. In the end, is doesn't matter what goals were attained, but how many dreams you envisioned. Not what mountains blocked your roads, but what peaks opened your senses. In the end, it doesn't matter where you may wander as long as you know your way home…”

“Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home” (Proverbs 27:8). The prodigal son in the story told by Jesus in Luke 15 couldn’t wait to leave home. The story itself doesn’t go into the reasons why, but we could imagine a few. Maybe he got tired of being told what to do. Perhaps he wanted to see the world beyond the horizon for himself. It could be that his older brother was getting on his nerves. Who knows? Whatever the reasons, he packed his bag and left. Who needs home, anyway?

But it didn’t take too long for reality to smack him right in the face. The home he was so anxious to leave began to look better to him. He began to long for the things he abandoned. And, thankfully, he had a father who was more than willing to welcome him home with open arms (Luke 15:20-24). How thankful we can be for a Father Who also welcomes wanderers home! Truly, there is no place like home!

God loves you!

Mike

Who Cares?

“Did you hear about the company that makes blank bumper stickers? They're for people who don't want to get involved.”* This humorous quote highlights a very real mental and emotional struggle that affects many: apathy. “Apathy, also referred to as indifference, is a lack of feeling, emotion, interest, and/or concern about something. It is a state of indifference, and/or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation, or passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, philosophical, virtual, or physical life and the world.” (wikipedia.org).

In a world where we have 24\7 access to all of the world’s problems, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with a sense of “what’s the use anyway?” When one reaches the point where it seems that nothing will make a difference, the temptation is to give up trying. Even children of God, who have every reason to be hopeful, aren’t immune to bouts of apathy. Perhaps that's why we are so often encouraged not to be apathetic. Here are some examples: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:9). “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good” (2 Thessalonians 3:13). When apathy leads to inaction, the results can be serious. “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). The church in Laodicea was singled out for a stinging rebuke by the Risen Lord for this very issue: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

“Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings” (Helen Keller).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/a/apathy.htm 

That's Showbiz

I ran across this paragraph on Facebook recently and it resonated with me: “The Church was never called to compete with the world for attention. If we have to entertain people into the room, eventually we will have to entertain them to keep them there. Jesus did not call us to build crowds. He called us to make disciples. That means we preach the Word. We call people to repentance. We worship Jesus. We pray. We disciple. We love people deeply. And we trust the Holy Spirit to do what entertainment never can: transform hearts. The goal is not to make church more impressive. The goal is to make disciples who truly know Jesus, follow Jesus, and become more like Jesus.” (John Patrick Wright)

We live in a world where entertainment opportunities abound. Companies and causes have to become more and more entertaining to compete for our increasingly-limited attention spans and increasingly-depleted bank accounts. Even serious discussions over serious matters have to be presented in an entertaining way to get views and clicks on social media. As the title of Neil Postman’s 1985 book suggests, maybe we are “Amusing Ourselves To Death.”

Some churches have been infected with the entertainment virus . After all, if you have to compete with the NFL or YouTube or Netflix to put bodies in the seats on Sundays, you better put on a good show and have lots of options. But beware! As the paragraph above points out, your surge in attendance will quickly evaporate when another group puts on a better show and offers more options than you do. After all, “that showbiz” as they say.

Where did we ever get the idea that our assemblies need to be entertaining? It’s instructive to me that Jesus never seemed to get the memo that attracting crowds was the highest priority. Yes, Jesus taught and ministered to large crowds (John 6:2-5) but that wasn’t the endgame. He was seeking committed followers even if that caused the crowd to shrink appreciably (John 6:66-67). 

God loves you!

Mike 

When Words Get In The Way

“Cartha Deloach served as J. Edgar Hoover's assistant at the FBI from 1965 to 1970. He tells a humorous story sharing insight into Hoover's quirky personality, as well as exposing the power of misunderstanding and ambiguous communication:

“One day a memo on internal security that had been sent up to Hoover came back with a message in the familiar scrawl: "Watch the borders! H." Telephones began to ring all over the building, everyone asking the same question: "Is there anything going on in Mexico or Canada we should know about?" "Maybe we ought to call the Immigration and Naturalization Service." Somebody said, "Why don't you just ask Hoover what he knows that we don't know?" But no one wanted to show his ignorance. So we called Customs and they didn't know any more than we did.

“Several days later a supervisor was again reviewing the memo when the answer to the question jumped out and smacked him in the face. The memo had been typed with the narrowest possible margins. Hoover, always fastidious, had picked up his pen and in annoyance had scrawled, "Watch the borders!" (illustrationexchange.com)

Words can be tricky things. That is why they should be used with care. This story illustrates how even plain speech can be misunderstood when the speaker and the hearer do not have a shared reference point. Of course the good news about salvation in Christ is the most valuable message we have to share. Paul speaks of the gospel as “...treasure in earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Perhaps that is why he never wanted how he used his words about the good news to get in the way. He desired “...to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void” (1 Corinthians 1:17). Paul desired his hearers to be converted to Christ by the power of God, not the power of his oratory skills (2 Corinthians 2:4-5). May the words we choose and the way we use them never obscure the cross of Christ.

God loves you!

Mike

The Supremacy Of Love

“In his book Chicken Soup for the Soul, Eric Butterworth tells of a college sociology class that was sent into the Baltimore slums to take case histories of 200 young boys. The students were required to write an evaluation of each boy’s projected future, and in virtually every case, they wrote, “He hasn’t got a chance.”

“Some twenty-five years later, another professor came across the earlier study and decided to do a follow-up study. With the exception of twenty boys who had died or moved, the study revealed that 176 of the remaining 180 boys had gone on to surprising success, with many becoming lawyers, doctors, and leading businessmen.

“When the men were asked for the reasons that contributed to their successes, they all pointed to one particular teacher who had influenced them. The teacher was still alive, so the professor went to visit her to ask how she had influenced boys seemingly destined for poverty and crime to become such success stories. “It’s really very simple,” she responded. “I loved those boys.”*

The life-changing power of love is truly amazing! It’s also something that the Bible has taught all along. Notice how Jesus emphasizes it. When someone asks Him about the greatest commandment, here is what he says: “And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets”” (Matthew 22:37-40). I suppose that’s why Paul would promote love as supreme over human and angelic speech, over prophecy and knowledge, and over sacrificial generosity (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). These things are all important in their own way but will fail. But love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Even faith and hope, as vital as they are, yield to the supremacy of love -- “...the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). 

God loves you!

Mike

*Robert R. Kopp, Logans Ferry Presbyterian Church, New Kensington, PA

Own It

        In Psalm 7, David is appealing to God for deliverance from wicked opponents who were seeking to harm him in some way. He vividly describes them as a lion seeking to tear his soul and drag him away (vv.1-2). He calls upon God, as the Righteous Judge, to rise up and vindicate him before his enemies (vv.6-11). And while the upright can trust God to deliver them, the wicked cannot expect the same treatment (vv.12-16).

But in the midst of this larger discussion, David has a moment of introspection. Note what he writes in vv. 3-5: “O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to my friend, or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; and let him trample my life down to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah” (Psalm 7:3-5). David was struggling to find a reason for what he was enduring. These words perhaps give us some insight into the methods of David’s accusers. In some way, they were calling into question his character. It isn’t that he is professing to be sinless but he does believe there is no basis for the accusations against him. To his credit, David is willing to own it if he has been blind to his own flaws.

This is a great example to all of us when we face our own critics in life. It’s always good to pause long enough to consider if perhaps our struggles with others may be the result of some sinful behavior in our own life. It may or may not be true. If our conscience is clear, then great. Forge ahead and trust God to deal with the critics. But if there is a sin in our life that has provided fuel for the critic, then we need to own it before God (and maybe even our critic). May God help us to be honest about our own flaws

God loves you!

Mike

 

Like A Dread Champion

“I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears. My eye has wasted away with grief; it has become old because of all my adversaries” (Psalm 6:6-7).

Perhaps these words of David resonate with you. Maybe you have walked the road of suffering that makes this description seem hauntingly familiar. The specific situation that prompted the deep emotions isn’t revealed. He does mention “adversaries” in v.6 and “enemies” in v.10. Whatever the “backstory,” the pain and struggle David is experiencing is deep and overwhelming. Where do you turn in times like these?

David turns to the Lord. And in doing so, he has a word for those who were causing him grief. “Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD has heard my supplication, the LORD receives my prayer.” (Psalm 6:8-9). What gives David confidence to confront his adversaries?  His hope is centered in the faithful attention of God. “...for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping…” (v.8). “The LORD has heard my supplication…” (v.9). “...the LORD receives my prayer.” (v.9). 

The final verse in Psalm 6 highlights an important reversal. “All my enemies will be ashamed and greatly dismayed; they shall turn back, they will suddenly be ashamed” (v.10). Earlier in the psalm, it was David’s bones and soul that were dismayed (vv. 2-3). Now it’s David’s enemies who will experience it. David’s hope in God allows him to see the fate of his enemies, even though his eyes are filled with tears.

When you are facing your own difficult season in life, remember you have a Champion in your corner. “But the LORD is with me like a dread champion; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten” (Jeremiah 20:11). Lean on Him to deal with your adversaries.

God loves you!

Mike

Switched At Birth

The headline of an apnews.com article from July 17, 2026, reads “Men sue hospital after DNA tests showed they were switched at birth 38 years ago.” Here is part of the article: “The families of two men who discovered through DNA tests that they were switched at birth 38 years ago are accusing a North Dakota hospital of robbing them of the lives they were supposed to lead. Kyle Bylin discovered his birth family after taking an at-home test he chose randomly during a Christmas gift-exchange. That led to his biological aunt on a genealogy platform. Her nephew, Jeremy Morrison, then had his DNA tested. The results were irrefutable. “That’s when my mind was just completely blown,” Bylin said. “We could have never imagined that it was an actual birth switch that occurred.” Morrison said he was convinced as soon as he saw a photo of Bylin’s brother and realized they looked very much alike. Bylin and Morrison were the only babies born on Jan. 26, 1988, at Unity Medical Center in Grafton, North Dakota, according to their lawsuit filed in state court last week. Somehow, they went home with the wrong parents.”

If you are a child of God, do you realize you were switched at birth? Everyone who turns to God and puts their faith in Christ is spiritually reborn. Jesus puts it this way: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). At the moment of that birth, some switching takes place. We switch kingdoms: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). We also exchange death for life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). Thank God we were switched at birth!

God loves you!

Mike 

Plant A Tree

“As Napoleon met in conference with his generals, he began discussing the problem of moving his armies across Europe during the summer heat. He proposed planting shade trees along the roads of the continent. His ministers said, “Why, that will take thirty years!” To that, Napoleon replied, “Then begin immediately. We don’t have a moment to waste.” Men and women of vision know that their dreams may not become reality overnight, but they are willing to begin the process that will ultimately culminate in success” (preaching.com).

The principle of being willing to begin the process is a vital part of any successful endeavor. An ancient Chinese proverb puts it this way: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." It is so true! Let’s apply this idea to the struggle that all of us face in overcoming a persistent sin in our lives. Viewed as a whole, the battle can seem unwinnable. We seek to overcome the sin but, often, the defeats are more numerous than the victories. In such cases, some find it easier to not even make the effort any more. “What’s the use? I’m not going to succeed anyway?”

Perhaps part of the problem is being overly-focused on comparing victories and defeats in our battle against sin. Of course, we should have some sense of the overall progress of the battle. But if that is our only metric, then it can be easy to get distracted and discouraged. A better course of action would be to start each day with a commitment to take that first step. When presented with an opportunity to commit that sin that gives us so much trouble, we say “no” that first time without thinking about the other times we may have to do it again. After taking that first step, then we lean on that victory to help us say “no” the next time. The battle is won by being successful in many smaller skirmishes. Take that first step before thinking about all the others that will need to follow. Plant a tree and the shade will eventually come.

God loves you!

Mike

Rise And Shine!

“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch” (Psalm 5:1-3). Prayer is a great way to start our day. Connecting with God before the needs of the day ahead fill our minds helps us to focus on what’s important. Notice what David includes in his morning prayer.

First, David reflects on God’s character. “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. You destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit” (Psalm 5:4-6).

Second, David seeks God’s guidance. “But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, at Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You. O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; make Your way straight before me” (Psalm 5:7-8).

Third, David appeals for God’s intervention (5.9-10). “There is nothing reliable in what they say; their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Hold them guilty, O God; by their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, for they are rebellious against You” (Psalm 5:9-10).

Fourth, David acknowledges God’s blessings. “But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield” (5:11-12).

How we start the day often sets the tone for what follows. Perhaps David’s prayer can spark some ideas for you as you talk with God in the morning.

God loves you!

Mike

How Did I End Up Here?

“Apollo, a 13-year-old Shih Tzu, went missing in Florida and was found over 1,000 miles away in Long Island, New York. A Florida family says they were overjoyed to be reunited with their dog, who had been missing for more than two months — but were shocked to learn that he had turned up more than 1,000 miles away in New York. Speaking with FOX 35 Orlando and WKMG, the Josey family of Marion County, Fla., shared that their 13-year-old Shih Tzu, Apollo, had disappeared from their home after he made his way out through a gate in April this year. "We definitely kept the faith, held out hope," Vera Josey told FOX of the pet's disappearance. "We still got his dog food, we still got his toys, we've still got all his stuff. So we knew Apollo was gonna come home. It was just a matter of when”” (people.com; June 29, 2026). I’m sure that Apollo didn’t plan on being gone for two months and traveling for over 1000 miles when he snuck out a gate near his home. But that’s what happened anyway. If the little dog could talk, imagine the stories he would have to tell.

This story is a great illustration of how sin works. Most don’t plan to end up a thousand miles away from God when all they wanted was to just have a little stroll outside the gate. But one sin led to another - and another - until, suddenly, they found themselves in a place they never thought they’d be. A famous quote puts it this way: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay." I suppose the prodigal son understood this when he found himself in a distant country with empty pockets and hungry enough to eat pig food (Luke 15:11-16). Don’t mess with sin! Even a little bit can lead to much bigger problems. Thankfully, God waits to welcome us when we return home (Luke 15:20).

God loves you!

Mike

Big And Little Things

“Leslie Weatherhead recalled a woman who received a letter from a soldier she did not know. His name was Murray, and he wrote from the battlefield. Murray wrote that he had once been in her Sunday School class, and she had spoken about Christ as a hero for the boys. He mentioned the date when this woman’s words had altered his whole life’s perspective.

“She had kept a diary, so she turned to see her entry for the date Murray had mentioned. She learned that she had come home that particular Sunday discouraged, and thought about giving up teaching. The entry read: “Had an awful time. The boys were so restless. I am not cut out for this kind of thing. I had to take two classes together. No one listened, except, at the end, a boy from the other class called Murray seemed to be taking it in. He grew very quiet and subdued, but I expect he was just tired of playing” (Edward Chinn, All Saints Church, Philadelphia, PA).

This story reminds me of how the Lord can do much with very little. In John 6, a large crowd had gathered and Jesus tested Philip by asking him to find a way to feed them (6:5-6). The task appeared to be insurmountable (6:7). Andrew points out a lad with a sack lunch but doesn’t believe that will make any difference (6:8-9). There’s no way to feed a crowd of 5000 men, not counting the women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish, right? By the time Jesus was done, everyone had eaten their fill and there were twelve baskets of leftovers (6:11-13)!

Who knows what the Lord might do with our seemingly feeble efforts and meager resources? Something as simple as a cup of cold water can make a big difference (Matthew 10:42). Sure, aim for big things, but never forget to do the “little” things along the way. Your “sack lunch” may become a feast for others who desperately need it.

God loves you!

Mike

When Words Become Weapons

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer. O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.” (Psalm 4:1-3). Many of the psalms are written as an appeal to God for help in a difficult situation in life. This psalm of David is no exception. The threat here seems to be more verbal than physical. David’s opponents were slandering him. What can be done when words become weapons used against you?

First, “Tremble, and do not sin…” (4:4a). This part of the psalm is quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:26 as he encourages Christians not to let their anger get out of control. David is reminding himself not to give into the temptation to lash out at his slanderers. Revenge is best left to God.

Second, “...meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still” (4:4b). Don’t lose sleep over the worthless words of the wicked. Instead, think deeply on the good words of God and others who support you. Those words provide calm instead of agitation.

Third, “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness…” (4:5a). Continue to focus on honoring and serving God instead of being distracted by the words and actions of others. 

And fourth, “...and trust in the LORD.” (4:5b). Never forget to trust God. Placing your trust in anyone or anything else, like the approval of others, is doomed to failure.

Remembering these things will help to give you peace in face of the slander and reproach of others. When words become weapons, you don’t have to respond in kind. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety” (4:8).  Now, get some sleep!

God loves you!

Mike 

Everyone's Against Me!

“O LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God”” (Psalm 3:1-2).

It’s easy during the difficult times in life to think that everyone is against you. The words quoted above from Psalm 3 are attributed to King David during a tough stretch in his own life. His son Absalom was leading a rebellious effort to take over the throne and appeared to be succeeding at it. The mighty warrior king David, who had defeated a physical giant, was now on the run from a “giant” of another kind. It looked like everyone was siding with Absalom (2 Samuel 15:12-13). As David and his followers fled Jerusalem, the mocking words of Shimei must have stung more than the stones he was throwing: “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!” (2 Samuel 16:7-8).

What can you do when everything and everyone seems to be against you? Here’s what David did. First, he remembered Who God is in his life. “But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head” (Psalm 3:3). Second, he remembered what God had done in his life. “I was crying to the LORD with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about” (Psalm 3:4-6). Third, he trusted God to continue to take care of him. “Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be upon Your people!” (Psalm 3:7-8).

David’s faith in God is what carried him through a dark time in his life. As we face our own difficulties, I pray that we can learn from his example.

God loves you!

Mike

Ants And Elephants

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”” (Psalm 2:1-3).

These words, written by the Psalmist long ago, have a familiar ring to them, don’t they? In many ways, it seems our current world is likewise bent on self-destruction. Much of that upheaval is fueled by a rebellion against God and His standards for the world He created. Unbelievers, encouraged by the immoral and anti-God sentiment in the world around them, are emboldened in their rebellion. It’s easy for a believer to get discouraged and maybe even to have doubts about God’s ability to handle such a situation. Is God rattled by those who defy Him? Is He wringing His hands in desperation? Not a bit. Notice how the psalm continues:

“He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain”” (Psalm 2:4-6). This isn’t nervous laughter. It is the laughter of One Who responds from a position of overwhelming power and authority. It really is humorous when you think about it. Imagine, if you will, an ant shaking its fist at an elephant and you have a tiny example of the gulf between the defiant plots of humanity against God.

A better plan would be to submit before God and His King. “Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:10-12). Opposing God is a losing proposition.

God loves you!

Mike 

Like Apples Of Gold

“In his old age, President James Madison suffered from many ailments and took a variety of medicines. It is said that a longtime friend from a nearby county sent him a box of vegetable pills, one of his own home remedies, asking to be informed if they brought relief. In time he received one of those gracious and carefully worded letters for which Madison was noted. It went something like this: "My dear friend, I thank you very much for the box of pills. I have taken them all; and while I cannot say I am better since taking them, it is quite possible that I might have been worse if I had not taken them."*

Dictionary.com defines “tact" as “...a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.” Some people pride themselves on being blunt and saying what they think regardless of how it might affect others. In many cases, such harsh words usually just stir up angry reactions (Proverbs 15:1). Of course there are times when plain speech is clearly needed. If I see one of my grandchildren about to run out into the street and a car is coming, I will not be concerned with tactful speech. Most likely I will forcefully yell “Stop!” without concern for tactfully sparing their feelings.

But in times when lives are not in danger, it is best to measure our words, giving consideration to how they may affect others. Earlier to this article, I referenced Proverbs 15:1 about how “...a harsh word stirs up anger.” The same verse also reminds us that “...a gentile answer turns away wrath. How we speak to others goes a long way toward predicting how they will speak to us. “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Proverbs 25:11).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/t/tact.htm

Keep Your Eyes On Jesus

“Two boys were playing in the snow one day, when one said to the other, “Let’s see who can make the straightest path in the snow.” His companion readily accepted the proposition, and they started. One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along without taking his eyes off the object selected. The other boy set his eyes on the tree also, and, when he had gone a short distance, he turned, and looked back to see how true his course was. He went a little distance farther, and again turned to look over his steps. When they arrived at their stopping place, each halted and looked back. One path was true as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course. “How did you get your path so true?” asked the boy who had made the crooked steps. “Why,” said the other boy, “I just set my eyes on the tree, and kept them there until I got to the end; while you stopped and looked back and wandered out of your course.””*

This was a lesson I learned as a youngster as I was being taught to plant and cultivate straight rows of corn. I was told to keep looking forward, concentrating on guiding the tractor where it was supposed to go. If you did so, the planter or cultivator you were pulling had to follow correctly. But the temptation was to look back to see how you were doing. Nearly always, when I did so, the tractor would wander off course and the implement would follow, damaging crops in the process.

Focusing on Jesus is vital to our spiritual lives. That’s why Paul talked about “...forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13). The Hebrew writer encourages us to be “...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith…” (Hebrews 12:2). Our world is full of distractions that can lure us away from what is truly important. Keep your eyes on Jesus!

God loves you!

Mike

*Heartwarming Bible Illustrations, Richard Steele; quoted by ministry127.com

Artificially Real

Add this to the list of signs that the digital apocalypse may be imminent. The following is from a recent article on futurism.com titled “New Browser Plugin Adds Typos to Your AI-Generated Emails to Make Them Look Real.”

“The advent of large language model-based writing tools have given lazy or unconfident writers incredible new shortcuts that can spit out everything from glossy work emails to crispy school papers. The problem, of course, is that bosses and teachers around the world quickly got wise to the phenomenon — and as a result, any text that feels too tidy and polished has started to arouse suspicion.

“Now, in an effort to reintroduce some of the messiness of human writing — and hide our AI addiction — venture capitalist Ben Horwitz used Anthropic’s Claude AI to vibe code a browser plugin that does something that would have seemed preposterous just a few years ago: intentionally adding typos to emails. “I made the anti-Grammarly,” he bragged, referring to a popular, AI-powered spelling and grammar checker. “Mess up your emails with AI.”

Artificial intelligence can be a very powerful and useful tool. But the rise of A.I. has also highlighted some potential dangers. One such danger is that it can blur the line between what is artificial or fake and what is real. For example, pictures can be digitally created that appear to be the real thing. Voices and images can be altered to make it appear that someone said or did something they didn’t really say or do. And when people get to the point where they can’t tell the difference between what is fake or real, they tend to gravitate toward extremes. They either begin to believe everything or believe nothing. Do you know anyone like that?

The enemy loves to blur the line between what is fake and what is real. The Bible tells us that “...even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:4). Does that mean A.I. is demonic? No. But, like everything else, the devil will try to use it to his advantage if he can.

God loves you!

Mike

Be Kind To One Another

“Geraldine Brooks won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel March. Her love for books was nurtured by a woman named Althea Glasby, a friend of her grandfather’s. One day Geraldine’s grandfather mentioned to Miss Glasby that his little granddaughter loved to read. From that day forward a parcel arrived for Geraldine every birthday and every Christmas. Each parcel contained an expensively bound, lavishly illustrated edition of a book carefully selected for Geraldine. Inscribed in the front cover of each, in flowing script, were these words, “To Geraldine, with love from Althea Glasby”.

“Geraldine Brooks never met Althea Glasby. She has no idea what inspired this woman to start sending her the books. But this is what she had to say, “I have no idea why this woman spent so much time and thought on a child she didn’t know… Whatever the reason, I wish I could thank her in person. I wish I could tell her how those books shored up a love for the written word that grew over time into a career and a calling. I would like to give her one of the books I’ve written, nice, hardback first edition. The signature wouldn’t be as fine and fluid as hers, but in my own pedestrian scrawl I would say thank you, for the gifts that helped to lead me to a life in books.””*

How can we make a difference in a world full of anger, hate, and division? We might not be able to change the whole world but, like Althea Glasby, we might make a difference one life at a time. Is there a Geraldine Brooks in our own spheres of influence whose life could be changed by acts of kindness? It doesn’t have to be a grand, glorious, or expensive effort to be effective. It might be a kind word spoken in a difficult time. It could be a kindness show when it is least expected. “Be kind to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32).

God loves you!

Mike

*Source: story details in McCrindle, The Power of Good, Hybrid Publishers 2011 

Waiting

“Back in the 1970s, a group of researchers at Stanford University set up a famous experiment with young children. It’s known as the Marshmallow Test. Here’s how it worked: A child was placed in a room with a marshmallow on the table. The adult told the child, “You can eat this marshmallow now. But if you wait 15 minutes, I’ll give you two.” Then they left the room. What followed was a lesson in human nature. Some kids stared at the marshmallow. Some poked it. A few even licked it. Others sang, danced, or covered their eyes — anything to distract themselves from the temptation. Some gave in. But others waited. And those who waited? They didn’t just get the second marshmallow — they were tracked for years after. The researchers found that kids who were able to wait tended to do better in school, manage stress more effectively, and even had healthier relationships.”*

It’s hard to wait, isn’t it? And our modern world doesn’t make it any easier. We have instant potatoes, instant coffee, and instant communication. Not only are we told we can have it all but that we can have it all right now. According to most advertisers, waiting is for losers. After all, you know what they say -- “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

Of course, there are some things you should take care of right away. If you are not a child of God through faith in Christ, then don’t put that off. But often, the Scriptures encourage us to wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14). We wait for God to take vengeance instead of taking our own (Romans 12:19). We wait for God to fulfill some of His promises (Hebrews 6:11-15). We wait for God to right all the wrongs in the world (Psalm 37:7,9).

Yes, waiting for the Lord can be hard but it has rewards. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:25).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.newstartdiscipleship.com/post/34-sermon-illustrations-on-hope

Sowing And Reaping

“There was once a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won first prize. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned the farmer’s strategy for growing winning corn. What was it? Simply this: the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked. “Why” said the farmer, “don’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn.””

We reap what we sow. This natural law was part of the physical world that God created. Plants and animals were designed to reproduce “according to their kind” (Genesis 1:11-12, 24-25). But we also learn that the same thing is true in the spiritual realm. If we choose to act in evil ways, we can expect a harvest of trouble. “One who sow injustice will reap disaster…” (Proverbs 22:8). Paul gave this warning to the churches of Galatia: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh will reap destruction…” (Galatians 6:7-8a). But if we choose to act in good and generous ways, we can expect a different kind of harvest. “The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a true reward” (Proverbs 11:18). “Sow with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness….” (Hosea 10:12).

We need to think carefully about the spiritual seeds we are sowing. Before speaking and acting, consider what kind of crop can be expected from such words and deeds. Will it bring a good harvest or an evil one?

God loves you!

Mike

*Source: reported in James Bender, How to Talk Well (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1994)