Tag: Christ

The Classroom Nobody Asks To Enter

Brent Pollard

No one ever really wants to come to this school. They never looked at a promotional pamphlet about it. They didn’t circle the first day of school on their calendars with excitement. Yet, God keeps a watchful eye on this ancient classroom. Even after thousands of years, its curriculum hasn’t changed. One of the earliest lessons it teaches is want.

Attendance at this school would never be something we would choose. Left to our own devices, we would design a curriculum brimming with abundance: every prayer answered swiftly, every door welcoming us at the first knock. However, that is not a school; it is a nursery. God doesn’t want to coddle individuals who stay stuck in their growth (see Hebrews 5.11-14).

In the tough times we face, there’s a unique gentleness to be found: the pauses, the imperfections, and the obstacles, which resemble the desks in a classroom, representing our journeys. At these desks, we uncover unique insights that you won’t find anywhere else. Comfort allows us to see the blessings we receive from God, but difficulty is the teacher who helps us grasp our profound need for God Himself. When all comforts are stripped away, the only lesson that endures is the one learned at the desk of deprivation.

Paul’s Diploma from the School of Want

Paul didn’t simply earn his diploma from this “school of want” by focusing solely on theory. He earned it through real struggles: scars, shipwrecks, feelings of emptiness, and even time spent in a prison cell (see 2 Corinthians 11.23-28). From one such cell, he wrote, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4.11). The term “learned” carries weight and meaning. Finding contentment wasn’t a simple task; it required patience and nurturing, much like mastering a new language. Initially, it was a bit uncomfortable and uncertain, but over time, with patience and practice, it became more natural and easier for Paul. Paul’s journey shows how facing challenges can lead to genuine happiness.

This isn’t a blend of stoicism and faith. Stoicism dulls its desires; Paul acknowledges his. He expresses, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” (Philippians 4.12). He experienced hunger. He experienced a deep sense of humiliation. He just wouldn’t allow either of them to have the last say over his spirit.

Then Paul shares a little secret, almost casually: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4.13). This line, situated between hunger and abundance, highlights that genuine strength comes not from ambition but from Christ’s support. Here, the “strength” isn’t about conquering the world; it’s about remaining authentic and steadfast as you journey through the tough lessons that accompany desire. The metaphor emphasizes a profound faith in God that transcends the world’s temporary victories.

This is the central idea that the message of contentment centers on. Contentment isn’t just about having all our wishes fulfilled; it’s about understanding that even when we face shortages, the goodness of God is always present and unwavering. Paul didn’t just experiment with this while among the safety of his brethren; he put it into practice in a Roman cell, and it really worked.

The Lie That Wealth Whispers

Examine Paul’s testimony alongside his warning to reveal a distinct difference. He shares with Timothy about those “who want to get rich” and who find themselves “in temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires” (1 Timothy 6.9). Money itself isn’t the enemy, but the obsession with it—the idea that adding another zero will somehow bring happiness—definitely is.

Wealth brings dreams that can sometimes feel just out of reach. It’s often said that security is something we accumulate, that we’re always just one transaction away from feeling safe. It’s the enduring charm of attraction, now presented in a portfolio instead of a serpent’s skin. The impact extends far beyond mere financial loss. Paul notes that some people have wandered away from their beliefs, chasing after them and bringing upon themselves “many griefs” (1 Timothy 6.10). You cannot devote yourself to a deity that does not reciprocate your affection.

This is the reason the well-known verse is positioned exactly where it is. It is supported on both sides by the reminder: “Godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment” (1 Timothy 6.6). Seeking gain has always been a valid ambition. We simply searched for it in the wrong field. True gain isn’t about accumulating more possessions. It reflects the soul’s deepening ability to find peace in God, regardless of circumstances.

Christ, the Believer’s Undiminishable Portion

What should you do when a lesson feels like it’s holding on to you? What happens if the job doesn’t materialize, the diagnosis remains unchanged, and our prayers seem to fall silent? Even in those moments, remember that you are not alone—hope awaits you beyond the pain. Don’t force a smile and pretend that pain feels good. Scripture doesn’t make that request. Instead, look beyond your empty hand to the Hand that has always held on.

This is the gentle reassurance found in Scripture: God is the refuge for those who have nothing else. “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup,” the psalmist sang, long before Paul came along (Psalm 16.5). Not divine blessings. God Himself. God. Even without any blessings, the believer still possesses the one true Blessing.

There’s an incredible tenderness in this moment. A divine being, enveloped in radiant light, humbles themself to become the treasure for those who possess nothing. We were created, in the innermost part of our hearts, for nothing less than Him. Every desire He permits is an act of love, purging that space and making room for only Him to occupy it. It isn’t joy that we seek, but rather the joy that ultimately reveals itself—much like a famine that shows us that bread was never the true goal. He was the center of it all. He was always the center of attention.

Living in the Classroom Today

How do you handle a no in the moment of truth?

Begin with small steps. Communicate honestly and express your desires openly in the presence of God. Do not pretend to have the peace you do not possess. Rely on Philippians 4.13 not just for lofty ambitions but also to find strength when facing challenges. Keep in mind the lesson from 1 Timothy 6: the things you pursue often fall short of what they promise. Finally, return to the intended portion. Whisper it softly until it resonates within you, just as it did for Paul: Lord, I may not have what I desired, but I have You. That is not insignificant. It’s a huge gain.

No one actively seeks to enter this school, yet everyone finds themselves walking its halls and eventually graduating—some with a sense of bitterness, others with a feeling of blessing, some with clenched fists, and others with contented hearts. Christ stands as the enduring guide in this ongoing journey of desire, sharing the essential truth that mere comfort cannot provide: He is, and has always been, enough.

A Story You Don’t Hear In Vacation Bible School

Dale Pollard

Civil war has broken out in the kingdom after Saul’s death. David is a patriot who loves his people so he offers to treat Saul’s followers well after Judah crowns him as king. However, a man named, Abner, takes matters into his own hands and he defies God’s chosen king. He sets up Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth, as their new ruler instead. Abner, who was the general of Saul’s army, along with the servants of Ish-bosheth, make their way to the pool of Gibeon. This was a large pool carved out of rock by Saul’s father. Once they arrive they sit down. On the opposite side of the pool, Joab, David’s nephew, and his servants meet them and sit as well. Behind them, two armies stand in formation, ready for war— brother against brother. Abner, perhaps to prevent the death toll that a larger battle would bring, suggests that their servants fight for them. Joab agrees, but this idea quickly leads to a slaughter. Each servant grabs the other by the head, clinching hair in a tight fist, and cuts each other down simultaneously. This short altercation doesn’t provide a victor, so both armies charge each other. It’s a battle that is fought with so much passion, but God grants David’s army with the win. I imagine the Man After God’s Own Heart did not take joy in this victory. The chaos of war has already taken so much from him, including the life of his best friend, Jonathan.

After the battle of Gibeon has ended, David’s nephew, Asahel, takes off after the fleeing Abner. Asahel was known for his speed and agility, with it being likened to that of a gazelle. This speed allowed him to pass the others that were also in pursuit and he finds himself on the heels of Abner in no time. His swiftness will bring him a swift death. While Abner is not as quick, he is older with more experience. Twice Abner asks Asahel to stop this foolish attempt to take his life, but Asahel doesn’t take this advice. This is when Abner thrusts his spear behind him and the butt end of the spear goes through Asahel’s stomach and out the other side, killing the young warrior. 

This is probably an account you never heard in Vacation Bible School, but there is so much we can learn from this event found in 2 Samuel 2:12-24. We notice how deadly pride can be. First, there is the pride of Abner in rejecting David as king, and then there’s the pride of Asahel. He was famous for being quick on his feet, but clearly slow in thought. Preachers and teachers can become well known for their ability to speak and proclaim God’s word. This fame can also be their own spiritual downfall if they begin to think more of themselves than they should. When we post scriptures, baptisms, or other good deeds on social media for our own praise and admiration, God may be the only One that sees your heart. Those are the only eyes that matter since they belong to the One that will be our final Judge.

We also learn from this story that serving a dead king is futile. As Christians we serve the King of Kings, God’s anointed son. Those standing with Him will always win. Those that chose to take matters into their own hands are fighting a losing battle.

When we read about events like this in the Bible it should also make us thankful for the day when we will enjoy a place where there is no heartache, bloodshed, or wickedness. Even David had to endure his share of trials, but now he’s with the God he modeled his heart after— and, we can assume, Jonathan. No matter what struggle we may find ourselves tangled up in, let’s place our focus on that heavenly reunion. 

Learning To Fight Stress From Jesus

Neal Pollard

Christ was busy while on earth, even to the point of depriving Himself (Mat. 8:20). He lost friends and followers (John 6:66-67; Mat. 26:31). He was constantly hounded and threatened (Mat. 22:15; John 5:18).  He was rejected by family and neighbors (Mark 6:4-5).  Jesus knew something about stress.

Luke four records the stressors that came with the beginning of His public ministry. News about Him spread all over the place (14). He taught with authority and was praised by all (15). People spoke well of this powerful preacher (22). His teaching brought angry opposition and an assassination attempt (28-30)!  Then He came to Capernaum, teaching (31), exorcising (35), and healing (39).

Luke four summarizes what life must have been like for Jesus. He was tending to many people’s needs (40), facing people making demands on His time (42), and enduring people trying to interfere with His schedule (42). To a degree, we can relate with the same issues today–people need us, drain our time, and interfere with our schedule.  All of this creates stress.  So, how did Jesus cope with this?

HE TOOK TIME TO HELP EVERYONE (40). That may not sound stress relieving, but it was.  He came to serve (Mat. 20:28). Rather than fret, wring His hands, or succumb to feelings of being overwhelmed, Jesus put His nose to the grindstone. He expended His energy to help “each one of them.”

Sometimes, we compound our pressures not by doing something about them but by wasting time worrying over them.  Such an exercise can quickly turn into self-pity. Give yourself wholeheartedly to your tasks and you will find it fulfilling and even therapeutic.

HE TOOK TIME FOR SOLITUDE AND PRAYER (42; Mark 1:35). Jesus knew the value of taking a break. He got away from the crowds, the work, the requests, and the problems. In His humanity Jesus had to have been emotionally drained and physically exhausted. To keep up the most productive life ever lived, Jesus needed retreat. Notice how He spent that “down time,” in solitude and supplication!

Idleness is not a viable stress reducer. On the other hand, solitary meditation and devotion are key to winning over stress.  Communicating with God can calm the most raging sea in the vast ocean of the mind. It reinforces one for the new stress that inevitably comes.

HE WOULD NOT BE DISTRACTED OR DETERRED FROM HIS PURPOSE (43). When He reconnected with public life, the demands continued. But, Jesus never lost sight of the bigger picture. His life was not solely about helping the needy folks in that one place. It encompassed infinitely more. He helped these folks, but He needed to go further.

Most of us face circular and cyclical tasks, responsibilities and routines that are repeated on a regular basis. Even in that repetitious work, we can be distracted from the big picture by bogging down in the details. We can consume all our energy putting out little fires while our purpose and opportunities go up in smoke.  We must stay focused on why we are here (Ecc. 12:13), letting that impact every area of our lives.

HE RESUMED HIS TASKS (44). Jesus kept on preaching in the country of the Jews (44).  He kept on doing what He was here to do.

It can seem impossible to get everything done, but determination and organization can help us do great, multiplied good. Jesus “kept on” doing what He was here to do. That will help you, when life casts long shadows over you. Just keep going! At the end of the day, you will feel satisfaction for a job well done!

Solomon’s Temple

Carl Pollard

When most people read the description of Solomon’s Temple, they get bogged down in the measurements. There are cubits, side chambers, cherubim, gold, cedar, and enough building details to make your head spin. But those details are there for a reason. They help us see the magnitude of what was built for the Lord. 

The Temple itself was about 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high (1 Kings 6:2). That’s not as large as many modern church buildings. What made it extraordinary wasn’t its size, but what covered it! 

The interior walls were lined with cedar from Lebanon and overlaid with pure gold. The floor was covered with gold. The altar was covered with gold. Even the Most Holy Place was overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:20-22, 30). Everywhere you looked, there was beauty, craftsmanship, and immense value.

Some estimates place the value of the gold and precious materials in the billions of dollars by today’s standards. Solomon gave the very best because this was the house dedicated to the worship of God. Nothing was cheap or ordinary, and he spared no expense! And even David set aside materials and precious metals for the construction of the temple. 

However, the most impressive part of the Temple wasn’t the gold. When Solomon dedicated the Temple, the glory of the Lord filled the house so completely that the priests couldn’t continue ministering (1 Kings 8:10-11). The building was magnificent, but the presence of God is what made it special.

It’s possible to be impressed by the structure of a building, and miss the purpose. The Temple wasn’t built so people could admire the architecture. It was built to remind Israel of the holiness, greatness, and presence of God.

Today, God’s people are His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). We don’t gather in a building covered with gold, but we do serve the same God who filled Solomon’s Temple with His glory. So our main concern shouldn’t be if our walls shine with gold, but that our lives reflect the presence of God.

The Temple was worth an incredible amount of money. Its true value was never found in the gold, but in the God who dwelt there. And our value is found in the Creator! 

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

How Can I Be Happy?

Gary Pollard

Short answer — that’s up to us. God never promised happiness for those of us who opt into the Christian lifestyle. By default, we have lots of enemies. We’re still on the same planet satan runs, so we have to deal with his garbage too. 

We find happiness through anticipation. We have to find excitement for the new life we’ll have, and hang onto that with everything in us. 

We find happiness through selflessness. Doing good things for other people is a tried-and-true way to be happy. Once we’re more focused on others than we are on ourselves, we’ll understand genuine happiness. 

We sometimes conflate happiness with euphoria. As Newton famously said, “What goes up must come down.” Euphoria is temporary and often accompanied by a rebound slump. But it’s a feeling of profound well-being that tends to be addictive, and is often above a natural baseline sense of well-being. Most people who want to be happy are really just chasing euphoria. We’re seeing now that it’s making everyone miserable. 

Happiness is not guaranteed, but we can experience it with the right mindset. Help people. Pray for your enemies. Love people who hate you. Designate at least a couple of minutes every  day to think about the next life. Look at the stars, planets, galaxies, and nebulae at night. You can’t help but be blown away by how intense and beautiful the universe is. This is God’s home (cf. Ps 115.16; Job 38.7; Deut 10.14; Neh 9.6; Ps 68.33; Mt 18.10), and the most tangible display of his power that we can experience with our senses (Rom 1.20). It puts our existence into perspective and reassures us that God actually is in control. 

This life isn’t about being happy — the next one will be nothing but happiness, because entropy and dysfunction will no longer exist (Rom 8.20-25). 

Held Together by the Cross: A Devotional Reflection on Laminin and Christ

Brent Pollard

A Providential Conversation Beside a Ventilator

Circumstances recently brought another respiratory technician into my home to check my ventilator and oxygen equipment. Since he may be assuming my case permanently, he took time not only to inspect the machinery but also to understand the man attached to it. He offered practical advice—small adjustments that might improve life with a ventilator, supplemental oxygen, tubing, alarms, and all the quiet burdens that come with depending on breath delivered through machines.

As we finished the adjustments, our conversation moved from technical matters to deeper themes, gradually shifting from respiration to faith.

Learning that I was a Christian, he asked, “Have you ever heard of laminin?”

I had not.

He told me to look it up on the tablet beside me. What I found was fascinating. Laminins are proteins that help hold the body together. Like an internal glue, they bind cells to the basement membrane, interact with collagen and other extracellular matrix components, provide strength and elasticity to tissues, and even help guide cell growth, migration, differentiation, and repair. When laminins malfunction, serious disorders can result. When they function properly, they serve quietly and faithfully, supporting the body’s structure from within, much like hidden scaffolding holding up a house.

As I read, I noticed what had prompted my technician’s smile.

Laminin has a cruciform shape.

The “molecular glue” that holds the body together resembles a cross.

Christ the One Who Holds All Things Together

The mind naturally runs to Paul’s words: “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1.17, NASB95).

That verse is not a sentimental caption for a science poster but a thunderclap—a realization of Christ’s active role. He is not merely a comforting figure outside creation. He is the eternal Son through whom all things came into being (John 1.3), and in whom atoms, stars, cells, breath, memory, mercy, and meaning find their coherence and unity.

The world is not a machine Christ occasionally repairs; it is a creation upheld by Him. Scripture says He sustains all by His word. Creation is held at each moment by divine command.

That does not mean laminin proves Christianity. Faith does not rest on the shape of a protein. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not dependent upon molecular diagrams. Yet creation is full of hints, echoes, and parables for those with eyes to see. The heavens declare God’s glory (Psalm 19.1), and apparently, even the microscopic world may whisper of His wisdom.

The Cross Beneath the Surface

There is something fitting—almost too fitting—that a cross-shaped protein should be associated with bodily cohesion. For the cross is where the brokenness of all things meets the reconciling love of God.

Sin tears apart. It separates man from God, neighbor from neighbor, soul from body, desire from holiness, and creation from its intended harmony. We feel that tearing in hospitals and homes, in grief and guilt, in strained relationships, in bodies that refuse to work as they should. Mutation, decay, disease, and death all testify that creation groans (Romans 8.22).

But Christ does not merely observe the groaning. He enters it.

The Creator stepped into His creation. The One through whom the world was made became a man within that world (John 1.10, 14). He breathed our air, felt our fatigue, touched diseased skin, wept at a tomb, and allowed Roman nails to fasten Him to wood. The One holding all things together permitted Himself to be torn apart.

There is the wonder: the sustaining Lord became the suffering Lamb.

When Weakness Becomes a Window

Living with illness and machines can make the body feel less like a temple than a frail tent. Paul described this as groaning under mortality, longing for life (2 Corinthians 5.1–4). He also learned that weakness allows grace to shine: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12.9, NASB95).

That does not make suffering pleasant. Christianity is not the art of pretending pain is beautiful. A ventilator alarm at three in the morning is not romantic. Shortness of breath does not become poetic because one can attach a theological lesson to it.

But suffering can become holy ground when it brings us face to face with our dependence. By “holy ground,” I mean a place where God’s presence and our need meet. Every breath has always been borrowed. Every heartbeat has always been mercy. Health can disguise this truth; weakness reveals it. The man on oxygen is not uniquely dependent on God. He is merely less able to pretend otherwise.

God’s Glory in the Hidden Places

We often look for God in the dramatic—in parted seas, burning bushes, opened tombs, and thunder from Sinai. He is there, surely. But He is also present in the hidden architecture of ordinary life—in proteins, tissues, lungs, cells, and breath. By “architecture,” I mean the underlying structure that supports everything. He is no less glorious because He also works quietly. A whisper may reveal majesty as surely as a storm.

The lesson of laminin is not that we should build doctrine from biology, but that we should receive creation as a theater of divine glory. The microscope does not replace Scripture. It kneels beside it. Scripture tells us who holds all things together. Science lets us glimpse some of the means by which that holding appears in the created order.

And if one of those means happens to bear the form of a cross, perhaps we may be forgiven for pausing in worship.

The Practical Faith of Being Held

So what do we do with such a reflection?

First, we remember that our lives are not held together by our strength. That is good news, because our strength often fails.

Second, we entrust our bodies to the Lord without making health an idol. We seek treatment, listen to technicians, take medicine, use machines, and thank God for every skillful hand. Practical care is not a lack of faith. It is one of the ordinary channels through which God shows mercy.

Third, we let the cross interpret our weakness. The cross tells us that God’s love is not proven by the absence of suffering but by His willingness to enter it and redeem it. Calvary does not answer every question we ask in pain, but it answers the deepest one: “Is God for me?” In Christ, the answer is yes (Romans 8.31–32).

Resting in the One Who Holds Us

Long before microscopes revealed the body’s hidden structures, the apostles proclaimed a greater mystery: Christ created, sustains, reconciles, and will one day renew all things (Colossians 1.16–20; Revelation 21.5). Laminin may hold cells in place, but Christ is the true support, holding together the soul, the body, the church, the cosmos, and the future.

I do not know what early Christians would have thought had they seen a cross-shaped protein through a microscope. Perhaps they would have smiled. Perhaps they would have bowed their heads. Perhaps they would have said what faith has always said when creation gives up one more secret of its Maker: “This, too, belongs to Him.”

And so do we.

Whether breathing freely or with assistance, whether strong or frail, whether standing in sunlight or lying beside humming machines, the believer is not held by accident, biology, or willpower alone. We are held by the crucified and risen Christ. Beneath us are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33.27). Before us is resurrection. Within us is His Spirit. Above us is His glory.

And at the center of it all stands the cross—not merely as a shape hidden in the body, but as the saving truth by which God holds together everything sin tried to tear apart.

What About People Who Never Hear the Gospel?

Carl Pollard

One of the most common questions people have is, what about those who never hear the gospel? What about the person born in a remote village? What about someone who never had access to a Bible? Could God condemn someone who never had an opportunity to hear about Christ?

Many people appeal to a concept often called invincible ignorance. The idea is that if a person is genuinely ignorant of the gospel through no fault of their own, God will save them anyway. While that view may sound compassionate, the real question isn’t what seems fair to us. It’s, what has God revealed?

The New Testament repeatedly teaches that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. Peter said, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Himself said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Scripture also teaches that faith comes through hearing God’s Word. Paul wrote, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). In the same chapter, Paul asks, “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” (Romans 10:14). His answer isn’t that people can be saved apart from hearing. His answer is that the gospel must be preached.

Some point to Romans one and argue that creation itself can save those who have never heard the gospel. But Romans one says the opposite. God’s creation reveals His power and divine nature, leaving humanity “without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Creation reveals that God exists. It doesn’t reveal the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

At the same time, Scripture gives us reason to trust God’s providence. Jesus promised, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Those words reveal the truth about the character of God. God doesn’t hide Himself from sincere seekers.

We see this principle throughout Scripture. The Ethiopian eunuch was searching the Scriptures, and God sent Philip to teach him the gospel (Acts 8:26-39). Cornelius was a devout man who feared God, and God sent Peter to tell him words by which he would be saved (Acts 10-11). Lydia was seeking God, and the Lord opened the door for her to hear the gospel (Acts 16:14). The Bible never portrays God as turning away someone who genuinely desires to know Him. Instead, we repeatedly see God working through His providence to bring the message of salvation to those who are seeking truth.

The Bible never presents ignorance as a means of salvation. Ignorance is a problem that must be overcome through the preaching of the gospel. That’s why Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20), and why Paul devoted his life to taking the gospel where Christ had not been named (Romans 15:20).

Scripture teaches two truths that must be held together. First, salvation is found only in Christ. Second, God is perfectly just and faithfully provides opportunities for those who seek Him. Abraham asked, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25). The answer is yes.

Nowhere does the Bible reveal a separate plan of salvation for those who never hear. Instead, it reveals one Savior, one gospel, and one mission: take the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Rather than speculating about exceptions God hasn’t revealed, our focus should be on proclaiming the message He has revealed and trusting the justice and goodness of the God who revealed it.

Dissensions

Neal Pollard

In the middle of a list of desires of the flesh which cost one an eternity with God is an interesting word. It is only found here in Galatians 5:20 and Romans 16:17 (some manuscripts contain it in 1 Corinthians 3:3). Every major translation renders it “dissensions.” Lexicons give us some insight into what this compound Greek word means: “the state of being in factious opposition” (BDAG, 252-253). But I appreciate the explanation of Louw-Nida the best: “In some languages the equivalent of ‘causing division’ is literally ‘to cause two groups in place of one group,’ but more frequently the equivalent is expressed in terms of attitudes, for example, ‘to cause people to be angry at one another’ or ‘to cause people not to like one another’ or ‘to cause people to think of one another as enemies'” (493).  The word was often used of politics in the ancient world, where those passionate about it would use it to divide people (sound familiar?). The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament shows how early church writings, like 1 Clement and especially The Shepherd of Hermes speak of how destructive it was to the early church (Vol. 1, 514).

Practically speaking, the group dynamics of even the body of Christ reveal this tendency. Scripture warns that this comes from fleshly rather than spiritual desires and motives. Paul tells Rome that it comes from people who are slaves of their appetites and are deceptive manipulators of naive hearts (16:18). He tells Corinth (3:3) and Galatia (5:16) that it is driven by fleshly desires. 

With dissensions, the one causing them seeks to gain something out of the actions. They “win” by dividing people.  What do they win? In 1 Corinthians, it’s implied that they win the loyalty and following of brethren. In Romans, they win allegiances that benefit them–think preachers who stand to gain by making their own disciples or church leaders who want their will and wishes to be the guiding influence in the congregation. It can even be individual Christians who are jealous of friendships and relationships and try to alienate and marginalize those they perceive as threats. 

Jesus wants His disciples united (John 17:20-21). Anything that undermines that would necessarily be fleshly rather than spiritual. Nowhere does God want His people united in error, but that’s a far cry from the principle of those who drives wedges between people based on petty, subjective, or self-serving reasons. Whatever prompts the temptation toward this lust of the flesh, whether pride, vanity, arrogance, or something else, it must be rooted out and supplanted by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We must “keep an eye on it…and turn away from them” (Romans 16:17). Be someone who brings people together, that strengthens the bond of all the members of God’s family! 

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

What About Demon Possession?

Carl Pollard

The Bible clearly teaches that Satan is real, active, and dangerous. While there’s debate about whether demon possession still occurs today in the same way it did during the ministry of Jesus and the apostles, Scripture leaves no doubt that the devil still seeks to influence people toward sin, destruction, and rebellion against God.

During the earthly ministry of Jesus, demon possession was a visible reality. The Gospels record numerous accounts of individuals being possessed by demons, often causing destructive behavior, supernatural knowledge, physical harm, or loss of control (Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–35). Jesus cast out demons as a demonstration of His divine authority and as evidence that the kingdom of God had come (Matthew 12:28).

These miracles also confirmed the truth of the gospel message. Hebrews 2:3–4 explains that God bore witness to the message through “signs and wonders and various miracles.” Demon possession and miraculous casting out of demons played a role in confirming Christ’s authority and the authority of His apostles.

At the same time, the Bible teaches that Satan’s influence extends beyond literal possession. Ephesians 2:1–3 describes sinful humanity as walking “according to the prince of the power of the air.” Satan influences the world through temptation, deception, fear, pride, anger, and sinful desires. Jesus called Satan “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Peter warned Christians to remain alert because “your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

This means that when people give themselves over to hatred, violence, wickedness, or rebellion, they’re often allowing themselves to be influenced by Satan’s work in the world. James 3:14–16 says jealousy, selfish ambition, and disorder are “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” In that sense, evil behavior can absolutely reflect satanic influence.

However, Scripture also teaches personal responsibility. Satan tempts, but he doesn’t force people to sin. James 1:14 says each person is “lured and enticed by his own desire.” The devil works through temptation and deception, but individuals still choose whether to follow the flesh or obey God.

Christians should avoid two extremes. One extreme is denying Satan’s activity altogether. The other is blaming every sinful action or emotional struggle on demons. The Bible calls believers to be sober-minded, spiritually alert, and grounded in truth.

The good news is that Christ has ultimate authority over Satan. Colossians 2:15 says Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame.” Christians don’t have to live in fear. Through God’s Word, prayer, faithfulness, and submission to God, we can resist the devil. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Satan is real. Spiritual warfare is real. But so is the victory of Christ! 

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

It’s A Miracle!

Gary Pollard

It is tempting to believe that an incredible recovery, acquisition of a needed job or asset, or escape from a major life issue is an example of the miraculous. In the religious world, a miracle is something a few believe can be invoked with prayer, a special religious service, or even a social media post (“pray that ______ will be healed by a miracle from God”).

Despite living in an age where notions of the supernatural are considered unscientific or are chalked up to circumstances we simply don’t understand yet, there is still much confusion surrounding the miraculous.

Miracles served a specific purpose both in the Old and New Testaments: they were designed to glorify God. Parting the Red Sea, striking a rock to get water, a talking donkey, an endless supply of oil and flour, the sun standing still, and all of the other miracles were – by design – impossible to perform without divine help. The Hebrew word for miracle meant “a sign or wonder” (Hebrew & Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament). Its purpose was to prove to the recipient that God was in control, was all powerful, was perfect, righteous, to be feared, and to be obeyed. Miracles were also used to prove that someone’s message was actually from God or that God was with them.

In the New Testament, miracles served to prove that Jesus was the Son of God and that the Apostles’ message was certainly from God. Water was turned into wine, the dead were raised, sicknesses were healed, people who were uneducated could suddenly speak multiple languages, predict the future, read someone’s mind, etc. The Greek word for miracle meant “a deed that exhibits the ability to function powerfully” (BDAG 263). These deeds were impossible to perform without God’s help, and they served a specific purpose: to prove that a message came from God, or to prove that a purpose originated with God.

While it certainly is a nice sentiment that an otherwise unlikely recovery or escape is an example of the miraculous, it’s important to remember that miracles served a specific purpose no longer relevant to our time. We no longer need miracles to prove our message comes from God because we have His complete and perfect word in scripture (I Corinthians 13).

Not having miracles in our world may be a downer to some, but we have this to look forward to: a place without sin for those who die faithful (II Peter 3.13). A place without death for those who die in Christ (Revelation 20.14). A place without sorrow for those who sleep in God after a lifelong battle in this sinful world (Revelation 21.4).

Miracles existed because this world is fallen (Romans 8). Their purpose was to demonstrate God’s power over Satan and sin in a world characterized by all that cannot coexist with goodness. Those who are living life in view of the next find hope and comfort in the miracle of Scripture, the miracle that will bring us home if we follow it.

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

Work At It With All Your Heart

Neal Pollard

That command was given to the Christian slave in the first-century world. It is a convicting call for an approach to life that would have been as unusual then as it is today.

Paul writes, “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality” (Colossians 3:22-25, NKJ).

Paul returns to the overriding thought he preceded this section with, saying, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (17). Every group he addresses–wives (18), husbands (19), children (20), parents (21), slaves (22-25), and masters (4:1)–is given a command that would have gone against inclination, preference, emotion, and desire. Yet, since this is divinely-given instruction, we must submit to God’s authority and do it.

Do you notice the how of the command for the slave to obey his master? Do it thoroughly–“in all things.” Do it sincerely. Do it fearfully (obeying them, but fearing God). Do it heartily. Do it purposefully–“as to the Lord and not to men.” Do it prospectively, in view of the heavenly reward. Do it fearfully, acting with an eye toward God’s eternal justice.

In the middle of this instruction, Paul instructs them to do it “heartily.” The NIV has “all your heart.” The word is psuche, found over 100 times in the New Testament. Depending on context and translation, it may be rendered “life,” “mind,” “heart,” or, most usually, “soul.” In the greatest command (Matthew 22:37), it is “soul.” It is the inner self. What is Paul saying to do?

From the essence of your being, work with all your might and with everything you have. Beyond just your emotions or feelings, empty yourself out in accomplishing your tasks. Engage your strength and strain, wringing yourself out to get the work done.

So often, it has been observed that the parallel to the slave addressed in Colossians 3:23 is the employee of today’s world. Contrast what Paul calls for with the lazy, lackadaisical, lethargic way so many approach their work. Whether the one who feels entitled to a paycheck but not engaged in purpose or prefers to get by with as little effort as possible, such a work ethic won’t work with the ultimate Supervisor. He tells us HE is the One we ultimately work for. How does that realization change our approach to the daily grind?

What’s on your to do list today? Whatever it is, “Work at it with all of your heart!”

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

Wasting Away

Carl Pollard

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day…as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18

That opening line says a lot, “we do not lose heart.” Paul isn’t writing from an easy place. Earlier in the chapter he talks about being afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. He has suffered constantly for Christ. 

Then he says something honest: “our outer self is wasting away.” That’s real life. Bodies wear down. Energy fades. Life gets heavy. Ministry gets exhausting. We don’t have to pretend everything’s fine. 

But he doesn’t stop there: “our inner self is being renewed day by day.” While one part of you is declining, another part can be growing stronger. But this renewal isn’t automatic, it’s tied to where your focus is and who you’re trusting. You can be physically worn out and spiritually stable at the same time.

Paul calls his suffering “light momentary affliction.” That sounds almost out of place until you remember what he went through, beatings, prison, constant pressure. So why call it “light”? Because he’s comparing it to “an eternal weight of glory.” When eternity is in view, even heavy things take on a different scale.

Then he explains the key, “as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.” That’s a shift in perspective. Most people live anchored to what they can see, their circumstances, problems, and outcomes. Paul says you’ve got to train your focus somewhere else.

The seen things are temporary. That job stress, that health issue, that tension at home, it’s real, but it’s not lasting. The unseen things, God’s promises, His presence, eternity, those are what endure! 

That’s what keeps us from losing heart. Not pretending life’s easy, but remembering it’s not ultimate.

And so, we don’t quit just because it’s heavy. You don’t measure everything by what’s right in front of you. You keep going because you know there’s more than what you can see. The question is simply what we are fixing our eyes on. Because whatever we focus on will shape whether we give up or keep going.


Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

Esther: The Divine Play of Providence

Brent Pollard

The Spirit of God, who breathed out Scripture, did not confine Himself to one literary mode. He gave us the measured march of Kings and Chronicles, the soaring verse of Psalms, the pointed brevity of Proverbs, the prophetic thunder of Isaiah, and apostolic letters from a Roman prison. So perhaps we should not be surprised—though we so often are—when we open Esther. There, we find something that reads like a stage play.

Consider Esther 7.7–8. The king storms from the banquet hall into the palace garden. Rage bleeds out of him with every step. Meanwhile, Haman, sensing the ground give way beneath his feet, throws himself upon the couch where Esther is reclining to beg for his life. At that precise moment—not a second earlier, not a second later—the king returns. No narrator interrupts to explain the irony; instead, the characters’ movement tells the whole story. This is not formal stagecraft, but it functions as such. The invisible Hand that arranges such timing is no less present for being unnamed.

A Drama Without a Divine Speaking Role

Here is why Esther is such a curious book among Scripture: God’s name never appears. No “Thus says the Lord.” No smoking altar. No prayer naming the Almighty. And yet, no other book shows providence more plainly.

Think of it this way. When a small child walks through a field at noon, he sees his shadow and pays it little mind. But let him step into a cathedral at dusk, where light filters through colored glass and falls in long slanting columns across the stone floor. Suddenly, he understands that there is a sun. Esther is the cathedral at dusk. God’s name is not shouted from the walls. It is seen in shafts of light falling across every coincidence, every sleepless night, every delayed decree, every gallows built a little too tall for the wrong man.

This is providence working, as it so often does in our own lives, through the timing of ordinary events. Proverbs 16.33 tells us plainly, “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD” (NASB95). Again, Proverbs 21.1 says, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.” The book of Esther is the working out of those two proverbs across ten chapters of court intrigue.

Purim: The Feast the Book Was Written to Explain

We must remember that Esther’s ultimate purpose is to account for the origin of Purim, the annual celebration commemorating the providential deliverance of the Jewish people during the Persian Empire. Esther 9.20–32 records how the book’s events became an annual observance. By the intertestamental period, a “Mordecai Day” is mentioned in the non-canonical 2 Maccabees 15.36. Some translations place the reference in the following verse. Purim was therefore an established observance long before Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee.

Purim was never one of the three pilgrimage feasts required under the Law (Deuteronomy 16.16). It was a voluntary celebration—what Paul might have called a day one man esteems above another (Romans 14.5–6a). The New Testament itself acknowledges that Jewish feasts existed beyond the three required by Moses. John 5.1 speaks generically of “a feast of the Jews” (NASB95) without naming which one. John 10.22 places Jesus in Jerusalem during the Feast of the Dedication (Hanukkah), which is likewise not a Mosaic requirement. Purim fits within this broader Jewish religious calendar of observances commemorating great acts of divine deliverance.

The public reading of Esther on Purim is attested in the Mishnah around A.D. 200. The verbal cursing of Haman—and here cursing means the expression of ill-will, not profanity—is attested in early rabbinic sources from roughly the third and fourth centuries. An interesting custom crept into the practice during the Middle Ages: audience participation. Every time the reader arrived at Haman’s name, the congregation would boo, hiss, stomp their feet, or employ noisemakers to blot out his name as it was spoken. This practice is well documented in medieval Europe—from France, Provence, Germany, and Italy—beginning in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It continues in public Megillah readings today. All of which only serves to demonstrate that Esther is not your typical book of the Bible.

The Three Marks of the Drama

If one approaches Esther with a trained literary eye, three features stand out, marking it as something like inspired theater. The events are no less historical for being dramatically presented; this is not fiction dressed up as fact. The Spirit who moved the writer permitted him to employ his considerable storytelling gifts. The result is unmistakable.

Dramatic Irony and Reversal. The plot hinges on reversals a playwright would admire. Most famously, Haman is hanged on the very gallows he built for Mordecai (Esther 7.9–10). It is the oldest dramatic device—and the oldest law of the moral universe. The Psalmist captured it before Haman ever drew a blueprint: “He has dug a pit…and has fallen into the hole which he made. His mischief will return…upon his own head” (Psalm 7.15–16, NASB95). The man who builds a gallows for the righteous measures his own neck.

Symmetry and Scene Design. The text follows a chiastic or concentric structure, in which events in the first half of the book are mirrored and undone in the second half. Banquets answer banquets. Decrees answer decrees. Honors intended for Haman fall instead upon Mordecai. This is not an accidental arrangement. The same chiastic structure appears in the inspired poetry of the Psalms. Psalm 1, for instance, pivots on a central contrast between the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. What Hebrew poetry accomplishes in a few lines, Esther accomplishes across ten chapters.

Caricatured Characters. The cast of Esther behaves like figures drawn from classical theater. Ahasuerus is the buffoon king, easily swayed by whichever counselor happens to be nearest his ear. Haman is the villain. His pride is painted in strokes so broad that we almost laugh at him before we shudder at him. Esther and Mordecai are the heroic underdogs—Jewish exiles whose courage and wisdom topple an empire’s most powerful man. These are not flat portraits but intentionally strong ones. A story meant to be performed year after year needs characters that an audience can recognize at a glance.

A Liturgical Architect, Not Merely a Historian

Traditional Jewish sources suggest that the original author—likely Mordecai himself—had his work finalized under the direction of figures such as Ezra and Nehemiah. If that is so, then the unique literary shape of the book is not incidental but purposeful. The author was not merely a historian. He was a liturgical architect. He composed a narrative that could be “acted out” by every generation. In this way, the origin of Purim would never be forgotten, and the Jewish people would never fail to remember the God whose name the writer seems almost too reverent to put to ink.

And here we reach perhaps the strangest and most wonderful feature of the book. Esther does not name God, but trains us to see Him. It urges us to seek the Divine Hand in places where the Divine Name is unwritten. It prompts us to notice the king’s sleepless night, the delayed sentence of a queen, the long memory of a royal chronicle, and the villain’s fall at precisely the wrong moment. These are heaven’s brushstrokes on the canvas of human history.

The Book We Are Living In

We live, most of us, in books whose pages resemble Esther more than Exodus. No burning bush blazes in our backyard. No pillar of cloud guides us to work. No voice thunders from Sinai over our Mondays. God’s name is not written across the sky above our cubicles or over the nursery where we rock a sleepless child. Decisions go against us. Promotions reward the undeserving. Haman of our age seems, for a season, to prosper. Faith—if we are honest—is often the harder task of trusting an unseen Hand to arrange a plot we cannot follow. Yet the God who arranged the king’s return to a banquet hall in Susa orders each moment of our lives with the same quiet care. The God who toppled Haman has not lost the ability to overturn the proud. Esther is not just an ancient drama preserved by chance. It is a script the Spirit wrote to teach us to read our lives. When the curtain finally falls, and every hidden thing is revealed (Luke 8.17), we will not be surprised to find that the unnamed God of Esther was the Author all along.

A King Like The Nations

Dale Pollard

A King Like the Nations — The Warning 1 Samuel 8:20

In the First Book of Samuel, the people of Israel approached Samuel with a mighty bold demand— they wanted a king. Their exact words were, “Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles” (1 Samuel 8:20).

Up to that point, Israel was led directly under God through the judges and prophets. But the people craved something a little more familiar. You know the classics— political power, military leadership, and a visible human ruler. God warned them through Samuel that earthly kings would tax them, take their boys to war, and rule over them in ways they’d regret. Still, they insisted.

Israel’s monarchy began with Saul, followed by the famous (mostly awesome) reign of David and then the wisdom of Solomon. After this, things really fall apart. Literally. The kingdom didn’t remain united. After Solomon, the nation split into two rival kingdoms—the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. Sadly, what follows are even more of the “classics.” Corruption, idolatry, and political struggles would all eventually lead to their downfall.

The rise, division, and fall of Israel’s kings leaves us with this humbling truth— human rulers are flawed and temporary. No king, no government, and no political system can fully deliver the justice and peace that people ultimately long for.

The story of Israel’s kings points to the big need of a perfectly righteous and eternal king. We aren’t going to get that from anybody in the (oval-shaped) office— but heaven? Name a higher seat of power than the one Jesus sits on. We’ve got our perfect King and we can’t forget that. 


Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

Watching A Model Giver

Neal Pollard

There he sat on the pew, then on the floor, then back on the pew again. One of our grandsons and his parents were seated next to us in worship yesterday. After the Lord’s Supper, I watched him. He had some change in the coin pocket of his pants, and I could tell they were meant for the collection plate. He taught me some good lessons about giving in those few moments.

Anticipation. Jude was fingering that money, checking and rechecking to make sure he had his hands on it. I watched him watching for the man who would be handing the tray down the row. His expressive eyes spoke volumes. “Will it ever get here?” “Am I going to miss out on giving?”

Emotion. There was feeling which accompanied this act. You could truly read the joy on his face. When the tray got to him and he suddenly struggled to get everything out of the coin pocket, I witnessed a different emotion. He was visibly disappointed that he didn’t give all of what he intended. Adulation turned to agitation. You could tell this was not a heartless exercise for him.

Conviction. With the aid of his father, he made things right. Within a minute, Dale was carrying Jude back to catch up with the men who had served on the table. However, the collection had already been put into the safe. When Dale explained why they were there, it was explained to them that it was no problem to open it back up so the “young man” could give. In his heart, Jude knew he needed to do this to make right his intentions. He had not accomplished his mission until he gave what he intended.

I was reminded of the children who praised Jesus as He entered Jerusalem in Matthew 21. Jesus quotes Psalm 8 to defend their worship of Him: “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself” (21:16; Ps. 8:2). Jude reminded me of some important aspects of giving which the Bible outlines. Giving should be planned and deliberate (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:2). It should involve our best emotions (2 Cor. 9:7). We should not be content to do less than the best we can (2 Cor. 8:3-5; 9:6).

Jude was such a good example to me regarding my own giving. Putting a check into the plate takes a mere moment, but it should be preceded by and participated in with the same exemplary characteristics displayed by that eager toddler. How he must have made God smile. That’s what I want my giving to do!

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

What Is Vision?

Neal Pollard

It is the ability to see what a thing could be. A carpenter, looking at a tree, sees with a trained eye much more than others can see. With his expert shaping, appropriate tools, and seasoned patience, he can make out of that tree what was once only in his mind. The Lord needs people, from the leadership down, who look at the community, each other, their income, and their abilities and see what could be done. It takes no effort, emotion, or education to say, “It can’t be done!” That’s what is expected. Vision sees what could be.

It is the ability to not obsess over what a thing has been. Due respect is owed to the labors of the past, and due recognition is owed both its successes and failures. The past, however glorious, will have ample samples of both. Yet, the people, plans, and programs of today and tomorrow should not be shackled and chained exclusively to was has been. Vision is not always settling for being “has beens.” “Will be” is what Paul seemed more focused on pursuing (cf. Phil. 3:10-12). Biblical vision recognizes that doctrine cannot change, but methods, technology, tools, and people invariably do. Vision asks how people living in the present time can best reach people living in the present time and prepare them for an endless eternity.

It is the ability to trust in what God can make it be. No plan would succeed without God’s hand in it. I love the prayers where brethren plead, “Help us in the things that are right and defeat us in the things that are wrong.” Among the Bible’s heroes are those who factor God into the plans and say, “We are well able” (Caleb, Num. 13:30). “I can do all things” (Paul, Phil. 4:13), “There is nothing too hard…” (Jeremiah, Jer. 32:17), and “No good thing does He withhold” (the sons of Korah, Psa. 84:11). Our vision can be bold when “our” is God and us! Since God made the sky, the limit exceeds even that! Our giving, our ambitions, our goals, and our sights should be set to reflect our belief in that fact.

Where will we be this time next year? In five or ten years? Vision plays a role in that. Vision attempts to see the unseen, forget the past, and trust the One who holds past, present, and future in His all-powerful hand. With those truths factored in, let us dream big dreams!

Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

Be Fearlessly Fervent

Dale Pollard


It takes a special individual of both breed and brand to truly impact the world. The fact is, many will live their lives comfortable and content to never break any molds or “step outside the box,” as they say. Most believers understand that God has called us out of this world to be lights and to be different, but that means being uncomfortable (James 1:2-4). We don’t like that aspect of faithful walking and at times the fire inside us and the will to go on is at the verge of being snuffed out. On every side we are surrounded by a raging current of mainstream ideologies and beliefs that drown the masses sweeping them closer towards eternity—unprepared. That familiar and depressing reality can discourage and frustrate us to the point of tears. Preachers, elders, and leaders are constantly fighting these feelings as they huff and puff under the weight of it all.

Christian fathers and mothers anxiously worry about that painfully uncertain future their children will battle. Young people are plagued with convincing thoughts that a faithful life is all but impossible today. How can we make an impact? You may wonder what difference you could possibly make as you observe such a powerful and evil force.

Here is the bad news, it’s hard. But here is the wonderful news, it’s worth it! God has given us an instruction manual on how to become mighty misfits in a culture that rejects righteousness. There are permanent footprints left by the feet of godly men throughout history, and their tracks lead to victory for those that choose to follow them.

For example, there is the trail blazer and zealous disciple, Paul. He serves as an inspiring nonconformist when he abandons his previous life of riches, respect, and comfort. His courage, faith, and determination can produce a powerful stirring in our spirits. If that man with the thorn can overcome fear and defeat the devil’s endeavors, despite his own weakness, then by the grace of God we can too. Our lives can leave an impact and they can serve as beacon of light for generations to come.

Notice how Jabez demonstrates this point in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. Within a lengthy list of family lines that make up the sons of Judah, Jabez breaks the mold. While numerous names are given, there is something more to be said of Jabez. He stands out as one who was “more honorable” than those who were before him in verse nine. Though his name means “son of my sorrow,” a label associated with affliction, he refuses to let this name define his future. The key to his success is given in the following verse which says, “Jabez called upon the Lord saying, ‘oh that you would bless me, your hand be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not give me pain!’ And God granted what he asked.” That verse is loaded with valuable lessons for this age and every age to follow.

Lesson one, don’t interpret your future by looking at your past. It doesn’t matter what family you were born into or how you were raised. We all have been given at least three common blessings. If you are made in the image of God, and you are, then that means you have talent, opportunity, and a life. The amount of talent, number of opportunities, and quality of that life is irrelevant. You have everything you need to succeed which is precisely what our Father desires.

Lesson number two, only God can grant you gainful glory. Jabez established his lasting legacy and was victorious because he understood one thing. God is the God of impartiality. He offers a heavenly hand to help the stereotypically weak and sinful human break the stereotype. The cards of life you hold in your hand mean little to the God who owns the deck. Jabez, Paul, and many faithful others understood the weakness of humanity. Their lives are a statement and a confession— God can help anyone rise above the crowd. He can help you achieve the only recognition that counts and give you the precious gift of a future with certainty.

The path to victory is a narrow one according to Matthew 7:14. Few have found it and few have finished it, but with the right Guide it can definitely be done. Are you unsure of your current location? Look down at the tracks you are following, and the guide walking with you. If you are holding the hand of the Savior— you can be sure you’re going in the right direction. Allow that comfort to strengthen you and break out of whatever mold you are in. Let God use your weakness and failures to leave an eternal mark on a world that needs it. There is no congregation that can’t grow, no Christian that can’t improve, and no unsaved person that doesn’t deserve the chance to hear that life changing message of the cross. There’s a great day coming, and that should provoke some excitement as well as motivate us all to diligently and fearlessly work until then.

So Old, It’s New

Neal Pollard

In the ’70s, they were bell-bottoms. Now, they call them flares. Suede jackets, shoulder-pad blazers, leather jackets, and track suits are a few wardrobe options that keep coming back around. In fashion, it could be fascination with the past. In religion, the tendencies of mankind tend to pull us back into mindsets the Bible addressed 2,000 years ago. We may think we’ve come up with it, but we are often reflections of these old philosophies.

A Claim Of Special Knowledge Only Known To A Few. While full-blown gnosticism would not start to emerge until the mid-second century when Marcion attached to Christianity the Middle Platonism from classic Greek philosophy (see what he did there), the Hellenists, Jews, and Christians all drank from these worldly waters in New Testament times. There are too many types and tenets to unpack here, but one strong tendency in gnosticism was the claim of special knowledge available only to the elite and initiated. Paul admonishes Corinth, “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). To Timothy, he warns of the one who “is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth…” (1 Tim. 6:4-5). The elitist spirit claims only those with a certain level of religious education or an education from a particular college or school can truly understand the Scriptures.

Helping God With His Commands And Rules.  “The ancient sources variously describe the Pharisees as a political party, a philosophical school and scholarly class, or a sect or voluntary association devoted to ritual purity” (Myers, 823). They were a movement within Judaism that emerged in the time between the Old and New Testaments. They were known for devotion to the exact observance of Judaism, accurate handling of Scripture, and extensive handing down of “extrabiblical customs and traditions” (ibid.). While the New Testament shows how Jesus (Mat. 22:22-33; 23:2-3) and Paul, raised a Pharisee, highlighted some good things taught and shown by these religious leaders, Jesus frequently clashed with them over their putting their rules on a par with the Old Law. They made their ritual cleanliness (Mark 7:1), their Sabbath rules (Mark 3:4ff), and their fasting rules (Mark 2:18) “gospel truth.” They seem to have felt their rules made improvements to God’s law. No wonder Jesus reserved His greatest anger for such audacity (see Mat. 12 and 23). We must be so careful about making our preferences, proclivities, conscience, and convictions the standard others must follow. Otherwise, we’re in dubious company!

Confusing Religion And Politics. The Sadducees and Herodians were two Jewish groups in Jesus’ lifetime that were allies and more alike than different. Where they really intersected was that their “religion” (such as it was) was a means to their real end–politics. They conflated and confused the two. Keeping the Herodian dynasty intact was the chief aim of the latter group, and religion was conveniently called upon when it helped this goal. Some have thought that many of the Herodians were also Sadducees (see Mat. 16:12 and Mark 8:15). Both were inflamed by the apolitical message of Jesus. The gospel was not meant to prop up or empower any earthly, political institution. Jesus did not push for Pharisee Christians or Sadducee Christians. The very idea is repulsive to God (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10-13). Beware of Christian nationalism or Christian patriotism that puts politics or nation before submitted to Jesus as the only Lord and Master.

All of us have our interests and leanings. We can slip into some ancient mindsets, but each of these were schools of thought at odds with Christ. Let us be learners, but also lovers of people and God who practice humility, grace, and patience with others. Let us be convicted and conscientious followers of Christ, but also content to let Him be the sole authority in faith and practice. Let us be lovers of home and heritage, but also cognizant of the fact that our citizenship is in heaven! Otherwise, we could bring some dangerous ideas back in style.

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Sorry, Chase (Part 5)!

Gary Pollard

This week’s article will be the last in the series. It seemed good to me to do one pillar a week for this series, but this one makes five articles. That’s a bit much for one video, and takes on the spirit of something I cannot stand: debunking. That’s not my intent with this series. As has hopefully been clear, my goal is not to debunk the video (The ancients decoded reality) in its entirety, but to correct the observations where Christianity is concerned, and the implication that Christianity is no better or worse than any other world religion. I’ve stated (ad nauseam) that the overall content is excellent, there is much to be gained from his observations. But without a sound framework, it would be very easy for a believer or seeker to conclude that Christianity is just one entree on the menu. We briefly looked at the problem of Christianity’s historical approach to the symbolism and esoterism in scripture, and the need for a framework that doesn’t merely reduce the symbolism to a prosaic or literalist or unidimensional interpretation. Today we will look at the remaining pillars in Mr. Hughes’ video. 

The third universal observation is: Your mind is not a camera, it is a projector. To support this, he cites many of the same ancient texts. 

  1. What you think, you become (Dhammapada) 
  2. The all is mind (Hermetic texts)
  3. The world you perceive is shaped by the mind’s illusions (Hindu Vedanta) 
  4. The universe arises from consciousness (Upanishads)
  5. Reality is the moving image of eternity (Plato)

He looks to quantum physics, relying on the assumptions we’ve made concerning this poorly-understood field. He notes that observation changes the behavior of physical particles. The essence of his argument is that “two people can look at the exact same moment and come away with something different.” And, “We think they’re interpretations, but what they are is filters that reshape reality before reality reaches you.” He has some good observations here — “…the moment we stop letting fear hijack the projector, we start seeing reality pretty clearly for the first time.” His point being that fear robs us of our peace and willingness to surrender control. The problem is that there’s not really any way to confirm or deny this one, so it must be placed in the category of speculation. In my personal opinion, evidence seems to point to consciousness as being non-local. God gives each person the level of consciousness he deems appropriate, that consciousness returns to him at death, and will be “installed” in whatever kind of body we’ll enjoy at the resurrection. But this is difficult to definitively prove, and I defer again to John: Loved ones, we are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been made clear to us. We know that when he is revealed we will be just like him, and that we will see him just as he is now. Even the inspired writers didn’t exactly understand the nature of the new body, only that our new bodies would necessarily have expanded consciousness. We cannot see him now, but we will see him when he is revealed to the world. 

The fourth observation is one we will partially disagree with: The enemy is not the world, the enemy is the ego. He says, “The only real enemy is the ego. Not demons, not bad luck, not other people, not the world.” This conclusion is a false dichotomy, and does not require much refutation for most Christians. “Friendship with the world is enmity towards God.” “Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and powers of darkness.” To support one aspect of his point, though, we can point to James. He says that our tendency to sin comes from within ourselves — we fall prey to our own desires and become trapped in sin. So yes, our ego is an enemy, but not to the exclusion of the world and its influence or the unseen powers and their influences. The rest of his point is a discussion of the ego and its role in the psychological and social pathologies we deal with, and seems to be helpful overall.

The fifth and final observation: Everything is connected. “We see this in ancient temples and modern physics laboratories. Everything’s connected, everything’s one system, everything influences everything, that’s how everything it gets.” 

He points to the famous observation from the Hermetic texts, “As above, so below.” The Kabbalah, “All creation emerges from a single tree of life.” Again, quantum physics, “No particle is truly separate, every particle has some entanglement,” and many others. His point seems to be summarized by the following: “Nothing stands alone, so every action ripples, every emotion radiates, every intention vibrates through the whole. You are not some separate node in the universe, you’re a node in the cosmic brain firing inside of infinity. And your life is not happening to you, it is happening with you, through you, and as you.” 

The only aspect of this that we can confidently correct is the phrase, “You are not some separate node in the universe…” Scripture does teach that all things (and all consciousness) come from one Source. But this point is incompatible with Christianity in that each person faces their own judgment. Since he points to the Egyptian Pyramid Texts, we must point out that they also believed in individual judgment. Yes, we all come from one source and exist within one framework sustained by one All-Father. But this does not diminish the individuality each person has — why else would murder be considered wrong? If we’re all just “nodes in a cosmic brain”, what makes individual life special if consciousness is not anchored to unique identities within individual bodies? I would also point out that “as above so below” and other similar sentiments have more to do with the fact that things happening in the heavens have their counterparts on the earth. This does not necessarily support his supposition. 

In summary, most of his observations and conclusions are excellent overall, and would be beneficial to implement for anyone looking self-improvement in this life. However, many of his conclusions where Christianity is concerned are flawed. If this is implemented as a self-improvement tool, excellent. But to be adopted as an overall worldview or system of religion (which is functionally what this becomes) is not something a Christian can do and still be called “Christian.”

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Touching Generosity

Neal Pollard

It seems there are endless stories out there that are very similar in nature. 88-year-old Army veteran Ed Bombas lost his pension and healthcare when General Motors went bankrupt and his wife was sick. He was having to work 40 hours a week to meet his expenses. An Australian TikTok influencer helped raise $1.5 million so he could retire. What about Richard, the elderly DoorDash driver who had to go back to work to pay for expensive mediation for his wife. A woman who saw him slowly negotiating her steps via her Ring doorbell set up a GoFundMe for him, and it has nearly reached $1 million. Or Betty, the 81-year-old waitress at an Eat’n Park in Pittsburgh, whose plight touched a customer who raised $300,000 to help the woman who lived on less than $1,000 in social security to retire. Perhaps you focus on the sad sagas of these senior citizens, forced to work despite limitations. But, the sheer outpouring from people touched by the adverse circumstances of sympathetic strugglers should restore at least some of our faith in humanity. Ed, Richard, and Betty all seem endearing, but so are those who have given.

What words do you use to describe generosity that was exhibited to people far less sympathetic and deserving? Paul writes, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). Words like “helpless,” “righteous,” and “good” might describe some, but words like “ungodly” and “sinners” describe “us.” It takes in those three elderly folks, as well as the rest of the world including you and me. Paul has already summoned other descriptive terms, like “ungodliness” and “unrighteousness” (1:18; 3:5), “without excuse” (1:20), “foolish heart was darkened” (1:21), “fools” (1:22), “lusts” and “impurity” (1:24), “degrading passions” (1:26), “shameless deeds” and “error” (1:27), “depraved minds” and “not proper” (1:28), a litany of wicked behaviors (1:29-32), “without excuse” and “condemned” (2:1), “stubbornness” and “unrepentant hearts” (2:5), “selfish ambitions” and “disobedient” (2:8), “evil” (2:9), and “condemned” (3:9). This is not even exhaustive. Paul sums up by saying there is none righteous (3:10), that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (3:23), and that all sinned (5:12). 

But look at the generosity of God to such undeserving people as we all are. Christ gave His life for us (5:6). God loved us enough to enable it to happen (5:8). He reconciles and saves us (5:9). He gives us the gift of grace (5:15-17) and justification (5:18). He makes us righteous (5:19). He gives us eternal life (5:21), infinitely more than $1.5 million and more enduring than a few years at the end of our lives. The One who owns it all gave the very best for totally undeserving people who weren’t victims of undeserved circumstances. We got ourselves into a mess by choice, and God gets us out of it by His choice! 

The recipients of monetary help in those stories and videos shed tears and expressed unbelief. How should we respond, in view of God’s unparalleled generosity? 

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