Tag: love

1 Corinthians 13 (Part 2)

Gary Pollard

I Cor 13.1-3 steps on toes. A person could be truly exceptional in qualities most of us would love to have, if just barely. Without love even the most exceptional person is doomed. 

Here are some the powerhouse-qualities that mean nothing without love: 

1. The ability to speak multiple languages, with a working knowledge of the language of cosmic beings. 

This is a person intellectually talented in an extremely difficult discipline, one that requires unlimited dedication. This is someone so dedicated to transcendent words that they pursue even the language of God’s holy ones. 

This is a person who wants to know God’s word so badly that they learn Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic to get an unadulterated look at the scriptures. They may even feel an obligation to spread this knowledge to others, so they learn multiple modern languages to accomplish this. 

If not done because of selfless love, if they don’t care for their enemies, and if they don’t feed and clothe the poor, they’ve wasted their time. 

2. The ability to masterfully teach, understand the times, and give accurate social predictions, all with a genius-level IQ. 

This is a handy person to have around! They can give targeted lessons based on where their culture is and where it’s likely to go. They have an excellent grasp of first principles, and they can give just the right message at just the right time. 

This person might trust in God so completely that they place their lives wholly in his hands. They trust him to take care of them. They trust him to remove all obstacles in their path. 

But they don’t like people — ουθεν ειμι. They are nobody, they are meaningless. Their faith is pointless, their intellectual powers are useless. 

3. The portfolio and conscience compelling them to liquidate all of their assets and distribute them to anyone who needs anything. This is coupled with a martyr’s spirit, so after draining their earthly goods they willingly die gruesome, painful, slow deaths for God’s sake. 

But they don’t like people — so they threw it all away and gained absolutely nothing in return. Still doomed. 

This is difficult! We want to be like this, and we want to emulate these qualities so badly. They’re good qualities, and we can’t be good Christians without them. 

But if love isn’t what drives us to do all of those things, we might as well put our time and energy into something else. Love isn’t necessarily an emotion — we don’t always feel warm and fuzzies about other people. Love is a decision to do good things for all people, to forgive automatically, to put other peoples’ needs and feelings above our own, and to view all people (including our enemies) as being more important than self. The two most important commands are about love: for God and for other people. Without those two supporting everything we do, nothing we do matters. We’ll not get it right all the time. It’s a process that we’ll probably spend the rest of our lives trying to master! God expects us to aim at growth, and his grace takes care of the gaps. 

If God allows, we’ll start looking at the behavioral symptoms of a loving spirit starting next week. 

I was very happy to learn about some of your children. I am happy that they are following the way of truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I tell you: We should all love each other. This is not a new command. It is the same command we had from the beginning (II Jn 4-5). 

God’s Toolbox And Ours

Jonathan Garrett

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 says, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

How many tools do you use during the day? I own several toolboxes and each one of them contain different tools for different jobs. Sometimes we limit our understanding of tools as those we would find in a toolbox. God’s toolbox (church) contains far more tools than what can be contained in a single toolbox.


When you say tools, most people think hammer, screwdriver, and tape measure. What about the tools in the kitchen? The whisk, measuring cup, and mixing bowl. Or the tools on your desk, pen, paper, and a stapler.


God has many different tools in His toolbox. Each one is special and has a special purpose. You wouldn’t use a whisk to hammer a nail, but in the kitchen the whisk can be very useful. Most of us expect to find a hammer, screwdriver, or wrenches in a toolbox. We do the same thing when it comes to God’s toolbox,
we expect him to use the elders, deacons, preachers, or the Sunday school teachers.


God wants to use each and everyone of us. God created us unique and different. He wants us to use our gifts for him.


Think about the tools you use each day and how they could be used by God in your hands. For example, a hammer could be used as part of a missionary trip to help build or rebuild housing for those in need. A pen could be used to write an uplifting note to someone who needs encouragement.

Now think about other tools, gifts, or abilities God has given you that can be used for His glory. Maybe it’s the ability to lead singing, teach a class, or maybe it’s the ability to help someone in need.


Now hold your Bible in your hands. This is the most powerful tool that God has given us, and we need to make sure it’s in our toolbox for everyday life. The passage in 1 Corinthians 12 talks about different gifts, different services, and different activities.
Someone may have the same gift like teaching, but one may be better suited for teaching in a closed one on one setting, where the other may be better at teaching a class room of people, others may be more suited to teach by writing articles or doing on-line Bible lessons.

God has created us uniquely with our own personalities, experiences, knowledge, and abilities. He has also placed us in unique situations where we have our own area of influence. We each know and can reach people for God, that others may not know or who can’t relate to.


Each one of us matters in God’s church.

1 Corinthians 13 (Part One)

Gary Pollard

I don’t usually give I Corinthians 13 much time, but that’s not intentional. It’s one of those passages normally seen in brightly-colored, gaudy cursive within a stressed wooden frame, or in the same font on a t-shirt. Or a blanket. It’s become almost cliche, and I’m ashamed to admit that it’s not been a regular part of my studies. I pass one of those Hobby Lobby-style frames with some regularity, and it struck me (finally, after more than a year) that there’s a lot about this chapter I don’t understand! So the next few articles will focus on I Corinthians 13. 

It’s often used to argue that God doesn’t work through his people the same way he did in the first century. This isn’t convincing — a completed canon is not remotely in Paul’s mind as he writes this section, and context offers very little to suggest otherwise. His discussion of love is there to posit its transcendence! If I Corinthians 12 is any indication, some Christians were unhappy with their “superpower” because the gift of service was not as cool as the ability to speak other languages, for example. Paul says, “Love is better than any of these because it’s the only eternal quality.” Besides that, prophecy was the best gift (cf. 14.1ff). This discussion continues through chapter fifteen, where the “perfect” is our final victory over sin/death when Jesus returns. 

This isn’t necessarily to say that miraculous gifts are still a thing — a more convincing argument against the continuation of miraculous gifts comes from Acts. It seems only the Apostles gave out these gifts. After their deaths, it would seem that no more gifts were handed out. There is evidence in the early church fathers that some people still had these gifts into at least the second century, but it wasn’t as common. However, God did directly give these gifts to Cornelius and his family without Apostolic intervention (Acts 10.44-46, 11.17). That was an era-changing, very special occasion to convince the Jewish people that they were no longer the only chosen ones (10.34).

Since the first part of chapter thirteen talks about these special gifts, I wanted to get this discussion out of the way. In the articles that follow (Lord willing), I want to look more closely at what love is, isn’t, does, and will do. Whether God has completely stopped intervening in some peoples’ lives the way he did before or not, the point of this chapter remains: we could be Titans in every spiritual gift, but it’s meaningless without love (1-3). Since we can’t live forever without having been fully matured in love (I Jn 4.7, 12, 16-18, 20-21), I Cor 13 is a very practical look into what a matured love is. 

During that time many believers will lose their faith. They will turn against each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will come and cause many people to believe things that are wrong. There will be so much evil in the world that the love of most believers will grow cold. But the one who remains faithful to the end will be saved. The good news I have shared about God’s kingdom will be told throughout the world. It will spread to every nation. Then the end will come (Mt 24.10-14). 

How Do You Describe His Love?

Carl Pollard

Ephesians 3:17–19 says, “that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”

Looking at the context of these verses, Paul tells us that through the power of the Spirit, and because of the indwelling of Christ, we are to become established in love and being established in love, we have power to comprehend the love of Christ. 

But how do you describe such a love? Paul says, “comprehend what is the breadth, and length and height and depth.” But he purposefully left off what it is that he was describing. So what does he mean? It takes in the eternity of God. God is Love; and in that, an infinity of breadth, length, depth, and height, is included; or rather all breadth, length, depth, and height, are lost in this immensity. It comprehends all that is above, all that is below, all that is past, and all that is to come. All of this is said in reference to human beings. The love of God, in its breadth, is a net that encompasses the globe; its length reaches from the eternal purpose of the mission of Christ, to the eternity which is to be spent in his glory; its depth reaches to the lowest sinner, and to the deepest depravity of the human heart; and its height to the infinite glory of the throne of Christ.

How do you describe the love of Christ? We can’t. No one has ever shown this amount of love for this many sinful people. And yet we still act like we have power, like we are above God. Man on his own has no power. 

But God has given us the opportunity to have the power to comprehend His Son’s love. 

Comprehension is defined as “to process information, understand, grasp.” A child growing up hears from their parents that they love him. He hears it every day, but he never fully comprehends that love until he has kids of his own. A person will go through something traumatic, and the first couple of hours he is in shock. He knows what happened, but he hasn’t comprehended it yet. Sadly, we can hear about the love of Christ, and we can hear God’s Word. But this isn’t the same as comprehension. 

Growing up, I hated literature. I can remember reading the Iliad, eyes glazed over, and just seeing words on a page. I couldn’t tell you a thing about what I was reading. I wasn’t comprehending. Paul says, “And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:19). And to GNOSKO the love of Christ. A working knowledge as opposed to factual knowledge. This is comprehension, a useful knowledge of Christ’s love. As a faithful Christian, you can comprehend the love of Christ. And knowing His love is power. We sing, “Amazing love! How can it be? That you, my God would die for me.” To be powerful is to comprehend the love of Christ. And in comprehending we live out his love. That is our purpose as Christians.

Fellowship And Golf

Dale Wiley

For the past 3 or 4 years Harold Nicks, Jim Fuqua, Bob Raby & I have been playing golf most every week. During that time, there’s been no bad language, no nasty jokes and a minimal amount of gossiping. Occasionally, as my golfing partners advance in age, some health issues arise. Shoulder pain, knees going out or a pulled hammie. Then they have to go on the injured reserve list. No problem because we go straight to the bench and in comes Elder Jim Humphries to take his place. Still, there’s no bad language, no dirty jokes and a minimal amount of cheating. 

Last Friday Jim and I were playing at Paul Walker and around the 6th hole noticed a couple of older men behind us and asked if they cared to join us. They agreed and one of them hit his ball in the woods and then into the creek.  A few choice words followed. Then on the next hole he hit a window in a house and then more words followed, some of which Elder Jim had not heard since his Army days back in the ’60’s. 

Jim and I were talking later how nice it was to be able to play weekly with a group of brothers that chose not to behave that way, even when the ball doesn’t always go where we want it to go and that we appreciate the fellowship of our brothers in Christ.

Fellowship with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ encourages and uplifts one another to be more Christ like and has a great influence on those around us, whether it be the Crew on Grub Night, the Young at Heart Ladies, or Tuesday’s Ladies Bible Class at Kathy’s, to maintain our spiritual growth. 

Remember these words:

1 Corinthians 1:9: You were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 John 1:3: That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us. 

The Fleeting Nature Of Legacy

Lessons From The Parable Of The Rich Fool

Brent Pollard

The breadth of human recollection is rather fleeting. In merely three generations, the essence of most lives—their trials, victories, and the simple moments of each day—slips quietly into the shadows of forgetfulness. Though history may enshrine its Shakespeares and Einsteins, the greater multitude of us shall fade into obscurity, our tales slipping quietly into the annals of time. This obliteration of individual narrative unfolds through various avenues. As time flows onward, the clarity of memory tends to wane, and the stories of those who came before us, beyond the realm of our grandparents, often fade into a misty obscurity. Families frequently choose to uphold only sure tales, usually centering on those kin who have forged remarkable legacies while permitting others to fade quietly into the obscurity of yesteryear. Those who depart this world without the blessing of children tread a more arduous road to remembrance since their narratives rest solely upon the commitment of distant kin to keep them alive in memory. In this age of mobility, it is all too common for families to drift apart, their bonds fraying and shared memories fading into the ether. The myriad forces at play—natural memory decay, the art of selective storytelling, the absence of children, and the scattering of families—combine harmoniously to guarantee that our recollection barely reaches a century for most of us.

The fleeting essence of human memory imparts a significant lesson regarding the quest for legacy through earthly riches, a truth vividly depicted in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21). In this narrative, a man of considerable means is convinced that his vast possessions will safeguard his future and ensure his legacy. Yet, in a twist of fate, death arrives to strip away the significance of his meticulously crafted designs. The inquiry posed by the parable—”Then who will receive what you have laid aside for yourself?”—gains a more profound significance when we reflect upon the fleeting nature of our very names within the tapestry of family remembrance. If destiny determines to erase our lives from memory within a few generations, the quest for wealth, as the means for leaving a legacy, reveals itself as a pursuit devoid of true purpose. Instead, this poignant truth beckons us to reflect upon what genuinely lasts: the far-reaching impacts of our connections, the principles we impart to those around us, and the uplifting transformations we foster within our communities. Though the allure of worldly achievements may offer fleeting solace, the unseen connections we forge—the impact we have on the lives of others, the insights we impart, the affection we extend—hold the promise of resonating far beyond our time on this earth. This viewpoint invites us to redirect our attention from the mere gathering of riches to the nurturing of a more profound spiritual and relational abundance, one that may surpass the limits of recollection, thus fostering a legacy that is both meaningful and lasting.

Rather than entangling us in a web of despair, the certainty of being forgotten liberates us to embrace life with greater authenticity and purpose. When we free ourselves from the weighty expectation of leaving a tangible legacy, we understand a profound reality: our authentic influence is not measured by what we bequeath but rather by how our deeds resonate through the ages, often beyond our sight. The folly of the Rich Fool lay not merely in his accumulation of riches but in his profound misunderstanding of the enduring legacy that binds one generation to another through unseen threads of influence. A gentle word uttered in the present may resonate within a family’s principles for generations; a selfless deed could ignite a legacy of generosity that endures beyond our remembrance; a fleeting insight imparted might influence choices long after its origin fades from memory. This insight reshapes our perspective on the fleeting moments life grants us. Rather than laboring to erect grand monuments in our honor, let us turn our efforts to sowing seeds of virtue that will blossom long after we have departed. We may find solace in the understanding that our impact can persist, even when our names have slipped into the shadows of time. This parable extends beyond its sacred beginnings to impart a wisdom that resonates universally: a profound legacy continues to yield fruit, even when circumstances cut it from its roots.

Crucified With Christ

Carl Pollard

In Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul states, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” This concept speaks to the core of what it means to follow Jesus and to experience a true relationship with the Father.

Identity

To be “crucified with Christ” is identification with Jesus in His death on the cross. This concept is not merely theoretical; it speaks to the reality of what happens when we follow Christ. It involves a change where the old self—marked by sin and separation from God—is put to death. In this sense, it represents a fresh start, a new beginning in our life

Freedom

One of the most powerful implications of being crucified with Christ is the freedom it brings from the power of sin. As Christians, we believe that through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are no longer bound by our sinful nature. Instead, we are free to live in a way that reflects God’s love and righteousness. Romans 6:6 emphasizes this by stating, “We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with.” This freedom allows us to break free from guilt and shame, and serve God with everything in us! 

Change

Being crucified with Christ also speaks to the transformation that occurs in our lives. When we follow Christ, we are not only forgiven but also made new. This transformation is an ongoing process, allowing us to reflect Christ’s character in our lives. The Spirit works within us, producing the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, etc. Crucify yourself with Christ, and what used to define you will be no more. You are a totally new person in Christ! 

Perspective 

Living out the truth of being crucified with Christ requires daily surrender. It means recognizing that life is no longer about our own desires but about living in accordance with God’s will. This surrender can be challenging, but it is essential for spiritual growth. It forces us to let go of our worries and fears, trusting that God is in control.

Ultimately, being crucified with Christ calls for a life of faith. It means trusting in Jesus for every aspect of life, knowing that He is present and active. Living by faith helps us to navigate life’s uncertainties with hope and confidence, rooted in the promises of God.

Encouragement

Travis Harrison

It’s not hard in today’s world to find things that discourage us. There are plenty of things that can bring us down. At times it really does feel like wherever we go, whatever we do, or say, there is something ready to discourage us. Unfortunately, people can be those roadblocks as well. That’s far from what we as Christians are called to do.

It was important in the days of the early church to encourage one another. So important that God commands it. It was important to God then – its important now.  Thankfully we have blessings such as the church and our church family to help us through those discouraging times. How do we go about finding ways to encourage each other? Is it the way we speak or how we live, or is it in our faith? Is it all the above? The fellowship we have with our friends, our family, along with worshipping and singing praises, and studying God’s Word are just a few. These are blessings that we receive when we meet together no doubt, but let’s not contain our encouragements just to the assembly. Our everyday lives are just as important and those around us everywhere need to feel encouraged regularly.  I just want to share briefly a few examples of what the Bible says about encouraging others and ways we can do just that.

Encouraging others is important, it’s necessary, it’s a command. Paul was one, if not the, most influential apostles of the first century church. He was a great teacher, preacher, mentor, and guess what? He was great at encouraging people. At the beginning of most of his letters he would begin with words of praise and thanks. (1 Thess. 1:2-3,) (Phil. 1:3-8,) (1 Cor. 1:4-5) are a few examples. In (Romans 1:12) Paul writes that he longs to be with them so that they can encourage one another in the faith. These types of encouragements were part of his everyday life.

We can’t discuss encouragement without mentioning Barnabas, the “son of encouragement.” He is mentioned several times in the New Testament, but he wasn’t a main character like Paul – he played a smaller, but still very important role.  Paul spent his early life persecuting Christians. The people of the first churches, as well as the disciples feared this man, and rightfully so. After he became a Christian, the disciples didn’t believe he was one of them, so what did Barnabas do? He encouraged Paul by standing up for him in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-31). He was a fellow missionary with Paul, Mark, Titus, and others. He encouraged those in Antioch to remain faithful in the Lord with steadfast purpose, (Acts 11:23.) Paul and Barnabas visited these churches, they taught, and they lived out their teachings. They encouraged them in their works and through their faith. They instilled hope, strengthening the church’s faith. (1Thessalonians 5:11) – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We can all benefit from their examples. 

Let’s face it, life is hard at times. Certain situations bring us discouragement and can distort and change our thinking. Who wouldn’t want to be encouraged and uplifted in these hard times?  It might not seem like a big deal to some, but kind words of encouragement and praise could make all the difference in the world. (Proverbs 16:24) – Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. (Proverbs 12:25) -Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. We shouldn’t be surprised that little things like sending a card or giving a compliment, sending a text message, phone call or email, could make a big difference. How underrated but so appreciated those things can be!  It’s hard not to smile and be filled with some kind of encouragement if someone messages you to say they’ve missed you, and been thinking about you, been praying for you.  Check in on those you haven’t seen recently – Invite someone new to dinner – someone not typically in your crowd or someone new to the church. Practice hospitality as it says in (Romans 12:13.) Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor, (Romans 12:10.) 

When we encourage people we show our love, compassion, understanding, and we give them hope. It helps reset our minds, builds our confidence in each other, and allows us to see God more clearly. More than anything we are showing others how we live our faith just as Paul and Barnabas did. We show we want to be like Christ and people can see God through our actions towards them. Encouragement is powerful! Just remember that sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest impacts. 

Morality Sans Religion

Gary Pollard

Carl sourced several of the most commonly asked questions and gave me 70 of them to write about. So I’ll try to tackle a question or three every week for a while (or until something more interesting grabs my attention). This week’s question is, “Is it possible to make moral decisions without religion?” It’s somewhat related to an article I wrote a few weeks ago, but seemed different enough to warrant its own article. 

There’s a simple answer, but with some nuance. Is it possible for a person who isn’t religious to make moral decisions? Absolutely. But is it possible for good morality to exist without God? Absolutely not. More on that in a minute. 

“Religion” is a very broad word. It involves anything a person or group of people worship — this could be an inanimate object, a set of ideas, a charismatic individual, a supernatural entity, certain forces of nature, or even cosmic features. It’s anything a person deems “higher” than self and worth giving some kind of respect and adoration to. 

Not all religions are created equal. Some call for harming others who aren’t in that same belief system. Some are in place solely to justify self-indulgent behavior. Some use religion to gain power over others and/or wealth. Some exist only to maintain cultural cohesion and national identity (a “state” religion). A person’s religion ultimately comes from one of two sources: God, or the powers that influence this world. 

Judeo-Christian teachings have benefited society in innumerable ways. They lifted much of the world out of poverty. They promoted peace among all people. Selfless love, sacrifice for the good of someone else, love for enemies, care for the vulnerable, and judicial integrity are just some of the ways Christianity has improved the inhabited world. Many will respond with, “But what about the Crusades? What about the many atrocities committed in the name of Christianity?” Those weren’t Christians. They may have claimed to be, but they absolutely were not. Claiming to be something and actually representing its teachings are two different things. 

How often have we heard a political figure or commentator say something like, “I’m conservative, but…” right before promoting something not remotely conservative? They’re not actually conservative. More appropriately, how often have we heard someone say, “I love Jesus, but I’ll (insert hateful words/actions here)”? They claim Jesus, but they aren’t Christians. Anyone can tell who a legit Christian is by how well they practice selfless love and genuine belief in God (cf. I Jn 4). 

The moralities of pagan cultures never held up to time well. The nihilistic hedonism they invariably devolved into destroyed them from the inside out. When everyone is primarily concerned with their own “happiness” and feeding their desires, someone has to pay. When a person’s happiness is the greatest societal good, it has to come at someone else’s expense. There were certainly attempts to keep this in check, especially by unifying around a pantheon or series of social norms (or both). But they, too, usually devolved into hedonism. 

Jesus’s teachings were unique in that they posited two necessities, both built on selfless love: for God, for every human. Justice was to be handled by government, even if that government was corrupt. Christians understood that nothing was more important than showing love to others, even if it cost them health, safety, or their lives. They understood that other people always come first. They understood that genuine, meaningful happiness wouldn’t be attainable in this life. Inner peace was certainly attainable with God’s help, but satiating self was never the way to do that.  

The bottom line is this: a person whose worldview is even loosely based on the ethics God gave humanity can make moral decisions without being religious. But this is only really possible in a society with a noticeable percentage of people who believe in God and try to act like it. Rarely do we see that kind of morality in a religious vacuum. Most people instinctively know that killing someone for fun is bad, but not all. But that’s literally the bare minimum of what makes a decent person (we’ll even include other big ones here like rape, kidnapping, etc.). What about making sure you don’t get rich by taking advantage of other people in some way? What about not influencing or enabling others to make decisions that would harm them in the future? What about being absolutely faithful to your spouse (unassailably the most functional domestic condition)? What about always telling the truth, even if it harms you? What about forgiving people who hurt you, and definitely not retaliating? These are not natural character traits, these are the behaviors of people who believe in God and try to love others selflessly. 

So yes, it is possible for a person to be moral without being religious…but not outside of a framework built on God’s morality. Genuine Christian morality promotes a culture where the least amount of people are harmed, allowing for the most amount of people tolive fulfilling, meaningful lives. 

Seeking A Pig, Finding A Wife

Brent Pollard

It wasn’t a fairytale romance but rather a practical one. William Henderson Sheffield had tragically lost his beloved young wife to the cruel grasp of death. Like numerous individuals in his predicament during the late nineteenth century, he pursued a swift substitute. Even so, William’s initial intention was to purchase a pig. Sheffield found himself at the doorstep of Edmund Learwood Nerren due to this intended purchase. I don’t know if the two men had any prior business dealings. Still, when William discovered that Edmund didn’t have a pig to sell, he asked if Edmund knew any respectable Christian women available for courtship. Edmund responded, mentioning that he had a daughter. Even though this daughter, Lucy, was sixteen years younger than William, the two eventually married. William and Lucy had five daughters, one of whom was my grandmother, Ida Isabelle.

My great-grandfather proves illustrative for Luke 11.9–13 that one should ask, seek, and knock. Consider these points with me.

Persistently Asking for What You Desire

William Sheffield’s story exemplifies the relentless pursuit of one’s dreams. Despite his initial intention to buy a pig, William didn’t let the failure discourage him. Instead, he fearlessly inquired about a wife, a far more critical pursuit. Similarly, in Luke 11.9, Jesus urges us to “ask, seek, and knock.” Through his unwavering determination, William was rewarded with the fortuitous discovery of a life partner, perfectly aligned with the biblical idea that those who seek shall find.

Unexpected Blessings Beyond Your Requests

William embarked on a mission to obtain a simple item—a pig. However, providence had more excellent plans for him. Instead of just a pig, he gained a loving wife and a whole new family. This substitution illustrates how God often surpasses our expectations when we sincerely ask, seek, and persevere. The passage conveys the message of God’s abundant benevolence and His sincere intention to bestow blessings upon us, like a caring father showering his children with precious gifts. William’s life underwent a profound transformation, shifting from a simple transaction to creating a new family. This change stands as a powerful testament to the abundant blessings that God can bestow upon us, exceeding even our wildest expectations.

God’s Benevolence in Providing Blessings

The latter portion of Luke 11.13 emphasizes that if earthly fathers can give good gifts to their children, how much more will the heavenly Father generously provide the Holy Spirit to those who seek Him earnestly? William’s experience illustrates how we can see God’s kindness in the gift of a new wife and family after losing his first wife. It serves as a reminder that divine providence can meet our most urgent needs. Even amid hardship and sadness, God’s blessings come at the perfect time and are always beneficial, just like how He brought Lucy into William’s life.

Surprising Paths to Divine Blessings

William’s journey began with a simple and practical need, but it led him to an unexpected path that ended in marriage and a family. It is incredible to observe how God’s answers to our prayers can often come in unforeseen ways. Just like William’s original request, which resulted in a much bigger blessing, God can answer our prayers in ways beyond our expectations or understanding.

I’m unsure what inspired my great-grandfather to approach a stranger and inquire about a potential spouse, but I’m grateful he did. My great-grandfather’s story reminds me of Jesus’ parable of “The Unjust Judge” from Luke 18. Jesus concludes the parable by questioning whether there will be individuals who possess the unwavering faith to engage in prayer upon His return. Consider what God may want to do but doesn’t because you fail to ask. Ask, seek, and knock.

A Shot In The Arm

Carl Pollard

The promises of God can get us through the toughest of times. His love is the shot in the arm we need to remain faithful. Paul says in Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” So far in this section, Paul has asked four questions: 

  1. Who Can Be Against Us? 
  2. Who Can Accuse Us? 
  3. Who Can Condemn Us? 
  4. Who Can Separate Us? 

The Love of Christ is unbreakable, nothing can affect it. “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” We can let these push us away from Christ and His love, but His love toward us is unbreakable. 

Several years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the pond behind his house. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother, in the house and looking out the window, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug of war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. After weeks and weeks in the hospital the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. On his arms, were deep scratches from where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pants legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But, look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms too. I have them because my Mom wouldn’t let go.” 

Just like a mother who loves her child, so God loves us. The scars on the hands and feet of Jesus remind us that God, in His great love for us, could not let us go. But His love doesn’t mean that we won’t face famine or peril or sword. We will still have to endure suffering, Just know that no matter what scars may be on your legs from the world, Christ has scars on His hands and feet. If The Son of God suffered, what makes us think we won’t as well? 

36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” Paul isn’t saying that none of these things will happen to followers of Jesus. He isn’t saying Christians won’t experience hardship or distress; or that they won’t be persecuted, or face famine, nakedness, danger, or sword. Paul knows this firsthand. If our earthly bodies survive the tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword, then all of those things will draw us into a closer relationship with God. If our bodies don’t survive, then we will find ourselves in the presence of God. Either way, we win. 

This is what Paul was talking about when he said in Philippians one that to live is Christ, and to die is gain. The love of God makes us immune to the worst of the world’s fears. And that love can be a shot in the arm in the worst of times!

Who Is To Condemn?

 

Carl Pollard

In Romans 8:34 Paul says, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Rather than receiving condemnation, God sent His only Son to justify us. 

Christ Died

That question, “Who is to condemn?” Is clearly answered as Christ. He is the one that should, but instead Paul goes on to say, “Christ Jesus Is the one who Died.” As proof of God’s love for us, rather than condemn us, He offers the Gift of His Son. 

This isn’t the first time Paul has brought up Christ’s Death. This act of sacrificial love is the foundation of our faith. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” His death was not a mere historical event; it was the ultimate act of love and redemption. While we were sinners, worthy of condemnation, Christ DIED for us. 

Do you see how wonderful this is? Do you like forgiving someone while they are actively hurting you? This is almost impossible for us. On a much larger scale, while we were actively living in sin, Christ died for us. While we were cursing God, Jesus was dying for us. When we consider the weight of our sins, we might feel overwhelmed by guilt and shame. However, we must remember that Christ took our sins upon Himself, allowing us to stand before God blameless. His death paid the penalty we owed, and through Him, we find forgiveness and grace. As believers, we can face our past without fear because Christ has already dealt with it on the cross.

Paul further explains that rather than condemning us…

Christ Was Raised

“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised…” 

There is more to our salvation than the death of Christ. What good would a dead savior do for our sin? Christ came back! 

“MORE than that, who was RAISED.” The resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith and a declaration of victory over death and sin. Romans 6:9 says, “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” His resurrection assures us that death does not have the final say. And with it, the fear of death is removed. 

Because Christ conquered the grave, we too are given the hope of eternal life. Our resurrected Savior enables us to live in victory today. We no longer have to walk in the shadows of condemnation; instead, we can live boldly, knowing that we have been granted new life through Him. The resurrection not only affirms our salvation but also transforms our lives, enabling us to rise above our struggles and experience freedom from fear and sin. 

What is there to fear in death? Death for the faithful christian will be a wonderful reunion. 

Rather than condemning us, Christ died, was raised, and now…

Christ Intercedes

Romans 8:34, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Paul asks, “Who is to condemn?” He answers this question by affirming that Christ Jesus is the one who died, was raised, and now is at the right hand of God, interceding for us. Picture this: Jesus, our advocate, standing before the Father, speaking on our behalf. What a comforting thought! When we face accusations—whether from the enemy, our own doubts, or the world around us—Christ stands as our defense. He is our advocate in the courtroom of God, ensuring that we are not condemned. Instead of condemnation, we receive grace, mercy, and love. This truth should fill our hearts with hope and assurance.

Want to see a powerful example of Christ’s intercession? Luke 23:34, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” 

Do you know who this prayer was said for? 

Jesus prayed to God, asking for their forgiveness, because He would rather see His murderers forgiven then condemned. 

So what do you think He is doing for you now? 

The same Savior that died for you, is your advocate to the Father.

“Do You Fear Death?”

Gary Pollard

Davy Jones asked this question in the second Pirates of the Caribbean. “Do you fear(rrr) that dark ahbees?” It’s basically rhetorical, most people would say, “Duh.” Staying alive drives most of our behavior. We avoid certain activities if there’s even a modest possibility of death! Not everyone is negatively preoccupied with this unknown state, but many (perhaps most) are. Why do we fear death? And can we be certain that there’s life after death? We’ll look at those in order. 

  1. Why do we fear death? There are too many reasons to list here, so we’ll look at just the big ones. We fear death because it’s unknown. It’s been thousands of years since someone came back to life, and they didn’t share any details about it. We fear what we don’t understand. It’s not physically possible to study consciousness after death, so it’s the ultimate unknown! This is a religious blog, so we’ll approach this from that angle. John tells us that if we fear death two things are to blame: one, we’re instinctively afraid of God’s punishment because our lives aren’t where they need to be. Two, we haven’t matured in love. God’s perfect love overrides our fear of death (I Jn 4.17-18). If someone orders their life around their fear of death, they need to make changes. Adopt selfless love — “everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them” (4.16). John also says, “If God’s love is made perfect in us, we can be without fear on the day when God judges the world. We will have no fear because in this world we are like Jesus.” This tracks with what Jesus said in Lk 21.25-28, “They [all people on Earth] will be afraid and worried about what will happen to the world. … When these things happen, stand up tall1 and don’t be afraid.2 Know that it is almost time for God to free you.” Jesus’s sacrifice removed our fear of death (Hb 2.15). Death is just a “sting”, it’s the consequence of our sin. But it’s no longer an issue. It’s only for a microsecond (from our perspective), and the best thing that could happen to a believer (I Cor 15.51-52, 56-57). Jesus took away any legitimate fear of death because it no longer means we’re destined for punishment! 
  2. Can we know for sure that there is life after death? From a material perspective, no.  Not yet, anyways. Even Solomon struggled with this question (Ecc 3.21), “Who knows what happens to a person’s spirit? Who knows if a human’s spirit goes up to God while an animal’s just goes into the ground?” When every person who ever lived comes back to life at Jesus’s return, we’ll know for sure. What we were only confident in — even though we hadn’t yet observed it firsthand — will become incontrovertibly real. For now, our confidence comes from promises made in scripture, and from a universal, intuitive sense that something exists beyond this life (Is 25.8; Hos 13.14; I Cor 15.57; II Pt 3.13; Rv 21.4). 

  1.  This is imperative mood (command) in Gk. The idea is to stand up with confidence.  ↩︎
  2.  Also imperative mood, lit. “raise up your head”.   ↩︎

The Fight Going On Inside

Clint Raymer

An old Cherokee grandfather is teaching his grandson about life: “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. ”It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is Evil. He is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?” The grandfather simply replied, “The one you feed.” 

This proverb reminds me of something Paul said in Romans 7:19-25. First I would like to share vs 19-23. “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Good and Evil is a battle that can be fought and seen externally in this world. However this fight is one that is both without and within. Inside each of us is a fight, a struggle, between that of the flesh and Spirit. A battle between that which is baser, and that which is better. To become more adept in both wisdom and skill when it comes to mastering this struggle requires time, effort, and self-control. There is a quote I like which says, “Self-Discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don’t control what you think, you cannot control what you do.” 

The power and discipline of our thoughts, our mind, is paramount in controlling our actions. Henry Ford has a quote which goes, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” We must also face a hard truth in this fight to master the flesh versus the Spirit. As Paul himself said, at times we will fail. The things that we will not to do will become the things we have done, and we will fall short of the glory of God. It always seems that in these moments of failure or mistake that we are our own harshest critic. We tend to bring about our own discouragement by focusing on our shortcomings and failures again and again like a broken record until it seems hopeless to try. Yet this is not the way. 

When the walls come crashing in, nothing you do works or is good enough, and this struggle against the flesh seems hopeless. I am reminded of a simple message we all know. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). While everyone is equally guilty of having succumbed to sin, fallen prey to sin, we are also equally united by one single fact. Love. God’s love, Christ’s love which was freely given so that though we were chained by sin, condemned by sin, we might be set free for a brighter future. I am often reminded of Christs words in John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” These were not just Jesus’s words, they were His actions. He freely and willingly gave His life for our sakes because He knew that in our struggle between flesh and Spirit. Sometimes we would give in to the flesh. So we would not have to suffer eternal separation from God, Christ paid the debt for those and all transgressions. All we need do to benefit from this is to submit, repent, dust ourselves off, and try again. Paul confirms this in Romans 7:24-25, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” From this message I can draw but one conclusion. We are truly completely known and completely loved by God. 

I want to share one final thought with you, a line from one of Shakespeare’s plays, Henry the V. This line is part of what is known as the St. Crispins Day speech. It goes “We few, We happy few, We band of brothers.” This is what we are. A band of brothers and sisters in Christ, united by Christ’s love and empowered by His sacrifice to daily fight the battle of flesh versus Spirit. Firm in the knowledge that though sometimes the battle may be lost, ultimately the war is won.  

Loving Difficult People

Nick Dubree

If I asked for a show of hands if you had at least one person in your life that you found difficult to love, some of us, if not all of us would have both hands and both feet in the air. There is no doubt that all of us have people in our lives that are “difficult to love.” This is a natural part of our lives and even more so as followers of Christ because we have different standard of “loving people” than what you find in the world.

I want to dive a little deeper than what usually talk about when this topic comes up. Usually, when he hear this topic, our minds selfishly start pointing blame at others. We may have thoughts like, “Well if they would just have the same opinion as me, everything would be better”, or “man I wish they would get their life together, they’d be a lot easier to be  around.” 

However, when we observe Matthew and Mark’s account of what Jesus says to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:36-40 and Mark 12:29-31, we find that when Jesus is asked “Which is the greatest commandment?” He says “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”.

There is a greater context here, but I find it very interesting that when Jesus is asked this question, even though it’s coming from a Lawyer trying to test Him, of all the commandments, Jesus answers with these two. Obviously Jesus find these to be greatly important. First and foremost, you have to Love God. Second, you have to love your neighbor as yourself.

And if we do a little reverse psychology with the second commandment Jesus mentions here, you gotta love your neighbor. To love your neighbor right, you gotta love your neighbor as yourself. To love your neighbor as yourself, you gotta love yourself.

Webster defines the word difficult as -hard to do, make, or carry out; hard to deal with, hard to manage, overcome, or understand. Loving difficult people is……difficult, but loving yourself is a constant challenge. It’s a lifelong battle. If we were honest with ourselves, our disappointment and or disapproval of others originate with that of ourselves. The first step to loving difficult people. In fact, loving yourself is the first step to loving people in general.

Jesus gave us a reason to love ourselves, not in a selfish, prideful way, but in light of our salvation. Our salvation and hope should shine through in love for others. I believe if we study ourselves on a regular basis, cultivating that love that Jesus has shown us, it will bring forth a spirit of natural love for people, no matter how difficult they may be.

Why You Matter

Carl Pollard

God expects us to treat each other with love and humility. He holds us accountable for the ways that we interact with our neighbors. Every command from God is essential to follow, but Jesus identifies two of the greatest commands in Matthew 22:36-40. “Love God with heart, soul and mind.” And, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All are worthy of love, but we are called to love and value others the way we love and value ourselves. 

However, a problem that many struggle with is how to love others if we don’t even love ourselves? God sees each one of us as valuable and worthy of love. He expects us to treat each other with respect, dignity, and honor. How will we fulfill the second greatest command if we don’t even love ourselves? 

Your view of yourself directly impacts how you will treat others. If you struggle with loving others it is often as a result of low self esteem or an unhealthy dislike of who you are. Hurt people hurt people, and if you can’t see the value of your soul, how can you see the value in others? 

If you had a friend that talked to you the way you talk to yourself, how long would they be your friend? This article isn’t supposed to be a self-help, life coach lesson, but at the same time we are going to dive into what makes us worthy of love. 

This article is all about why you matter, not just to God, but to the church, your physical family, and to the world. 

Every person on earth is unique, but you will never talk to someone that God doesn’t love! That’s why we are expected to treat each other with love. When you turn away from someone in need, you are turning your back on someone God values. When you speak hateful things to someone, you are saying these things to someone God loves. When you gossip, insult and belittle someone, you are doing it to a human that God sent His Son to die for. Every human soul is precious. Anyone who says otherwise contradicts our Creator. His opinion of you matters most. 

Why treat God’s pride and joy of creation this way? 

Do you see why you matter? In The Declaration Of Independence you read the phrase, “we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.” If all are created equal, why do we treat others as if they are any less valuable? Is it true that all are created equal? According to God the answer is a resounding YES! 

The joy of the gospel is that no matter how you may feel, or what others say, no matter how good or bad your life is, YOU MATTER TO GOD. I’m not just saying this as an opinion, it is the truth. Problem is, society today has some difficulty with this truth. Let’s imagine that there is no God. Imagine that we all came from a singular source of matter that evolved throughout time. Imagine that in order to become humans we had to be smarter and stronger than other species. 

Imagine that existence is simply a battle of survival. If you are one of the weak ones who dies, nothing exists beyond your death.

Your life was ultimately meaningless when all memory of you dies with your lifeless cells. If all of that were true, would you matter at all? Or are we just a product of chance and time? 

Theres no value found in that! According to secular science we are where we are today because we survived in a brutal fight with all other species. That doesn’t lead to valuing life at all. If there is no God, no one can say with certainty that life is of any value. 

Thankfully, there is a God. And because of HIS goodness we are able to have full assurance that our lives matter.

Our view of whether someone is valuable or not is usually superficial. Our value doesn’t come from the success we’ve had in life, it comes from something far greater than anything we could do on our own. Our value is ascribed to us by God Himself. Genesis 1:26 God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Before we ever did anything, our origin began with God making us in His image. The value of your life isn’t based on how much money your family has. It’s not based on what physical features you have. Your value is not based on what talents or skills you have to offer. You are valuable because in the beginning God made you in HIS image! Not just a select few. ALL of mankind is made in the image of God! That’s why we are valuable and why YOU matter!

Love=Help

Gary Pollard

At least in my lifetime, no period has been as uncertain and tense as the current one. We have no idea what will happen in the next few months. We’re not 100% confident that society will be at peace this time next year. Hatred, as defined in the New Testament, is already rearing its ugly head and will likely only grow exponentially in the coming months.  

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably a believer. First and foremost, we are not citizens of any country in this world. We have to be peaceful, beneficial citizens in whichever country we live, but we’re non-resident aliens regardless. We’re visiting for one purpose: to show the world how Jesus loves. 

John defines hatred and love very clearly in I John 3. Hatred (from μισει, misei) is not always defined as “harboring extreme resentment toward others”. Sometimes we catch ourselves before using the word “hate” to describe how we feel about someone, replacing it with “strongly dislike”. That’s still hatred, at least the way John uses the word. It seems to mean, in the context of I John, something like “not helping someone with their physical needs because of how we feel about them”. It means showing beneficial kindness to the brothers and sisters we like to the neglect of those we don’t. 

BDAG uses Deuteronomy 21.15-16 as an example of how this word could be understood. In that passage, a man has two wives. He likes one wife more than the other one, and he has sons with both wives. The oldest son happens to be from the wife he doesn’t like as much. When it’s time to divide his assets among his children, he can’t give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he likes more. Does this mean he “hates” his other wife? No — it just means he doesn’t like her as much as the other one, and he’s tempted to treat his firstborn with less favor because of it. 

The first part of I John 3 is all about not sinning and not hating our fellow believers. The second part is about practicing love for each other. The last part is about belonging to the truth and living in God. Sandwiched between these concepts is the definition of love and hatred: 

We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers. Now, suppose a person has enough to live on and notices another believer in need. How can God’s love be in that person if he doesn’t bother to help the other believer? Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words.

We don’t have to feel “strong dislike” for a believer to be considered hateful. We just have to neglect them because we don’t like them. Here’s the problem with that: Everyone who hates another believer is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life (3.15). 

We don’t know what the next few months will do to us. But we cannot mistreat or neglect a fellow believer because of how we feel about them. If we practice love, we have eternal life. If we practice apathy or neglect, we’ll have eternal death. What happens to us in this life is not important. We’re just waiting for Jesus to come back. If we want to leave this earth with him, we can’t let something temporal keep us from showing beneficial kindness to our fellow believers. 

Your True Self Is False

Dale Pollard

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age..” (Titus 2:11-12).

Paul records and reminds us of some profound truths in the second chapter of Titus. He says that the greatest gift ever given to mankind, salvation, was motivated by God’s grace. A grand and priceless gift was freely given from His perfect heart. The gift of Christ is then to motivate us in return to live contrary to our instincts. We willingly give up and give back to God because it’s a response to His love and grace. 

While the English translations certainly capture the intended meaning of the text (Titus 2.11-12), there’s some weightier implications that can be found when we take a closer look at the word “No” or “deny” in verse twelve. The word (or: renounce, no, deny) means “to act entirely unlike himself” (STRONGS, G720). 

In context we find that it’s our grace-given salvation that teaches us how to act entirely unlike ourselves. Why would someone renounce ungodliness and worldly passions of all kinds? What incentive does one have to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives? The reason (love and grace) that God gave us His son (our salvation) is what should motivate us to love and live juxtaposed to the rest of the world. It is beautifully simple and elucidates the perfect God that we can happily serve. 

Love And Forgiveness

Harold Nicks

Love and forgiveness, two tenets of our Christian faith. Love and forgiveness, something we all desire and something God commands us to give to others. The New Testament is replete with scriptures on love and forgiveness. In Matthew chapter 5, in the sermon on the mount, Jesus instructs us to love our enemies. He also commands us to forgive others knowing the debt He paid for our forgiveness.

I recently attended a funeral. I did not know Elizabeth well, but I knew a lot about her influence. Tommy did her eulogy; she had asked him to do it.

I need to tell their story. A story the world would think odd but not those that know and understand the love and forgiveness we have in Jesus.

Elizabeth and Frank, her husband, had one son, Ted. Ted was coming home for Christmas break from college when he was killed by a drunk driver. Tommy was that drunk driver.

Tommy received what some may consider a light sentence … minimal jail time and community service to talk at schools about the dangers of drunk driving.

In the eulogy Tommy recalled how he felt as if nobody cared about him and that God had turned away from him. He realized the destruction and pain he caused in Elizabeth and Frank’s life.

As Tommy recalled, “I was walking home to my apartment one late evening and Elizabeth thought she recognized me and pulled over to the side of the road. I was fearful and reluctant when she rolled down the window of her car and asked if she could talk to me. She asked me to get in the car, that she just wanted to talk with me. As I got in, she explained that she did not want to harm me. She was desperately wanting to know who I was, how I felt about what I had done. She also wanted me to understand the great harm I had done. I felt the weight of my crime and I could not bear the sorrow. She asked about my past and alcoholism and why I would do something so careless. After several minutes Elizabeth asked me to promise I would not take a drink that night. We cried together and I promised I would not take that drink. Elizabeth had compassion for she could see a life of waste and a lost soul.”

Through her anger, grief and despair, Elizabeth saw a lost soul…someone in need of Jesus.
Elizabeth and Frank fully understood the example Christ left us about love and forgiveness even when it is painful and not easy. The thought of a lost soul was greater than their grief. They began studying the Bible with Tommy and eventually he obeyed the gospel. They became active in Tommy’s life helping to guide him as a young Christian. Tommy is an active faithful Christian some forty years later.

Love and forgiveness – they are choices we decide to give or withhold.

Sometimes it’s loving and forgiving ourselves as Tommy did – sometimes it’s loving and forgiving others as Elizabeth and Frank did … always mindful of what Jesus did for us. HE did not withhold from us.

Love and forgiveness – God has it for each of us – we all need it – and HE freely gives it.

A Call To Joyful Worship And Thankful Praise

Brent Pollard

Psalm 100 is a joyful prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God. Psalm 100 encourages everyone to worship the Lord and joyfully recognize His sovereignty and goodness. It highlights several important reasons for praising God and offers a framework for approaching Him in worship.

Reasons to Praise God:

  1. God is the Creator and Sustainer (v. 3). The psalmist reminds us that God Himself is our Creator and made us. We do not create or sustain ourselves; we owe our existence to God, our Creator. As His creation, we have a compelling reason to praise Him and recognize His authority over our lives.
  2. We are God’s people (v. 3). The psalm also confirms that we are God’s flock, sheep in His pasture. This imagery shows God as a loving and caring Shepherd who diligently cares for His flock. As His people, we have a special relationship with Him, and we can approach Him confidently, knowing He cares about us and meets our needs.
  3. God’s character (verses 4–5) The psalm praises God’s goodness, lovingkindness, and faithfulness. These characteristics are everlasting and extend to future generations. God’s character deserves our praise and thanksgiving because He is always good, loving, and faithful to us.

How to Worship God:

  1. Shout joyfully (verse 1). The psalm begins with the command to “shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.” Celebrating God’s greatness and goodness joyfully through worship is important, rather than keeping it somber or subdued. Our praise should be loud, exuberant, and full of joy.
  2. Serve with gladness (v. 2). True worship includes praising and serving God. We are to “serve the Lord with gladness,” indicating that we dedicate our lives to Him. Service should not be burdensome but rather a joyful response to God’s love and grace.
  3. Sing joyfully (verse 2). The psalmist urges us to “come before Him with joyful singing.” Singing is a powerful way to worship, allowing us to express our praise and love for God through our voices and hearts.
  4. Enter with thanksgiving and praise while blessing His name (verse 4). The psalmist encourages us to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” as we approach God’s presence. Gratitude and praise should be at the forefront of our worship, acknowledging God’s goodness and thanking Him for His blessings. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit instructs us to “thank Him” and “bless His name.” Blessing God’s name entails honoring His greatness, holiness, and worthiness through our worship. This verse captures the attitude of gratitude, adoration, and reverence that should guide our approach to God in worship.

Psalm 100 is a beautiful reminder of why we should praise God and how to worship Him with joy, gladness, and thanksgiving. Reflecting on God’s character, creation, and love for us should inspire us to approach Him with hearts full of praise and gratitude, actively expressing our devotion to Him.

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