Who is Your Family?
I love my family. My wife and children are among the greatest blessings God has given me. My siblings, parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles and so on are all very important to me. The memories of those who have passed on before me are very sweet. Family gives one a sense of identity, belonging, and history–and a strong reason to care about the future. On the other hand, chief among the wounded souls among us are those who have been violated by their families, or whose families have been violated or broken. That fact alone proves the extreme importance of family. Read more
The Movies…
The Oscars were handed out last night. I watched part of the show, and enjoyed some of it. I love movies. I love music, television and books too. I love the arts. However, there are many “works of art” that express a worldview that I simply cannot support. As a result, there is much in music, books, and movies that once I would have enjoyed when I didn’t truly seek the Lord’s will, that now grieves me. Read more
A Feast is Spread Before Us!
Though most of us in America eat well, a literal feast of food is not what I mean. I mean that, like never before, information is available to all. Never in history has so great a percent of the population of the world been literate. Never before have books been so affordable. When we think of the inconceivably vast amount of information available through computers on the internet… I don’t quite know what to say. It is wonderful! I am thankful to be blessed to live now. I feel the spiritual yearning for knowledge; to understand the truth. Do you? Read more
In the Cool of the Day
One of the saddest moments in history is when God came into the garden to walk with Adam and Eve and they hid from him (Gen 3:8). They hid from him! I groan thinking of how that felt for God. I know it wasn’t good for our oldest ancestors either–they felt fear and shame for the first time and they ran from God. Take a moment to close your eyes and put yourself in their shoes and I imagine you will recognize feelings you have felt before. For the first time sin separated God and man (Isa 59:2). However, though respect for himself forced God to drive Adam and Eve from the garden and barr the way to the Tree of Life with the cherub and his flaming sword, God did not fully cut man off from him. Even while punishing man and woman (and serpent), Yahweh set forth terms of redemption (Gen 3:15). From then until now God has ever remained close to every man, woman and child, and is not far away from any one of us now (Acts 17:27). Read more
How often do you read the Bible?
Do you have the guts to answer? Today’s question is real simple, but challenging in that many of us may not want to answer it publicly. How often (and for how long) do you read your Bible? Don’t feel like you have to put on a show for anyone, that is hypocrisy. I hope you’ll answer the question honestly. The way to correct problems is first to admit that there’s a problem. On the other hand, those who do faithfully read and study the Scriptures, don’t be too modest to be a good example for everyone else. So, have the guts to answer the question honestly, and feel free to share your tips, things you’ve learned, or your point of view about reading the Bible. Some of you who have never personally read from the Bible, perhaps you have questions about why one would want to read it to begin with? If so, let’s hear them.
—JLP
“Then Comes Marriage?”
Good morning (or afternoon, evening or night, depending on when you read this)! This morning I was reminded of a little playground rhyme that children used to recite as a torture method, but that was wholesomely indicative of a healthy and proper view of the right way to do family. Any time a boy or girl would say or do anything that might (or might not) hint that he or she “liked” a member of the opposite sex, the children would chant something like “John and Jane, sitting in a tree…,” you know how it goes, “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes John with a baby carriage.” Maybe there are variations out there, but you get the idea.
My question for all of you readers today, well actually a couple of questions, are: (1) Do children still torture one another with this rhyme today? (I hope so) and (2) In your experience, do the majority of people still agree with the basic proposition of that rhyme–do they agree (even if many do not practice it) that marriage ought to come before a baby carriage? Read more
Productivity
Productivity! Yes indeed. I want to be productive. I want to be a profitable servant of Christ. The alternative is no alternative for me (Matt 25:30)! Last week was a great week at Highland. This week is beginning well. Though I love to listen to bro. Cornwell’s preaching, the privilege of being able to fill in for him yesterday was great. I taught the teen class for Wilber (our Youth Minister) yesterday, which I’ll say something about again in a moment. Work on the first issue of REACH for 2008 is complete as of today, and I’m happily listening as it rolls of the press (so to speak) (and I’m also trying to figure out how to get the pdf on the website). I’m working on the adult bible classes lineup for Spring and beyond, and I plan on making a couple of ministry visits this afternoon. Oh, and our Summer Series plans are now complete. The feeling of productivity is so fulfilling to me! I hope it is for you also, especially so far as your ministry is concerned. Read more
The Journey of A Thousand Miles
The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step! Whether old or new, everything in this world has a beginning. If it is to come into being in this world, it has to have a start. No matter how far one has to travel, he’ll never reach his destination without taking that first step, and the manner in which that first step is taken often sets the tone for every step that follows—and may well determine whether or not the destination is reached at all. That is why some journeys have to be renewed or started over. Praise God for second (and third, and fourth…) chances! Thank God for new beginnings!
I have begun a new work as Minister of Education and Evangelism here at Highland Heights, and with it comes the beginning of this new Bible Blog on our newly renovated website. What a blessing from God it is to have this means of communicating with people all over the world. This blog is a tool in the King’s hand to reach out and affect open hearts and minds wherever they may be. As the writer of this blog, I pray that I will be faithful to Jesus in everything I say and do, and I hope to be able to have an impact for good upon every one of you who read these words. Read more
