1 Peter 1:13 reminds us to, “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The story is told about a professor who walked into a room and took a glass jar and placed in it several large rocks filling the jar to the top with those rocks, he then asked his class if the jar was full . . . to which they replied yes. Next, he took some pebbles and put them into the jar, with the rock as filled the jar to the brim, and then asked the class if the jar was full . . . to which the class responded again yes! With that he took some fine sand and poured it over the rocks and pebbles up to the top of the jar, and asked the class if the jar was full . . . this time the class was not sure, so they hesitated and finally said it looks like it. With that he took a pitcher of water and poured it over the sand, pebbles, and the larger rocks . . … READ MORE

Recently a man came into my office and looked at my library. He asked me if I had read all the books in my library, or if they were there to impress those who come into the office. My response was that these books represent the people that I have allowed to disciple me over the years. They have challenged me in my walk with Christ, and motivated me to know God and make Him known. 1 Corinthians 1:21 reminds us that, “… It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” This brings us to another reason to attend a church. We need to be confronted by the Word of God outside of our own thinking. Not to find new and exciting truths (although that may happen), but because we have the uncanny ability to justify our behavior. Hearing the truth proclaimed by another person, causes us to view a portion of Scripture in a different light. The Spirit of God often takes those messages, and convicts and convinces us of His truths in our lives. The confrontation of the Word of God stimulates us to greater godliness! Yet often in our own approach to … READ MORE

We live in a day when the idea of attending church is being questioned. Coming out of the COVID protocols, the church was defined as a non-essential entity. People are saying that they can worship God as well on the beach or the words, as they can in a building made with hands. Why should we attend a place that is being viewed as a social club or organization. Today, we are more interested in being entertained, than we are with learning about God. We need to remember that the primary reason for coming to church is to Meet with God! From the very outset of creation, God established the importance of preparing ourselves to meet God. We need to have a place for that to happen. All the patriarchs of Israel developed alters to meet with God, and the Nation of Israel had the Tabernacle and then the Temple to meet with God. Even after the destruction of the Temple, the nation established synagogues so that they would have a place for the people to meet with God. When we plan to meet with someone, we prepare to make that happen. Today, people are not preparing to meet God, … READ MORE