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I hated all my work at which I labored under the sun because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. – Ecclesiastes 2:18 We have all heard that there are no U-Hauls behind hearses. Although, I have a friend who said he saw one once! The point, of course, being that you can't take it (your worldly possessions) with you when you die. Solomon, with all his earthly riches and accumulated wisdom, came to realize this timeless truth and mused at the futility of giving your

They cried out with a loud voice: "Lord, the One who is holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?” - Revelation 6:10 How long? The eternal question for all those who feel the sting of earthly suffering, be it at the hand of an oppressor or a seemingly unfortunate turn of circumstance, is this, "How long will it go on?" Don't you wish we knew? As one who has been both "comforter" and "comforted," I confess that usually the a

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 1:9 "Have you read the last book by (supply name of famous person here)?" Or ... "Did you go to the last conference with (supply another name here)?" We live in the information age and sometimes it seems that there is no end to the information! Please forgive me, but at some point, don't we need to stop reading the books and attending the even

And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth. - Revelation 5:9-10 In John' vision on Patmos, at the appearance of the Lamb, the heavenly residents sang of Christ's worth, sacrifice, and redemption. They also sang of His purpose

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 1:9 It is both a blessing and a curse of youth to believe that any idea is new, ground-breaking, or unique. It is a blessing because even if there is "nothing new under the sun," old ideas that have faded from memory often need to be rediscovered. On the other hand, it can also be a curse because youthfulness sometimes promotes an arrogance that rejec

And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. - Revelation 5:9 Christ Jesus, through John the Apostle and his Patmos revelation, gave us an angel's-eye-view of heaven's throne room. In reading this particular section of his account, we can perceive just how worthy the Lamb of God truly is while also being pro

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. - Proverbs 31:30 I love my wife. No, I mean I really love her. She is so beautiful to me, inside and out. I believe that Cindy has the spiritual gift of service and for much of her life she used her gift of grace to bless other people (and, of course, her husband). She also happens to be one of the most unselfish people I have ever known, often giving her time and efforts just t

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore, be zealous and repent. - Revelation 3:19 As we approach another anniversary, my wife and I find ourselves about to celebrate in a familiar, but also new location. Our first anniversary was spent in Starkville, Mississippi. The one before last was in Millburn, New Jersey. This one will be back in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. In between that first one in Mississippi and this one in Pennsylvania, there have been 29 differing

Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion. - Proverbs 30:8 As the nation of Israel grew hungry on their journey to the Promised Land, God provided manna from heaven. Every morning they would arise to a fresh batch and with each passing day were taught to depend upon God's provision. Jesus, instructing His disciples on how to pray and harkening back to that wilderness dependence even included this phrase, "Give us this day our daily bread

So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. - Revelation 3:16 Laodicea was a city into which flowed the waters from two springs. One spring was hot and known for its healing powers. The other spring was cold and known for its refreshing quality. By the time the waters of both reached Laodicea, they were lukewarm and good for nothing. God designed each of us for His purpose. We are expected to make use of His design as

One who becomes stiff-necked after many reprimands will be broken suddenly, and without a remedy. - Proverbs 29:1 I worship the God of second chances; okay, more like third, fourth, and fifth chances! Our God is so very gracious with those who are His and those who are not. He loves us even when we are totally unlovable. What an awesome God! There will, of course, be an ultimate reckoning for the unrepentant. We are all capable of stumbling in or out of our walk with Ch

Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. - Revelation 2:29 What is the most significant key to good church leadership? Is it saying the right thing or rather listening to the right person? Generally, it is better to listen than to speak (or at least to listen before you speak), but beyond just taking the time to listen, good leaders must also be sure they are listening to the right people (or person). So, to whom should church leaders be li

The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe. - Proverbs 28:26 An axiom that I have heard most of my life goes like this: "Follow your heart," or, to put it another way, "Go with your gut." Sadly, such wisdom doesn't always lead to good decisions. Why? Simply because it is possible for our hearts to be deceived and, in turn, lie to us. True wisdom cannot be generated from within, but must be found without, with God in Christ, primarily wit

But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love [you had] at first. - Revelation 2:4 This is the standard translation of this passage (part of the letter to the Church at Ephesus), meaning, "You have lost your first love." The Parole de Vie (a French translation that I have used in the past) gives the same meaning; however, the words are a little different. It reads, "You don't love me as you did in the beginning." Though this is an alternate reading, I still thi

One who rebukes a person will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue. - Proverbs 28:23 Don't we usually prefer the easy way out? I don't know anyone who enjoys pain, even when the outcome is beneficial, yet most of us are willing to go through surgery in order to achieve greater health. Why, then, is it so hard to go through discomfort to help others achieve greater spiritual health and character? It probably has more to do with our own fear of reje

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, "Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. - Revelation 1:17-18 The Christmas season is a special time of year and most of us truly love it! Our days and nights are filled with sweet images of the infant Jesus, swaddled and lying upon a bed of fragrant hay while mom, dad, th

The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. - Proverbs 28:13 I have said (many times) that the key to holiness in this life is simple to discover. Of course, there is nothing simple about practical holiness, but I do believe there is a definite key. The key, I believe, is transparency. According to the writer above, "The one who conceals his sins will not prosper." So, why do we try to hide them from God? H

Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen. - Revelation 1:7 When Christ returns it will be visible to everyone on earth; a joyous, earth-shattering event for many, but a time of mourning for most. Those who are not redeemed will likely mourn their fate, their ignorance, and their loss, but they will also mourn their misappropriated lives. Thi

Don't boast about tomorrow, for you don't know what a day might bring. - Proverbs 27:1 I always try to plan for tomorrow while still living for today, but it isn't easy to pull off. Sometimes, it seems, I have a lot riding on the future, thinking that if something doesn't happen the way I have it laid out, then I am defeated. The result is that I sometimes get ahead of myself and end up with some disappointment over failed plans. Why not use a different tactic. Plan for

But you, dear friends, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. - Jude 20-21 Have you ever been in an earthquake? I have experienced two small ones in New York and New Jersey, but it was more "cool" than scary. Of course, this experience can be life-altering for many around the world and there is nothing "cool" about it. What do you do