Those who are poor, diseased, and grieving experience therapeutic laughter. At memorial services, people laugh quickly. The best carefree moments on Earth bring laughter. And if we can laugh hard now — in a world full of poverty, disease, and disasters — then surely what awaits us in Heaven is far greater laughter.One of Satan's great lies is that

(Adapted from Matthew George Easton's Easton's Bible Dictionary, Job.)A Thought to KeepJob knew that persecution was a way of being refined. In whatever trials you face, are you keeping that perspective?

1. To Reunite with Friends and Family Members from the PastProverbs 17:17 tells us that a "friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." When an unbeliever dies, others hurt as well, and sometimes our presence at a funeral can be just what our friends need to make it through the trial. Friendship and brotherhood exist f

1. Pray before you are tempted.Jesus instructed his disciples to ask God, “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.” And as he told us to pray, “Give us THIS DAY” our daily bread,” it’s good to ask God to deliver us from temptation and evil THIS DAY.Photo Credit: ©Unsplash2. Flee. A good run is better than a bad fall.Stay as far away s

The saving of Rahab and her family stands as a monumental distinctive in contrast to the destruction of the people and the city itself, and the burning of its contents. There is to be no taking of spoils for the captors. Only the silver, gold, bronze, and iron articles are to be taken and designated for the Lord's treasury (v. 19). Jericho will be

C. More signs amid mounting Jewish opposition (John 5)D. The final Passover: the ultimate sign (John 11)E. The Messiah’s death at hand (John 12:20-50)III. The Farewell Discourse and the Passion Narrative (John 13)A. Jesus’ final teaching and prayer (John 13)B. Jesus’ arrest, trials, death, and burial (John 18)C. Jesus’ resurrection and appearances

Peter stepped out of the boat alone, trusting in Jesus only. Peter didn't bring the boat with him. He jumped in the water, totally knowing he didn't need the boat. Well, this is where I am different than Peter. Sure, like Peter, I have jumped out of the boat, willing to get out of my comfort zone, but I have a tendency to bring the boat along for t

To yield deals primarily with the will. Romans 6:13 tells us, "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (NKJV). The word "present" means, "to give into." God is saying, "Yield to Me. Present yourself

First of all, most of the “market” for gambling comes from those in despair, seeking meaning and a future. The most important thing a church can do to undercut the local casino is to preach the gospel. By that I don’t just mean how to get saved (although that’s certainly at the root of it). I mean the awe-filled wonder in the face of th

Understanding the BibleThe Bible isn’t the easiest book for the modern day reader to understand. Filled with dated words, strange metaphors, various styles of literature and written for a cultural very different from ours, it can be a bit perplexing to know how to correctly interpret what we’re reading. But the Word is meant to bless us

It's all past tense to us because death cuts people off from the land of the living.Or so we think.We can't help talking like that when someone dies. Death moves our loved ones into the past tense. We can't see them, feel them, touch them, and most of all, we can talk to them, hear them laugh, and share life with them. To us death breaks all the hu

All this happened because the king never stopped to ask: Does God change? Ahaz not only sinned, he took his people down with him: "For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to the Lord" (v. 19). Ahaz's disobedience reproduced itself in the people of Judah

This segment of Scripture is full of descriptions of the last days that can be traced through the New Testament to the book of Revelation. In the same context of Isaiah 2 is the parable of the vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7) – the Vineyard is the house of Israel! (vs 7). It is a vineyard that God said produced worthless grapes! This same parable Jesus quot

1. The Bible is optional After all, we have TV, internet, and plenty of “wise” voices touting answers. The faith message has been oversimplified with trite expressions:Love God, love people.Why do I need to read that dusty book when I have a four-word synopsis?Many people see more verses of scripture on Facebook memes than in their Bible. And to th

Although Asa's early reign included a no-tolerance policy toward foreign cults (see 2 Chronicles 14:5), these cults have apparently worked their way back into the fringes of Judah's religious scene. The technical term for this mixture of paganism with biblical faith is syncretism. It is not that the people of Judah were refusing to worship Yahweh.

Christ paid the ultimate price so that we would be forever free from sin—and the fear of sin. All barriers between us and him will be forever gone. He will be our best friend. Jesus will be God with us, forever.Have you ever imagined what it would be like to walk the earth with Jesus, as the disciples did? Have you ever wished you had that opportun

The census or enrollment, which, according to Luke 2:1, was the occasion of the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem where Jesus was born, is connected with a decree of Augustus embracing the Greek-Roman world. This decree must have been carried out in Palestine by Herod and probably in accordance with the Jewish method--each going to his own ci

1. The church just wants my money.Most of us know that this isn’t true, but some still act like it. When the offering moment arrives, they find some way to distract themselves from the plate being passed from one person to the next: They run to the restroom, strike up a conversation with a neighbor, or zone in on their phone screen--anything to hol

Fourth, obedience to the government authorities should not stem from a fear of the consequences if we disobey. It is to rise out of a good conscience seeking to be found acceptable in the sight of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.B. Our responsibility to rulers"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and givi

Find help in Jesus. Just prior to His arrest and betrayal, Jesus prays, “I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world… protect them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one” (John 17:11). Our acceptance of Jesus makes us one with the Father. Consequently, we are protected. But help is not for hoarding. We