Recently we discussed the concept of vertical unity. This is not a new or unique concept, but a way to picture the unity that flows from the Father, through His Son, and into the body. As each member of the body seeks to unify him or herself with God, that unity then allows the aligning…

Lysis is an interesting word. A common meaning of the word is the disintegration of a cell by rupture of the wall or membrane commonly caused by a viral infection. Once the perimeters of the cell are breeched, it will die. The breakdown of good and healthy cells and subsequent cell death has obvious and…

Mankind has lost the story that connects us all. There is a lot of noise, but no context to give life meaning. So, we drift through life without a true meaningful purpose — a story that connects us to something bigger than we are. Aristotle observed, “When the storytelling in a culture goes bad, the…

Sin can be both bold, clear and direct, as well as insidious and deceptive. Some sins are just direct transgressions of God’s holy law — choosing a course of action, knowing that it is against God. As morality generally becomes more accepting of sinful behavior, God’s people can find themselves doing things they would not…

If one were travelling in Africa – let’s say, near the equator – one would hardly notice a change in the seasons. There would more likely be simply rainy and dry seasons, but not the marked yearly periods so enjoyed in many parts of the globe. In the northern hemisphere for example, right now it…

The day of Pentecost and the Jubilee year share something in common – both involve counting fifty. For Pentecost, the fifty is days (Leviticus 23:16), and the Jubilee is counted in years (Leviticus 25:8). The Jubilee established a system where ownership of the land could never be permanently taken away from a family. If a…

Analogies can be very useful in transferring a pertinent message from one subject to another. It can point from one physical thing to another or from the physical to the spiritual. Consider what God said through the prophet Haggai. “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to…

What percentage of Americans would you guess actually trust the government in Washington to do what is right at least most of the time? According to the Pew Research Center, it has been at about 17% during the previous administration and during this present one. That puts public trust of government at near historic lows.…

It is sad to read so often of people who see no purpose in living. At the point in time, when they should be rejoicing in their youth, even many teenagers see no purpose in living. No doubt, mind-altering substances are often involved. However, often, the state of mind that has led to a young…

Echoing Christ’s own sentiments regarding unity, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6). In order to glorify…

As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Church at Rome, the gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation. The members of the Church are to live by that power in greater knowledge and faith. The “just” are to live by that faith. It is an empowered and strong relationship…

It is interesting to note how often God uses physical things to teach us spiritual lessons. In the Passover ceremony, we eat bread and drink a small amount of wine—real, physical bread and wine. These are consumed as symbols pointing us toward one of the most profound spiritual truths in the Bible—the fact that Christ…

It is a time of the year to be greatly encouraged. The memorial of Christ’s death and the Days of Unleavened Bread represent something that is of awesome dimensions. The world is thrashing around in a leaderless confusion, leaving masses of people to lead meaningless lives. The world doesn’t know! It doesn’t understand the purpose…