September 01, 2002
What the Bible reads: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

What the Bible is saying:

January 06, 2002
What the Bible reads: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)

What the Bible is saying: That old life, the one before becoming a Christian, was a life of bitterness towards those who may have done us wrong. But now as Christians with a new life we are to show compassion and kindness. We no longer are to have evil wishes towards others or have bitterness in our hearts. Our hearts have been filled by God with a perfect love. As he has forgiven us for our wrongs we are to forgive the wrongs of others

April 12, 2001
What the Bible reads: Father do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 NIV

What the Bible is saying: God knows parenting is not an easy chore, after all he has to parent you the parent. However as parents the purpose of our discipline is to help God's children grow. We should not hurt or damage their self-esteem. We should not discipline them in anger. We are to treat children as Jesus would treat us. In a loving and caring way. We want our children to grow into a healthy relationship themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

March  23, 2001
What the Bible reads: No Discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been well trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 NIV

What the Bible is saying: God loves to see us grow and at times the best way to do this is through discipline. The discipline we face can be very hard to accept or endure. It is how respond to discipline that determines what we will get from it. If we choose to blame others for the action that resulted in the discipline and/or seek self-pity, we will gain very little if anything. However if we accept it as an opportunity to learn we will mature in character and receive peace from it.

November 23, 2000
What the Bible reads: If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will  be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the Holy angels  Mark 8:38 NIV

What the Bible is saying: Anyone who rather follow the belief of the popular phrase "if it feels good do it" and the 'it' is a sinful act against God's Word, they will not have a place in God's kingdom. We are not to ignore God's Word and replace it with man's own word. God's word say adultery is wrong. 1 Corinthians 6:9 goes on to say the same for all; The sexually immoral may justify their actions of  having sex before marriage through the media that promotes these acts as being 'with it' but it is not 'with it' in God's word. Idolaters who put the world's material things like money as more important then God and will shout 'You only live once' will only live once by continuing such thoughts. The  homosexuals who claim 'Why would God give me the desire for a person of the same sex. ' The desire is not from God but the sin of this world. It's the same reason I have a desire to have sex with more then one woman. Thieves who steal, it doesn't matter whether you are caught by man or not you have been caught by God. The greedy may take more then they need and may go as far to profess they will use it for God's good but instead continue to line their own pockets. God knows what is in your heart and you shame Him. The media and marketers of products that promote these sins will tell you otherwise, be aware glorifying their word over God's word  will deny you God's glory and His Kingdom. One must cleanse themselves of their sin. One can not do the cleansing on their own by doing a lot of good things. In other words one adulterous relationship can not be cleansed and removed by going to church for 10 Sundays or serving the poor. Once a sin has been committed the only way to cleanse it is to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and that He cleansed your sins with His blood.

September 03, 2000
What the Bible reads: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  Philippians 4:6

What the Bible is saying: No matter what it is that we see as an obstacle, a challenge or perhaps to much to bear (so we think), we need not to worry. Note it says anything, this includes financial hardships, addictions, unhealthy marriages, strong willed children, rebellious teenagers, ANYTHING! God wants us to take it to Him and surrender it to Him. We do this by prayer, conversing to God, and petition Him, a solemn request to our God, what is heavy on our heart. Do so with thanksgiving. This means acknowledge to God the blessings He has given you. Do not just go to Him with a list of wants. He may not answer the way you want Him to or within the timeline you wish, but this is where trust and faith in God is needed. Trust in knowing He will provide and faith in that he'll provide in the way that is best for you.

August 27, 2000
What The Bible reads:  He replied. "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They Worship me in vain; their teachings are rules but taught by men.  Mark 7:6 

What the Bible is saying: There are those who will speak the words of religion and prophesies a religious faith, but in fact are nothing more than hypocrites. They say what they say not out of a true love for God but for their own profit or gain. Their actions do not honor God's rules but rather the rules of man. Does this mean that when a person who professes a Christian faith but commits a sin is a hypocrite? No, all of us are human and will fall short of perfection. A person does become a hypocrite if he does not confess the sin and attempt to repent of it.  A person is also a hypocrite if they profess to be a man of God but condones actions against God's word. An example would be a politician who profess a conviction to God but approves of abortion.

 

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International Bible Society.