July 2013

A Starry Night in the Desert–and God Is There

July 26, 2013 No Comments

I will never forget that night I stood alone in the desert wilderness, far from any other human being, staring up in the incredible darkness at the starry sky above. The Milky Way stretched out across the blackness, its millions of stars brilliant pinpoints of light, razor sharp. It was pitch black about me because there was no moon; I raised my hand in front of my face to see if it was true–and it was: I could not see my hand in front of my face. But that dense blackness only made the stars above seem to shine all the brighter.

Words of God, Words of Men, Bring Fiery Judgment at World’s End

July 21, 2013 2 Comments

This world was created by the word of God (2 Ptr. 3:5,6). It will also be destroyed by the word of God (2 Ptr. 3:7). The word that God speaks thus determines the course of this world from start to finish. But the words of men also have a part in this world’s demise, for God in his holiness must judge the words of men, thus bringing upon them and their world a final judgment.

A Second’s Fraction in the Life of a Thai Marine Corps Officer

July 17, 2013 No Comments

Story of a miraculous car-bomb survival of a Thai Marine Corps Officer

(32th Narathiwat Special Forces Unit)

Compiled by Vachiravan Vanlaeiad

Coming To Nothing: A Brief Comment on 1 Cor. 2:6

July 15, 2013 No Comments

A great sadness swept over me as I read a word from Scripture and the Holy Spirit quickened that passage to me. This is what I was shown.

“We . . . speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing” (1 Cor. 2:6 NIV).

Why only among the mature? and who is mature enough to qualify to hear it, much less understand it? The answer: Only among the spiritually mature, because those spiritually immature will turn on those telling them things too deep for them to understand and will tear them to pieces.

Giving to an Online Church

July 14, 2013 No Comments

Like most churches, when we begin, we are going to receive offerings. People are going to be invited to contribute financially to the development of the online community. Why is this?

The Salvation Prayer – is it a Powerful Sacrament or has it become an Abused Tool?

July 11, 2013 No Comments

Why We Have Painful Challenges and Trials

July 10, 2013 No Comments

If God removed all challenges, we would never grow and overcome obstacles. He often permits difficulty in our lives because He is trying to reveal something that needs to be strengthened or changed in us. Our weaknesses are never revealed in good times, but they quickly show up in times of trial and tribulation.

Sometimes He shows us what we are afraid of because He wants to deliver us from that fear and strengthen us for things that will come in the future. In those times, we need to say, "Thank You, God, for allowing me to see that fear in my life.

Trading Treasures for Trinkets

July 9, 2013 2 Comments

It makes no sense to trade treasure for trinkets, but the Bible records many such examples of this. We should learn from them. “These things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Cor. 10:6 NIV). “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11 NIV).

How the Apostle Paul worked with Church People

July 4, 2013 No Comments

I've seen a lot of interesting principles in a short passage from Romans 1 which is often skipped over because it is close to other verses of major importance. We can learn a lot about Paul's priorities through these verses.