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I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase before: “He’s mailed it in.” It describes someone who delivers a performance without commitment or effort, with lackluster results. People usually “mail it in” when they give their two-week notice on a job or when the sports game is nearly over and there’s no chance of winning. An individual or group that has mailed it in may not quit outright, but they are just going through the motions and have already surrendered internally. As…

We struggle and strain to carry our load We buckle as it gets heavier on our backs We fall and hurt on this rough, rocky road The weight makes us stop in our tracks Looking around with a face full of pleading We wonder who is observing our pain We’re wounded, weary, broken and bleeding Set to surrender from the stress and strain Tears flow freely, we have been here before We know how the journey seems endless Certain we…

Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Today the world is in turmoil. There is so much uncertainty about what the future holds, and it is affecting lives like never before. Jesus and the New Testament writers have clearly spelled out that we can have control over our emotions (Jn 14:1). Paul deals with the problems of anxiety or worry that we perceive…

Sometimes a person wants so desperately to do something that they rationalize their decision to do so by crediting God with “sending a sign” or by concluding that “it’s meant to be.” In an age where God communicates to man, not by voice or directly through His Spirit but by His Word, this can prove dangerous thinking. The dilemma often is when we pray for something having multiple choices or outcomes, and then we have to make a decision. Most…

There are many ways that we could describe Christianity. We could focus on the truth of Christianity or the holistic nature of the faith that touches every aspect of our lives (1 Thess. 5:23). However, one thing we should also remember is that Christianity is a religion of beauty. Christianity is beautiful in the sense that the truths, concepts, and doctrines it espouses thrill the souls of its adherents and provides hope for the world. Christianity is not based on…

The late country music singer Joe Diffie had a hit song back in 1993 entitled “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)”. The song expresses the sentiment of a good ole boy who, should he kick the bucket, have his lifeless body posed in the honky tonk that he dearly loves. Even though the song is tongue-in-cheek and supposed to funny, it’s anything but humorous. One line in the chorus goes, “Lord I wanna go to Heaven, but…

Each of us is blessed with talents, although some are five talent people and others maybe a two or one talent person. I tend to believe we each have more talents than we might think. In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, the master gave his servants varying talents. To one he gave five, to another he gave two and to another he gave one. Each of us is no different than the servants aforementioned. They, just as…

As you look at the contents of most church bulletins, you’ll find a list of people who need prayer. Most of the time these folks are sick, battling a serious disease, they are shut-in and unable to leave home or in nursing facilities. Some may need prayers of encouragement as they go through a difficult time. The prayer list can be quite long, with some names staying on the list for many months. Sadly, we may become accustomed to the…

All people in the world are watching our words and deeds. Jesus teaches, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Jesus is calling for a “walking confession,” a life which is an open book. aven” (Matt. 5:16). Jesus is calling for a “walking confession,” a life which is an open book. The Christian’s life is a manual, revealing what a Christian talks and…

The Bible emphasizes the importance of hard work as a part of humanity’s responsibility to God (Gen. 2:15, 3:19). However, for all that God teaches about the nobility of work he also emphasizes the need for humans to rest. Rest is not for the weak and fragile, rest is for the finite. Here are a few things to consider in regard to what the Bible teaches us about our need for rest. At the conclusion of creation God rested (Gen.…

Several years ago my family, my sister’s family, and my parents took a trip out west. For me, it was the trip of a lifetime. We flew to Denver, rented vehicles, and drove about 5,000 miles, visiting several states and many iconic landmarks. Over 17 days, we stayed in 13 different places. Most of the places we stayed were major tourist attractions, and we knew the timeframe to see them in the summer was pretty short. We knew that in…

Paul makes an interesting statement while addressing the successful effort the Corinthian church made in disciplining an erring brother along with the successful outcome of his having repented. He urges them to show him love, comfort, and forgiveness. The bottom line Paul gives for the urgency of their obedience is “so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11). Back in the first letter, the church’s attitude…