Knowing and Doing

The Least of These  Matthew 25:40 - what does this verse really mean Jesus?  Who are the least of these and what must I do to help them? I have a Christian t-shirt that simply says, "Religion is easy....Love is hard!"  What happens when a church as a whole just doesn't care for others.  Practicing religion, yes!  Loving others, no!  I am reminded of a situation in our community that concerns impoverished children that is very dangerous.  It is an issue of neglect, an issue of sorrow and frustration.  Trying to find a solution here on earth through the proper authorities who already are overwhelmed with loads of cases to care for.  We pray for the parents but what happens when the parent is a problem.  These children are the least of these.  They have no way of helping themselves. We are called to Love God and Love others.  The Least of These are the others.  The needy who are overlooked.  Those who need our help....

A few weeks ago during a lesson with children during a church meeting, I asked them what they thought the definition of church is.  Of course, most of them had the same answer...."Bro. Brian, it is the building that we are in."  We had to learn from the Scriptures that this is not true, that "we are the church".  The Church is the People of God and can meet anywhere. When planning for children's and youth ministry in the church, we plan on what we would like to teach and present so as any younger person ages, we pray this teaching will stick with them.  The teaching about the church is one of the important foundations of Scripture.  But as the preacher said last Sunday morning, "If the only Bible you get is on Sunday morning from the pastor, then you are biblically malnourished!"  The same can be said with children's and youth ministries.   Parents, we must disciple our children at home with the Word of God and begin with the basics.   How do...

Wow!  I recently moved to a dentist that is closer to me to travel and made the first appointment.  They did the usual x-rays and checkup which revealed something interesting.  I have been grinding my teeth at night.  Not to a headache or jaws hurting type grinding, but a habit that is slowly working on my big teeth in the back of my mouth. Concern! Go to the store and based on the dentist's suggestion buy a mouth guard.  Yikes!  This looks like something a football player uses.  I need to get on this right away because the check up revealed that I need few crowns as a result.  Enough of the Personal Dental Visit....right? Well, I realize that I maybe kinda sort of have a stressful job as most people do.  Shocker, I know.  At night I seem to be restless and awake because I am thinking of the multiple things that need to be done tomorrow or during the week or month.  Can we all say the magic word....ANXIOUS! I read Philippians 4:6-...

In trying to minister to others and in the community to those we don't really have a relationship built with but desire to do so in the future, what do we have to have to move forward?  What is the single ingredient that is needed to build a foundation of help, care and encouragement with each other?  Even in your circles of influence?  Even in the closest of relationships you have with others?  We may have love or compassion to build on but is it the bedrock of the relationship? BAM!  that is it!  This is the answer!  This is the solution!  The big word! I believe that you can have a love for others but if you don't have trust in each other it makes any relationship difficult to move in any direction.  Jesus sums up the commandments in Matthew 22:37-39 by teaching, "Love the Lord your God"...then...."love your neighbor as yourself."  We call this the Great Commandment as it sums up all the Law and what the prophets of old were say...

I was interested today in reading research on Christians and the frequency in which they read the Bible. Lifeway research has done some studies, Christian Post has reported on it, the Barna Research Group has done some polls and studies as well.  Something interesting that I found was that Bible Engagement is the new buzz word for this type of thing. The Christian Post writes an article which quotes the Director of Lifeway Research: "Bible engagement encompasses more than just Bible reading. It measures the extent to which individuals interact with the truth of Scripture and allow it to permeate their thinking and influence their actions," Interesting that we are no longer researching just Bible reading but we are now measuring the INTERACTION of the truth of Scripture with our lives. Something that pastor's, minister's, mentors or teachers have been trying to get disciples of Christ to do for centuries. And the result of this interaction causes one to think a...

I find that many people I meet and talk to say that they know the Lord and I wonder if that is just in name only.  It is a mindset that that we are all good and we know the name of the Lord is the ticket for having faith.  This is misconception of what faith truly is.  J.R.R. Tolkien, one of my favorite authors has said, "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."  We cannot have faith as a light switch that is turned off and on at a moment's notice.  With many cases, our faith may be in the "OFF" position. I believe that when we read the Scriptures we find that faith is often partnered with trust.  Many who have known the Lord and may have placed their faith in Him often still do not trust in Him.  Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us great wisdom in placing our trust in the Lord and Luke 9:23 gives a command in discipleship at the beginning to "deny myself" which would be placing my complete faith and trust in the Lord for all things. Looking at...