I just published the e-book version of my new book, How to Gain Victory Over Sin. It is available through Amazon (for Kindle), Google Play, and Smashwords. This is a free e-book, although Amazon will show 99 cents until they realize it’s free elsewhere. Links to get the book are on my new ‘Books’ page, where you can also download the PDF version.
Continue reading →I am in the final stages of publishing a new free book called How to Gain Victory Over Sin, which is based on something I had posted last year called Victory Over Sin. This book will be made available in e-book form from Amazon.com (for Kindle), Google Play, Smashwords (other formats), as well as here in PDF and other formats. Eventually a paperback edition will be available for a minimal cost. The book’s subject is understanding why we Christians have such a difficult time withstanding temptation, and why we need the Holy Spirit to do so. It’s a subject we can all benefit from… I know I have in studying this. The first and main part of the book can … Continue reading →
By human standards, the existence of the Jewish people today remains a mystery. No other ancient people has survived for thousands of years, retaining their national identity through much hostility. We have much evidence that Israel was a nation thousands of years ago. Archaeologists have made many discoveries from the time of the kings, and they are still doing so. The most prominent of those remains is the temple mount in Jerusalem, but other remains exist, and the historical records of other ancient nations mention the existence of national Israel/Judah. Israel’s existence as an ancient nation is not seriously disputed. The history of ancient Israel was generally not one of peace. There were internal conflicts, one of which led to … Continue reading →
My posts have been sporadic lately, but that’s kinda normal for me. Writing still doesn’t come easy. But I do have some more posts in the works. I haven’t abandoned the Church Impossible series of posts. I have the next one mostly finished, but there are some other things in the works that I think are more important, so it might be a while before you see the series continue. I am putting together a personal apologetic where I give my own intellectual reasons for belief in God and the inspiration of the Bible. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time, and I’m finally getting around to it. This will initially be released as a series … Continue reading →
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. … (James 1:22-25 ASV) The word of God provides a thorough examination of the heart. If we were graded on the results of our examination, most of us (myself included) would not even receive a C-. (And the few who have A’s or B’s probably wouldn’t be aware of it anyway.) But even with a failing grade, this examination is a good … Continue reading →
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. (John 15:4-5 ASV) Jesus’ words search me in various ways here: As one branch connected to the Vine, I desire to look good, with lots of healthy green leaves. But God is not concerned with looks. He did not plant the Vine for decoration but for fruit. Am I concerned with appearances, or the goal at hand? Assuming I desire … Continue reading →
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 ASV) As any farmer knows, if you want to harvest wheat, you need to sow wheat. You can’t sow one thing and expect something else to crop up. This God-given law has been in effect since the beginning of creation and it can’t be circumvented. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life (Galatians 6:8 ASV) Another sure God-given law is presented in this passage. I can sow to my flesh, or I can sow to the Holy Spirit. What I … Continue reading →
And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them… … this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:7,22 ASV) These words of Jesus are frequently on my mind. The “cares of the world” and the “deceitfulness of riches” are the things that the world is concerned about: food, clothing, family, employment, a good retirement, entertainment, comfort, pleasure, happiness. These are not evil in themselves, but they become evil when they form the basis of my goals, desires and motivations. This happens all too often, and when it does, Jesus ends up taking the backseat in my … Continue reading →
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15 ASV) I like to think I don’t love the world. But when it comes down to specifics, there are some things in the world I do find attractive and pleasing: certain foods, books, songs, movies, TV shows, philosophies, … rollercoasters. But Jesus presented an exclusive choice. I can either love the world, or I can love God. I can’t do both. I don’t even have the option of loving the world less than God. I am not to love the world at all. (I’m talking love here, not the mere … Continue reading →
Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 ASV) It is good to regularly take time to examine the Bible, but it is far better to let the Bible take time to regularly examine us. The former gives us knowledge of the scriptures that can puff us up. The later gives us knowledge of ourselves that humbles us, opening the door to repentance and the building-up that is of God. The former happens as we read and study the scriptures. The later happens afterwards as we take time to meditate on what we have read … Continue reading →
