by Tom Wacaster

Sincerity does not make something true. History is replete with examples of people who were sincere, but were sincerely wrong. Saul of Tarsus is one good example of this. No doubt you have heard that Charles Duell, Commissioner of the United States Patent Office in the 19th century, made the statement that "Everything that can be invented has already been invented." I do not doubt the man's sincerity. But just because someone says something does not make it true. When our children were little toddlers our son would get upset because his sister would call him a "girl." In tears he would complain to mom and dad. My response was simple (or at least I thought so): "Tommy, are you a girl?" "No," would come the reply. "Then why does it upset you when something is said that you know is false?"

That may be an oversimplification of an obvious fact that ...

By Charles Box

Just before giving in to the pressure of the crowd to crucify our Lord Jesus Christ, Pilate asked one of the most tragic questions of the Bible. In a very cynical way he asked, “What is truth?” In John 18:37-38 we read, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”
...

By Charles Box

The Devil is not eternal like God, but he is just as real. The Bible says that Satan is the deceiver of the entire world. "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." (Revelation 12:9) The Devil is busy seeking man's spiritual destruction. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5:6-9) The Devil caused sin to be in the world. (Genesis 3) Sickness, death, disappointment and discouragement are all the working of Satan. Man is tempted ...

by Tom Wacaster

On May 13, 1981, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Bobby Grant Lambert was walking out of a Safeway supermarket in Houston, Texas. An assailant approached Lambert and put his hand into Lambert's rear pocket. When Lambert resisted, the assailant pulled out a pistol and held it to Lambert's head. Lambert dropped his groceries and the assailant shot him in the chest. As the assailant fled, Lambert stumbled back into the grocery store, where he died. The robber got away with the change from a $100 bill, although police later found $6000 in $100 bills on the victim's body. Graham was arrested, convicted and sentenced to be executed. Hollywood elites took interest in Graham's case, and along with various "rights" advocates, every attempt was made to stop the execution of Graham. Consequently it gook almost 20 years before Graham would be executed by lethal injection.

On the evening of July 19, 1976, Gary Gilmore robbed and ...

A great number of women wonder if the perfect man exists. They have scanned the horizon and often come back thinking they must train a man to make him perfect. That leads them to the question, “Can a man learn to be perfect?” Certainly, a great number of women attempt to find out! In the long run, the realization of perfection depends upon the standard used and whether or not a man adheres to it. Many women believe their man reaches near perfection when they can get him to stop leaving his underwear on the floor and he begins putting the dishes in the dishwasher. Seeking the perfect man is no joke! A higher standard of perfection exists. A perfect man can be had!

In the pages of the Bible, Jesus stands as a sinless model of perfection. However, the Bible lists two other men as being perfect. Genesis 6:9 notes, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God.” Job 1:1, 1:8, and 2:3 declare Job “perfect and upright, one that ...

Watching the election year primaries unfold, it is clear disgust surrounds the individual in the White House and the top two challengers for the office of President of the United States. The man in the White House characterized his last three years with deception, poor stewardship, and immoral decision making. One of his challengers has a past characterized by philandering and broken trust while the other has demonstrated immoral choices involving support of homosexuality, abortion, and stem cell research. This speaks completely to their moral fiber; it does not address their failures of ideology or misdirected spirituality. Presently and historically, America stands as a land of many moral people with sound ideologies; however, the current abomination presented before the nation represents their choice to accept something less than great. America could do better. ...

Prayer stands as a key component of a Christian’s life. When a Christian prays they share their gratefulness, reverence, thoughts, concerns, and needs with the Eternal Father. Even non-Christians talk to God at times in their lives. However, prayer represents only one side of communication with God. Men need to let God talk. Unfortunately, the wide majority of the world refuses to give God the opportunity. If they would let Him talk, they would be much better equipped for the lives that they have been given.

Those who give God the chance to talk to them learn:

• God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

• God does not listen to the prayer of the sinner (Isaiah 59:1-2).

• There exists only one way to heaven, not many (John 14:6).

• Few people find their way into eternal life, the majority find only destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

• Faith only does not save (James 2:17).

...

“Plead for the widow”! Isaiah directs the people of Judah to vigorously defend these women. As with the orphan or fatherless, the leader of their family no longer exists. However, their defense differs. Unlike the fatherless, the widow typically does not need to be trained and guided to know how to follow the laws of God. Without dismissing the need for the spiritual, the more immediate concern for widows centers on provision of their material needs and protection from those would take advantage of them (Isaiah 10:1-3). Sadly, neglected widows existed before the time of Isaiah and continue to exist today.

The country a widow lives in can greatly affect her treatment. In the country of India, tens of millions of widows exist. Socially and economically, the widows endure rejection. They experience neglect and suffer hardship. (1) In Mali, a woman widow often loses her right to the land upon which she lived. ...

by Tom Wacaster

A rather interesting article appeared in one of the more liberal periodicals sometime back that, of late, has been parroted by the change agents of this new century. The author's comments serve as a good example of the present effort on the part of change agents to remodel and restructure the Lord's church of our generation into something that is “functional,” though not necessarily in accord with the “form” of the New Testament pattern. The author of that article draws a parallel between the progress in aviation and the supposed progress now being offered the brotherhood. He argues that our first attempts at flight failed because we sought to “imitate” the birds rather than develop the principle of flight. In like manner, he argues, we [those who would demand a 'thus saith the Lord'] have sought to imitate the first century church rather than build a church that is functional. He writes: “Like the ornithopterists of old, we assumed that 'function' was ...

Defend! When this word is yelled out, the defense mechanism of every male should flash to consciousness. What female does not feel their emotions rise when they feel their child must be defended? Defense is needed because there is or will be an attack. Without a proper defense, the resulting effect is destruction, ruin, and devastation. The word “defend” should create a tremor within the soul that creates action directing self and others toward deliverance from the foe. Defense at its core, is a wise realization that despite having strengths, advantages, or any number of assets at hand, there is weakness which could put that which has value in jeopardy.

Humans are of great value to God, but they are not impervious to harm. Heat, cold, a minor blow, a fall, a lack of oxygen, any number of things can bring an end to their life. A man is typically built so that his frame, muscles, and skin can endure more than a woman, but by way of lifestyle, he is often ...

Why “reprove the ruthless”? God’s inspired words to Isaiah in Isaiah 1:16-17 are words that are part of patterns of direction to correct the behavior of wicked Judah. There are many scriptural examples devoted to enabling the ruthless to repent. The patterns and examples of God’s Word are needed to strengthen the community of men in a walk of godliness. Jesus is queried by a Pharisee lawyer in Matthew 22:34-39:
When Jesus references the commandments, he looks back to the Mosaic Law, specifically the Ten Commandments. When those commandments are examined (Exodus 20), it can be seen that the first four ...

By Charles Box

The Sadducees said there is no resurrection. They tried to trap Jesus with the following question: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her" (Matthew 22:24-28).

Jesus answered their question by saying. "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God ...

Matt was eleven years old when his family took him to Disneyland for a summer vacation. He could hardly contain himself as the time for the vacation had drawn near. This was what he had hoped and dreamed for every moment since he learned of the trip. When they loaded into the car and headed to the airport it seemed like Dad drove 2 mph the entire way. Time couldn’t go fast enough until they were surrounded by the wonders of the Magic Kingdom.

This last year had seen quite a transformation in Matt. He used to visit the principal’s office at school pretty regularly and his grades weren’t so go good. Two years ago, Mom and dad told him if he could cease the trouble he kept getting into and improve his grades, then they would all take a trip to Disneyland at the end of the school year. Matt was excited, he had never been to Disneyland and really wanted to go! Nearly all of his friends had already been and they loved it. But Matt really didn’t think his parents ...

During the time of Isaiah, the people of Judah thought about God. They offered sacrifices of bulls, lambs, and goats. They recognized the sabbaths and celebrated their feasts. Yes, they even lifted up their hands to God in prayer. Yet, God did not recognize them (Isaiah 1:11-15). But weren’t these good things they were engaged in? How could God not acknowledge the good?

The first article in this series (Wash Yourselves: Cease to Do Evil) examined how the people needed to cease to do evil. The presence of evil – disobedience to God no matter how small or great – is what separates man and God (Isaiah 59:1-2). God needs things done according to the truth He has commanded. He also needs them done according to the Spirit He has commanded. Many believe walking after God in Obedience was an Old Testament phenomena and serving him with the heart is a New Testament Phenomena. However, God never separated two. ...

The prophet Isaiah shared the Word of God during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Over approximately 50 years, he instructed and reproved Judah. Though three of the four kings of Judah were considered good, the people and its capitol city, Jerusalem, were characterized by sin. Their deeds and hearts were sorely lacking in meeting the path laid out by God. By the promise of God and detailed prophecy, Jesus the Christ would be born the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David in Bethlehem. Were it not for this predetermined plan of God, Judah would quite likely have become as Sodom and Gomorrah as the prophet Isaiah himself shared with them. Though his writings in the book called by his name are lengthy, verses sixteen and seventeen of the first chapter summarize it well. The first sentence of those verses summing even more succinctly:When Moses had taken the people by God’s command out ...

In the beginning, man was warned not to touch a certain food or disastrous consequences would happen:Man defied God and paid the consequences. Now, some 6000+ years later, man starts each new year warning themselves not touch certain foods or there will be disastrous consequences. Of course, the disaster of increasing one’s waistband is not as serious as the physical and spiritual death which resulted from the first poor choice.Food choices seem to haunt many and there are many solutions. Some individuals who claim we should follow a pre-flood diet, eating only vegetables. However, as part of the New Covenant in Christ, man was given the blessing of being authorized by God to eat bacon and other ...

Life sure can be funny. You have ups, you have downs, and you have to be certain not to get hung up anywhere along the way. I have been blessed over the years to teach, preach, and write for a variety of venues. Whether it has been large or small congregations; classrooms with little kids, teens, or adults; a prison facility; outdoors in a park; VBS gatherings; camps; senior centers; online forums and websites, or in someone’s home, the gospel has been spread in earnest. Sometimes folks grab on to the gospel with complete gusto! Most times they can sadly be indifferent. Occasionally, outright rejection or rather vicious words can be shared. However, these reactions typically roll off my back rather simply. Still, I want to share a recent rejection that has given me pause and the desire to write about the matter.

A little over a month ago, a unique opportunity to teach the scriptures arose. It was approximately 20 minutes every Wednesday around the lunch ...

By Tom Wacaster

Humanism focuses attention on self; it is the core of our modern day corruption and rejection of all that is good and right. It dethrones God and puts the supreme importance on man. Priority is given to how one “feels” rather than a “thus saith the Lord.” Some years ago a local radio station was fond of proclaiming, “Making you feel good, because feeling good is what it is all about.” Humanism has invaded the classroom, the halls of Congress, and had extended its evil intentions and purposes into the privacy of the womb. The tentacles of this godless philosophy have captured the media, the educational elite, and the masses of an unsuspecting and ignorant electorate. Politicians are elected on what they can give “me” - entitlements, benefits, healthcare, retirement – if a politician does not provide the pork he is sent packing, ...

Some individuals and groups claim that the salvation coming by God is accomplished by a singular thing such as grace, belief, or faith. The Bible refutes such teaching. Salvation absolutely includes these items and they are integral to it, however, considering the full scope of the teachings of Jesus, shared by Himself and the Holy Spirit through the apostles and prophets, a much clearer picture is displayed. Neither by grace, belief, or faith alone shall man be saved.


According to the Bible Man is saved by:
Matthew 10:22, 2 Timothy 2:10 – Endurance for self and others
Matthew 19:23-26 – Impossible by man, but possible through God.
Mark 16:16 – Belief and baptism
Luke 1:77 – knowledge
Luke 8:12 – Hearing, believing in their hearts
Luke 9:24 – Losing one’s life for Christ’s sake
Luke 9:56, John 12:47, Acts 4:12, I Thessalonians 5:9, I Timothy 1:15 – by Christ
Luke17:33 – losing life
John 3:16-17, Acts 16:31 ...

All of the following are important questions. Would you be able to provide an accurate, scriptural answer?

1. How did the world begin? How did I (mankind) begin? Genesis 1:1–2:4; Nehemiah 9:6; Job 33:4; Psalm 100:1–3; Isaiah 45:12; Colossians 1:15–17; Hebrews 1:1–2

2. Who is God? Exodus 3:13–15; Numbers 23:19; Nehemiah 9:6; Isaiah 43:10–11; 45:5, 12, 22; 66:1-2; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 28:19; John 17:20–21; I Corinthians 8:6; I John 5:7

3.Why am I here? Ecclesiastes 12:13

4. What does He (God) expect of me? Micah 6:8; Matthew 22:36–40

5. How can I know that God exists? Psalm 19:1–4; Acts 14:14–17; 17:22–31; Romans 1:20; Hebrews 1:1–2

6. Does God love me? Psalm 36:7; John 3:16; Romans 5:6–11; I John 3:16; 4:7–12, 16–19

7. How can I have a close relationship with God? John 14:6–7; Romans 10:17; Galatians 3:26–29; ...

The man Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, once stood before the Sanhedrin (a legal body composed of the high priest, leaders of the people, and legal experts) and established God does not dwell in items made with hands (Acts 7:48). Yet, God chose to make His presence known within the earth, the tabernacle, and Solomon’s temple. God also commanded the temple built by Zerubbabel as a place for His name. These were not places where God lived, but those which He made holy by his association with them. Scripture identifies three other holy dwelling places of God not made by human hands. These are Christ, the Church, and the Christian. All told there are 7 specific dwelling places which are or were holy. However, not all of these remained holy. When something holy is defiled or unclean, what is God’s reaction? Is the reaction a pattern with God?

In the beginning, God created the tabernacle of the heavens and earth. For six days, God developed the creation which would ...

There are a great number of religious bodies today which advertise themselves as loving bodies of believers. This is fantastic and the way Christ’s Church should be identified. In fact, Jesus told his disciples the following in John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”. The Bible has much to say about love. A scan of I Corinthians 13 lists a great number of attributes of love including patience, kindness, a lack of arrogance, proper behavior, and a desire for others betterment. God is love (I John 4:8). Jesus is the image of his father (John 14:7). Jesus Body is the Church (Colossians 1:24). Consequently, to know the Church is to know true love.

When is love not really love? Consider the mother who loves her son so much she cannot discipline him. A lot of these children seem to be found at the grocery store. Little Johnnie wants this, wants that, wants the other. “Yes, Yes, Yes”, mother gives in ...

We all have been there. It’s a great day, everything is going fine, and then someone does something to hurt or offend us. Maybe, it’s a co-worker, our boss, a fellow student, a teacher, a clerk in the store, or even a member of our own family who says or does something that injures us physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. Our first instinct, usually, is to feel a bit surprised and angry. We are now at an important crossroads, a significant point of decision. We must now choose what our next response will be.

At this “fork in the road,” we can choose the path that many take in this situation that leads to further anger. We may decide to remain angry and nurture this anger until it becomes expressed as malicious thoughts and hatred toward the person or persons who initially injured us. We may even use our time to formulate ways to “settle the score” with that person – to extract our “pound of flesh” as repayment for what they did ...

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