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Story of three ministries

Mark 1:2-11 Mark 1:2-11 shows us about three ministries, how God works with ministers. First, God had a plan. I don’t say ‘God has a plan’, because God had it planned long ago. God has a big plan and a bunch of smaller plans. We see here, for example, that Isaiah described God’s plan for John’s ministry and Jesus’ ministry seven hundred years in advance. The third minister, well ... we’ll get to him in a few minutes and talk about God’s plan for him. John didn’t just fall into his ministry. God prepared the way. Luke tells us that an angel told Zechariah that John ...

God’s word is unchanging

Contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints. — Jude 1:3 If the faith or Word of God, or word about God and men, was only once delivered to the saints, then we have a small problem within many of our churches today. Some churches have taught that it is God’s will for people to attend all the stated meetings of the church. They also believe they have the right and the authority from God (through His Word) to discipline church members who do not submit to their rules and guidelines. A local church may have four services a week that the members must ...

A new year is cause for hope through God

Hello, dear friends. It feels like so long since I talked with you! Here we are, in a new year! What’s that look like for you? Have you anticipated great things or are you caught up in the chaos of the past? During this Christmas season, I had the opportunity to visit with many, to hear their stories and share in their lives. Much of what I heard was pleasant; a joy. Some, not so much. It seems at this time of year, many have soft hearts for those who they once had close communion with, and they miss those folks. Some will attempt to make things better if the relationship has been ...

Last week, we were learning about the library’s Friends group called the Friends of Reading or FOR and the 3 mill tax increase that the county commissioners placed on the November ballot for community vote. The library director, Mrs. Stuckenrath, kept copies of each letter to the editor that was published in the Sentinel in October and until the vote on Nov. 5, 1968. There were as many letters for the 3 mill tax increase as there was against. Those for the tax increase used the library heavily, read many books per year, were on a fixed-income or were not on a fixed income but ...

Imagine this scenario: you get a letter from an attorney representing someone. You cannot afford to hire a lawyer. What do you do? According to Jessica Steinberg, associate professor of clinical law at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., 70–98% of state cases dealing with areas of civil law such as family law, domestic violence, landlord–tenant and small claims issues involve at least one unrepresented litigant. Money is often an issue. According to the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, 80% of criminal defendants cannot afford to hire a lawyer. ...

A Christmas Conundrum

For those of us in the Messianic walk, Christmas is an especially trying time. We recognize the origins of this practice along with all the decorations and trappings of the season to be of pagan derivation. In Deuteronomy 12:31 God tells His people to be careful to not follow the customs of the nations because everything they do for their gods is disgusting. In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 10, The Almighty admonishes us to “not learn the practices of the nations” and states through the prophet that the religion of the people is worthless. “Woodcutters cut down trees from the ...