Prayer is a marvelous privilege granted to the people of God (1 Pet. 3:12), and yet it is one of the more neglected tools in our spiritual toolbox. Every Christian should desire to learn more about prayer so that we may excel in this great spiritual discipline. First Timothy 2:1-7 is one of many passages […]
Author: bumchecks
I Want to Pray… Like Hannah
The Psalmist said, “He gives the barren woman a home; making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord” (Ps 113:9). In 1 Samuel, we are introduced to Hannah, a woman of God who is deeply afflicted by the fact that her womb is closed by the Lord (1 Sam 1:5,10). As a result, […]
MY GARDEN FOR GOD
PLANT FOUR ROWS OF PEAS (“P’S”): prayer perseverance patience persistence PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH: squash gossip squash grumbling squash criticism squash foul language PLANT FOUR ROWS OF TURNIPS (“TURN UP’): turn up for worship turn up for Bible School turn up with a friend turn up with a willingness to work FINALLY, PLANT FIVE […]
The pop / soul singing group “Sister Sledge” was formed in 1971.!
This group consisted of sisters Debbie, Joni, Kim, and Kathy Sledge. This set of sibling singers achieved spectacular success internationally at the height of the “disco” era of modern music. In April, 1979, they released their breakthrough album “We Are Family” which included a U.S. Top Ten single by the same title, “We Are Family.” […]
Dream, Dare and DO!
1. Dream It – Proverbs 23:7; 29:18; Ps. 1:1-2. Imagination is great! Works for good and bad – Gen 11:6. 2. Desire It – Romans 10:1-2 3. Date It – Write it down when? When? Today? – Psalm 90:10, 12; James 4:11-17 Lord’s will – Dan 2:44; this generation—Matt 24:34; Mark 9:1 -70 years 4. […]
Everyone has a “fear alarm.”
You know, the little alarm that goes off in your mind when something seems way too dangerous to try. For some people, the alarm goes haywire just by climbing a ladder. For others, the alarm sounds when eyeing rides at Six Flags, especially the free-falling ones. The more adventurous among us ignore those alarms and go skydiving. Felix Baumgartner’s […]
A Test the Christians Could Not Pass 2 Timothy 3:12
Christianity began around 33 AD; it grew exponentially in the first century so that by the late 90s it was not only known to the Roman government but also hated. Why did the Romans persecute Christians during this period? What about Christians evoked such hateful, violent reactions? In his commentary on Revelation, After These Things […]
The Art of Loving: Love Holds No Grudges 1 Corinthian 13:4-8
In 1 Corinthians 13:5, the apostle Paul defines love as “not taking into account a wrong suffered.” A heart that loves like Jesus loves does not keep grudges. It does not keep a list of things people have said or done. You might say that the shorter the list of grievances we have, the […]
Deadly Distractions!
Eastern Airlines Flight 101, operating with a four-month-old Lockheed L-1011-1 Tristar, carrying 163 passengers and 13 crew members, left New York’s JFK Airport on Friday, December 29, 1972, at 9:20 p.m., for a non-stop flight to Miami International Airport. No one could have guessed that within three hours many of them would be dead. The […]
Who has ever written a song about the electric chair, or what poet has ever glorified the gas chamber or the hangman’s noose?
The PRACTICE of the Cross/Crucifixion. The description of all that was involved in the process of crucifixion should bring every person to tears and make him take a closer look at himself and the horrible price that the sin of each of us cost the Son of God. It is a paradox that an instrument […]