The Attributes of God:

Authenticity versus Imitation 2 Peter 1:8-11 “For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.  Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.”                   Authenticity is proven by performance. On the shelf, there appears to be little difference between the authentic article and the cheap knockoff. They look and feel the same, making the two difficult to distinguish. However, when a person starts to put the article through the rigors of usage, the imitation is quickly revealed as the product falls apart.                   The same is true in our Christian life. It is easy to have a superficial faith that outwardl...

Living Life Without Anxiety 1 Peter 5:6-11 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”                   The uncertainty of life breeds anxiety in the soul.  We like life to be predictable and controllable, but when life becomes volatile and arbitrary, we become anxious and fearful. We face issues and challenges that cause us stress.  Like Paul, we face fears without and fears within.  How do we find confidence and peace in a world of conflicting views of morality, a volatile economy, and fears of the uncertainty of the future?                    We are not alone in our fears; since the fall brought death and decay, people have struggled to have peace and inwar...

Having the Right Focus  1 Peter 4:1-11 “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”                    What governs your decisions and actions?  Daily, we are confronted with many choices.  We are confronted with the choice of how we speak to others.  We are faced with choices about what we do and even what we eat and drink.  We have to decide what we will do with our time and energy. Our decisions and choices reveal our priorities and desires in life.  They reveal our values and what we consider to be important.  If someone would examine every decision and choice you make in just one day, they would be able to ident...

Responding to Conflict 1 Peter 3:8-16 “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”                   We live in a culture that is increasingly hostile and conflictive.  We can no longer simply agree to disagree; we demonize those who oppose us and respond angrily to those who criticize us.  We are compelled to strike back when we feel we have been slighted (whether in our political discussions or the service we get when we get a cup of coffee).  We condemn those we disagree with, and when our service is not up to our standards, we quickly go to Yelp to leave a negative review.  We demand our rights while ignoring the rights of others.    ...

Identity and Purpose 1 Peter 2:9-12 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called out out of darkness into His marvelous light.”                   It is easy to become distracted. The number one cause of car accidents is distracted driving.  It is estimated that distracted drivers cause 80% of car accidents.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving is far more dangerous than drunk driving.  While many people would not consider driving after drinking, many text a message without a thought.                   It is also easy to become distracted in our Christian lives. After 35 years of ministry, I can say, without a doubt,...

Two Essentials for Life 1 Peter 2:1-8 “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”                   During the holiday season, the one question that will be universally asked is, “What do you want for Christmas?”  As we approach the celebration of Christmas and the gift exchange with family and friends, we do not want to buy someone the proverbial “ugly sweater” they will never wear.  We want to buy a gift that people will enjoy and use.  Consequently, we ask the question, and we want people to list what they would like so we can purchase a gift they will appreciate.                    As Christians, what should be our desire?  If someone would ask us, “What do we want spiritually this Christmas,”...