Our generation is addicted to results.  Plain and simple.  From our social media posts to our grand and opulent buildings we measure our success and worth by the outcome of our endeavors.  It is the outcome, we surmise, that determines our level of success.  For example, if a video is posted online and it goes viral, it is deemed a cultural sensation, regardless of its content or substance.  If a meeting is scheduled with a maximum capacity in attendance, we consider that meeting effective, regardless of its spiritual depth.  We love numbers, we love statistics, we love the idea of …

Opposition is the birthmark of progress.  You’ve heard it said many times, “If you do not want to be criticized, laughed at, or scorned: Do nothing, say nothing, be nothing and have nothing.”  But if you want to have something, it will require doing something, saying something, and becoming something.  When the will is intentional, the warfare becomes intense.  What I mean to say is this: if you get ready to do something for God, the enemy will start working diligently to do something to you.

Every major Bible personality faced his or her fair share of opposition.  Some of …

189 references.  That’s how many verses came up when I typed the word “fool” in my Bible search engine.  To be honest, I wasn’t aware of the amount of space the Bible allots for foolishness.  It should have been no surprise however; since the fall of Adam, the world has been subject to foolish thinking, foolish living, and foolish dying.  Consider the following passages:

• Psalms 14:1 – Thefool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

• Job 2:1 – But he said unto her, Thou

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in,” said C.S. Lewis, “aim at earth and you will get neither.”  Having goals is one thing, having the right kind of goals is something altogether different.  Many have successfully climbed the proverbial ladder only to reach the top and realize it was leaning on the wrong wall.  The epitome of failure is to succeed at those things that make no difference in eternity.  That is why we need to maintain the course of our lives with spiritual pursuits.  Call it what you will–resolutions, objectives, pledges, or goals–such endeavors help us …

“The blessings of God are always because of His grace. When my identity is found in my performance rather than His grace, I can develop an unscriptural sense of worth that is not based on my new birth in Christ” –Paul Chappell

“Grace treats people not as they deserve but better than they deserve. Grace preempts accusation, freeing both parties. When we extend grace to our enemies, they receive a shockingly unexpected glimpse of the kingdom. And, at precisely the same time that our adversary is released, we are as well. Why would anyone wish to go around carrying