Weeping and Strength

by Jack Wroldsen | Jan 26, 2026

The Bible frequently unites opposing concepts in counterintuitive ways. Want freedom? Be a slave. Want to live? Die. Want to be first? Be last. Want to be saved by grace? Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Want rest? Take Christ’s yoke.

How does this principle of opposites-in-unity apply to strength and weakness? I have been pondering this question because I cry easily, which sure feels like weakness. Sometimes I cry for serious things. Sometimes for seemingly trivial things. It’s awkward. It makes others (and me) uncomfortable. I’d prefer to feel strong.

But weeping is also confusing because people say it’s a gift. After all, Jesus wept. Jeremiah was the weeping prophet. Life is hard. Pain is real. We are born crying. Weeping seems unavoidable. And certainly, God uses our pain and tears for our good, to break us and teach us compassion. In some sense, weeping is surely a good thing in our walk with Christ.

Nonetheless, weeping is disruptive. It ends conversations. It prevents me from saying what I think I should say. Am I emotionally imbalanced? Yes, for sure. But what’s the solution? How does the Bible address the tension between the good and bad aspects of weeping?

Precious Words

by Jim Gustafson | Jan 12, 2026

If you have studied using the methods outlined in the book, Studying, Interpreting and Applying the Bible, you know the authors emphasize he importance of words.  They implore the reader to dive deep into their meanings and the relationship to the thoughts and concepts behind them.  The serious student of the Bible is encouraged to pursue the author’s intent, implications, and unique nuances of the choice of specific words. 

Words represent ideas.  Words are the medium by which we communicate ideas and thoughts. The greater and more specific a man’s vocabulary, the greater his ability to develop and communicate his thinking. 

This is particularly true when considering the infinite and indescribable character of God.  Words matter in the pursuit of knowing and understanding Him.  Without a correct understanding of the words, we risk misunderstanding His character and promises.  This is critical to a growing and deepening relationship with Him—an expanding vocabulary!

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

by Jerry Bangert | Dec 16, 2025

I go through dry periods in my walk with Christ. The Lord seems remote and I miss Him more than I can say. I don’t know all the reasons for this awful fact. Maybe it is a growing sense of demonic  evil in the church and in the world or of a similarly growing awareness of my own depravity. Whatever the reasons, I have been thinking about that walk, which is increasingly more precious and fragile to me.

Look again at the title of this letter from John 1. In four words the infinite divine became a finite man. Having accomplished His redemptive work on earth, Christ sent the Holy Spirit to indwell His followers and to inspire the New Testament canon. The quickening and revealing Spirit within then discloses the Logos to us. We come to know the Bible and Christ.

 But the Logos , Divine reason, has become flesh. He is a Person. Knowing a book of conceptual truths like the Bible is different from knowing a person. A book is not a person. Yet we believe that we have a personal, not a conceptual relationship with Christ. How does knowledge of conceptual truth become a personal relationship?

Be Consecrated!

by Pete Wood | Dec 2, 2025

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5).

To be consecrated is to be declared sacred and set apart, dedicated and devoted for sacred use, to be used for the service and worship of God. 

God is using Joshua to call His people to a new level of purity and a bold walk of faith.

After coming to this verse, I decided to claim it as my own. The thought occurred to me on the importance of preparing and protecting our hearts when and while we live a life of faith.

While we are in this world we must expect and prepare for unusual events, to be subjected to ways we have not seen before.

Never Give Up!

by Jim Gustafson | Nov 15, 2025

The following is a summary of the discussion with my 99 ½ year old Mother on November 9, 2025. Present with me was my wife, Diane.

“Hi Mom, Its Jim and Diane.”

“Oh, it is so good to see you.   We have a lot of things to catch up on.”

“Yes, but I have one thing I wanted to talk about.”

“My going out?”

“Yes.  Last time we talked about you going out, you said you were going to hell.”

“I did?  Can I take my words back?!  I don’t want to go to hell!”

“The Bible tells us we have a choice.  It’s our decision to make.  When a person dies, their soul goes to heaven or hell—one of those two places.  But the determination can only be made before death. You mentioned that you led an imperfect life.”

“Yes.”

Mary’s Good Part

by Ed Allen | Oct 7, 2025

“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.  But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”  But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

What do you think?

What is the “one thing?” and what is the “good part?”

God’s Charge to Joshua– and to Us!

by Trevor McDowell | Sep 9, 2025

Joshua 1:8-9 have been very encouraging verses to me.  Joshua is about to take over leadership of the Israelite nation and lead them into the Promised Land!  An overwhelming challenge to be sure!

Up to now, for the past forty years, Joshua had been content to follow Moses’ leadership. Now that Moses was gone, it was now Joshua’s job to lead the people!

As anyone in leadership knows, leading people can be overwhelming. So God Himself encourages Joshua with these words, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8-9)

God commands Joshua to follow God’s law. be courageous and then he will have prosperity and success.  God also promises that He will be with him every step of the way. 

Delighteth In Obedience

by Craig McAndrews | Aug 19, 2025

“Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments” – Psalm 112:1 (King James)

Every other Monday, I have the opportunity to participate in a Bible study with a young guy who is eagerly seeking the Lord. Recently, I returned from vacation to find my inbox flooded with urgent issues waiting for attention. Unfortunately, Bible study happened to fall on the same Monday I was due back at work. I immediately felt the tension: Do I skip this one and get ahead of the chaos, or do I keep my commitment?

I chose to attend—sort of. I went, but my mind was elsewhere. I was distracted, and the cares of the day captured my attention. My obedience was slow, reluctant, and partial. A far cry from the psalmist’s description of the one who “delights greatly in His commandments” (Psalm 112:1).

Desperate Men

by Jim Gustafson | Aug 4, 2025

“Two things I asked of You: Do not refuse me before I die; Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I be in want and steal and profane the name of my God”

(Proverbs 30:7-9). NASB-95

Desperate men can do radical things. 

It seems that in desperation, all things are on the table.  Particularly under pressure, men will steal, cheat, lie, deny God, hurt others they love and even murder, in an attempt to bring relief to themselves.  Any and all of this, in order to get from under a trial, to relieve pain and move to higher ground. We are all capable of despicable acts to get relief from the pressures of life.