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.  

Pursuing Humility

by Chris Martin | Jul 16, 2025

 “Thus says the Lord, ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.  Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?  For my hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being? Declares the Lord’, “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My Word” (Isaiah 66:1-2).

Time and time again in His Word, God turns our attention toward our need to be humble.  In fact, it is discussed over 80 different times in the Bible.  In our Isaiah passage the Hebrew word has a definition that includes to be “afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor.”

In the New Testament Greek it carries a similar meaning of “to be cast down, of low degree, lowly.”  The opposite of humility is pride, arrogance, conceit, boastful, or proud.

How does a man achieve this posture of humility?  It is certainly something that God has called the man of God to investigate and pursue. 

Keep on Keepin’ On

by Jim Gustafson | Jun 10, 2025

This life is full of the difficult.  Pain, stress, pressures, trials, tribulations, temptations, even persecutions, oppositions and rejection. 

A few things are true in such times of trouble: 

God delivers the circumstance. He does so with purpose and for our good. 
Man’s required response is endurance or perseverance.
God provides promises to the man who perseveres, giving him hope in the midst of the circumstance.

The Scripture is full of examples, responses, instruction and related promises.

Value

by Ed Allen | May 13, 2025

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it”

(Matthew 13:44-46).

What do you think? 

How do these comparisons apply to us personally, as we live out our lives with an eternal hope in this day and age?

AM to BE

by Ken Focazio | Apr 29, 2025

I was driving home about two years ago, and a song came on the radio called “Love Me As I AM” by King and Country.  I was struck by the simple message that God loves us just the way we are– the good, the bad and the ugly.  You know how you know something intellectually or at a conscience level but then something happens, and it penetrates down to the very soul? And consequently “you know” what it means that God loves us and accepts us, his perfect creation and what we as depraved sinners do with what God gives us.

Well, that got me to thinking how simple God’s provision of salvation really is, just three components: Justification, Sanctification and Glorification. 

Those of you who know sales have probably heard of the KISS method, “Keep It Simple, Stupid”. 

Man’s greatest talent is to overcomplicate things until they are unrecognizable.  For example, the Jews and the expansion of the Law: the Ten Commandments grew to over 602 additional laws!

What Do You Seek?

by John Hartshorn | Apr 14, 2025

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed as it is written, “HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER”  (2 Corinthians 9:8,9).

10 “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for [your] obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.  15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:10-15).

Note that I have created an arbitrary new paragraph at v.10. 

Verses 8 and 9 are often used as further substantiation that compliance to “every good deed” should then further the message that the realization of one’s financial dreams and aspirations are a simple matter of you “investing in God” by faith. 

Waiting For?

by Ed Allen | Apr 1, 2025

“LORD, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days;
            Let me know how transient I am.

 Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;
            Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.       

 Surely every man walks about as a phantom; Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
            He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.

And now, Lord, for what do I wait?
            My hope is in You.”