by Ed Allen | May 13, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“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? Does this represent your values, your hope? Do they prompt a desire for change in pursuits or priorities? If so, how? If not, why not? Read More Articles By This...
by Ken Focazio | Apr 29, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
By Ken Focazio 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! In the New Testament Jesus tells us the simple way of salvation (Mark 12:29-30); “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength”. The second is this: ”You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. There is no other commandment greater than these. To the extent we keep these keep these commandments perfectly, we can anticipate the promise of salvation. Doesn’t get much simpler than that! However, since none of us have managed to accomplish these commands, God, out of...
by John Hartshorn | Apr 14, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“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. This has been used as the justification for the dangerous, heretical doctrine of the “prosperity gospel”. This is the concept that God’s purpose for us is to temporally prosper us. ...
by Ed Allen | Apr 1, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“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.” (Psalm 39:4-7) Three Questions: Considering your own view of the world in this present time, how do you answer the question “for what do I wait?” Do your thinking and actions affirm your confession? What are your thoughts? Read More Articles By This...
by Pete Wood | Mar 16, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Did our God have a weakness? Jesus was crucified through weakness and it became foolishness to the perishing world. Jesus took upon himself our weak and infirm nature. His weakness and foolishness of ours was imputed to him so that we might live. Our Heavenly Father took this on out of His love for us. Jesus was made capable of suffering, and of laying down willingly his life for us on the cross. But, he was raised from the grave, He is alive and He lives again by the divine power of God. This Spirit who raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwells in each of us. But, we are to be strong in our weakness. As we are to be weak in him, like Him, being liable to sufferings, undergoing sufferings by his example; but we shall live with him by the power of God, of which also we have living within us. And we have access to the mind of Christ, in our soul. The apostle Paul taught us, how to look at being strong and to understand it as part of our spiritual life. “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; or when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Corinthains 12:9-10). Paul learned that God’s grace is sufficient for each and every one of us, for...
by Pete Wood | Feb 25, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
When studying this verse, 1 Corinthians 13:16, in capturing the essence of this scripture, it should produce a new understanding, a new vision, a new anchor in the chamber of your heart. “BE” is a word that should not be taking lightly. First we need to understand that the word BE is considered a linking verb that is called “substantive.” Most importantly we need to carefully dig deep and look at the meaning of substantive, and specifically how it relates when using the word “BE” in 1 Corinthians 16:13. Substantive: It means to have a firm basis in reality and therefore important or meaningful, to be fixed; to exist; to have a real state or existence, to be made, to be, to become. to remain. This is forming a particular future tense and expresses a duty, a necessity or a purpose. What makes this so important is that this understanding should ignite a passion and our desire to Be alert, stand firm in our faith, act like men and Be strong. So now let’s combine the word “BE with STRONG”, and take a fresh look at what it means to “BE STRONG”, To “BE STRONG”: Being Strong should have a firm basis in everyday life and is important and meaningful. We are called to be fixed in a position of strength. This is a state we are to exist in, now and in the future, out of a necessity and with purpose. Specifically as a member of the family of God, this is our duty. So with this new insight take a glance at a portion of the way...
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