by Jim Gustafson | Jan 12, 2026 | Articles, Mentors Corner
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! For example, take 1 John 2:2. The New American Standard Bible and the King James Version translate the Greek word hilasmos as “propitiation.” Other versions use the words: expiation, atonement, sacrifice, forgiveness, etc., each of which has a unique but inadequate meaning to the all-important work of the cross. Propitiation is the better word as it encompasses the total, final, complete satisfaction of God’s justice, declaring the believer innocent of all infractions through the Savior, Jesus. One such word that continues to intrigue me is the word “precious.” We invest in that which is precious to us; we protect it, embrace it. Hold it close. It is our priority, it reflects our hope. Precious things are rare, valuable...
by John MacKay | Dec 30, 2025 | Articles, Testimonies
“Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, ‘Turn back from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes in accordance with all the Law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.’ However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God. They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, and His warnings which He gave them. And they followed idols and became empty, and followed the nations that surrounded them, about which the Lord had commanded them not to do as they did” (II Kings 17:13-15). The bible is full of instruction, examples and parables about unbelief…why you ask? Quite simply, because unbelief is the opposite of faith and trusting God. The writer of II Kings explains very well in this passage. The people did not listen, rejected His statutes, followed idols, and followed people around them. Notice this progression of unbelief! Similar to faith, unbelief deals with justification and sanctification. It is the unwillingness to believe God and that Jesus died and rose for sinners to gift eternal life. Unbelief is a state of mind but also can be a single act of sin. This unbelief prevents a person from knowing Jesus and receiving salvation. However, unbelief is also prevalent in you and me. As we endeavor to walk with God we frequently act in unbelief. When we stumble or disagree with God we tend toward doubting. We chose to do it our way instead of God’s way. Unbelief is the opposite of faith. We decide to trust in something other than God. Unbelief can...
by Jerry Bangert | Dec 16, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
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? The process begins with the work of the Holy Spirit communing with our broken-willed soul. Without these two ingredients all is futility and doomed to failure. The Holy Spirit will do His part; ours is to break our will. For His part, the transformative work of the Holy Spirit operates chiefly through two features of our personalities, reason and imagination. Through reason aided by the Holy Spirit we comprehend...
by Pete Wood | Dec 2, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“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. We do this by turning to the Lord in a spirit of expectant faith in the wonders of which the Lord will do in and through us. If we have the assurance of God’s presence with us, we need not fear the circumstances. He will furnish us with protection and strength such as we never had, as we come to experience things we’ve never seen, and to do a work we could never expect without Him. Jesus prays to God before His disciples as He gives His life for the sins of the world to and for all that believe in Him. He prays “And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:19, ESV). In Thayer Dictionary when looking up the meaning of: Consecrate in Greek, it is the word “hagiazō” a verb describing the work of Christ, meaning; 1) to render...
by Jim Gustafson | Nov 15, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
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.” “The Bible calls that “sin” and further says that all of us are guilty of sin or as you say, leading an imperfect life.” “So what do I do?” “The Bible says that you must believe.” “Believe what? I’ve led a pretty good life.” “Yes, but as you said, an imperfect one.” “Yes.” “But that can be corrected, right now.” “But how?” “What is required is belief. A confession of your belief.” “How do I know it is true? “You can know by faith. A commitment without knowing the result. God has set life up that we cannot know with certainty the future, but we can know by faith. Faith is the requirement to get into heaven. No one can be certain or prove that God is true...
by Ed Allen | Oct 7, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“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?” Does it apply to you? If so, how and what would you change? Consider Psalms 62: “My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. 3 How long will you assail a man, That you may murder him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah. 5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock...
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