“The Truth Will Set You Free”                                 August 9, 2026

Many in the world are familiar with the phrase “the truth will set you free,” which originates from John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  Considering this Biblical truth, what is the truth about Jesus?

Jesus was in the very beginning, and through Him all things were created.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were created through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).

Jesus is the only way to God, the Father in Heaven.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Something is required of everyone.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

What is the will of the Father to enter the kingdom of heaven?

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

Baptism (immersion, burial) is vitally important; it is the only way to be freed from sin and to put on Christ.

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life…For he who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:3-7).

“For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

Baptism does save us! (I Peter 3:21).

By Terry Clark

Cut Flower Faith                                                                   August 2, 2026

While listening to a podcast recently, I heard the podcaster make a reference to something he called a “cut-flower civilization.”  He explained that the description did not originate with him and provided its source.  I did a little research and found the source of the quote and how it was used in its original context.

A theologian by the name of Elton Trueblood lived during the last century and used that term in a book he wrote in 1969.  Here is the quote in its original context:  “A quarter of a century ago a few of us began to say that faith in the possibility of a cut-flower civilization is a faith which is bound to fail.  What we meant was that it is impossible to sustain certain elements of human dignity, once these have been severed from their cultural roots.  The sorrowful fact is that, while the cut flowers seem to go on living and may even exhibit some brightness for a while, they cannot do so permanently, for they will eventually wither and be discarded.  This metaphor of a “cut-flower civilization” severed from its cultural roots and left seeking a moral center remains a powerful image of contemporary society today.”

As I type these words, I need to remind myself and all of us that Dr. Trueblood’s words were written in 1969.  That means that his reference to a quarter of a century ago would take us back to the mid 1940’s.  Would any of us argue that we, as a civilization, are closer to our moral roots now then we were then?

While I am very concerned about our society, I started thinking of an application that is much more personal.  I cannot answer for an entire civilization, but I am taught that I will answer for myself and that I need to do some serious self-examination.  “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.  Test yourselves.  Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (II Corinthians 13:5, ESV).

The concern expressed by Dr. Trueblood sounds a lot like the parable of Jesus in which some good seeds “…fell on rocky ground…,” but did not produce because “…they had no depth of soil” (both quotes are from Matthew 13:5, ESV).  It should be obvious that roots cannot go very deep in rocky soil.  To apply Dr. Trueblood’s description to individuals, it should also be obvious that the faith of an individual that has no roots at all will not last long.

I started wondering if it was possible for good soil to be available and for a person to still not have much (or any) faith.  As I thought about that, some passages of scripture came to mind.

In Ephesians 3:17-19 Paul tells the church about his prayer for them, “…Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  You may remember that in Ephesians 3:8 Paul wrote about “…the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Another passage that came to my mind is found in Colossians 2:6-7, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

It seems to me that I cannot blame any deficiencies in my faith on either the seed or the soil.  If my faith is not what it should be, maybe I need to reassess both my relationship with Jesus and the amount of quality time I spend with God’s word.

There is a solution for “cut-flower faith.”  It’s up to me to take advantage of it.       

By Jim Faughn (Adapted)

Is All Sin the Same?                                               July 26, 2026

Sin is sin, right?  Aren’t all sins the same before God?  Don’t all sins carry the same consequences?  Won’t any and all sin separate us from God?  These questions are not really nuanced enough, because the answer, without clarification, is a confusing “yes” and “no.”  It takes further consideration to know what we are really asking.

First, we should establish that, yes, all sin does damage and leads to the loss of one’s relationship with God (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:2).  We do not, in any way, want to downplay sin.  Sin, in any and every form, needs to be seen for what it is (I Thessalonians 5:22).  It is ugly.  It is painful.  It will cause us to lose our souls.  In that sense, then, all sin is the same.  Yet this broad answer is not enough when it comes to understanding the consequences.

Not all sins bear identical rotten fruit, so in this sense, no, not all sin is the same.  The problem here is that when we say that a specific sin is worse than another, we may sound like we are making some sins to be inconsequential.  That is not the case.  We are simply recognizing that some sins carry a larger burden and have greater consequences, especially in time, than others.

For example, it is a sin to insult another and carry a grudge (Matthew 5:21-22).  Souls can be lost because of this.  However, far more consequential in this world is the carrying out of actual murder.  The first won’t get a person locked up as a criminal; the second will.  Further, lust is a sin that, without repentance, will cause souls to be lost.  Yet there is a difference between lusting in the mind and carrying out physical fornication (Matthew 5:27-28).  One may give the occasion for the other, but they are not the same in terms of physical, temporal consequences.  Sin begins in the mind, but carrying out physical actions lead to greater physical ramifications (James 1:14-15; Matthew 15:18-29).  One might think evil thoughts, but even speaking them out loud to the harm of another carries a greater weight, and once something comes out of the mouth, there is no retrieving it.  This is why guarding the heart is so important.  When something is in the heart, it often comes out in action.  If we stop it in the heart, we can curtail the action and avoid the worse situation.

There are a number of passages teaching that some are given a stricter judgment than others.  When Pilate challenged Jesus’ authority, Jesus responded, “You would have no authority over Me at all unless it had been given you from above.  Therefore he who delivered Me over to you has the greater sin” (John 19:11).  Jesus taught, “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to His will, will receive a severe beating.  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating.  Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:47-48).  In speaking of cities that did not repent, Jesus said, “But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you” (Matthew 11:22).  Teachers are warned that they will receive a stricter judgment (James 3:1).

This is similar to the point Jesus made with respect to weightier matters: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faithfulness.  These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” (Matthew 23:23).  None of this means that the “lesser” is not important, but on the scale, some matters carry more weight.  Recognizing that there are differences does not excuse the other sins, but we must not think that all sins result in the same exact consequences.

Does forgiveness wipe out the consequences?  Again, yes and no.  “Yes,” in the sense that we need not bear the eternal consequences of our sins, no matter their weight.  Jesus died to release us from that fear, and thank God that He did!  However, “no,” in that there are often physical consequences we bear that will not be overturned by repentance and forgiveness.  Sins like murder, drunken outburst, sins of passion that hurt others, crimes committed, adulteries and fornications, thievery, and so on, often cause consequences that cannot be undone no matter how much we regret our actions.  A criminal can be forgiven of his sins and be saved eternally, but this will not overturn a conviction and subsequent imprisonment.

Not all sin is the same.  Yet all sin does result in eternal consequences if we fail to repent and turn in trust to Jesus.  We must all stand before His judgment seat, and we will be held accountable (II Corinthians 5:10).  However, instead of facing condemnation, by the grace of God, we can stand forgiven, eternally safe with Him.  Will we accept this precious gift of God?                    

By Doy Moyer

In Your Brokenness                                     July 19, 2026

There are times in life when you may be fearful, overwhelmed, or broken, and don’t really know what to do or if you can even keep on going.  It may be because of sin you have committed or a situation you find yourself in that is causing great uncertainty or anguish.  In these times, you can turn to the One who knows the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7) – the One who lovingly handcrafted you (Psalms 139:13).  God KNOWS you and the heaviness of your heart.  Psalms 34:18 tells is that God “is near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  Oftentimes, it may not be you, but someone you know who is going through something very difficult, and empathy causes your heart to cry out for them.

Not only does He know you intimately, but He sent His Spirit to intercede for you when the words and thoughts of your prayers are not able to articulate your sorrow, your suffering, or even what you need.  Romans 8:26 assures you that “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words.”  You have a helper in the Spirit who can translate your heartache to God.

In these difficult times, consider the example of Jehoshaphat and his prayer in II Chronicles 20:1-12.  In that passage, Judah is facing an invading army, and they are very afraid.  The part of the prayer that I want to highlight is the latter part of verse 12, which reads, “For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”  Even though their distress and fear were paralyzing, Judah turned to and trusted in the Lord.

Throughout Scripture, you can clearly see that God has a protective love for you and no detail escapes His notice.  Trust Him.  Trust Him in times of distress.  Trust Him even if the outcome is not what you want.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)                                                      

By John Seibel

Intentional Living                                                          July 12, 2026

We are all familiar with Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  But how about verse 24, which says, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires?”

This is a very powerful verse.  It tells me as a Christian that I have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires.  The image of crucifixion is very public and final.  It is not talking about the physical body but all the sinful natures of man.

Paul is telling us that sinful natures and desires should not have control over us any longer and that if we belong to Christ Jesus, we should be producing the fruits of the Spirit in our daily walk with Christ.

Romans 6:6-7 says, “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing (be done away with – New American Standard), so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  For one who has died (to self as Christ died to Himself) has been set free from sin.”

Sometimes Christians feel trapped in their sins.  We can feel like there is no hope or no escape.  These verses in Galatians and Romans tell us that sin’s power has already been broken; it can only have dominion over us if we allow it.  James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  We have the strength through Christ to resist Satan and the many traps he will put before us.  We will never be perfect (sinless – I John 1:8) in our walk with Christ, but we can be faithful.

Matthew 16:24 tells us to deny ourselves and our selfish desires and follow Him.  This is a daily task for us.  Every day, let us be intentional in our walk with the Savior.  Let us draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us (James 4:8)!

By David Baldwin (Adapted)

God Supplies Strength                                                                July 5, 2026

Do you ever feel like a shell of your former self?  This is not a question only for the older generation.  For anyone, life can be tiring.  It can wear on us.  At times we feel like David, who said, “For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope” (I Chronicles 29:15).  This was an expression of David’s humility before God as he was preparing materials to build the Temple, and he recognized that there was nothing man could do that would compare with the permanence and power of God.

Some days we may feel this more strongly than other.  Job said man is, “Like a flower he comes forth and withers.  He also flees like a shadow and does not remain” (Job 14:2).  The Psalms are particularly fond of this shadow analogy (102:11; 109:23; 144:4).  The Bible does not ignore this feeling that is common to all people.  It acknowledges these emotions and then teaches us how to deal with feelings of futility.  Laments in the Psalms are an important part of this teaching.

“Why are you in despair, O my soul?”  Psalms 42 and 43 show the pain of despair, but then points to hope in God.  No matter how weak we are, God is strong.  No matter how inadequate we see ourselves, God has the answer and He supplies the sustenance to keep us alive and active.  As Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”(John 4:13-14).  Water brings life and sustains us.  The water that the Lord provides is living water, springing up to the eternal life (John 7:37-38).  This is connected to the Holy Spirit (Vs 39).  The greater meaning of this passage seems to be the same as what God was trying to tell Ezekiel in chapter 47.

God showed Ezekiel a vision of water coming from the Temple (Ezekiel 47:1-2).  When the water was measured, it was found to go deeper and wider the farther it traveled from its source.  God provides for us all we need to live well in this life, and to be ready for the one to come.  The fountain of God’s love began as more than sufficient for our needs and only continues to deepen and sustain us as we continue in Him.  The life of a Christian is not the path of least resistance in this world.  It often involves hardships, but we have more than enough to sustain and guide us in God’s Word.  If we listen to His word, the sword of the Spirit, He will be a source of living water that will keep us refreshed to the end.

Occasionally, we loosen our grip on what truly sustains us.  We may even feel like a bag of dry lifeless bones.  We “feel our age” or we see the futility of hanging on to the world that surrounds us.  This does not mean the only answer is to dry up and blow away.  We can be revived.  Ezekiel 37 shows this to the nation of Israel, which was dead and lifeless, and yet they were not beyond hope.  They were not past saving.  All it took was the breadth of God, and just like the first breath of life, that animated Adam’s dust, God can bring us to life again.

We sing about revival.  We ask God to “revive us, again,” and to “let the revival begin in me.”  Let’s hold on to those thoughts when we feel stretched thin.  “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).  What a shame it would be if we gave up in the final stretch, especially since we have those urging us on (Hebrews 12:1).  We may not know when our race is almost over.  The end is always around some corner and may come upon us suddenly.  We are called upon to stay prepared, ready to the end.

Can we make it around one more corner?  Not alone, but by God’s grace, strength, and sustenance we can.  We can’t make it on our own, but if we will let God fill us with His word we can be renewed, refreshed, and ready to continue serving.  God supplies us “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (II Peter 1:3).  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31).                          By Doy Moyer

Spiritual Success for One Another                                June 28, 2026

In the benediction of the letter to the Hebrew Christians, the Writer concluded, saying…

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and forever.  Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Within this final passage of the letter, we see an example of a prayer for the spiritual success of others.  We all know that we should pray for each other, it’s a Christian privilege and duty.  “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much” (James 5:16).  Yes, we are quick to pray for each other when we are sick or facing a serious health crisis.  We pray for the brother or sister who has fallen on hard times and needs employment.  We pray for the church in general and the success of the congregation.  But do we ask the Lord to build up those individuals who struggle with their spirituality?

When the Hebrew writer prayed that these Christians be “made complete,” he is asking the Lord to help them mature spiritually.  As we pray, we must not forget the Christian who struggles in their relationships.  Perhaps it’s an individual who has difficulty with self-control and a sharp tongue.  We should pray for the Christian who chooses pleasure over service and neglects weekly worship.  It is God’s truth that we help the spiritually weak (Romans 15:1).  So as you pray today, please include a request for the spiritual success of one another.

By Jay Launius

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete (mature), without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” (I Thessalonians 5:23-24)                             

Some Thoughts About Dad’s Day                                  June 21, 2026

A man’s first priority should be to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).  The meaning of that text is to let God reign in your life.  Set Him as king in your heart.  Seek His plan for making you the righteous person He wants you to be.

While material things have their place in life, Jesus points to our true priority.  A man may accrue many things in life – houses, cars, money, and collections of various sorts.  While there may be nothing wrong with those things in themselves, such material things cannot be – and must not be – our priority.

King Solomon was a man who accrued all manner of material things.  But hear his words in Ecclesiastes 5:11, “So what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes.”  Sometimes, the things we own have very little value except to look at.  That can be said of pieces of art or of various collections (coins, watches, automobiles, sports memorabilia, etc.).  It can even be said of a bank account where money is accrued but never used – and there is no plan to use it.  There may days when these things are only good to look at!

Men, do not let any of those things have the first priority in your life!  Seek God as your first priority!  If you put any of these things first, they will become the god that you worship.  If you put material things first, you may wind up neglecting your role as a husband and father.  God expects you to put your family in a special place!

That brings me to today’s primary thought:  Be a good dad.  Be a good husband and father.  Few roles in life are more important or more rewarding.  What a blessing it is to bring children into this world.  Solomon said, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalms 127:3).

A wise man said, “The best gift you can give your children is to love their mother.”  What did he mean by that?  First, you set an example before the kids that they can follow later in life.  Second, your kids can grow up in a loving home, which promotes their well-being.  Third, it is God’s plan for you – as the head of your family – to love your wife (the mother of your children).  See Ephesians 5:25-29, “Husbands, love your wives …”

I suspect you can think of more reasons why men need to have their priorities straight regarding these things.  But let me just close with this exhortation:  “Men, be real men!  Be all that God intended.  Love your wife.  Be faithful to her.  Love your children.  Be a real father and bring them up in God’s way.”  God will bless you for that.

Happy Father’s Day!

Seven Wonders of the World                                    June 14, 2026

A class of kids was to make a list of the “Seven Wonders of the World.”  Once everyone had finished their lists, the teacher counted which wonders were the most popular.  Not everyone agreed, but the final list was:

• The Grand Canyon
• The Great Wall of China
• The Panama Canal
• The Taj Mahal
• The Empire State Building
• The Great Pyramids in Egypt
• And St. Peter’s Basilica

It was only after the teacher had read through the lists that she realized she had missed one.  Sitting in the corner on her own, one student was still writing.  The teacher approached her and asked, “Do you need help with your list?”  The little girl blushed and nodded, explaining, “There are so many wonders, I can’t narrow them down.”  “That’s okay,” the teacher said.  “read out what you’ve written so far and maybe we can help.”

The girl was shy but began to read, “I think the seven wonders of the world are:

• To feel
• To touch
• To see
• To hear
• To taste
• To laugh
• And to love

The entire class was silent.  The teacher was completely speechless.

The real wonders are the ones we take for granted every day.  So appreciate the incredible gifts you have been given. (from Real English R Video)

What a lesson from a little, innocent girl on the things we should be most grateful for in life.  Everything God has blessed us with is truly a wonder but no greater is the wonder that Jesus loves us; that He gave His life for us and is wanting us to be with Him in heaven for eternity.                                         

Brian Thompson

Is God One or Three?                                         June 7, 2026

          James 2:19 tells us, “You believe that God is one.  You do well; the demons also believe, and shutter (tremble).”  We know the Father is God, but is the Son not also God?  In Matthew 26:63-64 we read, “But Jesus kept silent.  And the high priest said to Him, ‘I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, ‘You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power (God), and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”  And is the Holy Spirit not called God as well?  In Acts 5:3-4 we read, “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?  And after it was sold, was it not under your control?  Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart?  You have not lied to men, but to God?”  The answer is most certainly yes, they are all referred to as God.  But there is one God.  The question is “how” are they One?  While there may be several ways to answer this question, I believe Jesus answers it by His words to the Father in John 17:21 which reads, “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.”

          In this text Jesus is speaking to His Father about His followers, or as known today, “Christians.”  He prayed to His Father that we “Christians” be “one” in the way that He is with His Father.  We know that we cannot become one being for that would be impossible.  So how are They “one” in a way that we can become “one?”  I believe Jesus showed us the answer in John 14:8-9 which reads, “Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip?  Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’”  How are they one?  They are one in unity.  What Jesus teaches is perfectly unified in the same mind and the same judgment.  Paul writes, “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.”  We cannot be one if we teach different doctrines.  We can only be one when we teach the same doctrine as Christ and His apostles taught.  Then we will be one as God is one.                                                          By Bob Oliver

(Many years ago my father explained the Godhead to me this way.  He brought out an egg and asked me what it was.  Obviously, I told him it was an egg.  He asked me if I was sure it was an egg.  Absolutely, it was an egg.  Then he told me it was an egg shell, an egg yolk and an egg sac.  Three distinct parts of the egg yet together, they are always  referred to as an egg.  The Godhead is like that.  There’s God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Three distinct parts of the Godhead yet together, they are always referred to as God.  Thought this might help you some in your understanding of God – Brian Thompson)