Most have heard the account of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32, where the Israelites built a calf made of gold, while Moses was away with God in the mountain. The people became impatient, and created their own God made of gold.

Exodus 32:1-4 says, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

Where would they have obtained the gold? You may recall from Exodus 12:36, “The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!” God provided this wealth (gold) to them through the Egyptians.

There are many parallels we can draw between this account and modern times. Even though we do not call them gods, how different is it for people in today’s world to take the resources God gave them and create their own Gods in the forms of sports cars, homes, boats, sports, or other activities that become the primary object of their attention, time, and money. Rather than thank God for the circumstances that allowed them to have these things, they displace God with the things he provides.

Dear Lord, you provide all that we have and these blessings should be reason for us to worship, praise and thank you with our attention, time, and money. Help us recognize the blessings we have that they may reinforce our faith in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Today is Mother’s Day a day we celebrate and thank our mothers for the love and support they give to us.

What an amazing example God gave us in Jesus’ mother Mary. First the faith expressed when the angel came to her telling her she would be the mother of the Savior Jesus. Expressed in the words of faith in God facing the unknown. Luke 1:38 “Be it unto me as you have said.” Mary also was with Jesus through His persecution and death. How difficult that test of faith must have been for a mother. We can only imagine the strength and comfort she provided for the other followers during that time.

I am incredibly blessed and thankful to God that I have a mother like this that is a strong example of Christian faith; unselfish supporter and comforter of me and her whole family. I am also incredibly blessed by my wife who is a wonderful Christian example for our family. If you also have a mother like this here, or who is now in heaven, be grateful and use that gift to make you all the Christian you can be.

Dear Lord, thank you for the unique and special role You established for mothers. Help them cherish that special role, and help them feel our thanks for all they do and have done for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

If you have ever studied strategy you may have come across a few key concepts. Sun Tzu an ancient Chinese military strategist wrote the in The Art of War, that the outcome of battles is determined before they begin. Other modern military leaders have discussed that using “overwhelming force” is the only way to approach going into battle.

We must look at our daily battles in the same way. Our “overwhelming force” against the temptations of the Devil is our faith in God. Paul writes in Ephesians 6. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the Devil’s schemes.”

The Devils temptations can be more than we can handle on our own, particularly the terrible temptations of addictions and psychological problems, but with faith in our Lord’s mighty power we have the overwhelming force on our side.

Dear Lord, we cannot begin to understand how powerful you are. Please help us have the faith to know that with Your help we can overcome anything. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Today is my wife’s birthday, and I cannot think of a more fitting text on this day than Proverbs 31.

I think everyone who knows her would agree with me that she is an incredibly caring, faithful, loving, inspiring and disciplined lady. I am blessed to have her as my partner, and our children are blessed to have her as their mother.

Proverbs, 31:10-31 is a wonderful description that makes me think of her.

Verses 10-12
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

Verses 28-31
Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise”

Happy Birthday Liz! We love you!

It’s my brother’s birthday too, Happy Birthday Matt!

Dear Lord, You have incredibly blessed our family through Liz’s faithful Christian life. She has been an amazing inspiration and example to us and everyone she encounters. Give her your blessing with strength, peace, and joy in her life. Bless Matt and his family on his birthday also, send peace and joy to their home. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I heard an interesting way to think about and approach issues in the world. “Look at the world through the lens of the Bible, rather than looking at the Bible through the lens of the world.” The point being that we should take the Bible as the infallible truth, and be suspect of ideas we hear in the world that contradict what we read in the bible. So often we are led in the other direction; dismissing the Bible based on worldly “knowledge.”

Yes, there are mysteries in nature, and incomplete details in the Bible accounts of history, that we have yet to understand. However, it is most important to put our faith in the right place, God and his word, and be skeptical of seeming contradictions that are “discovered,” particularly when they are “discovered” by people who reject that God exists.

Psalm 111:10 says “The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Romans 1:19-20. “For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day”

Dear Lord give us the faith to believe your word first and use the intelligence you gave us to explore and understand your creation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen