There are so many kinds of Sabbath-keeping Churches of God out there. They vary on doctrine, liturgy, and church government. This variety gives our brethren many choices of where they can attend.

How about your congregation? What kind of people attend there? Does your group encourage people of different persuasions to attend? Or is it possible you are keeping some Sabbath-keepers out of your local group with the words you say?

The third fruit of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 is peace. Jesus gives us peace through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26-27), but it is not the peace that the majority of people think of when they define peace. This peace is not a life without troubles, it isn’t a life without wars, and it isn’t peaceful living through prosperity. It is peace as in wholeness, a sense of tranquility inside us, even if life around us is in a constant state of chaos.

I remember when I was a child how easy it was to be joyful. A giddy feeling that would hit the pit of my stomach when I knew something awesome was just around the corner. Not being able to sleep the night before the Feast of Tabernacles because I was so excited about the trip and meeting new people. Or, the times with my friends that bursts of uncontrollable laughter would erupt at absolutely nothing in particular, but we couldn’t stop laughing.

I don’t know if any of my readers have noticed, but I like to blog about things that I am trying to learn. Right now, I really want to study the “Fruit of the Spirit” from Galatians 5:22-23. I desire to do a harvest check in my own life. I need to make sure I am bearing good fruit.

This week has been a rather hard one with my children. They haven’t been bad or anything, but the bombardment of commercials regarding all the sales that are happening over the Thanksgiving holidays has nearly derailed what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about, you know, thankfulness. I have noticed that they are acquiring a huge increase in materialism these days, and it is probably because they are older, thus making them more aware of merchandising that bombards their environment.

One time God told Moses to stop praying. If we accept that prayer is a good thing, why would God tell someone to cut it out?

God to Moses:  “Why are you crying out to me?” (Exodus 14:15).  Given the circumstances, I would think the question should be, “Why not?”

Here’s the story. Moses had just led Israel out of Egypt. Through his hand God had turned the Nile into blood, brought many plagues on the Egyptians, and with boldness he had led the nation to freedom.

What’s with this thing called counterfeits?  It’s not just counterfeit MONEY that we need to be concerned about when it comes to counterfeiting.  We also have to be concerned about counterfeit documents, counterfeit clothes, counterfeit software, and counterfeit … Rosetta Stone.  That’s right.  Rosetta Stone—that program for learning a foreign language.  I recently read that about 25% of all on line purchases of Rosetta Stone are counterfeits.   All these things are physical counterfeits.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psa 118:24).

Thanksgiving is right around the corner for America, and I thought it would be a good thing to write about being thankful. I know that not everyone who reads my blog celebrates Thanksgiving, but that shouldn’t stop us from being thankful anyway.

The book of Acts is loaded with sermons to the unconverted. What is so striking about them is how they differ from much of what passes for preaching these days. Look at Peter’s discourse in Acts 2 and again in Acts 3. Read Stephen’s defense in Acts 8, and Paul’s very similar sermon in the synagogue in Acts 13. They all have in common a simple relating of history and the story of Jesus.  There were no rhetorical flourishes. They did not nitpick points of doctrine. The simple story of Jesus, his resurrection, and his gospel were all that were needed to convert thousands.

I grew up in the Church of God, and I remember how, as a child, I looked up to the ministers. I felt that they had some sort of super power. I still do admire those that are called to be ministers, but I now realize that they are human and have the same “power” within them as I do, the Holy Spirit.

He was wrapped in an enigma, and so he is now.  For thousands of years theologians have puzzled over how Judas could betray his friend and teacher for the price of a slave.  The depth of evil is thankfully unfathomable to most of us, and the why’s and wherefore’s of Judas’ betrayal we may never understand, but think of the length to which Jesus went to save Judas from himself.  Time and again Jesus both encouraged and warned Judas.

Now, that midterm elections are over, we as Christians should remember an important point regardless of who is in office:

    I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:1-4).

Think about this. If God knew that the human race would be so much trouble, why did he even bother? We’re a cantankerous lot who can’t seem to get along. We argue, fight, and steal. We form cliques and gangs, manipulate each other, and even war against each other.

Midterm elections have started, and it sparked an idea for this blog. No, this is not a political blog, and I am not going to talk about elections. The thing that I was thinking about is how much hate comes out during elections. It isn’t as bad during midterm elections, but it is bad enough. And, a thought came into my mind, if people just showed love to their enemies the world would be a much more beautiful place.

Scriptures say what they say, and sometimes it’s hard to understand why.  There was a time in Egypt when a couple of Israelite women told very deliberate lies and were honored for it.  They were so honored for this that the Bible preserves their names, Shiphrah and Puah, for every generation since.

I don’t want to be the Christian that is just a seat-warmer at services. I don’t want to be a surface Christian—the type who knows how to walk the walk and talk the talk but is empty on the inside. In other words, faith and true belief are not really deep in the soul.

Have you ever wished you could get God to change his mind?  It can be done, even if it’s something major.  Moses was able to do it, and he did it twice: once shortly after leaving Egypt and again as they were on the brink of the Promised Land.

Jesus healed the sick. Sometimes he would pray for them. Sometimes he would heal them with words. Sometimes he would lay hands on them. He even, at least one time, healed from afar.

And there were three times when he healed with his saliva. (Mark 7:31-33, Mark 8:22-23, John 9:11). Why did Jesus use such an odd medical procedure?

The Day of Atonement is upon us, and for many, it isn’t the favorite of God’s High Days.  For some crazy reason though, I always look forward to it.  It is not because I really love to fast.  It is also not because fasting is easy for me.  It is just something about the fact that it seems like I am renewed on the Day of Atonement.  I really feel the “At-One-Ment.”