Eternally Minded

Why do we work? - to make money - to provide for our needs - because that's what God made us for - to be able to retire - to be able to do the things we really want to do - because everyone works - because mom doesn't want us to be lazy - why not Let me tell you, work can be painfully hard. I've woken up, slaved about my work all day only to find out that there is even more to do tomorrow. My dad works and works all week only to find that we need more food, the gas tank is empty, or there's another bill to pay. It's a vicious cycle. What's the point of doing anything for that matter? We seem to get no further ahead. In the end, we will die, and nothing we've accomplished on earth will really matter. Even the relationships we make will die when we die, and we will be forgotten. These were the questions the preacher, in Ecclesiastes, was asking. After the more famously known passage "a time for everything" in Ecclesiastes 3:1-9...

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8 I was challenged recently with this verse. After realizing how often we forget it, and conveniently do the opposite, I was greatly convicted with thoughts such as: "How can Christians (myself included) look past violence and immorality when it is displayed on the television screen and in music?" "How come, when we are concerned with avoiding the physical actions of immorality and sin, we like to ignore the thoughts that are accompanied with it?" I think I speak for the majority when I say that we aren't nearly as concerned with the subject of sin as we need to be. We aren't nearly as separated from the world as we should be in order to recognize how rampantly we allow (and enjoy) things that are not pleasing to God....

Hey! Thanks for taking the time to read this week's post! I've been studying the book of Ecclesiastes, and have finally made it to the application phase of hermeneutics. I thought I would share with you what God revealed to me. I hope it also draws you to worship our sovereign Lord! "A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. For he has come out of prison to become king , even though he was born poor in his kingdom. I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him. There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is  vanity  and striving after wind." Ecclessiastes 4:13-16 Here we read a story of a poor, criminal, youth who supersedes an old foolish king, with nothing but wisdom on his side. But we know it wasn't just wisdom, but God, because all wis...

Most of us in Christian circles have heard something about perseverance (also referred to Biblically as endurance). We know that 2 Peter 1:6 says that perseverance brings godliness and that it's an important quality to have. We know or have heard of someone who seems to have mastered perseverance, like Paul, William Tyndale, or even the persecuted church. Sometimes we think that perseverance is this big thing that only super Christians can do. But how do we actually develop perseverance? I think the answer lies in 2 Peter 1:3: "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence." Because Christ gave us life, we have a knowledge of Him that only He can reveal to us. And it's through that knowledge that He enables us to escape corruption that comes from evil desires as He makes us more like Him. So, Paul tells us to strive to supplement our faith with certa...