Salt and Light Blog

Today is February 1st, which means it is the first day of February. That means today will be the first day of the succeeding 28 days of February (2012 Is a leap year). So that means we are starting February 2012 today.

You’re probably thinking I must be starving for a topic on which to write. Actually, God gave me this topic as I opened my eyes and laid in bed after my alarm awoke me. God told me He wanted me to write about beginnings. Why? Because everything starts somewhere. There is always a beginning.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: creationism

The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us how powerful love can be. We have all heard of the cases where a child lifts up the back of an automobile to rescue his father who has knocked the car of its jack. This kind of power is supernatural; it is not something of which man is normally capable. Another amazing display of love is the power it can bring out in us when it comes to laying down our lives for those we love. That love drove my son to face a fierce enemy, both physical and spiritual. Jesus said:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Jesus Christ

The Lord gave me a lot to meditate on after yesterday’s devotional. I ended it by writing “I must never forget to live through my Savior.” How is that possible? Well, let’s look closer at what is my daughter Tiffany and many others’ life verse:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

(more…)

This week is Sanctity of Life Week. In my newsletter The Truth, I write about what it will take to finally defeat the scourge of abortion. This morning I want to look at a much deeper-seated issue than abortion; one that is personal for each of us.

As you look across our country you can identify many a problem with our nation. Wise men have said that these are merely the symptoms of the real cause of our problems in America. Many rightly ask, “How can we expect God to bless America when we murder 3,000 babies a day.” They say this is the deep-seated issue of our nation.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Sanctity of Life

I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve felt like a failure in my Christian walk. Why? Because of sin, either it be a besetting sin that I cannot overcome or a sin I knowingly commit against the warning of the Holy Spirit, a sin usually wrought out of pride. You would think by now I would realize I cannot overcome sin in my own power. It is a lesson I understand yet never seem to learn.

The good news is I do not have to walk in my own power. There is a spiritual power, an abundant power working in us:

(more…)

Technorati Tags: power

If there were ever a subject taught more falsely by peddlers of Christ than the title of today’s devotional, then I’ve yet to see it. The “name it and claim it” prosperity preachers found on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and similar stations LUUVVV to preach on this subject.

Well the aletheia truth is that Jesus does want us to live an abundant life, but let’s be sure we understand the abundance. This abundance comes from the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. Read His words carefully:

(more…)

Technorati Tags: abundant life, Bible

Do you realize how blessed you are? Oh of course I do Bro Dave.

No, let me try it again; do you realize how blessed you are? Yes Bro Dave of course I do!

(more…)

Technorati Tags: abundance, blessing

What causes stinking thinking, and just as important, how do we clear it up?

First, we use worldly principles to guide our thoughts and actions. Even as Christians we can get to the point that the world’s point of view governs our actions. One example is how Christians elected to office end up rolling over to a godless edict sent down from the courts. To bow at the steps of an unlawful judicial ruling not only is godless, it is also unconstitutional.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: stinking thinking

You’ve probably heard this old adage before: “When the times get tough, the tough go shopping.”

Okay, so it may not be an old adage, but too many people live by it. And why do some of us go shopping when times get tough? To make ourselves feel better, to have a sense that we are still in control. The problem is we are not in control of our lives. The outcome is in God’s hands.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Happy New Year

I woke up with a song in my head that I was listening to yesterday. It is Chris Tomlin’s “My Soul Magnifies The Lord.” Here is a YouTube video of the song with the lyrics:

(more…)

Technorati Tags: "virgin birth", Jesus

One of the quickest ways to cripple your walk with Christ is to take your mind off of Him. If Jesus is not you’re all and all, then you probably think of Him very little if at all. Well that’s all well and good Bro Dave but how do I keep my mind on Christ?

I’ll use my lovely bride Karen as an example. When we were courting long distance, she in Alabama and me in Germany, we used to write each other continuously. Her letters to me made me feel so loved and I couldn’t take my mind off of her (she still has me like that!). In fact, the Holy Spirit became jealous and reminded me Who was first in my life.

(more…)

Yesterday we asked why and how Paul could look at all the achievements of his life and comparing them to Jesus, consider them all garbage. The answer is found in today’s passage:

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

(more…)

In February 2007, The Barna Group did a fascinating study titled “American Lifestyles Mix Compassion and Self-Oriented Behavior” which revealed mixed traits of Americans that showed a “willingness to sacrifice and impulses toward self-oriented behaviors.” We as a nation, according to this study, display a strange dichotomy of beliefs and behaviors.

I have seen this mix in the church as well. It is a struggle, at least in my own life, to walk the talk as well as talk the walk. I could probably blame a number of reasons on my inconsistent Christian life, but as Karen and I were talking about with friends yesterday at lunch, my own flesh can be all the enemy I need. I too often grumble and mumble about things I should be praising God for, because they are blessings in my life. Paul warned against grumbling and mumbling:

(more…)

Technorati Tags: complaining

If America is to be restored it will come through revival. And if revival is to come, that will come through repentance. Therein lies our nation’s problem, in and out of the church. As our pastor preached this Sunday, we have become a nation of where shame is the greater offense than sin. Pulpits across America preach a grace without guilt when there can be no grace without first experiencing guilt. And finally, America wants restoration without repentance. Again, that is putting the cart before the horse.

Ah but Bro Dave, it’s not good to make people feel ashamed for their sin or walk around with guilt and sorrow. We want them to experience forgiveness and grace. I too want the latter but you must have the former. For I know of no Bible verse that teaches repentance without sorrow. Perhaps you can find it in the NTFV (New Touchy-Feely Version) Bible, but my Bible says:

(more…)

I once had someone tell me that he was not a sinner. I told him the Bible was very clear on that:

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

(more…)

This weekend I sent the following email to a dear brother in Christ:

Yes, but how was your heart changed? How was mine? How is mine? I promise you my brother 12 years ago you would have wanted nothing to do with me or even believed I was saved for that matter.

(more…)

How bad is your sin? No, no, not to God! We already know how bad our sin is before God. How bad is your sin to YOU?! Do you have categories of sin? Do you rank your sin from bad to worse? Do you compare your sins to other, consciously or subconsciously? Have you come to some sort of settlement with your sin after “extensive negotiations” with your conscience?

Did you know that it is only natural and normal to do so? That’s what makes it so wicked.

(more…)

My sister Minji (given name Mary) wrote yesterday in response to our devotional on the last conceit to go and said she has been struggling to understand her “artist self”, lately realizing that we never really understand ourselves. As we said, only God understands us. Minji is realizing a great freedom in losing herself instead of the exhausting fool’s errand of trying to find oneself.

(more…)

Yesterday we talked about vanity and presuming upon tomorrow. I got a lot of responses testifying to how this has manifested itself in a number of lives. Last night I got a text from my best friend since the sixth grade and brother in Christ Don Roberts asking for prayer for one of his church brothers who had just been killed in a motorcycle accident. Please continue to be in prayer for the Pena Family as they deal with the loss of Juan.

(more…)

So should we use apologetics, that is the defense of Christianity, with an atheist? Well let me ask you this question, similar to what our new friend Mrs. J asks in the book Unexpected Journey by Thom Rainer. Did you learn about apologetics before you acquired faith and was it apologetics that caused you to have faith?

(more…)