Thinking Right

My wife and I went to church six times Sunday. [Pastor Stiekes wrote this piece for January 26, 2021.] I’m sure this does not sound strange to some of you. Due to my immunes system and the Coronavirus, we are not gathering in large crowds at this time, but we are watching our church services…

Read More

Training Children to Worship

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). The goal: Train up a child in the way God designed him. God designed mankind to be dependent upon Him and to worship Him (Isaiah 43:7, 21; Revelation 4:11). Everyone worships someone…

Read More

Live As Obedient Children

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:13 This is obviously written to believers, obedient children in verse 14. The unsaved cannot think in terms of the vertical, only…

Read More

Biblical Principles of Friendship

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4 Merriam-Webster states that friendship is the quality or state of being friendly. Synonyms include: benevolence, brotherhood, charity, cordiality, fellowship, friendliness, kindliness, and…

Read More

Loving God

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30 A scribe asked Jesus, Which is the first commandment of all (Mark 12:28)? Most Christians will affirm that they love God?…

Read More

Making Commitments

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass (Psalm 37:5). Commit thy works unto the LORD, and Thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3). New Year’s Resolutions are somewhat traditional in America, not that many keep them. People resolve to change bad practices, behavior, and habits…

Read More

God’s Faithfulness

  I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known Thy FAITHFULNESS to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever: Thy FAITHFULNESS shalt Thou establish in the very heavens (Psalm 89:1-2). The emphasis of Psalm 89 is the “Faithfulness of God.” No…

Read More

The Real Black Friday

Immediately following Thanksgiving day, our whole nation is thrust into the “C” word — Christmas. The stores are filled with people trying to buy the most expensive gifts at the cheapest prices of the year. We call it “Black Friday,” and it is a great memorial to materialism. The earliest evidence for Black Friday seems…

Read More

Praise His Name for Ever and Ever

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise Thy name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:2 The praise of God is normally linked with some historical act on God’s part. It is the response of God’s people to God’s Person and performance. One of the greatest historical acts ever was the creation of…

Read More

Nebuchadnezzar didn’t believe in God… at first

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Daniel…

Read More