I don’t have any survey or research study to confirm my opinion, but I think brides tend to get bamboozled by the groom more than a groom gets bamboozled by the bride. I have some horror stories in my experience of officiating over 5000 weddings that point to the bride as intentionally deceiving the groom in order to get married, … Continue reading →
There is a verse in Matthew 10:30 that says that “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” The context of the verse is Jesus telling the disciples to have no fear for those who oppose them. Jesus says, and I paraphrase, don’t fear those that can kill you when your Father God cares for even the sparrows, and … Continue reading →
I like assessment tools that are simple and not crazy complicated just to tell you something that you already know — marriage is going to have conflicts. I am a big believer in the 5 Love Languages, the 1 Corinthians 13 Practices, and the assessment tool that I developed below, using the word FORGIVE as a guide to work through … Continue reading →
The first verse of Revelation sets the approach for the prophecy we sometimes call the Apocalypse. It begins, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass” (Revelation 1:1). Revelation 1:1 points our attention to the Lord Jesus Christ as the focal point of the book and … Continue reading →
Many Bible teachers today point to the Antichrist of Bible prophecy as a very devilish character with obvious ill motives, but the understanding within Christian history is different. The word “anti” doesn’t just mean “against,” it means “in place of” so the more accurate view of an Antichrist would be one who puts himself in place of Christ. Below are … Continue reading →
In Luke 16:19-31 we have a story that Jesus told about a rich man who went to hell and Lazarus, a poor man who went to heaven. At question is, using this account as a literal story or example of what happens after we die? I frequently hear ministers point to this story as evidence of what happens after we … Continue reading →
My mother passed away on October 21, 2020 after a long battle with Alzheimer/Dementia. I wrote about my mother and the smile I miss at my previous blog post titled Irene H. Durkac. Her Catholic funeral mass was conducted on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 in Rossford, Ohio and the funeral home’s obituary was published a few days prior to that … Continue reading →
Love can mean different things to different people, but 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives us a clear definition of what love is. All we need to know for how to love our spouse is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, and I want to share the sixteen points mentioned in this passage of Scripture of what love means. At most of my weddings … Continue reading →
My younger sister and I sat in the living room of our childhood home where my mother laid in her hospice bed. As we talked quietly, trying not to disturb our mother’s rest, I could see my mom open her eyes and fix her gaze toward me with a slight smile. I smiled back and continued the conversation with my … Continue reading →
In Revelation 1:10 John makes mention to “the Lord’s Day” and the question is, Is John referring to the seventh-day Sabbath or the resurrection day? My answer is, I don’t know because the text doesn’t give us enough detail to know. However, there is a relevant societal issue that may be at the heart of John’s mention of “the Lord’s … Continue reading →
In Jesus’ discourse on the sign of the end times, He makes a statement that often raises a question about who is He talking about, that statement is Matthew 24:34. The verse says, “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Over the years of my ministry I have heard people ask, … Continue reading →
Revelation 3:10 is often cited as evidence for a pre-tribulation rapture the text says, “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” The text does speak to Lord’s protection for the believer in face of tribulation, but beyond that one has to read … Continue reading →
If you pick up any book on Bible prophecy you will likely find an introduction to the four main schools of interpretation in approaching the book of Revelation. Those four approaches are 1) Preterists, 2) Futurists, 3) Idealists, and 4) Historicists. The Preterists view is an approach that assumes the book of Revelation is speaking to past circumstances, visions, and … Continue reading →
There is encouragement for you in the account of Jesus speaking with Peter as recorded in John 21:15-19. Peter was discouraged, he felt defeated, and not exactly engaged in the mission that he had previously responded to when the Lord called him. The focal point of this narrative is in John 21:17 when Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.” … Continue reading →
I’ve been thinking about Revelation 1:10 lately and how it relates to CrossHope Chapel. I probably need to mention that with this pandemic I’ve been thinking a lot about CrossHope Chapel, where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re heading. This coming January 2, 2021 when we gather we’ll be celebrating our 10th consecutive year of fellowship as a … Continue reading →
It’s not an uncommon question to ask, Why Sin? So I want to point out that we have some resources available to you at www.crosshopechapel.org if this question arises in your conversations or within your own heart. It’s a good question, and I personally think it shows that some one is thinking on spiritual things so if you hear it, … Continue reading →
I have had at least three conversations in the past two weeks with individuals who have told me that when their church goes back to regular in-person worship services, they will not. All three of these people were from different congregations representing Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, and Nondenominational but all three cited a similar reason as to why they are not … Continue reading →
Many years ago I hosted a syndicated radio broadcast called Ask the Bible which was a listener call-in question and answer radio show in the South Carolina and North Carolina market. It’s hard for me to think of those days or use the phrase “Ask the Bible” without thinking about Les Waugh. Les was a parishioner and elder at a church I … Continue reading →
In my last post titled “Will the COVID-19 Vaccine be the Mark of the Beast?” I attempted to encourage those who harbor some fears of taking the mark of the beast by learning that the verse in Revelation says the mark is not a visible or tangible thing, but a belief that puts the Beast power above Christ’s power. Revelation … Continue reading →
My short answer is No, but let me explain… Revelation 13:17 clearly says that “…no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” The verse literally says the mark of the beast is “the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” The … Continue reading →
This afternoon our Psalms Bible study at CrossHope Chapel became a Q&A study on the mark of the beast and the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine. I want to share with all of you two important points when you hear others declaring the COVID-19 vaccine as being the mark of the beast. First, no one is going to accidentally take the mark … Continue reading →
I want to make some general statements regarding the Law of Moses, in hopes that I can shed some biblical light on the place of the law in our Christian walk. When the Bible makes mention of “the law” it sometimes speaks to a specific order of laws or general application as in when the Apostle John speaks of “commands” … Continue reading →
I was reminded this morning by a friend still living in my home town of Rossford, Ohio that it was 40 years ago today that we graduated from High School in the class of 1980. After the shock wore off that it was 40 years already, it occurred to me that Payton is graduating from High School on this very … Continue reading →
There is a promise for every situation and circumstance of life. The Bible is one big promise of God’s response to the great conflict between Christ and Satan. Every word from Genesis to Revelation can be understood in the light of Calvary’s promise. Here, I want to share with you 50 life-issues with a related Bible promise that is appropriate … Continue reading →