In today’s out-of-control competitive, combative environment of public elections, it is almost guaranteed that many false things will be said about you. How do you handle such things?Forgiveness can be a difficult discipline to practice but is an indispensable character quality that must be continually cultivated over a lifetime. Let’s examine what the Scriptures teach about this.
April 20, 2024
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount He states, “You are the salt of the earth; … You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13–14). Often, well-meaning believers invoke this passage as a means of encouragement and prodding others to step up to the plate and affect the world. In this study, I desire to provide you with a greater understanding of the Greek verb that Jesus uses.“You are” is not an imperative command; it is an indicative verb. This distinction is very important and necessary to make as we seek to better understand what the Bible means. Such precision leads to proper, God-glorifying application to one’s life. My prayer is that the meaning of this passage will become increasingly clear as you study what follows.
March 31, 2024
A public servant can learn much about debating skills from this week’s Bible passage. As I strive to serve you and make the Scriptures practical and applicable, I am constantly praying and thinking about your life in elected office and what is most pertinent in the passage relative to that, being careful to not sacrifice authorial intent. This week I cannot help but observe how the desperation of Jesus’ enemies impelled them to publicly discount the Lord’s credibility. Sound familiar? The failure of Jesus’ foes to win debates in previous encounters has so frustrated and infuriated them that they, in this week’s passage, become absurd in their attacks. Imagine that! Let us critically examine this and the previous passages relative to Jesus’ debating skills and see what we can learn about improving ours. This promises to be a rich study—especially as you approach the primaries and upcoming November elections.
March 17, 2024
Corruption in office is a serious matter that results in severe consequences, not only for officeholders and their associates, but also for political parties and even for nations. Since this dishonesty is so costly a matter in government, what can we do proactively to prevent it? Since corruption does not happen overnight, what lies specifically at its headwaters? The Old Testament (OT) psalmist speaks to the progression of corruption in his first psalm. In this study we take a closer look at these six verses and glean God’s wisdom about this serious and ruinous matter.
February 18, 2024