All Blog Posts (3,421)

It is so true that we do not properly grow in Christ if we isolate ourselves. I have heard from various online sources that there is a growing trend of Christians that say they are unable to find acceptable churches to attend, so they just stay home and serve God on their own, seeking spiritual food from only online sources. I believe the relational aspect of church is one of its most important structures, helping Christians become true disciples of Christ through fellowship with one…

If you have read any of my studies of the Old Testament—or anyone’s studies, for that matter—because I certainly don’t hold any exclusive hold on any of the Scriptures, but as I was going through the Old Testament one Truth became real obvious: our Father had an ultimate plan for all his work and dealings with creation, and the humanity he had created.

Now you know that, or certainly presumed he must have, but what was it? Well by the end of Genesis, Yehoveh had chosen a…

I love it when natural things in life teach us spiritual truths. It happens all the time. For instance, someday I’m going to video tape my demonstration of being “Born Again” and “Walking by the Spirit” using a glass of water and Pepsi (actually it can be any soda pop, but I like using Pepsi to signify sin—if I ever get it done you can watch the video to see what I mean). Anyway, recently I walked into a room and when I hit the light switch, I “saw” something…

Lately I have been thinking about “Prayer Times” and considering first, the need for it, but also the “procedures”—or the “how-to’s” of prayer. Jesus said that “When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).

Over the years I have taught that because of all the demands of “life,” like making a living, raising children, paying…

Greetings! According to Paul, those of us who believe in Jesus have been raised up from spiritual death and are seated with him in a heavenly realm. Remember what he wrote to the church in Ephesus? “Even when we were dead by our own sin, He [meaning our God] made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He resurrected Him from the grave . . . then He raised us up [those who choose to follow…

Hebrews 2:

¹⁷ Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.…

I want to share an amazing story. Paul was writing to the church in Corinth and telling the story about his trip to Asia and all the “stuff” he had to endure:

“We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have…

I have been studying Bible prophecy on and off and have come across the historical view, the position of the Christian church for over 1400 years, which states that all future prophecy from the time the last Bible book was written, Revelation, is not going to occur in only a narrow seven-year window, in a time frame future from present. Depending on the view you hold, consider this. Since the writing of Revelation in 98 A.D., if there are no future scriptures to refer back to a completed…

Jesus Christ is the center of truth and guidance for our lives, teaching us his ways as we walk in agreement with his revelation to our hearts. Our growth in truth is line by line, and we are every changing as God molds and shapes us according to his desires--the pottery on the wheel shaped by the Potter. Christ, and Christ alone, has the full knowledge to proclaim that which is absolute. We strive to hear his voice each and every day and walk in obedience to that voice. We should bear long…

All of our lives we have heard that our God loves each of his children, but do we know that He also delights in each one of us? That He takes great pleasure in us? That He is actually blessed to keep and deliver us? In fact, in Zephaniah 3:17 we see that he will rejoice over us with singing! That’s pretty cool!

I watch my wife and see this kind of parental pleasure whenever one of our grandchildren are around. Man she lights up like a Christmas tree when…

1^st Annual Lloyd Loar’s Hometown Bluegrass Festival

to be held at

Marigold Meadows

1212 N. Cedar Street

Lewistown, IL 61542…

Are you a sinner saved by grace? That would have been my description of myself until I began to see the true Gospel! Now I realize I have believed a lie perpetuated by the Christian religious system that is into works. If you  have that mindset of still a sinner, consider clicking here to find out more about His huge forgiveness.

¹⁴ … He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and might free those who through fear of death…

Father, thank You for revealing and…

The last few days I have been reading the book of Daniel, and I began thinking about what I had been reading. When the book of Daniel was written, Israel was in captivity to Babylon but the Prophet Daniel had prospered and was in a very prominent role within his captors country. But by chapter six, after a long life in ministry, Daniel was eighty years old! Certainly not a spring chicken. Now I’m not saying that eighty is “old,” but it is certainly a ripe-age, don’t you…

For years I’ve claimed to be filled with the Spirit. I mean ever since a miraculous rebirth back in 1979 I told everyone, “I’m born again and filled with the Holy Spirit!” I have preached that the Holy Spirit empowers me to witness, and that he sanctifies me. I have prayed in the Spirit, talked to the Spirit, walked in the Spirit and heard his voice. I truly believe the Holy Spirit is the power of God . . . That's when I read something Peter wrote:…

I don’t know about you, but many times I have to simply sit and thank my Father for His many Mercies and Loving-kindness’. I know I don’t deserve them, but still He continues to pour them on me.

This morning I want you to think about God opening some shut doors. I realize many will have no idea what I am talking about, but there is someone out there who is reading this message who can immediately relate to it. That person has experienced at least one or more…

Strange story

Some years ago I was invited to speak at a church meeting.  My theme was ‘getting involved’, Pauline was with me and she also spoke along similar lines, emphasising the need for people who call themselves Christian to ‘get their hands dirty’ and care for God’s world.  James 1:27 (NIV) tells us, ‘religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being…

I was reading something David Wilkerson wrote that both convicted me, and challenged me . . . and I hope encourages you. It is an area I have been quite negligent in. I have my own time of personal prayer, but it has been years since there was ever a time of “Family Prayer.”

As John Lennon sang, ". . . Life is just what happens to you, While you're busy making other plans . . ." I don't like to quote Lennon, but like many, these words certainly describe our family…

There was a time when Jesus was telling his disciples, “There will come a time when it will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking . . .” (see Luke 21:25-26). Not very encouraging, is it? But he was trying to be fair in warning us that “Without hope in me, multitudes of people are going to literally die of fright!”…

One of the major areas of controversy within the house church movement is whether or not there is a legitimate church senior minister position in the body, also known as Bishop or pastor. The early church fathers fairly quickly after the deaths of the apostles supported the church senior minister position. The question is: "Is it scriptural?" The following passage from the book of Revelation is frequently used to support the church senior minister position since the seven stars are the seven…