I have already prepared myself for the day when my kids come home and ask me questions about their homework and I have no idea what they are talking about(I am gonna pretend like that hasn't happened already and that I have never searched google for an answer). However, I don't know why it surprises me when one of my kids asks a question about the Bible that challenges or ...

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 What is eternal life? Eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ who was sent! If eternal life is to know, what does it mean to know? The answer to that question is huge, and its more than the word "k n o w" in English offers us. The very though...

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 Who gets to experience this eternal life that God offers through His Son Jesus? Who is "they", that verse three speaks of? They is... John 17:2 ...all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. John 3:14-16 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilde...

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 The same God who gives us zoe (life), is the same God who gives us eternal zoe. Eternal, meaning, never to end. God not only allows us to experience this amazing life that scripture describes, here and now, but He is ever so gracious to allow us to experience th...

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 The word for life here in the greek is zoe. This word zoe, speaks of the life which only comes from Jesus and focus more on the life only He gives and not so much of the idea of physical life. Zoe or life, is the very thing we lack apart from Jesus. Without Jes...

If you're anything like me you might be prone to looking at the current condition of our country with fear, frustration, contempt, and cynicism. It is pretty easy to do. The economy seems to get worse every day. The news is full of stories of children being abused and even killed by their own parents. Families are breaking apart every day. The culture is inundated with por...

In a little over one week, West Valley will hear some testimonies and witness baptisms. These testimonies will be a witness to others of the power of God to save His people. Consider the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. After her encounter with Jesus, she leaves her waterpot and went into the city, apparently so excited about the "Christ." John 4:29 "Come, see a man who ...

Mark 3:35 "For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." John 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life" A question; do you consider yourself to be a mother/brother/sister of Jesus? The only way for this relationship to occur is for you to come to Christ in repentance...

Jesus said, "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. "(Matthew 5:42 NASB) Does this verse give you heartburn? It does me. I mean, really, that guy standing on the corner with his cardboard sign that says, "Viet Nam Veteran. Homeless. Need money for gas." I'm supposed to give him some of my hard earned money? Is this an iso...

So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men.. John 4:28 "I need to attend more Bible studies so I learn more scripture which will help me to be prepared to go out and share Jesus with people." Have you ever felt like that? If you are struggling with that issue I would like you to consider reading John chapter 4 about the woman at the well. I...

Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples feet " John 13:5 If you have ever wondered what a servant's heart should look like, I believe the example of Jesus in John 13 will provide the answer. This is the scene called the Last Supper in which Jesus is with His disciples. It is extremely difficult to grasp the emotions of Jesus at this time, sinc...

Our Community Group (CG) is such an awesome, eclectic, open, loving mixture of people from all walks of life and various levels in their walks with the Lord. This last week as we started through a summer event of the "Tough Question Series" a question came up.ok dialogue that included old and young earth, John Calvin, Joseph Arminius, Noah's Ark, and even (some of my old S...

The enemy attacked without warningwe knew that the enemy was there but the attack was a surprise. General Howe landed in Maryland and was headed to Philadelphiabut General Washington knew it almost as soon as he landed. Immediately General Washington moved his army towards the Brandywine River.but when Washington arrived he was welcomed by British artillery fire. During t...

In today's world, we use the word "enough" maybe more than you realize and it usually has to do with our comfort or satisfaction level. Did you get enough sleep? Did you get enough to eat? Is it cool enough in here for you? I don't make enough money.... How easily I forget that Jesus in my life is ENOUGH for all those situations and more. That God's love for me is more th...

John 18 The truth! So what is the truth? This is a question that Pilate asks Jesus. I find this so interesting. Prior to Pilate asking the question about what is the truth in the last part of John 18:37 Jesus said, "He came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears Jesus voice." The truth is standing right in front of Pilate when he ask th...

John 14 We just arrived home from Tulsa last night where we had the great privilege to watch Christopher graduate. The ceremony was very well done. It starts off as any commencement with the precession of everyone involved in the proceedings. Then the University Chaplin comes to the podium to lead us in a prayer. I am praying along with him and I hear others around me agr...

At the end of John Chapter 3 there is a neat little scene that takes place between John the Baptist and a few of his disciples. John's disciples get a little hacked off because people are leaving John and flocking to Jesus to be baptized. John's response to his disciples is basically "I already told you guys that I'm not the Christ." He tells them again that Jesus is the M...

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." Jesus John 17:3 "In order towhat?" This is truly one of my favorite questions! A number of years ago, while I was working at Shea Homes I was strongly encouraged to ask myself this question continuously. I'm going here or I'm doing this or that "in order towhat?" If I...

19"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord s...

"Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."John 20:21 Jesus has appeared to the disciples and just prophesied Peter's martyrdom. For whatever reason, Peter asked Jesus about John and what the future held for him. Is it that Peter just wanted to know if John's life would end similar to his? Or was it concern bec...

"Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath."John 9:16a Thank you Pharisees; with this statement you have helped us indentify what it means to be religious. To be religious means to give attention to outward service or another way to say it would be, we try to make ourselves look good. If we are "religious"...

"Jesus said to Him, Go, your son lives." The man believed the Word that Jesus spoke to him and started off".John 4:50 This real life event took place 2000 years ago as a son of a "Royal Official" was on his death bed. If you are a parent, you know that when your child is seriously ill, the seriousness of the situation seems to be multiplied 100 times. So it is easy to und...

"Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is ..."John 4:10 Such a fascinating event takes place in the fourth chapter of John. I love this event because we read how Jesus takes a person from death to life. What's fascinating is that this is not a well known individual; in fact, I don't even know her name. All we know is that she is the woma...

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27c Jesus makes a humanly wild statement: "they follow Me." Doesn't it feel that following Jesus is difficult and at times a real struggle? It seems as if much, if not most, of the time we're fighting to be good followers of Jesus! Why does He say so matter of fact "they follow Me"? If you stop and thi...

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" John 10:27 July 6th: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them," John 10:27b Jesus moves from the amazing reality that He gives us His life giving voice to a statement that is beyond human comprehension. The God of all eternity,the God who rules the nations, the very sovereign King of all kings knows us! He know...

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" John 10:27 July 5th: "My sheep hear My voice," John 10:27aJesus makes a statement here that has riveted me for many years: "My sheep hear My voice..." He doesn't say "My sheep might hear my voice" or "My sheep can hear My voice" or "My sheep have My permission to hear My voice." Instead Jesus says, as a stateme...

Reading: John 5:1-17 'Crippling Sin' "A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" vs 5-6 The multitude who gathered at this pool without a doubt had some real physical issues. Out of all the people waiting for the angel...

Reading: John 1:43-51 'No Deceit! Please' "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" During this time, common conversations among the Jewish people were focused on the arrival of the promise, "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL", which tr...