BibleVersity

Today's post is a repost of the most popular post of 2013. "Thank you" to each of you that have read, commented, shared, or have otherwise been encouraged in your faith. I look forward to helping you on your spiritual journey for many more years, and pray for God's blessings on each of you! - Pastor Kyle "Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set." - Prov. 22:28 (NASB)    As I think about it, this verse seems especially appropriate for our world today. We do not think about it too much, but our world is filled with boundaries. By definition, boundaries perform one of two important tasks. First, they keep us from something potentially dangerous. Think of a zoo. There are some pretty amazing creatures to see there, many of which are extremely dangerous to us. However, because of the barriers erected, we can observe wolves from a safe location. Barriers also keep things out. Again think of the zoo. Imagine sitting down with your fa

This week marks one year that I have been posting Biblical insights online. "Thank you" to each of you that have read, commented, shared, or have otherwise been encouraged in your faith. As a way of commemorating the first year, I have decided to post some of the most popular posts of 2013, chosen by your interactions with them. I look forward to many more years of encouraging and equipping believers in the Word. "… And Jesus said to him, 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes.'" (Mark 9:14-29, emph. v.23, NASB)    The issues of faith and prayer intersect in the passage of Scripture in such a transparent way that it is difficult to find another passage like it in Scripture. Notice how the story plays out. First, the father brings his demon-possessed son to the disciples, who are unsuccessful in bringing relief. He then brings him to Jesus, who has words of rebuke for both the disciples and the father. However, Jesus has no

This week marks one year that I have been posting Biblical insights online. "Thank you" to each of you that have read, commented, shared, or have otherwise been encouraged in your faith. As a way of commemorating the first year, I have decided to post some of the most popular posts of 2013, chosen by your interactions with them. I look forward to many more years of encouraging and equipping believers in the Word. "… and shall let the live bird go free over the open field." - Lev. 14:7 (NASB)    Leviticus records that two birds were brought for the one who wanted to be made ceremonially clean. The unclean person (leper or other) would bring the two birds, one of which would be killed over the clay pot of fresh water. The live bird is dipped in the mixture of water, blood, along with the cedar wood, hyssop (a plant), and a scarlet thread. The priest would take these and sprinkle the unclean person, making them ceremonially clean. At this point a man is clean,

This week marks one year that I have been posting Biblical insights online. "Thank you" to each of you that have read, commented, shared, or have otherwise been encouraged in your faith. As a way of commemorating the first year, I have decided to post some of the most popular posts of 2013, chosen by your interactions with them. I look forward to many more years of encouraging and equipping believers in the Word.     "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB)    How many times have you heard someone say about a difficult situation, "God will give you a way out?" Each of us encounter trials (temptations) on a regular basis. Although we do not enjoy them, life is unfortunately filled with them. However, God uses trial

  "...cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also." - Matthew 23:26 (ASV)     Most cars today have an ingenious tool built into their brake systems. As time goes on, the pads on the brake wear down, and will eventually they will begin to squeal. This is a sound that we all are familiar with. Sometimes it hurts your ears, and other times it makes your skin crawl like when running your fingernails across a chalkboard. Believe it or not, that is precisely what your brakes are suppose to do. The squealing is not the problem, but it does let you know that it is time to act before their is a problem. If the squealing is not dealt with, the squeal itself will become part of the problem.    In the passage above Jesus is talking rather sternly to the Pharisees. Pharisees were hypocritical religious leaders who enjoyed pointing out the faults of others, but were often more evil than those they criticized. He tells the

"And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind, and God saw that it was Good." - (Genesis 1:21, NASB)  I do not usually place disclaimers at the beginning of posts, but this one is needed. I hope I can accurately present what is in my heart. I am not concerned with your understanding near as much as I am with my presentation.    God set a divine order in place in Genesis: things will produce after their kind. It means that bacteria does not produce fish, fish do not produce crocodiles, crocodiles do not produce monkeys, and monkeys do not produce humans. This is also true in the plant kingdom, where we find apple trees producing apples, and not oranges. Within creation, each produces after its kind. A pattern emerges:  plant produces plant, animal produces animal, man produces man. "After its kind."    Several months ago as I was praying in