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7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. (1 John 4:7-9) God's very nature, God's essence and being, is love. A God who is love will always choose loving relationship with us and all of creation. It is out of love that God sent Jesus into the world-fo...
Irrespective of personal beliefs, many people feel that Christmas has become too commercialized and too secularized. Today, many observe the holy day of the Christ Mass without any acknowledgment of Christ at all. More attention is focused on parties, presents and television specials without any reverence for the main focus of Christmas, namely, the incarnation of our Lord, and His taking on of our flesh to save us. Santa Claus gets more attention than Jesus. Perhaps, however, this problem can begin to be corrected by understanding where the...
By Stephen D. Moon Revelation/Hazon 22:7 - “See, I am coming speedily! Blessed is he who guards the words of the prophecy of this book.” To guard is one who keeps watch to prevent loss over something of value; a state of vigilance; preparedness. A good thought-life is one who brings every thought into captivity of the Messiah. It is in the thought-life the journey battles are won or not. Knowing that our minds, heart and bodies are the dwelling place, the intention is that we guard the words of prophecy, not by our own strength but by the vir...
Growing up in Montana, I remember in grade school that there are two items that you must never forget: don’t lie (“I give you my word”) and respect a person’s reputation (do not damage it). The Bible describes the seriousness of dishonesty. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Lying is the most direct offense against the truth. Lying is a sin that originates from the devil, Satan, who is “the father of all lies” (John 8:44). I reference the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) paragraph numbers as I find no better expla...
“I believe; help my unbelief.” Can’t Christians so often relate to this statement? Mark 9:14-29 describes a father of a boy possessed by an evil spirit. He asked Jesus for help, to which Jesus told him that anything was possible for those who believe. The man responded, “I believe; help my unbelief.” After this, Jesus healed the boy. This is a miraculous story of faith and healing. For some however, it often seems as though God doesn’t answer our prayers. The apostle Paul himself struggled w...
I was thinkin' the other day how well the wife and I got along spiritually. We both agree that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, that the Bible is the ultimate truth and God inspired. No if, ands, buts or maybes. The only Church she attended as a young girl was Methodist. And I was raised Catholic. There will be no argument in this house about what denomination is right and which one wrong. From what I can see there's good in all and some bad in all. We're dealin' with human beings here....
To understand God it is important to know some things about God. For example, it is important to know that God is omniscient. This is particularly important to understand the seeming contradiction between the verse in 2 Peter 3:9, which says, “God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but desiring all to come to repentance,” and the verse in Romans 8:30, which says, “Those he predestined, he also called.” Since the dictionary definition of “predestined” is defined as, “Predetermined by divine will or fate,” many might understan...
On Monday, Oct. 31, we will again celebrate Halloween. A western tradition that goes back to pre-Christian times. The pre-Christian celebration was celebrated Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. As was the Church’s tradition, when a previously pagan people became Christian, a Christian holiday was placed on a sacred date. Hence, Pope Gregory II designed Nov. 1 as a time to honor the Saints of the Church, particularly the martyrs and the faithfully departed. The evening before All Saints Day was know as All Hallows Eve (Oct. 31). Because the pagan celebration w...
Leon Kauffman, Condon Community Church We live in a world that seems increasingly contentious. In today’s world, it would seem that enemies are everywhere to be had. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount makes it clear that for believer there is a high bar in the attitude toward those who might be enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44) Jesus goes on to give a reason for this command saying in verse 45...
"Rejoice in the Lord, always. Again, I say rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) What is the point of our existence? People often wrestle with this kind of question or something like it. The Westminster Confession, one of the official Confessions of my denomination (written in the 1640s) opens with this question: What is the chief end of man? In more contemporary language we might ask: What is the ultimate purpose, goal or hope of humanity? The answer from Westminster: to glorify God and enjoy God...
What does it mean to serve without expecting anything in return? As we call ourselves Christians, literally "little Christ," we should be modeling the behavior of Christ. We see in Mark 10:45 just what Jesus had to say about service, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus left his heavenly throne to serve us and that is mind-boggling. But that he served us even to the point of dying on the cross for us is nearly...
Back when I was a lad and my hound dog was a pup, Saturday mornings usually found me walk'n up that dirt road that led to the only TV in the neighborhood. Don't ya see it was there in that old homestead owned by one of the best neighbors on the planet word has it they were good Catholic folks. Anyway, several of us young'uns would invade their hospitality just in time to see Roy Rogers and Trigger get the bad guys. Sometimes his wife Dale joined in the chase on Buttermilk the buckskin. As I...
For those of us that would call ourselves "Christian" we must reconcile ourselves to sin. Now I understand that there are "Christians" that do not believe in the "inerrancy of Scripture." The problem with that is that if Scripture is not inerrant, we are left with no solid truths or guidelines for our lives. We are free to pick and to choose those things from God's Word which best match up with our own thinking. There are consequences to this line of reasoning as pointed out in the book of...
1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” You are in one of two jurisdictions, whether you know it or not, there is only one of two choices - the power of darkness/deception or the marvelous Light. The one sits over his kingdom and indeed is a professional puppet master. He, the evil one, is so good at pulling strings that the puppet does not even know that he is a puppet wit...
Each article I have been walking through the Lord's Prayer phrase by phrase. Rather than a rote prayer, the Lord's Prayer is an outline of how we can learn how to pray, on our own, following the example of Jesus Christ. Anytime you visit the ocean, there are always warning signs before entering the beach. Especially on the West coast there are signs warning against what are called "sneaker waves." A sneaker wave is one that is unusually larger or more powerful than the normal surf that is...
It’s mid-summer and peak vacation time in the scenic and majestic Seeley-Swan Valley. Every summer there’s a mass migration of visitors and adventurers on the highway, on the trails and in the local shops. Even when gas prices are high and lodging costs exorbitant, people are vacationing across the land. And why, one might wonder, is that? Certainly, relief from COVID travel restraints is part of it. But it’s not new, the yearning to travel, to break away from routine, to be free and spontaneous, to discover new places, people, things and t...
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prepares to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Pioneer Day July 24 this year. We need to recognize that in addition to the sacrifices of the early pioneers (Ancestors), there are many modern-day pioneers around the globe who have built the Church in their nations or in their families. We need to recognize and remember the love and sacrifices that the present-day pioneers have done and are doing to help all of us live Christ's law. The law of love...
As I set to compose this article, I am also considering the devastating news from a dear beloved friend who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. One of the most difficult questions any pastor can be asked is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I still remember the phone call from my niece to inform me that my only sister had been called home due to ALS. I recall the agony in her voice when she said, “Uncle Bruce you are a pastor. Please tell me why God allowed my mother to suffer this way?” There are theological answers,...
The Source and Summit of the Catholic Faith is the Holy Eucharist from Scripture on the Lord's Supper when Jesus blessed and broke the bread and said, "...eat. This is my body." Taking the chalice Jesus said, "Drink....this is my blood..." (Matthew 26:26-30). Jesus said, "...my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink" (John 6:22-[55]-71). In John 6:66, many disciples thought Jesus' saying was hard, so they walked no more with Him. Salvation is a gift for those with faith who cooperate...
“Disaster comes upon disaster; rumor follows rumor; they shall keep seeking a vision from the prophet; instruction shall perish from the priest and counsel from the elders.” (Ezekiel 7:26) During a recent Bible study, someone shared a rumor about me that was going around among church people in the community. As one can imagine, all sorts of feelings came forth: hurt, anger, sadness, desire for vindication and truth, as this sort of rumor could be damaging to one’s credibility. Ultimately, the m...
“Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:3 In William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” Lady Macbeth, being accomplice to the murder of King Duncan, soon begins to feel the repercussions of her deeds. After washing the blood from her hands, she begins to imagine that it stains her hands still, crying not only her famous curse against its spot, but also, “... Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” An oft overlooked but very telling line by her physician arguably spe...
Have you ever had these moments in your life where you find yourself pleading and begging to understand why you are downcast? Well the Psalmist who wrote Psalms 42 definitely has. I often find myself in seasons of my life where I become downcast and heavy laden but as a believer in Christ, shouldn't I be filled with this overwhelming joy all the time? Yes! And no...Allow me to explain why. Joy is a long-term expression of gratitude and elation. The presence of despair and downcast is not somethi...
“I say then: walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you are not to do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16-17. There’s the flesh/old man and the Spirit/new man. The old man is of great hindrance to our journey/walk. No matter how much sincere energy he spends improving the old man, he is still enmity against Yahuah. The lust of the flesh/old man will seek the easy way and becomes an exper...
Have you ever thought that mediocrity disturbs God? Mediocre, according to Webster’s dictionary, is derived from a Latin word meaning literally “halfway to the top.” So, we only are going halfway when we had planned to go all the way. I am afraid that most of us are content with mediocre obedience to God in our daily lives. We are satisfied merely to keep our nose clean and passively avoid the “greater sins” of the world (there is no difference in sins to God). So, not much effort goes into our obedience to God on a daily basis. God doesn’t i...
Perhaps some of you remember Aleksandr Solzenitsyn the Christian writer from Russia who was stuck in prison for years for speaking out against the evil Soviet system? They finally took away his citizenship and he came to America. Although late in life, in spite of the corrupt Soviet system, he still loved his homeland. He became friends with Putin and returned to Moscow, Russia and died there. In 1978 Harvard gave him an honorary degree in literature. He gave the commencement address--not...
