Posts from 2018

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬) I just do not like to be influenced by current events or create lists, but I am going to do both today.  I am not going to push my perspective of the Supreme Court nomination upon you.  What I want to do is what I always strive to do, relate what the Bible clearly reveals.  And the Bible has much to…

All of Creation sings praises to our God!  In a very real sense, all Creation sings to His Glory.  Elisa, the boys, and I are about to go out into the wildness for a few days and take in some of the best of His work, Appalachia.  I want to encourage each of you fully to ask Him for the ability to know His Glory in every circumstance and in every leaf that changes color…

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬) Just being honest, at times I look at Jesus’ commands, the Apostles’ directives, and the continuance of the 10 Commandments and feel overwhelmed.  I know I am not alone.  Few of us really…

“So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭9:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬) I like to get up early for Bible study, to meditate on the Word of God before the sun comes up.  Of course, being up does not always mean being awake, alert.  It is not uncommon for me to be unable to articulate intelligently about anything I read on any given morning.…

“for our God is a consuming fire.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:29‬ ‭ESV‬‬) Last week we gave Jaxson $20 for the school book fair.  I sent him with two clear instructions: 1. Buy at least one chapter book 2. Spend no more than $5 on posters and pens.  Well, he did buy one chapter book, but spent $13 on posters and pens.  At eight years old this is not really a big deal, but is it not…

“for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬) God Himself has authority over our entire being.  He retains Authority over us and the Freedom to work in us as he sees fit.  It is this reality that we so often kick against, yet it is this that is simply wonderful to understand.  We must know that the influence of our sin,…

“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”(‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

“So there was much joy in that city.”(‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬)Our church is right in the middle of Vacation Bible School and there has been much joy at Emmanuel Baptist.  We are very much blessed.  So I want to say something that I desire to be encouraging: joy comes only from the Glory of God and that is a wonderful thing.Grace is much more than forgiving sinners, it is the…

“But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬) I am sure most of you reading this have heard me say something to this extent, “the Lutz house serves no mortal master, only Jehovah”.  I am, of course, borrowing and paraphrasing a Greek adventurer named Xenophon.…

It would be an understatement to say that the Apostle Paul has gained one of the largest stages in the world.  Jesus is the rock and our foundation, but Paul – under inspiration of the Spirit – built upon that Rock the very fundamentals of our shared faith.  His letters to churches are very much the structure of our lives in Christ.  Brilliant scholars have…