Building on the Foundation

  At first glance, it appears as though God’s Word says little about the Feast of Pentecost. We do find four different names for it in Scripture: the Feast of Weeks (Ex. 34:22), the Feast of Harvest (Ex. 23:16), the day of the firstfruits (Num. 28:26), and Pentecost (Acts 2:1). Yet observances of this day are seldom mentioned in Scripture by name. Only once, in fact. Only one time, in all of Scripture, are we specifically told that something happened on Pentecost, and that’s in Acts 2:1-4: 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. However, there ARE several other Pentecost observances detailed in Scriptu

  If you grew up in the industrialized world, especially in the United States, during the 1960s, ‘70s, or ‘80s, then you probably don’t remember seeing many obese people back then. You probably remember most children playing outside and being active during the evenings, weekends, and summers. You probably remember your mothers making home-cooked meals largely from scratch. Video games and TV channels were few. The Internet didn’t exist yet. There was no YouTube, Netflix, or Hulu. Fast food and other forms of “junk food” were occasional treats, not daily staples. In short, people of past generations tended to be more active and eat healthier food than those of today. From 1960 to 1980, the US obesity rate hovered around 15% or below. Today, it’s north of 42% — nearly triple! Also today, the biggest cause of death each year in the US is heart disease — largely a result of obesity. But that’s not all. Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death, diabetes the eighth, and kidney disease th

  Who do you associate with? What kind of people are your closest friends? Aside from literal siblings, who do you consider to be your brothers and sisters? The answer to these questions matters a great deal.  Proverbs 12:26 tells us: “ The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray .” And in 1 Corinthians 15:33: “ Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits .” All this is very true in regards to our co-workers, neighbors and friends, and should be dutifully considered when making or retaining friends, but these basic truths and biblical guidelines are even more important when it comes to our spiritual family.   Proverbs 18:24 “ A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother .” Who do you consider to be your spiritual brothers and sisters? Is it the person who believes there is a Creator?  Is it the person who has a bumper sticker that says “I ❤️ Jesus,” or the one who you