Steven Wales

HARD TO UNDERSTAND. 2 Peter 3:16.

My back hurts. My shoulders hurt. My arms hurt. I’m tired from swinging a heavy tool to remove a wet tile floor from a flooded house. It was not easy, but I got it done. Y’all understand hard work. I know you do. Sometimes a task seems insurmountable, but you simply have no choice. SoContinue reading “HARD TO UNDERSTAND. 2 Peter 3:16.”

Lost in the Forest Without a Flashlight. 1 John 1.

Have you ever been in a dark forest without a flashlight? I have. More than once I have found myself trudging cross-country (where there was no trail) on a dark, moonless night. It can be so dark. You end up walking with one hand in front of your face to block the spider webs, theirContinue reading “Lost in the Forest Without a Flashlight. 1 John 1.”

Be Faithful to the Basics: You Learn By Repetition. 2 Peter 1:12.

Photo from the Sault Star, Salt Ste. Marie, Ontario 1972. Every time I left the house as a little boy my mother said, “Be careful.” It was such a constant greeting that I interpreted it more as a salutation than actual advice. “Be careful” was her way of saying goodbye—or that’s what it seemed likeContinue reading “Be Faithful to the Basics: You Learn By Repetition. 2 Peter 1:12.”

Scoffers, Blasphemers, and Conspiracy Theorists. Jude 10, 18-19.

I know a man who recently divorced his wife. That may not sound unusual, but the two had been married over fifty years. They were grandparents and in their seventies. Why did they get divorced? Because Mrs. Divorce had recently become a more and more devoted follower of one of our presidential candidates. Mr. DivorceContinue reading “Scoffers, Blasphemers, and Conspiracy Theorists. Jude 10, 18-19.”

THIS IS NOT MELATONIN. Ezekiel 44:5; 2 Timothy 2:15.

Sometimes Bible reading is like mood music in a department store—humming along quietly in the background, but no one’s really listening. You may call your devotional a “Quiet Time,” but your mind should NOT be quiet—it should be buzzing with thoughts about what you’re reading. Consider how we sell Bibles. Are they surrounded by teaContinue reading “THIS IS NOT MELATONIN. Ezekiel 44:5; 2 Timothy 2:15.”

STUDY THE WORD. 2 Timothy 2:15.

My Facebook profile pic this week is a quotation from a great preacher: “You can live on froth, bubbles, and little wisps of badly understood theology until the pressure is on. But when the pressure is on, you will want to know what kind of God you are serving” —A.W. Tozer. I posted this forContinue reading “STUDY THE WORD. 2 Timothy 2:15.”

DO THE HEAVY LIFTING. 2 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:15.

Do you agree with these principles? –Yet, most Christians prefer sermons that skim the surface and never get deep. We get nervous when we hear words like “doctrine,” or “eschatology.” We want preachers to tell good stories and make us feel inspired, but we don’t want to think too much. We want to sing songsContinue reading “DO THE HEAVY LIFTING. 2 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:15.”

CHINA OR EVERYDAY? 2 Timothy 2:20-22.

One day at the home of my mother-in-law, we noticed she had stacked dozens of dishes on her kitchen counter. Apparently one of her grandchildren had asked for some dishes! The interesting thing about dishes is that they come in two types: “China” and “Everyday.” Lots of couples choose dishes for their wedding registry, andContinue reading “CHINA OR EVERYDAY? 2 Timothy 2:20-22.”

Give the Word the Benefit of the Doubt. 2 Timothy 2:15.

God saved you, right? He made you, loves you, forgives you, died for you, correct? No one loves you the way He loves you. And what tool does He give you to get through the daily challenges of life? His Word. His written record of truth and answers and solutions. It’s all in there: theContinue reading “Give the Word the Benefit of the Doubt. 2 Timothy 2:15.”