We hear about “social media influencers.” Most are young people with a talent for engaging an audience. Celebrities, including singers, actors, and athletes (so many soccer players!), top the lists, but even the highest ranks include four members of the Kardashian family—the family of OJ’s lawyer—who, like Paris Hilton, are merely “famous for being famous.”Continue reading “INFLUENCERS. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
INCENTIVE. 1 Corinthians 9:7-10.
Satan is the father of lies; one of the worst is COMMUNISM. Communism KILLS. Karl Marx blamed the world’s problems on class warfare: the rich have the capital (money) and keep the poor impoverished, jealous, and resentful. Marx invented COMMUNISM: everyone works, the government takes everything, and then hands out money in a way thatContinue reading “INCENTIVE. 1 Corinthians 9:7-10.”
HARD WORK IS THE RIGHT THING. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8, 10; 1 Thessalonians 4:11.
There is a notion that spiritual people should not involve themselves in hard work, but stay inside, keep their hands clean, think deep thoughts, and somehow make themselves more spiritual by doing less. That is ridiculous! Jesus had dirt under his fingernails. And a farmer’s tan. And scars on his hands from years of hardContinue reading “HARD WORK IS THE RIGHT THING. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8, 10; 1 Thessalonians 4:11.”
Cooking Thought for the Day. Revelation 3:14-22.
Have you ever put something like spaghetti in the microwave then sat down to eat it only to find it had cool spots in it? Isn’t that the worst—when you expect it to be hot and it’s lukewarm? Yuck. Jesus talks about Christians with lukewarm faith in Revelation 3:14-22: “To the angel of the churchContinue reading “Cooking Thought for the Day. Revelation 3:14-22.”
ROSE-COLORED GLASSES. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
When I was a child, John Conlee sang a song about perspective: “But these rose-colored glasses that I’m looking through, Show only the beauty, ‘cause they hide all the truth.” I remember asking, “What are rose-colored glasses?” Mama told me it means you don’t see the negatives. That is not a bad thing. If youContinue reading “ROSE-COLORED GLASSES. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.”
ECCLESIASTES Part 2: THE KEY TO GODLY ADULTHOOD IS TO RECOGNIZE HARD TRUTHS, BUT CHOOSE JOY AND SERVE GOD.
After the wisest man who ever lived (1 Kings 4:31) encourages adults to face hard truths and take life seriously, he adds the unexpected, “now lighten up.” It is as though Solomon says: Work hard, do what’s right, remember one day you will face judgment—and HAVE FUN! While living wisely, choose joy! The truth is,Continue reading “ECCLESIASTES Part 2: THE KEY TO GODLY ADULTHOOD IS TO RECOGNIZE HARD TRUTHS, BUT CHOOSE JOY AND SERVE GOD.”
ECCLESIASTES Part 1: A MESSAGE FOR ADULTS—WORK HARD, GO TO FUNERALS, BE SERIOUS.
Ecclesiastes is misunderstood because a few influential preachers have described it as cynical words from Solomon during a period in his life when he was not following God. However, Solomon encourages readers to worship and obey God nearly twenty times in twelve chapters. A better understanding is that this is a book for ADULTS. EcclesiastesContinue reading “ECCLESIASTES Part 1: A MESSAGE FOR ADULTS—WORK HARD, GO TO FUNERALS, BE SERIOUS.”
FOLLOWING GOD. 1 Thessalonians 5:24.
God called me to law school. I could not ignore that powerful voice: I knew it was Him and I felt His reassurance every day. I was excited but I knew it would be tough. A year later I was well into my first semester and challenges came fast and hot. A year after that,Continue reading “FOLLOWING GOD. 1 Thessalonians 5:24.”
ENDURE. 1 Thessalonians 3:13.
On November 3, 2022, during game five of the World Series, the announcers mentioned a throwback to my childhood. The Astros’ Ryan Pressly threw a pitch that hit catcher Martin Maldonado on the knee and bounced 60 feet, all the way back to the pitcher. “That looked like a Pitch-Back,” the announcer quipped. I lovedContinue reading “ENDURE. 1 Thessalonians 3:13.”
IMITATION: THE SIMPLEST WAY TO LEARN. 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14.
What is the simplest way to learn a skill? How do children learn to walk? To talk? Imitation. Monkey-see, monkey-do, right? It’s so easy a monkey could do it. In fact, monkeys are so good at imitating people, one of the expressions for a good imitation of another person is to “ape” someone. But don’tContinue reading “IMITATION: THE SIMPLEST WAY TO LEARN. 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14.”
Household Words: 