Searching out Nuggets from the Old Covenant
One of the exciting and rewarding aspects of studying the Word of God is discovering wonderful truths tucked away where you would never expect to find them. I believe the Lord truly delights in...
Author: Dr. F. Stoner Clark
Never Give Up the Land
They abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns. (1 Sam 31:7 NLT) Back in the 1960’s and early ‘70’s, the United States was involved in a war...
On Becoming Real
“What is real?” asked the rabbit… “Real isn’t how you are made,’ said the Skin Horse. ‘It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not...
What’s In a Pile of Stones?
Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am, and I will come and bless you there. (Ex 20:24b NLT) When God called Abraham and created through him a people for...
The Elusiveness of God
(Elusive: hard to isolate or identify; not allowing for a clear perception) When I was a kid, way back in the last century, our neighborhood children would often play a game called “hide and...
From Galilee to Jerusalem
Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had...
Life After Revival: Where Do We Go from Here?
We are seeing some extraordinary things these days with the advent of revival coming out of Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. It is thrilling to read of the experiences of these students, as well...
The Awful Finality of the Gospel
(Awful: That strikes with awe; That fills with profound reverence; As the awful majesty of Jehovah.)Noah Webster 1828 It was April, 1945. The war in the European theater was rapidly drawing to a close...
Trusting God: No longer a matter of what He has done but rather of who He is
The Bible is filled throughout with admonitions to trust the Lord. Trust is one of the most foundational blocks upon which our relationships are built. Trust brings a predictability to relationships and enables other...
Religion, Ritual and Righteousness
Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, so the...
The Bush Is Still Burning
In Exodus chapter 3, we have the marvelous account of the burning bush which is not consumed. Even more marvelous than an inconsumable burning bush, is the account of God speaking with Moses as...
Lessons on the Way to Jerusalem
From the day Jesus was born, he was on a journey. He had an imperial commission from his father which set him on a course whose ultimate destination was Jerusalem. Intriguingly, Jesus’ journey actually...
“We have met the enemy and he is us”
The title of this article is borrowed from a Walt Kelly Pogo cartoon strip and simply implies that we can easily be our own worst enemy. Kelly’s statement is actually a parody on Admiral...
We the People
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of...
It’s Time to Build the Ark: Biblical Insights for the Days Ahead
Introduction (from the forthcoming book by this title) Noah is one of many in our biblical hall of faith whose life reflects an incredible trust in God accompanied by a commensurate obedience. Hebrews 11...
Where Do You Set the Bar?
“Raising the bar” has become a universal meme for establishing the level of competence or achievement that we would aspire to regardless of the area of expertise being pursued. No matter what it is...
The Self-Deception of the Deceivers; the Ultimate Deception
I wonder if you hate being lied to as much as I do. As far as my interactions and relationships go, it is hard to think of something that galls me more than being...
Lessons from the Wall
Jean Paul Sartre once wrote a short story encapsulating the incarcerated lives of three anarchists during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). He entitled his story, “The Wall.” In this story you are challenged to...
Ascending into the Presence of God
The Psalms (songs) of ascent, Psalms 120-134, have drawn me into their mystique for some time now. I think this is partly because these Psalms invite you to use your holy imagination and enter...
The Incorruptible Patience of God
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5 NKJV) I want to demonstrate from Scripture a monumental truth that I...
A House Church Primer: Recovering Biblical Principles in the Wake of Covid
Likewise greet the church that is in their (Priscilla and Aquila) house, Rom 16:5 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house, Col 4:15 And...
Searching for a Christian Response to Prepping
(Included in this article are two chapters from the author’s book, Searching for a Christian Response to Prepping. The intent here is to encourage and stimulate believers to prayerfully assess their attitude toward and...
Seizing Your Destiny in Christ
As you look out over the political and circumstantial landscape these days, do you ever have the gut feeling that things are transpiring around you that seem beyond your control? Are you bothered by...
Flirting with Deception
The prevalence of deception in our world today is analogous to a fish swimming in toxic water. The fish has to process that water through its gills extracting the life sustaining oxygen while passing...
Rediscovering Oneness in a Divisive World
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them…The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with...
Liberty vs Safety
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Euripides (484-408...
Define Normal, Part 2
I don’t believe any reasonable, thinking person today really wants to go where the powers that be are attempting to lead us. Globalism has always been proffered as a win-win scenario. It supposedly would...
Define Normal, Part 1
There is an interesting psychological phenomenon which seems to activate whenever we are assailed with chaotic times and circumstances which persist for a protracted period. It is our habit to take solace and refuge...
A Critical Evaluation of the “Rapture” Doctrine: Part 4
In choosing to be all in for Christ with the willingness to endure whatever that choice entails, one must also faithfully contemplate the full reality of the commensurate preparation necessary to be successful in...
A Critical Evaluation of the “Rapture” Doctrine: Part 3
I recently came across an interesting find while reading the works of Bill Britton, one of my favorite authors. It is a pretty safe assumption that most Assembly of God churches teach the escape...
A Critical Evaluation of the “Rapture” Doctrine: Part 2
The feasts of Israel also foreshadow the spiritual reality of the full stature life in Christ, the inheritance he died to give us. Although there were seven festivals or feasts prescribed for Israel, they...
A Critical Evaluation of the “Rapture” Doctrine: Part 1
In this article I want to offer a critical (exercising or involving careful judgment or judicious evaluation) evaluation of the doctrine of the church’s “rapture” as dogmatically taught and embraced by most evangelical, full...
Unrequited Truth
In a recent post I argued that our desire to acquire and know absolute truth must meet or even exceed Bartimeaus’ desire to receive his natural sight. In all actuality, unadulterated truth is the...
It’s Time to Possess the Land…
They made us many promises, more than I can remember. But they kept but one—They promised to take our land…and they took it. Chief Red Cloud – Sioux The history of the United States...
A Way Through the Sea…
Your road led through the sea, Your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there. Psalm 77:19 NLT Probably the most difficult challenge to our faith since the onset of...
Prime Time with God
As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the...
I Want to See!
Have you ever noticed in Scripture how often within the main narrative being presented another story pops up and appears to take precedence in the flow of things? Take for example the account of...
Choosing Up Sides: What Really Counts
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28 NKJV “When the killing starts, make...
Celebrating the Providence of God
One of the strongest motivations in a person’s life—possibly right next to self-preservation—is the desire to order or control the events of one’s own life. Typically we tend to gravitate toward order and predictability...
Uncovering Unbiblical Christianity
How would you feel if you were sincerely participating in a contest, playing by the rules established by the sponsors, only to discover at the conclusion that you were disqualified from your just rewards...
Living in the Age of Deception: What’s the Answer?
“Oh! What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” Sir Walter Scott. There is an interesting characteristic of human nature that I believe we would agree is universally supported—literally everyone...
Confession: Breaking Through to Ultimate Victory
In the spirit of manufacturers today who set forth their products anticipating potential misuse or abuse of their products, I offer my own disclaimer with this article—not for the spiritually squeamish or faint of...
Ride, Boldly Ride
What does it mean to you when you hear someone say, “It’s the eleventh hour”? For most this is a calling of attention to the state of time for some given set of circumstances...
Coping with Inveterate Frustration
Does it have to culminate in a time-bomb? Be honest. As you assimilate the daily fare of what passes today for news and surf the Internet for greater clarification, insight and temerity of reporting...
Living a Compelling Life
They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 NLT Luke’s account of Jesus’ resurrection and...
An Inconvenient Reality
What do you do when the truth no longer fits the narrative you’ve been supporting? What do you do when you have been patting a story on its head for years—purporting to represent the...
Savorless Salt: Considering the Consequences
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be...
Words of Life
Do you long to find a deep sense of inner peace and well-being that transcends anything this material world has to offer? If so, you are not alone in this desire. After many years...
The Imperativeness of the Church
There is a question—the asking of which—has been growing in frequency over the past few years and is deserving of serious consideration. Many sincere believers are in increasing measure pondering the relevancy and legitimacy...
How Do You Spell “Chruch?” Part 4
We closed Part 3 of this series with what I consider Jesus’ definition of “church.” For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them...
How Do You Spell “Chruch”? Pt 3
In trying to understand the true biblical meaning and significance of the church, we have been attempting to see the present structure and function of the church through the eyes of a time-traveling 1st...
How Do You Spell “Chruch” – Part 2
Properly defining the church in a biblically, historically and theologically correct manner is critically essential to having the ability to participate in and walk out God’s eternal purpose. From Israel’s inception with the calling...
How Do You Spell “Chruch” – Part 1
In the 1970’s there was a popular commercial for an antacid which simply posed the question, “How do you spell relief?” It was a clever commercial in that the answer being elicited had nothing...
Thy Kingdom Come…
Most believers are intimately familiar with this portion of Scripture that makes up a portion of what the church refers to as “The Lord’s Prayer.” It is part of the catechism of most churches...
The Church’s Last Frontier – Part 2
For me, probably the most pertinent Scripture regarding unity is Psalm 133. This passage is contextually and historically rich and deals succinctly with the meta-narrative of God and his eternal purpose for man. Behold,...
The Church’s Last Frontier – Part 1
There is an interesting phenomenon in the church today. If one were to take an extensive poll among Christians across denominational lines and even among both Protestants and Roman Catholics, there would be a...
The Sound of Arms, the Tramp of Feet…
(The following is excerpted from the new ebook, Searching for a Christian Response to Prepping by D. F. Stoner Clark I would like to address at this point a highly charged and controversial aspect...
Provoking God: The Unconscious Sin of Believers
The dictionary defines “provoke” thusly: to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex; to stir up, arouse, call forth or incite. What sane believer with even a modicum of self-awareness would ever consider any attitude, speech...
The Mark of a Leader
Num 11:29 – But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit upon them all!” One of...
Come and Follow
What did Jesus Mean When He Said, “Come and Follow”? If you think there is a simple answer to this question, I am going to surmise that you have not thoroughly vetted the biblical...
The Sennacherib Challenge
“What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power”(Is 36:20 NLT). These same biblical words are being spit into the faces of all sincere believers today who...
How Can We Survive – Part 2
How Can We Survive? Part 2 I am amazed! I am astounded! I have just been following some of the news coming out of our Capital regarding Congress’ decision to continue the Bush era...
How Can We Survive – Part 1
How Can We Survive Part 1 How would you describe people who, when told perilous conditions are imminent, choose to continue their present course and activity as if nothing had been said? You would...
Is Church Renewal a Viable Option?
It is always dangerous to base an argument on an assumption—particularly one that you believe most readers would also hold to be true. In this case, the assumption would be that the church in...
Recovering the Priesthood of Believers
Scripture teaches that Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. He is going to bring his defeat of Satan at Calvary to full manifestation, overcome all evil and establish his...
