Philip, one of the Seven (Acts 6:1-7) was a layman 'full of faith and the Holy Spirit' (you will notice that he is coupled with Stephen, while the other 5 are grouped together, v.5). He was an administer of compassionate care for widows. In Acts 8 we see his ministry change, as he leads the Samaritan revival and then introduces an Ethiopian eunuch to Jesus and baptizes him into the faith, the Chur...  Read More

"Vindicate me, Lord,because I have lived with integrityand have trusted in the Lord without wavering.Test me, Lord, and try me;examine my heart and mind.For your faithful love guides me,and I live by your truth." (Psalm 26:1-3, CSB)Everything about Paul's farewell communication with the Ephesians bears out these words. In essence Paul is saying, "I have lived out the truth I proclaim for the sake ...  Read More

At 4:20 a.m. our neighbor's door slammed. After he/she returned from getting coffee (presumably), on went the TV at a volume we could hear and then the incessant vibration of the phone started, making returning to sleep impossible. Rather than stew, I decided to pray. Don't get me wrong, stewing was my default. Since it was early, even for me, my prayer started with something I was reminded to do ...  Read More

Familiar words start the Psalm that encompasses the passion of Jesus Christ (Psalm 22): "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Just this passage of Scripture alone would be enough to convince a true seeker of the valid claim of Jesus, God the Son, Messiah: "I AM." The prophetic words at the conclusion, we see fulfilled in Acts 19 and, still today."Their descendants will serve him; the next ge...  Read More

Pretenders are all around us. The account of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19:11-20 has always fascinated me...and reminded me that 'pretending' is very dangerous. Outside pretenders will always be there. However, the right kind of 'fear of God' was put into the hearts of the Ephesian Christians after they witnessed the scattering sons, naked and humiliated. It was then that they realized that p...  Read More

'...for I have many in this city' (Acts 18:10)The temptation to believe we are all alone may plague us when we are going through adversity nd open opposition. Just a reminder that the One Who has promised: "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) will often make His presence known through other persons. Again, these will often be able to identify with us in the challenges we face wit...  Read More