Ironworks

Starting today is the 56th annual Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship. This year's theme is, “Who Is Wise.” This is a time that my family and I greatly look forward to each year and this is no different. I thought about the theme and it made me contemplate that very valid question that composes it, who is wise?  In many cases, we might look at our modern era and consider all of our advances in education, technology, and medicine and say there might be more intelligence in today’s society than at any other time in history. However, it does not take much research to show there are not many wise individuals today regardless of their educational acumen. So if we lack wisdom in this world today, what is the reliable source to find it?  The prophet Hosea wrote, “Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them, but transgressors shall fall therein” (Hosea 14:9). If we want to be

Friedreich Nietzsche, the 19th-century German philosopher wondered what the world would be like if Jesus had never been born. This man greatly opposed “Christianity” because of all the horrors that have been committed under the guise of Christianity. He cited things like the Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades. As we know, those heinous acts were committed by men who did not know Christ, but he brings up an interesting thought. What if Jesus had never been born?  If Jesus had never been born, first and foremost, there would be no reason to assemble on the Lord’s Day. We would not be Christians if not for Christ. Perhaps we would still be under Moses as Jews, if we are really optimistic. However, the reality is that most of us, being Gentiles, would likely worship some idols. Jesus made it possible for all to live eternally (John 3:16). Jesus is the way that those who were far off are made near by His blood (cf. Eph 2:13). He made peace between those driven apart, reconciling them to

          A United States senator recently started a book tour that was titled, “It’s Okay To Be Angry at Capitalism.” That is fine. Everyone can have their own political views. The first amendment of the United States allows for such beliefs. It even allows such a senator to sell tickets to the aforementioned tickets for $35 to $95 each. It should be evident that there is a great deal of hypocrisy with Marxism.            Inconsistency is to be expected with broken systems in a broken world. However, when one acts like a system is so bad and writes a book about how the system is so evil, you would expect that individual to avoid the great evils of that system that he alleges anger with. Can you imagine a brother in Christ writing about how evil Satan is and then using Satan’s tools to further his own name and personal riches?           It’s okay to be angry with Satan! I, for one, am very angry with Satan, very vocally as you can attest to. We, the body of Christ, are angry with Satan

  “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of thee in my supplications, night and day longing to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.”  2 Timothy 1:3-5             What do you think about when you think of the term legacy? You may think of historical figures in this nation. You may think about different organizations that have stood the test of time. What do you think of when you think about yourself? Do you associate this word with your life? This is certainly a struggle for many as they go through life and make decisions. Sometimes this struggle is more often associated with failure than success. This can lead us to question just what kind of legacy we might leave.             I write to you to call to mind the only legacy that eternally m