The tree of life first appears in Scripture at the very beginning.  “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1).  Later we read in Exodus 20:11, “For in six days the LORD made the  heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day…”  Therefore, the tree of life was part of the creation in that first week.

Our daughter Aubri and her family live in Mayfield, KY.  They were there when the tornado ripped through the downtown destroying everything in its path.  We have been there many times since that night of December 10, 2021.  It is still an eerie sight to see the lasting effects of that powerful force of nature.

Monday mornings roll around every week. I wonder how many people will be sitting in their offices punctuating their work with yawns. How many of them will be pinching themselves trying to stay awake? Has there been a run on toothpicks from the dining area?

The Greek word whose primary meaning is “worship” is “proskuneo”. This word means, “to worship, to bow down, to prostrate oneself”. Of interest is the derivation of this compound word. It comes from “pros – against” and, likely, “kuon – dog”. Oddly, this fits well. This word signals one who comes before God “to kiss toward Him, like a dog licking his master’s hand”. Therefore, the meanings, “to fawn or crouch to, to fall face down prostrate in adoration, a physical act of lowering oneself in humble submission with an attitude of utmost adoration or respect.” 

We have all (or at least most everyone) experienced weddings and receptions.  The trend for a number of years is for everyone to gather in the reception area and wait for the wedding party to arrive.  At some point, they all line up and are announced into the reception hall with fanfare and cheering.  Finally, the bride and groom are announced and the entire room stands to honor the newly married couple!

“Wisdom is knowing what to do.  Skill is knowing how to do it. Virtue is doing it.”
 
In previous lessons, you have learned about yourself:  your origin, your duty to God, God’s love for you, and what you must do to obey God and become His child.  But, this is not the end.  It is the beginning.  You have a life to live here before you live with God. 
 
You may say, “I have heard, believed, repented, confessed Christ as Lord, and been baptized; now, what do I do?”  There is life after baptism.  Jesus called baptism a new birth (John 3).  A Christian is a newborn baby.  Our final lesson includes four actions necessary for faithfulness to God.

What does it mean to have real life?  For some people, real life is defined by how many possessions they have.  Others define life by the size of their financial portfolio.  Still others use their success and status as the determination of real life.  However, each funeral is a testament to the futility of using any of these things as a way of defining real life.

Many of us spend more of our daily lives working than any other single activity. This gives us a great opportunity to show Christ in our lives to our coworkers, our supervisors, and others with whom we interact in the workplace.  The Bible gives clear guidance to both employers and employees about how they should act in the workplace.

My mission trip to Guyana 2012 was amazing!  I was concerned about malaria, dingy fever, and poisonous snakes.  None of them ever threatened me or attached themselves to me.  Those were probably the greatest fears that my family had for me.  But, they all turned out to be non-issues.

I have learned about urgency on many different occasions.  I found an article that I had written 10 years ago after an elder’s meeting that began with these words. “The time is 12:21 am.  We have just finished an elders’ meeting.  I have to leave in the morning at 8:00 and I still have not written a bulletin article.  It is now urgent that I sit down and write the article.  I did not get it done earlier and now I am on the hook.  This is not a new phenomenon in my life.  I did this with almost paper I ever wrote.  And, I do it with just about every project I ever undertake.”

“The thing that counts is not what we could do but what we actually do.”  This question assumes that you have made a decision to begin the journey that will place you in a proper relationship with God.  It recognizes God as the proper authority and it shows your submission to that authority.

We have a tradition at our preschool every Thursday morning.  After our singing and Bible story time, one of the classes gets to help me put the communion table back in its proper place.  We move it each week so we can have activity singing that we all enjoy!  I don’t really remember how it started.  But, each class looks so forward to doing it.  It is such a small thing but kids really do get into such small things.  So, they all get on the sides and end of the table while I get on the end to pull it into place.

We cannot talk about Bible characters within the topic of failure without considering Peter.  His moments of failure are well-known and oft-studied.  He is the poster child for moments of failure.  How many of his failures can you name quickly?  Consider Peter’s moments of failure.  How do you compare?

“If the Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise,” on Sunday morning, we are going to talk about 10 examples of “one-liners” about God. One of them was in the previous sentence—I’m sure you can figure out what it was. The one that serves as the title for this article is where I want to focus- “If God is Your Co-Pilot, Swap Seats!” 

“There is no point in trying to carry the ball until you learn where the goal is.”
 
It is now time to summarize the previous lessons.  It is important that we believe and understand what we’ve studied.  Our reason for this comes from the Bible:
 
“Test all things:  hold fast what is good.” (I Thessalonians 5:21).
 
The truth on any subject does not fear honest evaluation for truth will stand any test.  So, I wonder:  When can I Start?  I can start my spiritual journey when I understand the questions we have discussed.

When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you king for a day, just go to the mirror and look at yourself, and see what that man has to say.
 
For it isn't your father or mother or wife, who judgment upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life is the one staring back from the glass.
 
Some people may think you a straight-shootin' chum and call you a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you're only a bum if you can't look him straight in the eye.
 
He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he's with you clear up to the end.
And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test, if the man in the glass is your friend.
 
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years and get pats on the back as you pass.  But your final reward will be heartache and tears if you've cheated the man in the glass.

“You made a bad decision.”  That’s what my brother-in-law and sister-in-law said to their son James after he did that very thing in his young life.  The discipline that followed his bad decision was intended to help him understand what he had done and what were the effects of his actions.  That’s a really good lesson to learn at such a young age. 

In this lesson, we will consider the Old Testament book of Jonah that depicts an incident in the life of the book’s namesake.  We will learn from him the key to living a worthwhile life.
 
Happiness comes along in the natural procession of life.  Those who establish a worthwhile lifestyle and pursue it find happiness in life.  You might then ask, “What is a worthwhile lifestyle?”  Those who seem to be most happy are those who have attained a right relationship with the God of the universe, and the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

We are to be edified and lifted up by assembling in God's presence.  We are to be taught from God’s Word in its completeness and purity.  God’s word lifts our hearts and spirits to greater heights each time we do this, thus we go from the milk to the meat of the Word, in which we stand.  Those who are led by every wind of change and every strange sound coming from the pulpits today will reap a bitter harvest, if they do not examine every word and spirit of preachers, teachers, and themselves, to make sure that they are from and led by the Word of God. (Psalms 26:2, Acts 17:10-11, 1John 4:1 2 Cor 13:5).

In Genesis 22, we read where God commanded Abraham to “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2 ESV).  The first time I read this scripture as a child, I probably thought, “Boy, I’m glad God never told my dad to do that to me.  As a father, however, EVERY TIME I read this scripture, I think “Boy, I’m glad God hasn’t asked me to do that.”  I imagine every parent reading this scripture has had the same thought.