By Mike Peek

Nearly every time I open up Facebook of late I see a post or shared article about homosexual unions and the church. Everyone of these fit into 1 of 2 categories; effrontery or immortality. At the beginning of this trend I read a few, but when it became obvious as to what was occurring I stopped. I have had little to say myself on the subject, because I did not know how to address the issue in love. I know that effrontery is not the answer because effrontery is not love. Acting and speaking as if somehow we are better than the homosexual, because we are not guilty of the particular sin of homosexuality, and yet we are guilty of so many other sins. Protesting against gay pride events. Speaking out against taking pride in the sin of homosexuality all the while taking pride in ourselves. I know that immorality is not the answer either, because immorality also is not love. Denying homosexuality as even being sin. Excepting of homosexuality as an alternative life style all the while k...

The summer in America is book ended by two holidays that look and act identical and yet the names are not alike; Memorial Day and Labor Day. "Memorial: created or done to honor a person who has died or to remind people of an event in which many people died." (Merriam-Webster). We in America have much to celebrate and have many holidays throughout the year to that end.  However, Memorial Day is about death, it should be a solemn day of reflection; not a day of drinking, feasting, and picnics outdoors.  "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart." (Ecc 7:2 [NASB]). The word of God tells us that it is actually better to mourn than to feast, yet in America a day that was given to mourn has become a day of feasting.  Why is that? Americans pretend that death does not exist. The sick and dying in America are put away were others cannot and do not see them. The only ti...

I have come to an understand that much of my evangelism efforts over the past few years have been futile. Not the evangelism itself, not in my making much of Jesus and the gospel, but in my efforts to make a sin loving world hate their sin. The understanding that I have come to is this; I cannot make anyone hate their sin. In fact the gospel is repulsive to anyone who loves their sin. The gospel call is for a man to deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Jesus (Mt 16:24). Why would anyone do that who loves their sin? The promise of the gospel is eternal life with Jesus, in His Father's house illuminated with the glory of God where there is no sin. So I ask again, why would anyone who loves his sin deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Jesus when the promise is eternal life without sin? Therefore, I no longer seek to make men hate their sin because that is a futile endeavor, only God can do that. So why then make much of Jesus and the gospel? Because th...

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (Jn 14:15 [NASB]). Walking in obedience to the Lord's commands is love. This statement is sandwiched between the commandment to love one another given in both chapters 13 and 15. The apostle John said, "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also." (1Jn 4:20,21 [NASB]). His commandments are Love! 1. Love your brother. (Jn 13:34, 15:12, & 15:17) 2. Love your neighbor. (Mt 22:39, Mk 12:31, & Lk 10:27) 3. Love your enemies. (Mt 5:44, Lk 6:27, & Lk 6:35) We need always be mindful that we live in a sinful and fallen world, but have been redeemed for the Lord's glory. The world around us is living in wanton sin and we may even notice our brother sinning. So what are w...

Today I celebrate an anniversary. It was 12 years ago today that I began reading my Bible every morning and praying. The numbers when I look at them seem daunting; 4,383 consecutive mornings of opening up the word of God and listening to what He has to say to all who have ears to hear. 12 years times 365 days plus 3 leap year days comes out to be 4,383 days and it is all the Lord's doing alone. God had saved me from the pleasure of sin prior to this and He was then drawing me to the Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, and at that the time I did not know or understand what was happening. I had began hating my sin and loathing myself because of it, but could do nothing to turn away from my sin. In my plight I was reading a book (I am not going to name that book) but the Lord used this to draw me to Him by the Holy Spirit. There is a story in "St. Augustine's Confessions" about his conversion. Augustine had been mulling over the things of God and was wrestling withi...

There are only two ways for a man to go; salvation or judgment. No one goes to heaven by doing good, because there is none who does good, there is not even one. You were created in the image of God; God is love, but you have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. A lawyer once asked Jesus a question, testing Him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And He said to him, " ' You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ' You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Mt 22:36-40 [NASB]). God knitted you together in your mother's womb and gave you life. Have you loved God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind? Have you loved your neighbor as yourself, think about that, as yourself? Jesus did! "He i...