We have all probably heard the proverb “When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” I find this proverb extremely applicable to the study of the Bible. We all come to the text with a set of presuppositions, needs, and expectations. When you are sad, you come looking for encouragement. When you are confused, you search for wisdom. You may come to certain books of the Bible thinking the meaning is impenetrable, other books that the meaning is readily apparent. All these predispositions shape our interpretation of the text for better or worse. To some extent this is inescapable and a natural part of the reading process. We can only construct meaning with the tools we have, the tools being methods of interpretation. However, depending upon the text, we may have a deficient set of tools or not know how to use the tools we have. Thus, we try to make do with what we have. Just like the proverb of the hammer above, we come to the text with inappropriate expectations and methods that prevent us from constructing the meaning from the words the author put on the page. If we come to Revelation expecting to find symbols and figures of political figures in our time, you will probably find a way to see it. If we come to the Psalms or Philippians as a self-help guidebook, we will probably find something. However, by using a hammer where we should have used a screwdriver, we miss out on much of what the Scriptures have to offer us.

Our goal should be to engage the Bible on its own terms. This requires a great deal of humility and hard work, but it is entirely within our capability. I believe the reason why people do not read the Old Testament is because nobody taught them how. We read Samuel and Kings for historical facts and superficial theological points. We do not meditate deeply on the narratives and how it plays into the universal story. We skip Leviticus because we do not sacrifice at a tabernacle anymore and think that is almost entirely inapplicable to us today. The real problem is not that the scriptures are inapplicable, but rather that we have not learned how to read them. We must always be willing to adapt our reading of the Bible and acquire more tools for interpretation. Some tools will yield more results than others, but the wealth that you will acquire from slowly mining the scriptures with these tools will more than compensate for the time you spend learning. If you would like some tools, I offer them for free to anyone willing to listen.

What is pride? Some define it as: High or inordinate self-esteem or a feeling of deep pleasure derived from one’s own self achievements, conceit or arrogance. How do we avoid pride? Some ways are by practicing gratitude, praising others, and giving credit to others. Also, by avoiding comparisons and being boastful. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt and others, evokes a powerful sentiment that can be life changing. If we compare ourselves to others, we may be left with feelings of inferiority or superiority—and neither creates an emotionally healthy human being.

Remember the expression “Pride comes before the fall” or Proverbs 16:18 that states, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

In our small group we started a gratitude journal and we challenged ourselves to list 30 items for the first time. It seems like a lot, but with minimal effort you can list even more than 30. I find it is a good way to remain humble, but also to keep a fresh and healthy mindset.

I also enjoy this quote from C.S. Lewis: “The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility…According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”―C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

As I start the new year, I am going to guard against pride. As my mother always told me, “If I don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all,” or simply stated: Be Kind or Be Quiet.

In the beginning after God created the earth, He created man.  He made man to fit the earth.  It was later that God planted the garden for man. Man was not made for the garden, but rather the garden was made for man.  This garden was a perfect place.  This was a place for food and rest.  The climate was perfect; the ground was perfect; the food was perfect.  It was here that God walked and talked with man. It was a place void of fear, unrest, disharmony and the list goes on.  It was beautiful in all respects.  The golden ratio was evident in all the eye could perceive.   Some might say “Heaven on Earth”.

When man betrayed the trust, which God had placed in him, everything changed.  Man was banished from the garden and the burden of surviving now depended on man’s ability to work.  From the Scriptures, it appears the only entrance was on the east side of the garden where God placed a cherubim and a flashing flaming sword to prevent mans return and to guard the tree of life.  As time passed the garden was absorbed by its surroundings and the “tree of life “ must have been removed to protect it.

The greatest loss was the separation between man and God.  Man lost the trust and closeness with God.  The distance between man and God grew wider each year.  Today it seems that man continues to break the trust and move further away from the Creator, the Lord God Almighty.   Fortunately, God knew the gap would widen and unless He took action, man would never be able to return back to the garden. 

In all that God created He said it was good.  He said the same for man.  Even though man was removed from the garden, God has provided a way for us to return to Him.  As the garden had one way in, the return has only one entrance.  There is no way to climb a fence or burrow under, pick the lock, knock down the wall, enter through an unknown back door or any other conceivable way to enter except the “One Way”. 

The Guardian of the gate is the only way in and that Guardian is Jesus.  He is the Way, the Truth, the Light, the Living Water; the “Tree of Life”.  He is the bridge back to the Creator, our Father. 

This past Sunday during Neville’s lesson, he shared a startling statistic. Christians transitioning from high school to college are falling away from the church into a life of sin. I can remember the first time I found Summit when I was making this move in my life. This percentage got me thinking about sin and how it impacts everyone. How do we overcome sin? It’s important to know why sin exists and how temptation fuels sin. 

We are all guilty of sin. There is nobody in this world that is perfect. Christians can easily fall away from the church. Sin is around us every day. I’ve grown up in the church and over the years have seen this. It’s a sad reality. Peter tells us that this can happen. Temptations are around us all the time. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Peter tells us that sin is part of life. 

2 Peter 2:20-21: ²⁰ If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. ²¹ It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

Matthew 4: 1-4: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Temptation leads us to sin. Sin leads us to stray away from the Lord. It is an everyday battle that Christians face. Overcoming sin isn’t easy but it is something that can be conquered. We must immerse ourselves in Christ. This is the simplest way to defeat sin. Romans 13:14 says, “ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Nobody is perfect but knowing that we have a Lord and savior in Jesus Christ gives us the hope of defeating sin.

Christian parents have a huge obligation to bring their kids up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The words we speak have immense power to build them up or break them down. We build up when we use words filled with kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. This serves to shape our children’s self-confidence, resilience, relationships, and belief system.

One way to build them up is to share positive
scriptural affirmations:

1. “See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1)

2. “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

3. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.” (1 John 4:7)

4. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

5. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Speaking these truths has many benefits:

1. Grace-filled words nurture a child’s emerging self-identity.

2. Affirming language bolsters self-confidence while countering negative self-talk.

3. Verbal encouragement ignites courage to attempt new things and overcome obstacles.

4. Voicing unconditional love and approval fosters secure emotional bonds between parent and child.

5. Biblical truths, spoken with care and consistency, shape a God-centered worldview.

Friends, do your words build up or break down? “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18).

The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates believed that if an individual was truly wise, he would not be obsessed with possessions. Practicing to an extreme what he preached, he even refused to wear shoes.

However, Socrates loved to visit the marketplace and gaze with admiration at the great abundance of products on display. When a friend asked why he was so allured, he replied, “I love to go there and discover how many things I am perfectly happy without.”

That type of attitude runs exactly opposite to the commercial messages that continually bombard our eyes and ears. Advertisers spend millions to tell us about all the latest products that we can’t be happy without.

The apostle Paul advised his spiritual son Timothy, “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). If we become enamored with things, Paul warned, we may wander from the faith and be pierced with the pangs of frustrated desire (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

Let’s ask ourselves, “What am I truly happy without?” The answer will reveal much about our relationship with the Lord and our contentment with Him.

Socrates and the apostle Paul both emphasized the importance of contentment independent from material possessions. Finding happiness and fulfillment without being attached to material things seems to be a common thread in many of their teachings. It’s an interesting perspective, especially in a world inundated with messages urging us to find happiness through consumerism. How do you relate to these ideas in your own life?

Contentment comes not from great wealth, but from few wants (Philippians 4:11).

As parents, few things are more difficult than watching our children struggle with overwhelming emotions. When they have a meltdown or face major life changes, parents often feel helpless. In these turbulent moments, God’s word is the “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Heb.6:19).

First, connect with compassion, as Jesus’ brother instructs: “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). Listen fully to understand their perspective. Resist lecturing or fixing. Give them your complete attention. To confirm you are listening, reflect back their words to them (if I understood you correctly, you said…).

Next, accept the reality of their emotions, even if they are irrational. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). It is easy for our kids to stop “opening up” – especially when their emotions are ignored, disrespected, or even punished.

Then, to prevent overreacting, breathe deeply and pray for wisdom. “Be angry, and do not sin” (Psalm 4:4a). Model self-control and righteous anger. If you are not in control of your emotions, you will not be disciplining. Your actions will be abusive instead of kind, tender hearted and forgiving (Eph.4:32). Always build up and never breakdown.

Explain gently, without shaming (laying on the guilt). “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Speak the truth in love. Clarify your reasoning but do not embitter them.

Finally, humbly take responsibility and seek reconciliation. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Apologize readily. Restore peace through forgiveness. Guide them to overcome evil with good.

Today is Sunday, November 19th.  In 4 days, we celebrate Thanksgiving!  What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?  Is it football, turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, or maybe hot out of the oven rolls?   Personally, I can live without cranberry sauce.  Is your favorite tradition getting together with loved ones?

Ephesians 5:20 Always giving thanks to God the Father for “EVERYTHING” in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Why is it easiest to be thankful when things are going well? Paul tells this young church to “ALWAYS” give thanks to God the Father!  In good times and in bad times!

We sing the song in our hymnal, #742, and it reminds us to count our many blessings.  This should be a lesson for all of us. Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!

Brothers and sisters, we have so much to be thankful for.  Not only the big things in life but also the small things that we often take for granted.  One way to show our gratitude is through sharing.  Our church family at Summit continues to grow and to serve the community.  We are able to continue to support two local children’s homes.  We continue to support missionaries in Alaska, Central America, and the Baxter Institute.  We are in the planning stages of our All-Purpose Building. (Won’t it be nice to not have to put the tables and chairs up then take them back down!)

Sheryl and I would like to wish everyone a Great Thanksgiving Day and hope you get to spend it with family and friends!

Psalm 136
1) Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

2) Give thanks to the God of Gods!

3) Give thanks to the Lord of Lords!

20) Give thanks to the God of Heaven!

As a preacher, counselor, husband to my dear wife, and father to our three grown kids, I often feel overwhelmed by constant demands on my time and energy. I’m pouring myself out for the church, for those who come to me for counsel, and for my family. And while it’s a privilege, I was running on empty.

God began convicting me that I need to practice what I preach on embracing Sabbath rest. Just like the psalmist who declared “I lift my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:1-2), I needed to look to God alone as my source of strength and renewal.

Now, first thing every morning, I set aside time for prayer and reading Scripture. I also take a long lunch break and try to be ready for bed by 10pm. I still glean great joy in preaching and counseling, but I’m learning to set healthy boundaries. My greatest ministry is nurturing my own relationship with Christ.

This journey has invited me to examine my heart’s motivations. As I release my need to control, God is deepening my trust in His sovereign care. By God’s grace, I’m moving from striving to abiding in Him. His promise in Matthew 11:28-29 anchors me: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” As I rest in Christ, I am refreshed to pour out His love.

Friend, as I continue to walk this journey, I invite you to join me in finding rest and refreshment in your own lives.