Everywhere we look today, we can find how-to guides that tell us ways to accomplish practically anything. We can find instruction on how to surf, change the brakes in a vehicle, properly iron clothes, make the ultimate cheesesteak sandwich, brew a perfect tea, use a ride-on lawnmower, fly a radio-controlled plane, find the best deals…
Author: Pangburn Pulpit
When Inner Self Exalts Over God—the Smug Elephant in the Room
Do you feel like God is a million miles away? Do you pray or cry out to Him and nothing appears to happen, or it seems like no one is listening? Have thoughts crossed your mind that God has abandoned you, leaving you on your own? We all tend to feel like this at some…
He Was Alone, Yet Among Many Others
Being alone in a small group or even a very large crowd of people appears somewhat contradictory. When we have a conversation about a general subject, such as the weather, sports, books, television shows and movies, or clothing, we usually don’t mind if there are others around us. Sometimes a discussion will improve when more…
1 Wrongdoing Ends a Victory Streak
How often do we encounter a period in our life where we are moving along very much victorious over the problems that come our way, when the bottom suddenly seems to fall out and we fail miserably? No matter what we do, the latest situation that has arisen leaves us defeated and baffled, as if…
Stop Sleeping for “the Day is at Hand”
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, now is the time to stop sleeping and to shake off our physical and mental sluggishness and indifference. We need to change our clothes we sleep in, which are only appropriate to be used in the darkness, and put on clothes that are appropriate to the daylight. We…
The Love of God Will Never Fail
What is the secret of living the Christian life? It is to love God. And how can we know the love of God? Through His Word. We love God in return for His love for us. Those who truly love God want to serve Him, please Him, and live their life in a way that…
How Brilliant Overconfidence Yields Defeat
It is amazing how quickly our ego inflates from overconfidence when God gives us victory over a particularly difficult situation. This reminds me of a mechanically-inclined guy whose vehicle breaks down. After he spends an extended amount of time agonizing over how to fix the problem, he eventually calls out in desperation to God for…
Hell: A Fire That Never Stops Burning
If you saw your neighbor’s house on fire, what’s the first thing you would do? Hopefully, you would check on those who live there and contact the fire department. If you claim to really care about others, this is one way to prove it. But what would you think of someone who sees his neighbor’s…
Is the Rest Stop Now the Destination?
The summit always seemed completely out of reach as the small group of climbers continued their slow and arduous ascent. Marcus, the self-appointed leader of the group, felt that, if they were to reach one of the many plateaus for a rest stop on this side of the mountain range before sunset, they would all…
No Love of God Makes Us Just Robots
“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you” (John 13:34). God has described Himself by saying, “God is love.” He wants us to love Him with our whole heart, and to love our neighbor as ourselves—what Christianity is all about. But if we won’t allow…
No Profitable Reason to Complain
“I have a good reason to complain!” How often have we spoken these words to try to justify our feelings! Complaining is a way of expressing our grief or pain or dissatisfaction. Sometimes we complain in a formal way, but more often it is a casual statement or attitude. And we know that everyone wants…
Deny Our Self and Cut the Sin Trap
The one thing that will bring believers in Christ face-to-face with a way of life that continues in sin is the cross of Christ. Yet many have come to the point where they have made peace with the sin in their life, so His cross and the idea that we must deny our self now…
