"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

The story is told of a young man who went into a taxidermist’s shop. He was noticing all of the dead but life-like animals on display. He stopped in front of an owl and began criticizing the shopkeeper’s work, pointing out “mistakes” in the owl’s wings, legs, and angle of the head. In his pride he boasted that he could have done a better job himself.  Suddenly, the owl turned his head and blinked. The prideful young man had mistakenly imagined the owl to be just another dead stuffed animal, but to his shame found himself to be the fool.       Many mistakenly imagine the Word to be just another piece of dead literature, or the Gospel a poor work of men’s hands. Nevertheless, it is alive, truly the work of God’s hands!   – Anon.  

I corresponded with one who asked how Jesus could fulfill His promise to be with two or three gathered in His name when He was dead and buried. My correspondent was sincere in asking his question. His question is worthy of consideration. Here is my reply:       First, Jesus meant what He said when, prior to His death, He promised His disciples “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). His promise cannot fail.       Second, Paul the apostle, writing under divine inspiration, meant what he said when he wrote that the gospel declares “that Christ died for our sins ... and that He was buried” (1 Corinthians 15:3f). For Christ indeed died and was buried for three days (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 27:63; et.al.).       Third, He who died and was buried meant what He said when, just prior to dying and being buried, He promised the repentant malefactor “Verily I say unto thee, to day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise” (Luk

" And He spake this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous." -Luke 18:9 [KJV] Christ came into the world to save sinners from their sins into all holiness of heart and life. His gospel requires the strictest purity in walk and conversation. Those who have experienced its power, find their souls formed for this. But a self-righteous spirit is as odious to Christ, and as contrary to the genius of His gospel, as a profane swearer. Hence He spake this parable against such.  See (1st.) who are here reproved. Every one who places his trust or confidence in any works of righteousness which he has done, or can do, to make himself righteous before God, or to justify himself, first or last, in whole or in part in God’s sight. Such are properly Pharisees, or self-righteous persons. Lord, keep our souls humble before Thee, that we fall not into this cursed pride and dangerous delusion. But such say, we do not trust in what we can do of ourse