By: Joel & Lydia Ramirez We are not justified because we successfully walk the righteous path. Through the work of Christ we are washed, sanctified, and justified; having been set apart for God, we begin to walk a different path. The fruit produced along that path does not purchase our…
By: Joel & Lydia Ramirez Psalm 37 follows a similar pattern to Proverbs 12 and Psalm 1. It begins by calling us to trust in the LORD, commit our way to Him, and wait patiently for Him. That trust begins to shape our steps, and those steps reveal a recognizable…
By: Joel Ramirez We’ve all heard the driving adage: “It is impossible to drive when you only look at the rearview mirror. There is more windshield than rearview mirror for a reason.” It’s a simple truth with profound spiritual implications. Yes, we need to know what’s behind us. Glancing in…
By: Joel Ramirez Few figures in the Old Testament carry as heavy a spiritual weight as Manasseh, one of the last kings of Judah. His story is one the most sobering in all Scripture and not because repentance failed him, but because the repentance of one man was not enough…
By: Joel Ramirez From a very young age, it was impressed upon me that any time I got money for my birthday or as a gift, I needed to save it and use it wisely. My wife and I have had the opportunity to teach our children the same thing…
By: Joel Ramirez I have had several conversations with many people over the years who work hard to convince me or themselves that they don’t need “saving” because they never have been that bad. This came to light when I recently attended a gospel meeting where the preacher, to exemplify…
By: Joel Ramirez I recently took a class explaining how the brain works when dealing with people who are under heavy duress. The brain is divided into two halves, the left and the right. The left side of the brain focuses more on the logical aspects as opposed to the…
By: Joel Ramirez “Follow the money” is an old catchphrase that suggests political corruption can be brought to light by examining money transfers between parties. But this is also a great way to see what people invest their time and efforts into by seeing where they spend their earnings. Last…
By: Joel Ramirez We are wrapping up an excellent class in the adult Wednesday Bible studies regarding the songs in our song book. The point has been made, and rightly so, that we need to consider the words we sing as songs are a form of teaching as well as…
By: Joel Ramirez In a recent adult class I attended, the subject of Esau was reviewed and I began to see his story in a new light. The discussion started with how easily Esau gave up his inheritance over a bowl of soup. The discussion moved on to Jacob, the…