by Ray Viola | Feb 1, 2024 | Contemporary Christianity
Psalm 100:4,5 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Note, beloved, that the Psalmist is preparing...
by Ray Viola | Jan 27, 2024 | Contemporary Christianity
No, I’m not ascetic! I’m thankful for the many ways that Jesus, my Creator, has blessed me. He has saved my soul and given me many pleasures, both spiritually and materially. I’m truly grateful for His good gifts. However, we often reverse our order of pleasures,...
by Ray Viola | Jan 26, 2024 | Contemporary Christianity
In the Scriptures Egypt symbolizes the world system and, to the born again believer in Jesus Christ, it is a type of the old life. It pictures a place of bondage and affliction, a place where life is ruled by a cruel taskmaster. Our heavenly Father, however, has a...
by Ray Viola | Jan 23, 2024 | Contemporary Christianity, Contemporary Issues
In our efforts to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, let us never allow our intellect to interfere with the “sword of the Spirit,” the living Word of God. There can be an intellectual approach taken in evangelism that makes “the cross of Christ…of no effect.”...
by Ray Viola | Jan 8, 2024 | Contemporary Christianity
“I love the church, Pastor; it’s the people I can’t stomach!” Face it, the church is made up of people with different personalities, cultural and social backgrounds, genders, ages, occupations, etc. The most diverse body of people on this earth is the Body of Christ....
by Ray Viola | Jan 7, 2024 | Contemporary Christianity
Luke 5:31,32 They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. How many of us have made some New Year’s resolutions? Goodbye couch potato, gym membership, here I come. Sick of my eating...