January 27, 2013 | John Bayles | Purchased by Love (Hosea 3:1-5)

In this passage today, Hosea moves away from the immediate proclamations of dread and judgement upon the nation of Israel and reflects upon another people, in another time frame. As we have seen already in this book there is a present application, a word to the nation in its historical context. And there is a word coming forth of a new nation, a new time, and a new relationship between God and his people.

January 20, 2013 | John Bayles | The Old and The New (Hosea 2:1-23)

God is a God of mercy and love. He is also a God of Justice. How do these attributes balance themselves? How can God show mercy and love, and at the same time, be just? In this text today, we will discover that God’s only remedy for having a relationship to His creation/man is to Himself, intercede. He, Himself must provide a means to satisfy His holy justice and, at the same time, extend his merciful and loving hand.

January 13, 2013 | John Bayles | The Only View That Matters (Hosea 1:1-11)

“If you don’t like the view, then look at something else.” Or better, “That’s your opinion.” Either one of these statements drives the car of objectivity over the cliff. The deceptive thing about deception is that the person deceived does not realize he/she is being deceived. As so artfully portrayed in C.S. Lewis’ "Skrewtape Letters", the first rule of deception is to convince the person firmly controlled by demons to firmly believe that demons don't exist.