February 24, 2013 | John Bayles | The Message of Foolishness and Power (1 Corinthians 1:18)

The default condition of humanity is sin. Every human person is born into the environment of sin, because humanity is fallen - from the time of Adam and Eve until today. We can ignore it, deny it, or scorn it as foolishness, but it continues to be our plight. We live in a world of self-consciousness, self-protection, self-preservation, and self-love. We are lost in the blindness and darkness of self. As Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matthew 6:22,23).

February 17, 2013 | John Bayles | Before the Judgement Seat (Hosea 5:1-7)

In the midst of judgement against the nation of Israel, Hosea again turns his attention to the people of God, but not his contemporary audience. Hosea sets the scene as that of a judgement seat and before the bar comes sinful Israel: priests, people and kings to make their plea, bear their shame, and receive their due recompense. It is horrifying scene as God's wrath is poised to fall upon Israel.

February 3, 2013 | John Bayles | Hosea 4