You're Not Just a Clod

Have you ever thought about your value as a human being? 

We’re all just a bunch of clods...dirt clods.

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground…. 

--Genesis 2:7

Even unbelieving evolutionists recognize that when a person dies their body decomposes and eventually becomes...dirt. Perhaps the difference is that the believer acknowledges that the body ‘returns’ to the dust of the ground from which it was 'created.'

Articles have been published in which the physical ingredients of an adult human body were catalogued and measured. They were then given an approximate value based on current prices for the separate components. The totals were always just a few dollars. 

Dirt clods.

So, what gives a person value?

There is one ingredient that scientists cannot measure; cannot calculate; cannot really comprehend scientifically. Science can tell us the various chemical components of our physical body, but they have never been able to come up with a recipe to mix all the dry ingredients together, add water, and then produce...life.

We can continue the cycle of reproduction that already exists, but we cannot create. The essence of life is not a dry ingredient that man can manipulate into life.

For that reason, life is valuable.

Long before the New Testament was recorded, before the Law of Moses was given, at the time of Noah, God commanded that man not eat anything with its blood in it. Why? 

Life is in the blood.

--Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11

The penalty for killing another human was death. Why?

Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed,

For in the image of God He made man.

--Genesis 9:6

God did something quite wonderful when he formed man out of the dust of the ground:

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

--Genesis 2:7

It is easy to take life for granted. It is easy to forget that people are not assigned value based on human perception. Value is assigned by God.

We recognize how often violent men display their lack of regard for life when someone is killed. Most of us would never think of murdering someone. However, do we ever treat people as insignificant or practically invisible? Do we devalue people on the basis of their politics, their religion, their personality, their perceptions of life, their sin? Are there people that we simply ‘write off’ because they are not worth the effort?

We are more than ‘dirt clods’ because God made each of us valuable when he gave us life. And then he did something unthinkable, something beyond imagination, something marvelous: He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our sins so we could live with Him forever.

Your true value is not found in human accomplishments, material possessions, or your glowing personality. Your value has little to do with you. You are valuable...

     ...because God has made you in His image...

          ...because he has given you life...

               ...because He has offered life everlasting to your soul. 

Value life!

Mark Stinnett

June 29, 2025

A Different 'Slant' on the Bible

There’s a Bible out there to suit everyone’s taste! That’s right! You can select from dozens of Bibles where one is sure to suit your style! 

Here are some of today’s offerings!

• Outreach Bible 
• Here’s Hope New Testament
• Life Application Bible 
• Life Recovery Bible
• ESV Student Study Bible
• CSB Military Bible 
• American Patriot’s Bible
• Adventure Bible (with cartoon illustrations for kids)
• NKJV Matthew Henry Daily Devotional Bible (Infused with commentary by Matthew Henry)
• NLT DaySpiring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms
• CSB She Reads Truth Bible 
• Flourish: The NIV Bible for Women
• Rooted: The NIV Bible for Men 
• Every Man’s Bible NLT
• CSB Pastor’s Bible 
• NKJV Minister’s Bible 
• ESV Preaching Bible
• NIV Compact Girls’ Ultimate Backpack Bible, Faithgirlz Edition (A portable Bible for tweens.) (There’s one for boys too!)
• The NIV Artisan Collection Bible for Girls (with lots of artistic features)
• The Voice Bible (Uses compelling narratives, poetry and teaching that enables the reader to hear God and experience His presence.)
• Flourish: The NIV Bible for Women
• The Bride’s Bible
• CSB Coach’s Bible
• NIV Outdoorsman Bible
• Spiritual Warfare Bible
• Catholic Bible
• Jewish Bible
• NKJV Prayer Bible
• NLT Spiritual Growth Bible, 

...and there are dozens more…

Yes, some of these are simply Bibles with ‘cool’ packaging. Yet many contain the Scripture intermingled with commentary intended to give a predefined focus to the text, a particular slant to the word. Without judging those who have compiled and published these specialty Bibles, one cannot help but wonder: “Is God’s word different for each person?”

Publishers market Bibles to make a profit, but what was God’s purpose in revealing his Word?

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…. 

--Romans 12:2

I fear that man has been transforming the Bible into his own image. For many, God’s word has lost its appeal, so the words of popular writers, speakers, and commentators are added. This appeals to the individual tastes of people, yet God has appealed to man through the cross. 

Jesus said in John 12:32...

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.

There are difficult passages in the Bible. YOU need to wrestle with the difficult passages, not simply hand your mind over to someone else. How many times did Jesus end a parable with, “He who has ears, let him hear”?

Understanding is for those who desire it, who spend time in the word, and who use spiritual discernment. Understanding is not an academic pursuit and it is seldom accidental, easy or convenient. You must apply yourself to the reading of the scriptures and the practice of God’s word.

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. 

--Hebrews 5:14

At some point it is time to simply read the word...

     ...no notes...

          ...no commentary...

               ...no helps...

                    ...no slant. 

Just listen.

Mark Stinnett

June 22, 2025

My Grandpa’s Naïve Generation (chuckle)

We both chuckled when I shared some of the game rules my mom had grown up with. My grandpa would not allow his kids to use dice, so they had to make their own spinner when moving game pieces around the Monopoly board. My mom and her siblings were also forbidden the use of 'spot' cards (the kind with spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds). Dice and spot cards were the tools of gambling, a practice considered morally wrong by my grandparents. The thinking of my grandpa’s generation seemed naïve. We chuckled.

Then, my friend, looking upward and tapping his chin with his forefinger, paused and thoughtfully said, “You know, those folks were really serious about not sinning.”

I was taken back by his statement because I had only thought of their behavior as uninformed and silly. I had never considered the possibility that they were consciously trying to avoid sin.

My friend went on to explain his understanding of my grandparent’s generation. He told me that their guiding principle came from scripture:

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

—1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

Modern translations have: “Abstain from every form of evil” or “Reject every kind of evil.”

The point is that their generation was intent on following Scripture in order to practice godly living in their daily lives. Even though I personally see nothing wrong with using dice or spot cards, I certainly admire such an attitude toward godly living.

Moral tolerance, soft doctrine, and benevolence are the fashion trends in today’s Christian community in the United States while godliness, holiness and purity have taken a back seat. Topics such as righteousness, truth and sound doctrine are too often thought to generate arguments. For that reason, they are avoided. The result is a religious environment that extends a generous hand to those with physical needs (though not as effectively as secular charitable organizations) while tolerating “every form of evil.”

Generosity, service and benevolence are good. However, godliness, purity and holiness are not to be ignored:

Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. 

--Psalm 24:3-4

You shall be holy, for I am holy. 

--1 Peter 1:13

For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 

--1 Thessalonians 4:7

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

--Matthew 5:6

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

--2 Corinthians 5:21

He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 

--1 Peter 3:11

We must indeed love one another by extending benevolence and service and we must also devote ourselves to God in righteousness and purity and holiness.

And that’s no laughing matter in any generation.

Mark Stinnett

June 15, 2025

What's the Problem with Sin?

Have you ever wondered why sin is like a runaway train; why sin is so difficult to stop?

You might think that this blog will be about how terrible and repulsive sin is. And yet, that is the problem. If everyone thought sin was so terrible, they would avoid it. If the sin in your life was repulsive to you, you would turn away every time. You would treat it like a food that you hate.

Here’s an explanation about sin that we might not think about often…

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 

--James 1:13

Simply put, God is not to blame for your temptation. And here's the reason:

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. (v. 14)

The simple truth is that temptation originates within a person. The old illustration of dangling a carrot in front of a donkey to make him move forward is relevant. The donkey desires the carrot. Yet, dangle a carrot in front of some people and you will only annoy them.

You can wave money in front of someone who does not lust for money (i.e., desire money) and it will not be a temptation. In contrast, a money-lover is easily distracted by the mere mention of money.

When a woman who is dressed inappropriately walks by, why do most men look, even stare, while only a few look away? Within the lookers is a desire to look and perhaps even more. Yet within the man who looks away is a desire to avoid temptation. Yes, he knows that if he looks, he can be drawn away. Within him is a deeper desire for purity of thought and action.

Many sins, perhaps most, begin with temptation, which in turn, begins with a desire that already exists within. Without thinking about it, we like to satisfy our desires. We want to give in to the things that appeal to us. Sin caters to our desires. Sin employs the tremendous marketing tool of offering you everything you desire...everything. The temptation is the inner urging that presents a potential opportunity to satisfy. Sin is full-grown temptation that takes action. Or, as James put it:

Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (v. 15)

The problem with sin is that it sets itself up as a satisfaction machine. “Simply give in to your desires.” But wait! What does sin ever do for you?

Sin makes many promises but cannot fulfill them. Sin is a master marketing agent promising satisfaction or happiness or whatever else you think the fulfillment of your desires will bring. Sin always says "yes" to your desires. Sin rallies in favor of giving in to temptation. Sin is always on your side to agree with your rationalization for giving in, or your justification for why giving in to temptation makes more sense than self-control.

Sin cheers you on to follow your dreams, to give in to your desires, to embrace your lust. Sin promises. Sin deceives. Yet, sin only brings death.

Do not be deceived my beloved brethren. Every good thing and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…. (vv. 16-17)

Sin is never good. Sin deceives one's senses and mind and heart. 

Sin IS terrible. 

Sin IS repulsive. 

Is it time to reevaluate your desires?

Mark Stinnett

June 8, 2025

It’s Not Fathers’ Day (But You’re Still the Dad) (Pt. 5)

Part 5: Honor

God has assigned the primary role of leadership and discipline in the home to fathers. The last few blogs have focused on the text of Ephesians 6:4. Prior to that instruction (verses 1-3), the Apostle Paul addressed children:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother...that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

Many years ago, when my children were small, it occurred to me that this instruction could not possibly be directed at very young children; they cannot read! I reasoned that as parents, my wife and I had the initial responsibility to teach our children to “honor your father and mother.”

How do you teach honor??

It is likely that you have been touched by stories or news clips in which honor was shown to someone in our military. It might have been a crowd of people gathering to celebrate a soldier returning home from duty. It might have been the moment when the solemn silence at a funeral of a fallen hero is broken by the eruption of the 21-gun salute and the mournful call of the bugle playing Taps. Or perhaps you have witnessed a small child standing at attention to salute a soldier in uniform. Honor.

A father instructs his son regarding our nation’s flag. He teaches the meaning of the stars and the stripes. He remembers aloud those who have sacrificed so much for the freedom it symbolizes.

A mother tells her children about their two grandfathers who served in the military. She displays pictures of the men in uniform as she relates stories which had been told her. She shows her children the folded flags displayed on the mantle to honor the service of each man.

A schoolteacher teaches, not merely the words, but the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.

There are many ways to illustrate honor for our country and those in uniform. The common element in all of these is value. Honor is given to people and things that we greatly value. Our value is evident by the way we speak and how we show respect. We draw special attention to the things and people we value. We commit ourselves in loyalty and service to the objects of our honor. We protest and even punish dishonor of any kind.

Dads, value your wife and demand that your children cherish and value their mother. Moms, value your husband and demand that your children value and respect their father.

Value godly character in your home. Tell your children: This is how we act. This is how we speak. This is what we say. This is who we are. Then, be sure to demonstrate those same godly values.

Are you loyal to God? Do you value His word? Do you honor His people? Do you value spiritual ideals? Demonstrate these in your own life and expect these in your children.

One of the most important ways to teach honor is to teach obedience. Disobedience is nothing other than dishonor. Yet, obedience honors parents and honors God. A wise parent will discipline disobedience and dishonor.

Finally, when your children honor you, even if you do not feel deserving, accept the honor. In doing so, you allow them to fulfill God’s instruction to honor father and mother. Honor is good. Honor is right. Model and teach honor!

Mark Stinnett

June 1, 2025