Posts by Carlos Valenzuela (Page 6)
SOUND WORDS, JAN. 28, 2024
BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT One of the most important attitudes one can have in striving to go to heaven is that of intense zeal for the truth of God. Too often, people settle on something far less than the truth. Remember, a counterfeit, though it may look relatively genuine, is nevertheless worthless. Likewise, we cannot enjoy the benefits of truth just by getting pretty close. We must take our position firmly and foursquare on the truth. “Ye…
SOUND WORDS, JAN. 21, 2024
GLORY AND HONOR As I have been reading the Psalms following the daily reading schedule this year, one thing in particular has stood out to me: the reverence the authors show toward God. When we read the Psalms, we should get a good idea of how we should relate to God. There seems to be, in today’s society, an attempt to bring God down to man’s level. That is, there are many who want to address God and have the…
SOUND WORDS, JAN. 14, 2024
CHRISTIANS WITH NO DENOMINATIONAL TIES God places great emphasis on names. He changed Abram’s name to Abraham (Gen. 17:5), Sarai’s name to Sarah (Gen. 17:15), and Jacob’s name to Israel (Gen. 32:38). He gave to John and Jesus their names before they were born (Luke 1:13,31). He has given to His people of this age the name “Christian” (Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16). He has given no sectarian or denominational names, but rather condemns them (1 Cor. 1:10-13). The great need…
SOUND WORDS, JAN 7, 2024
SMALL INCREASES OVER TIME I had just handed my newborn son over to my wife so I could grab our oldest son (who fell asleep on the couch) and put him in his bed. This is something I’ve always done from the time our oldest was very young. Anytime he fell asleep on the couch after we watched a movie, had a family game night, or something along those lines, the tradition has been for me to pick him up…
SOUND WORDS, DEC. 31, 2O23
JUST THE WAY IT GOSE (GOES) 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. —Galatians 1:8 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. —1 Corinthians 1:10 Consider…
SOUND WORDS, DEC. 24, 2023
STRENGTHENING WEAKNESS I try to be a well-rounded musician. I seek influence from many different genres. Although I listen to all types of music, I definitely have a comfort zone when it comes to what I can play. For example, in order to play a “simple” jazz standard I would have to essentially relearn how to play the guitar. I would have to learn new complex chords, new strumming patterns, and (worst of all) learn basic music theory. Sure, music…
SOUND WORDS, DEC. 17, 2023
OUR EXAMPLE With the worldly holidays drawing close, we as Christians should remember that not only do we come to worship God on the Lord’s day, but to help encourage one another. We CAN’T do this if we’re dressing in worldly attire. By this I mean, we are to give God our best, just like in Matthew 22:8-13 where those allowed to come into the wedding, should’ve dressed for it. Matthew 22:8-13 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The…
SOUND WORDS, DEC. 10, 2023
WHILE THE DOOR IS OPEN We’ve likely all been there, trying to get to that one store before the doors are locked, the sign is flipped, and our opportunity to get this or that has closed, having to be put off until the next day. I found myself in such a position not too long ago. The family and I were out of town, and needed to make a stop at the grocery store to get some water and snacks…