Posts by Carlos Valenzuela (Page 7)
SOUND WORDS, DEC. 3, 2023
WHAT SAITH THE AUTHORITIES “Once while two Christians were discussing a Bible subject, one of them asked, “What do the authorities say about it?” No doubt he had in mind such things as lexicons, Bible dictionaries, historic, and geographic. Yet I feel that sometimes (though not with the one who raised the question) there is the all too prevalent attitude to depend on what men may say about a certain Bible subject or passage. It may be a lexicon; it…
SOUND WORDS, NOV. 26, 2023
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS I was recently browsing the web for a product I was interested in, and I wanted to see how internet prices compared to the same or similar items I could purchase in store. Seeing an item that the wife and I were both happy with, I decided to be a responsible consumer and read the reviews. Reviews can oftentimes be a great help when questioning the quality of a product we have no way of seeing in person,…
SOUND WORDS, NOV. 19, 2023
CHRIST, EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY If anyone ever had a good reason not to be humble it was Jesus. He was superior in every way to everyone around Him and He had no fault or weakness of which to be ashamed. Yet, scripture holds Him before us as the ultimate example of humility. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by…
SOUND WORDS, NOV. 12, 2023
ABIDE IN CHRIST Have we ever left a dinner plate out overnight, putting off the need to wash and clean it for the next morning? If there was one chore I disliked growing up, it was doing dishes. Now, I’ll do them, but I won’t be happy about it. Should you ever catch me standing in front of a sink with my rubber gloves on, don’t let the smile fool you as its presence is simply holding back the tears.…
SOUND WORDS, NOV. 5, 2023
ONE LAST VERSE Throughout my life, there was a series of verses that I identified as “my verse”. These were verses that, in some way, exemplified me or what I needed to become. I kept II Timothy 2:24-25 on my bathroom mirror for years because I needed the reminder. Later, I took great encouragement from the promise of Matthew 5:6. Now that my life is over, one last verse has become mine, though really it is not my verse but yours. It is Hebrews…
SOUND WORDS, OCT. 29, 2023
WORTHY OF WORSHIP “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matt. 4:10; Luke 4:8). Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation in this manner, making it clear that only [Yahweh] is worthy of worship ([Yahweh] is the name of the God of the Hebrews — see Ex. 3:1-18; Deut. 6:13). Why [Yahweh] God alone is deserving of this level of respect and adoration is clearly announced in John’s vision of the heavenly throne (Rev. 4). In that spectacular scene…
SOUND WORDS, OCT. 22, 2023
THOUGHTS ABOUT LIFE Solomon was the wisest man of his age. When he was but a young man and had just ascended to the throne of his father, God appeared to him in Gibeon and said, “Ask what I shall give thee.” Solomon, showing that he was a wise man even then, said, “Give me an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad…” (I Kings 3:1-ff). God did according to His word…
SOUND WORDS, OCT. 15, 2023
WHEN ONE OPINION MATTERS Sports fan or not, most people have heard the name Babe Ruth. For years this man has been considered one of this best to ever play the game of baseball. Not my personal opinion, but it is the opinion shared by many fans of baseball. And again, most people are familiar with the name. But I dare to say most people have never heard the name Babe Pinelli. Pinelli was also a profession baseball player from…