Articles by Lee Rufener
Freedom in Christ
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage –Gal. 5:1. There is much ado in our land about freedom. It has been a central and foundational theme for centuries. America is touted as the land of the free and the home of the brave, and many have shed their blood in the pursuit and defense of it.…
The Balm of Gilead
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? –Jer 8:20-22. From the pen of the weeping prophet arises the renowned lamentation…
God in the Cloud
Behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud –Exo 16:10. What a strange phenomenon is this concentrated mass of vapor that navigates the sky above us. In one instance, a cloud can minister such immense blessedness and hope, while in another it can be the instigator of nagging uncertainty and even the arousal of ragged fear. Clouds were often, no doubt, the welcome…
A Man in the Gap
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. –Ezekiel 22:30 The account of the little Dutch boy who heroically stuck his finger in the hole in the dike comes to mind as we consider such a verse. He couldn’t leave the spot for fear of erosion, so he…
Despise Not Prophesyings
Despise not prophesyings. -1 Thessalonians 5:20 A certain nostalgia surrounds the thought of prophecy, for it conveys the mystery of prediction. The prophets of old were passionate, persistent, and powerful men, who sought to awake the yawning crowd from their contented slumber. They employed God-inspired, extreme and creative means in their avid attempts to convict…
Godly Stress Management
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast and on toward New Orleans. A man who refused to vacate, moved his wife up the ladder to their attic as the water rose to his waist. As he came to her side to comfort her in that devastating moment, she laid her head upon…
A Good Name
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. -Proverbs 22:1 What’s in a name? Those who name their business usually choose a name to represent them well and attract attention, so potential customers will be inclined to engage in commerce with them. The title of an article or a book should utilize a few choice words to convey the general content of the message.…
Preserving the Childlike Spirit
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. ~ Matthew 19:13-14 Oh, blessed thought—“for of such is the kingdom of heaven”. Children are as natural as the dawning day, as…
