May 15, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Be Ready

1 A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth; 2 Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-6

The author’s attention now turns to the need for wisdom in a futile world. Having firmly established His case for the vanity of life, Solomon now seeks to apply wisdom to the madness so that he might live as he should. Chapter 7 provides wisdom for the day. Let’s see it in total over these next few weeks.

We are reminded in this passage of the eventuality of death. Every person will face death (if Christ doesn’t return in the rapture of the church).  The rich and the poor will die. The wise and the fool are headed to the same fate. Solomon mentions death, mourning, sorrow, and sadness in the first 4 verses to drive home this point.

Given the shortness of life, it is imperative that we pursue wisdom.  A life lived wisely is far better than a life lived in foolish pursuits. Life is a one-time gift. Use it wisely realizing we will all stand before God in judgment.

Tony French

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May 12, 2025 · 9:00 am

God’s Promises To Us

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:7-10

Three promises from the Lord are included in this passage of Scripture:

**Strength to accomplish God’s will and purposes.

**Success to fulfill God’s plan for your life and success in remaining faithful until the end.

**Support from the Lord in every season and circumstance of life.

What wonderful promises from our Lord God Almighty.

Tony French

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May 8, 2025 · 9:00 pm

In Jesus

11 Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? 12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?     

Ecclesiastes 6:11-12

The writings of Solomon in this book can be difficult to follow. At times several different themes emerge in short order. At the same time, the theme of hopeless without God prevails from start to finish in this testament of the “preacher.”

Seen through the lens of the world, the book of Ecclesiastes is depressing and unfulfilling. The book’s purpose is to show us the problem. This writing repeatedly tells us not to seek lasting peace in the world’s system.

Another purpose of this book is to point us to the solution for the vanity of life under the sun. His name is Jesus!  He can forgive you, cleanse you, and put you on the path to heaven. If you have not yet done so, consider placing your trust in Him for forgiveness.  Turn from your sin and trust in Him to save you and place you into His family. He loves you and gave His all for you!

Tony French

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May 5, 2025 · 9:00 am

Christian Traits

7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner: 8 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 11 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.

1 Chronicles 16:7-12

David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, commands the people of God to perform acts of reverence to the Lord. Five of them are mentioned in these verses. Let us examine these practices and apply them to our lives.

**Thanksgiving (V8)

**Praise (V9)

**Rejoice (V10)

**Seek The Lord (V11)

**Remember (V12)

Let’s go and do the same!

Tony French

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May 1, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Monotony

 10 Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. 11 Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? 12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?     

Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

The monotony of life occupied much of the author’s inspired writings. Three themes emerge in that last part of this chapter.

  • God knows us. He knows our situations and our circumstances. And God is under no obligation to tell us why He does what He does. The creature cannot contend with His creator.
  • God knows what is best for us. This premise can be difficult to grasp as we struggle in a sinful world. But, it is the truth. He knows what we need before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8)
  • We do not know what is best for us. Humans honestly believe that more of the world’s riches, fame, pleasure, and authority will bring ultimate happiness in peace. We are pushed towards that end every day through our media, our entertainment, and even our own minds. But at the end of the day, we don’t know what we truly need. Thankfully, God’s Word reveals to us the nature of the need and the only one who can truly meet that need.

Let us thank God for His wisdom and grace for our daily lives.

Tony French

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April 28, 2025 · 9:00 am

Because He Lives

The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings hope. The promises of God’s Word rest on a steadfast assurance that results from Christ’s resurrection. When Jesus rose from the dead, every word of His teaching was verified and His ability to keep his promises was proved. The resurrection was truly the singular event that changed everything.

Many souls are searching for hope in our day. People are searching for a sense of hope in human relationships, finances, technology, and even religion. And, every day these so-called sources of hope promise much and deliver little. That’s not to say that these things are evil or unnecessary. They simply are incapable of fulfilling the longing of the human heart. Only Jesus can satiate that longing for hope, peace, and joy that we so desperately need. 

Because Jesus is alive, we can trust His Word. Because Jesus is alive, we can believe his promises. Because Jesus is alive, we can know our ultimate destination. Because Jesus is alive, we know He will be with us no matter what may arrive at our doorstep. As we examine the risen Savior, we can see more and more clearly that the empty tomb changed everything!

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, All Fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.”[1]

[1] Gaither, Bill., Because He Lives, Gaither Music Company, 1971

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April 24, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Unfulfilled

7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. 8 For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:7-9

The author revisits a previous theme. Whether we have much or whether we have little, the things of this life don’t truly satisfy. Solomon should know. He tried it all and found it all wanting.

Solomon sought meaning in riches, fame, and building projects. None of them brought satisfaction. He searched for meaning in philosophical pursuits and in relationships with women (He had over a 1000 wives and concubines!-1 Kings 11:3). Even that wasn’t enough.

Our only satisfaction is found in Jesus Christ. Life will not be perfect. But, in Christ, we can find meaning and purpose that will carry us through to heaven.

Tony French

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April 21, 2025 · 9:00 am

The Empty Tomb

“He has risen!” (Luke 24:6)  That simple, powerful phrase changed the course of history and eternity at once. Jesus death, burial, and resurrection had been predicted throughout His ministry. And now it was fulfilled just as He had said. He was no longer dead, but alive forevermore.

The resurrection is the heart of the Christian faith. Without it, Paul tells us our “faith is vain and we are yet (still) in our sins.” (1st Corinthians 15:17)  The resurrection, though an audacious claim, proved the veracity and truthfulness of the Messiah. It serves as verifiable evidence that everything He said was truth and that He was indeed the very Son of God.

What a difference the resurrection of Christ makes in our lives. Without it, we are lost and hopeless. Through the finished work of Christ, we are brought near to God through the wonder of reconciliation. (2nd Corinthians 5:18-19) The resurrection gives us “the hope that our sins are paid for (Romans 4:25), death has been defeated (Hebrews 2:14), and the hope of eternal life when we repent and turn to Christ, accepting what He has done for us.”[1]

How should we as believers respond to this hope? I would imagine that there would be many responses, but praise and sharing are two that come to mind. Our worship and praise should be centered on all that Christ has accomplished for us and in us through His completed work of sacrifice and resurrection.

Given that we have received so much, how can we not share it? Those early disciples centered their witness on Christ’s death and resurrection. We should do no less today.

He has risen indeed!

Tony French

[1] http://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/april-2011/the-resurrection-myth-or-history/

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April 17, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Christ’s Prayer For Believers

In John 17, Jesus prays for His own. This passage is stirring and wonderful. What were Jesus “prayer requests” in this passage? Let us examine three of them.

**Jesus prays for the Believer’s Spiritual Protection

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 

John 17:11

**Jesus prays for the Believer’s Joy

But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 

John 17:13

**Jesus prays for His People’s Unity

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

John 17:22-23

Let us be thankful for the prayers of our Savior.

Tony French

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April 14, 2025 · 9:00 am

Unfulfilled

3 If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he– 4 for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. 5 Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice–but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?

Ecclesiastes 6:3-6

We must recall that Solomon’s writing is basically from an earthly perspective. Apart from God, there is no fulfillment in life. It is through our relationship with Christ and Christ alone that we are brought peace, power, and contentment.

Solomon’s book seems true for those who are without God. One could paraphrase these verses in the following way; not being born seems to be superior to an unfulfilled life. If there is no contentment, no peace, and no purpose to life, then why be born in the first place?  All die and are forgotten.

I am thankful that there is more to the story. Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again so that we may have life in abundance. Our lives have meaning and purpose because He lives.

Tony French

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