Our preacher, Mark Stinnett, publishes articles for the church bulletin each week. These articles are designed to teach, encourage and challenge the members of our congregation. His latest articles can be found below with the most recent at the beginning of the list. Mark has archived all of his articles on his personal blog 'MicroMarks' which can be accessed at: micromarks.blogspot.com.
Preacher's Blog
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Honor in Impossible Circumstances
During the rule of the maniac emperor Caesar Nero, Peter wrote and circulated a letter among Christians in which he instructed: “Honor the king.”
In the previous article the example of Daniel was used to suggest proper attitudes and behaviors for one desiring to live out this instruction. Undoubtedly you will remember that Daniel was not the only young noble taken from Jerusalem. With him were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, better known by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Their example also provides instruction in honoring those in authority.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego had been trained so they could enter in to the king’s service. Along with Daniel, they were given important roles of authority in the service of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It is not surprising that they were in attendance when the king had gathered all the nobles of his empire to a celebration in which he unveiled a 90-foot golden image. Everyone was instructed to bow and worship the image when they heard the sound of musical instruments. There were consequences for anyone who refused to bow. Offenders would immediately be thrown into a fiery furnace to be burned alive.
Do you remember the general circumstances? Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were young Jewish nobles carried from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Their forefathers had turned away from God to serve idols. After sending many prophets, God warned that he would bring an enemy against them for their idolatry. That enemy was Nebuchadnezzar. So, the nation of Judah was captive in Babylon because of idolatry.
Unlike the brutal Assyrians who conquered nations and then intermixed the survivors, the Babylonians took other nations captive but kept them intact within Babylon. So, the Jews, for example, were able to preserve their national identity and maintain their religion and other customs.
So, Nebuchadnezzar called together all the “satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces” to view and worship his golden image. Many of these rulers would have been like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, men from other nations under the power of king Nebuchadnezzar; men who had been brought to Babylon and trained in service to the king.
Perhaps it is now clearer why Nebuchadnezzar had the fiery furnace death trap on site. Not all of his kingdom’s rulers were happy to be there. This was an occasion on which the king would assert his strength and solidify their service to him, if not willingly, then by force!
But the three young Jewish men refused to bow and were discovered and brought before the king. Though furious, Nebuchadnezzar gave them a second chance to bow. However, they refused saying that there was no need to go any further because they were not going to bow.
On the surface, the three appear to have been rebellious, and to a degree, they were. However, within their refusal to bow was a display of honor. In short, they told the king that he did not have to offer a second chance (which would have publicly mocked him and mocked his image). Theirs was a guilty plea and acceptance of their consequences. So, they first honored God in their rebellion against the king. Yet, even in impossible circumstances, these men demonstrated self-restraint and courageous humility by not making a spectacle of the king. Their boldness should not be remembered as defiance, but allegiance to God and humble honor toward the king when faced with an impossible situation.
Mark Stinnett
February 22, 2026
[Artwork: "Fiery Furnace," painting by Toros Roslin, 1266]
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Honor in Challenging Circumstances
God desires for His people to be holy. Specific applications regarding holy behavior are found in 1 Peter. According to Peter’s instruction, God’s people are to submit to governing authorities including the king and governors. Peter wrote, “Honor the king” (2:17). That was a reference to the top ruling official in the land and applies to a president or prime minister or chairman (alternative titles of top leaders).
Many Americans give little or no thought to using harsh criticism, slanderous speech, and even hate speech against elected officials. They do so hiding behind ‘free speech.’ Unfortunately, some who claim to be Christians jump on the harsh speech bandwagon and in doing so intentionally dishonor the president. God does not guarantee free speech. He expects better.
The first recipients of Peter’s letter lived under the rule of the maniac emperor Caesar Nero. So, “honor the king” meant, “Honor Nero!”
What does it look like to honor a governing official who does not honor God? The Old Testament prophet Daniel provides a beautiful example.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, king of the first world empire, marched into Jerusalem and took many valuables, but also “some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles….” (1:3) Among those taken was Daniel. He, along with three other young men, was placed under the supervision of “the commander of the officials.” In general terms, this man governed over him.
Daniel and his friends were placed in a training program after which they would enter into the king’s personal service. They were appointed “a daily ration from the king’s choice food.” (1:5) However, Daniel believed the king’s food would make him unclean according to the Law of Moses. So, he determined not to defile himself. But, as a captive what could he do?
Daniel did not cross his arms in defiance and refuse to eat. He did not make a scene by vigorously protesting. He did not lash out or conspire with his friends by harshly criticizing their supervisor or the king. Rather, he asked permission to eat a different diet that he knew would not defile him.
Some time later, after having been placed in the king’s service, Daniel had the opportunity to interpret a dream that troubled King Nebuchadnezzar. God gave Daniel the interpretation of the dream, but it was not good news for the king. Nevertheless, Daniel delivered God’s message accurately and entirely. Surprising to some is the way Daniel prefaced the message: “My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!” (4:8) Daniel had sincere respect for his pagan captor. Then, immediately after telling the king that God would bring him low and remove him from his throne, Daniel advised the king to turn from his sins by being righteous and by showing mercy to the poor.
Daniel’s examples teach us some things about submitting to authority:
- Daniel humbled himself and asked permission instead of protesting.
- Daniel told the truth, even though it was bad news.
- Daniel showed respect to his supervisor and to the king.
- Daniel displayed a genuine concern for the king and truly desired his welfare. He knew the king was a servant of God. (Cf. Romans 13:1-7.)
By honoring those in authority over him, Daniel drew attention to the God of heaven in a positive way. At all times he maintained his purity before God. By honoring the king he ultimately demonstrated honor toward God.
Honor those in authority. Your example and influence might save a soul.
Mark Stinnett
February 15, 2026
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Deception: The Subtle Lie
It came as a cautionary warning and at the same time simple instruction. I had learned from my school friends that the aluminum foil on a gum wrapper could be separated from its wax paper backing and then pressed over a penny to make it look like a shiny dime.
I showed this neat trick to my mom and told her that a person could make a lot of money using the aluminum covered pennies as dimes. That's when mom's warning came, "You know, that is deceitful."
I was 11 years old and asked the meaning of this new vocabulary word.
Mom instructed, "It's a lie even though you didn't use words." She described the aluminum covered penny as a fake or counterfeit. (I knew those words.)
My disappointment was short-lived. After all, I realized that only a naïve person would be fooled. Fake, counterfeit, lie, deception; an unforgettable lesson.
People cleverly use a variety of words and phrases to mask the reality of their lie. At a very young age we all learned what it meant to tell a lie. We learned that lying is morally wrong and generally destructive. Nobody wants to be told a lie, and nobody wants to be labeled a liar. So, it is natural to try to mask a lie.
Many people think that 'white lies' are acceptable. Many people justify lying if it is for a good reason. It is not uncommon to hear people explain (rationalize) how their lie was not really a lie, it just wasn't the whole truth (deception).
Deceit might be the worst kind of lie because it is not as easy to evaluate as a 'boldfaced lie.' Deceit is most often subtle. As in my illustration above, deceit might not use words. Where words are used, cleverly crafted communication may obscure the full truth. Deceit often involves trickery. In whatever way it is described, however, deceit is always a lie.
Numerous passages in the Psalms and Proverbs describe a companion to deceit: destruction. Deceit is destructive because it violates trust. When trust is lost family relationships are broken, friendships are destroyed, work relationships are strained. Broken trust is difficult to repair.
It is no surprise, then, that Solomon issues a clear and strong warning:
Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
—Proverbs 4:24
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
—Proverbs 12:20
Those who use deception in life carry a ‘toolbox’ full of techniques to shade the truth and manipulate the perceptions of people. Sadly, most deceivers have manipulated their perception of themselves: self-deception.
Whenever you are tempted to deceive someone, you should remember:
- God hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17). It has no part in His kingdom.
- One of the most common strategies of the devil is deception. After all, he is the father of lies. (John 8:44) Do you really want to be like the devil?!
Be wise. No lies.
Mark Stinnett
February 8, 2026
