From the Home Place

December 8, 2025

On our way to church yesterday morning, there was a beautiful sundog in the eastern sky. It was located north of the sun, which is usually read as cold weather on the horizon. If a sundog is south of the sun, warmer weather can be expected. Yet, over my years of walking across this ‘ol ball of dirt, sundogs seem to indicate more of a change in the weather, rather than specific colder or warmer. A sundog seems to be a warning that a change is coming.

Here in our area, we have a change coming, the wind is going to blow at speeds that would be talked about on the national news if they were to occur in any place other than Wyoming. Here, a 70-mph wind is more of an inconvenience than a national weather alert.

In Matthew 16:1-4, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees and Sadducees that He should give them a “sign from heaven.” Jesus replied by affirming their ability to read a red sky, but that their “evil and adulterous generation” would not be getting any special sign from heaven.

Jesus had been healing various diseases, casting out demons and had forgiving sins, yet these leaders did not believe that Jesus was truly who He said He was – the Son of God! Today, the Holy Spirit is still doing amazing things in and through His bride, the church. Yet, just like in days of old, the “authorities” refuse to believe that Jesus is alive and well.

Today, we too, regularly meet people who say that they cannot believe in God without a specific sign. Usually in these conversations they build their argument upon the negatives, not on positives. Such folks say things like, “I can’t believe in a God who would allow a little one to die.” Or they argue, “I can’t believe in something I can’t see.” And then there is the argument of, “If God was real, science would prove it.”

So here we are today, with the same kind of folks Jesus dealt with in His time, “an evil and adulterous generation.” An “evil” generation is one that is consumed with self. An “adulterous” generation is one that will “sleep with,” that is to join with, anyone who will help them advance their selfish motives.

In the times of Christ, the Pharisees and Sadducees came with a personal agenda, with a pre-formed opinion about the validity of Jesus. And as the Bible so clearly states, “there is nothing new under the sun.” Judges 21:25 concludes with these words, “In those days there was no king in Isreal; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Perhaps this last statement best describes our present generation. Everyone seems to be an authority about everything, much like the Pharisees saw themselves. It’s funny how people have always been the same, generation after generation.

So, I conclude today’s writing with a comment based upon the first two words from my favorite verse of Scripture, “But God.” (Eph. 2:4) Regardless of how highly any of us who are alive today value our personal opinions, God will one day soon show Himself to be exactly who the Bible says He is, “Almighty God!”

Looking forward to the return of Christ with you, Neal