Easter Sunrise Service 2025
January 23, 2025Note: Scripture references are from the New International Version of the Bible (NIV) except as noted. This is the full text of the message but certain passages were omitted on the day, for brevity. Introduction: Good morning, everyone. My name is John Rains, and I am the pastor of Hope House Ministries, a non-denominational ministry that began…
Does the Bible Teach Reincarnation?
April 28, 2025The question of reincarnation — the belief that souls are reborn into new earthly lives — often comes up when we talk about what happens after death. Recently, during a conversation, someone asked me directly: “Does the Bible teach reincarnation?” It’s an important question because what we believe about life, death, and eternity shapes how…
When Righteousness is a Shell: The Pharisees and the Motte-and-Bailey Fallacy
April 25, 2025In today’s culture of argument and opinion, it’s easy to spot flawed reasoning in the world around us. But some of the most dangerous fallacies are not new at all. In fact, they’re ancient—and Scripture shows us that even the most religious can fall into them. One of these is known today as the motte…
A Reflection on Christian Faith
April 15, 2025At its core, Christianity proclaims a message of hope: that no individual or society is beyond redemption, and that transformation is possible through divine love. The story of Jesus’ resurrection is, in Christian belief, a testament to life conquering death, hope triumphing over despair, and reconciliation defeating alienation. Christian faith is both deeply historical and…
Strength in Surrender
April 3, 2025We live in a world that teaches us to be strong, to hold it all together, to push through every trial with our own strength. But in the kingdom of God, strength looks different. It’s not found in how hard we fight, but in how fully we surrender. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Apostle Paul…
The Warrior’s Code: Living by the Code of Christ
March 29, 2025Back in December, I wrote about the idea of “Living by a Code.” Lately, I’ve felt compelled to expand on that theme—especially in a world where ethics and morality seem to be fading fast. What once anchored society now feels negotiable. But for those who follow Christ, our code is not up for debate. It’s…
“Close” Isn’t Close Enough
March 27, 2025Scripture: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”—Matthew 7:21 (NIV) We’ve all heard the saying: “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” It’s a humorous reminder that “almost” doesn’t really count—except in rare exceptions.…
Luke – The Historian
March 7, 2025Continuing my reflections on influential figures in the Bible, I turn to Luke—a physician, historian, and the author of two key books of the Bible: the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Although not one of the original twelve apostles, Luke played a crucial role in documenting the life and ministry of…
Heart Posture: Straighten Up
February 22, 2025I recently noted that when the disciples asked Jesus, “Teach us how to pray” (Luke 11:1), they were seeking more than a formula; they wanted the kind of deep intimacy and dependence on God that characterized Jesus’s own prayer life. This desire points to the idea of “heart posture.” What does “heart posture” mean? In…
A Christian Message on Prayer
February 21, 2025Prayer is a personal conversation with God, the Creator of all things, who loves you deeply. But are we ever taught how to pray – I wasn’t. But scripture shows that this may have been an issue even in Jesus day. In Luke 11, the disciples come to Jesus and request, “Lord, teach us to…
Dealing with Loneliness: A Biblical Perspective
February 17, 2025Loneliness is a deeply human experience that we all face at different points in our lives. Whether it’s the feeling of being physically isolated or emotionally distant from others, it can be painful; I know this from a personal experience and, as I get older, the pain and emotions grow stronger. But the Bible offers…