Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – February 2021, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

If you were to ask a Bible teacher what makes the Bible unique from other religious books, he would probably point to the distinction of prophecy. Most people think biblical prophecy is all about predictions of future events, but in reality, prophecy is simply the speaking forth of God’s Word. God is outside of our time-domain and is eternal, so only He is, "…the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8) Prophecy is God’s signature authenticating what is from Him. And since He knows the future, unlike pseudo-prophets and prognosticators with horrible track records, He speaks with perfect knowledge from the end to the beginning.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – January 2021, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

London Rabbi, Hugo Gryn, recounted an experience in a Nazi concentration camp in which he was a prisoner: "It was the cold winter of 1944 and although we had nothing like calendars, my father, who was a fellow prisoner, took me and some of our friends to a corner of the barrack. He announced that it was the eve of Hanukkah. He then produced a curious-shaped bowl, and began to light a wick immersed in his precious, but now melted, margarine ration. Before he could recite the blessing, I protested at the waste of food. He looked at me, then at the lamp, and finally said: 'You and I have seen that it is possible to live up to three weeks without food. We once lived almost three days without water. But you cannot live properly for three moments without hope.'"

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – December 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

In the darkest times in Jewish history, the clearest and most amazing promises of the coming Hope and Messiah were given.

Just after the fall into sin in the Garden of Eden, Eve, the mother of all, was given the Promise that her Seed would defeat the serpent, Satan (Genesis 3).

When enslaved in Egypt and on the eve of great uncertainty, Israel was given the promise of the Passover lamb’s blood sprinkled on doorposts as a sign of deliverance from the angel of death (Exodus 12).

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – November 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

The United States Army has a popular slogan used in recruiting: Be all you can be. This touches a desire deep within us all; we have this sense of our ultimate worth, but can’t seem to rise above our own natural inadequacies. Some give up on this longing to be better and give in to their baser urges, suppressing the guilt by anesthetizing themselves with drugs, alcohol and amusements. Others develop highly-sophisticated ways to "look the part" in appearing more honorable than they actually are, but this outward deception leads to a complete lack of self-awareness inwardly and proves to be empty. Still others do their best to humbly change with the help of those close to them. But the gap between what we know we should be and what we actually are is much greater than we would like to honestly admit. So how then do we answer this human contradiction?

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – October 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

In the midst of life-altering events and circumstances, we seem to be hearing the word "unprecedented" almost daily describing some new societal development. Are we currently witnessing the breakdown of our nation? Is America in the midst of a revolution? When they chant, "no justice, no peace," is it not sheer hypocrisy when injustice is being protested with gross injustice? Many marching appear to have little insight into the naked evil of the ideologies leading them. Most definitely the targeting of police is inexcusable and our prayers go out to those in law enforcement. Daily they put their lives on the line to serve and protect, even in places where their hands are tied by politics.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – September 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

The Judeo-Christian influence in the founding documents of America did not make us a Christian nation, but they did pave the way for the kind of freedoms and prosperity that have caused this nation to thrive. Principles such as the dignity and worth of all human life are found in the Bible. The Bible reveals the depraved nature of people through sin and shows the need for human government to punish crime and let healthy self-government flourish in a just system. The Bible was the main source for abolitionists of slavery to influence the public conscience in acknowledging basic God-given human value. The Bible was key in providing a clear biblical framework, influencing millions in early-American education. Monuments abound in our capitals which acknowledge the great impact of the Bible. And today that history and that greatness are being systematically removed.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – August 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Where are the majority of cooler heads in this moment? Few are being heard above the noise. Many are just silent while some are being silenced. Yet despite the vast media rhetoric, there are honest heartfelt conversations actually happening. But it just seems level-headed thoughts are not getting the attention they deserve. Perhaps we need to take the time to really listen to those around us.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – July 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

What a divide we are now witnessing within our great nation, one founded on a strong biblical foundation; with equality, certain unalienable rights, liberty and justice for all people. This solid foundation is what has made America great, even the best in the world. And now we see through the tainted lens of the newsfeed and censored social media the appearance of this great nation falling apart. But is it really? Perhaps that is what the powers that be would persuade us to believe, but that is just not true in middle America or in the church. I look at my own church body, representing nearly fifty nations, as a family. I see a group of people united, having intrinsic value, created in the image of God and saved by the blood of His Son.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – June 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

There seems to be no end to the controversy surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Disputes over its origins, its morbidity rate, flood the online and news media. The dissonance between specialist doctors and nurses who actually care for the sick and the academics of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, WHO and the CDC is profound. The growing gap between governors and enforcers of the law is of grave concern as well.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – May 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Who could have foreseen the arrival of the worldwide crisis which now shakes the earth to its core, closing business and church; uprooting ritual and routine? Who can know the next step to take, with playbook unseen, in the unchartered territory of the Covid-19 pandemic?

Talking heads have argued, wrangled and pointed fingers for weeks on every media outlet. Inflammatory websites of every kind are stirring up primal emotions with fear on the one side and anger on the other. But as a community of believers in Jesus, our concern is not in assigning blame or pushing an agenda; our hearts are focused on how to continue helping the many whose lives are in jeopardy and whose livelihoods are now threatened.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – April 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Recently a lady sitting next to me on a trip back from Phoenix was struggling with her airplane monitor. So I helped her and she was very thankful and gave me a little gift which started a conversation. She found out I was a pastor and she was very complimentary about how I must help people, counsel them, hear their troubles and listen to all their problems. She expressed her appreciation for pastors and how we help others. She mentioned how she loves people, and loves to be helpful and nice to people. It made me think and converse with her about the difference between Christianity and mere humanitarianism.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – March 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

After a long winter, I look forward to warmer weather and longer days! Just the anticipation of spring is encouraging to me. However, it also means I need to venture into my garage to undo the winter’s depository of accumulated paraphernalia. I ask myself, "How did this happen? Where did all this stuff come from?". Stacked containers of Christmas decorations await storage in the attic. My workbench is covered with a myriad of half-finished projects. Any remaining open space is home to dozens of empty Amazon boxes, the finishing touches of the winter’s residue. This clutter accumulated by simple neglect is a parable for another kind of disorder: clutter of the mind.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – February 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Heart shaped boxes of candy line the shelves of local drugstores. Commercials promise that a "diamond is forever." Magazines proclaim the mantra of a "me" generation in, "Love Yourself." Valentine's Day is this month and you probably expect me to write about love and I will, but it may not be what you are expecting.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – January 2020, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Each new year there is feeling that we are entering into the big unknown. Especially today as we are inundated by the sheer volume of information overloading our senses every hour. We have difficulty sorting out what is most important. And to complicate it more, many sense they are quite possibly being managed by sophisticated algorithms; computer equations created to slowly move a person to think the way someone wants them to think. And so where can we get clarity, awareness of reality and a clear vision in 2020?

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – December 2025, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

“God is love” is one of the most well-known statements in the Bible. But how is that love shown—especially in a world where humanity’s flaws are so evident? And honestly, do we even need Scripture to tell us we fall short? Our daily lives reveal the opposite of love:  selfish desires, impatience, and pride. This gap between a perfect God who is love and our brokenness seems impossibly wide.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – November 2019, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Wrapped in army fatigues, with gun secure in one arm; he begins his trek through the mountainous country of South Sudan. Often orphaned at a young age due to violence from tribal attacks from the north, a young man will often join the army at the tender age of 14 to protect his people from being raped, kidnapped or murdered. Although it sounds like something straight out of the movies, it is a reality for many in South Sudan today. Last month, I met a number of men with this experience who are now chaplains in the military in South Sudan.

Once hardened warriors, they now beam with joy and a heart for Jesus and a courage to risk it all for their people. Though surrounded by war and poverty and up against relentless and ruthless attacks, these men are a model of both military expertise and self-sacrifice on behalf of the many vulnerable women and children in this war torn part of the world.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – October 2019, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Several months ago some members of our church attended an event in New York City that celebrated the sanctity of life. Over 18,000 people gathered at the largest pro-life event in NYC history. ‘Alive From New York' was hosted by Focus on the Family and featured a series of speakers and a live ultrasound of an unborn baby shown on a big screen in Times Square. The baby's mother Abby Johnson is a former Abortion Clinic Director who is now one of pro-life's biggest voices.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – September 2019, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

The 90's were a pretty dark time in our nation's history. Drunkenness was epidemic. Profanity was in vogue. Women were afraid to go out at night for fear of assault. Bank robberies were an everyday occurrence. Churches were losing more members than they were gaining. Anti-Christian sentiment was at an all-time high.

Students in New Jersey rioted and burned a Bible taken from a local Presbyterian church in a public bonfire. In Princeton only two believers were discovered in the entire student body. Christian students met in secret like a communist cell and wrote their notes in code for fear of being found out. You may be thinking "That's not how I remember the 90's." It may come as a surprise, but I'm referring to the 1790's not the 1990's.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – August 2019, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

I often think about my grandmother who passed away over 25 years ago, at the ripe old age of 92. A simple woman raised on a farm; she married and raised five daughters and was left a widow by her husband's alcohol problem. After seeing her five daughters married, she lost a daughter to a stress induced heart attack at age 31.

At 60 she retired and became guardian of her deceased daughter's children. My three sisters and I were raised by a devoted Christian who took us to a small Baptist church down the road and enrolled us in Mrs. Vreeland's Bible Story Hour every Saturday morning.

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – July 2019, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

Recently the House of Representatives passed a bill called the Equality Act, which proclaims to be a protection from discrimination for the LGBTQ community. The law would expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin to now include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Ending discrimination is something everyone can agree on. No one should be discriminated against or oppressed. But that's not what this bill is really about. Calling it the "Equality Act" is just a play on words. Adding this bill to the Civil Rights Act makes it seem like it is enforcing an inherent right. But when did imposing your beliefs on others become a Civil Right?