‘The Church Has Let Me Down’

[115 words] Does this describe the way you feel? If it does, let me warn you. Don’t expect to get more out than you put in. If you choose to stand aloof from the church, refusing to participate in her programs of work, fail to support her financially, and only occasionally attend worship services, the…

A Christian Pledge of Allegiance

[33 words] I pledge allegiance to the Fatherof the united saints of the kingdom,and to the Redeemerby Whom we stand,one Body, unified in Spirit,indivisible,with liberty and charity for all Author Unknown… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register), have yet to…

The Time to Trust

[27 words] When nothing whereon to lean remains,When strongholds crumble to dust;When nothing is sure but that God still reigns,That is just the time to trust…. We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register), have yet to confirm your email address (Check…

Special Times

[72 words] There are times when we let favors go unmentioned.When we leave a warm and loving word unsaid,There are times when we forget our kind intentions,When we’re wrapped up in our private world instead– But though we often fail to show our feelings,We hope the ones we love will somehow know–And that’s why there…

Take Time

[100 words] Take time to laughIt is the music of the soul.Take time to thinkIt is the source of power.Take time to playIt is the source of perpetual youth.Take time to readIt is the fountain of wisdom.Take time to prayIt is the greatest power on earth.Take time to love and be lovedIt is a God-given…

The Unerring Guide

[71 words] I have a proved, unerring Guide,Whose love I’m loth to grieve;He brings me golden promisesMy heart can scare receive;He leaders me, and hope and cheerDoth for my path provide,For dreary nights and days of drought:Have you not so sure a Guide?Quench not the faintest whisperThat the heavenly dove may bring;He seeks with holy…

Teach Me to Obey

[48 words] I do not ask to understandThe way Thou leadest me,But this I ask: Teach me to doThe thing that pleases Thee.I want to know Thy guiding voice,To walk with Thee each day.Dear Master, make me swift to hearAnd ready to obey Author Unknown… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and…

Consider

[90 words]      ConsiderThe lilies of the field whose bloom is brief:—     We are as they;     Like them we fade away,As doth a leaf.      ConsiderThe sparrows of the air of small account:     Our God doth viewWhether they fall or mount,—     He guards us too.      ConsiderThe lilies that do neither spin nor toil,     Yet are most fair:—     What profits all this careAnd all…

If God Should Go on Strike…

[192 words] How good it is that God abovehas never gone on strike,Because He was not treated fairin things He didn’t like. If only once, He’d given up andsaid, “That’s it. I’m through,I’ve had enough of those on Earthso this is what I’ll do: I’ll give my orders to the sun,cut off the heat supply!And…

A Hymn of Morning Praise

[135 words] O God, inspire our morning hymnOf love and gratitude;Oh, bless the sacrifice we bring,Thou Source of every good.Thy miracle of love so sweetPreserved us all secure;While helpless in unconscious sleep,Thy presence kept us pure. ’Tis blest to rise, O Lord, and joinWith nature’s minstrelsy;To hymn Thy praise at early morn,And offer thanks to…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 8:1-6

[69 words] “When He opened the __ seal, there was __ in heaven for about half an hour.”How many angels are said to stand before God in this section?What object did the angel hold who came and stood at the altar?“And the smoke of the __, with the __ of the saints, ascended before God…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 8:7-13

[79 words] At the first trumpet, __ and __, mingled with __ were thrown to the earth.What was burned up during the first trumpet?“Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great __ burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became __.”What was the name of the…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 9:1-12

[95 words] When the fifth angel sounded the trumpet, what fell from heaven to the earth?What came out of the smoke that arose from the bottomless pit?“They were commanded not to harm the __ of the earth, or any green thing, or any __, but only those men who do not have the seal of…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 9:13-21

[64 words] “Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four __ of the golden __ which is before God…”Where were the four angels bound?How much of mankind was killed by the plagues?For their power is in their __ and in their __; for their tails are like __, having heads;…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 10:1-7

[119 words] This mighty angel was clothed with a __.“He had a little __ open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the __ and his left foot on the __, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars.”How many thunders uttered their voices?“__ up the things which the…

Quotes and Sayings (July 2022)

“One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” — George Herbert “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” — Jim Valvano “A father is a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he meant to be.” — Frank A. Clark “If…

On the Lighter Side (July 2022)

A mangy-looking guy walks into a very classy restaurant and orders a steak. The waitress says: “I’m sorry, but I don’t think you can pay for your meal.” The guy admits, “You’re right. I don’t have any money, but if I show you something you haven’t seen before, will you give me my supper?” The…

Tragedy in Uvalde, Texas

[256 words] Inevitably, when bad things happen to good people, folks ask “why?” and “where was God when the bad thing happened?” At the time of the writing of this article, we have had several tragedies in the Unites States. The one closest to home was the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where nearly 20 people…

It Is My Body

[451 words] Abortion is likely the leading discussion in the spring of 2022. It may very well be for some time. Abortion is the murder of a living child in the womb, and is supported by many. Supporters of abortion do not want to call this action murder. They want to have all believe that…

The Unopened Love Letters

[276 words] “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,” is perhaps one of the best-known lines of poetry ever written. But do you know the story of the creator of those words? Elizabeth Barrett was a poet who lived many years with her parents. Her father was bizarre. He had forbidden all…

The Toddler’s Creed

[288 words] Children are special people, especially toddlers. They have a rather unique view of the world. Someone has shared this insight into their thinking, called, “The Toddler’s Creed”: If I want it, it’s, mine. If I give it to you and change my mind later, it’s mine. If I can take it away from…

The Mirror

[204 words] I don’t like mirrors. Mirrors make me look fat. They make it seem like my hairline is in full retreat. Mirrors make my face older, my hair thinner, my shape more rounded. I don’t know what is wrong with these mirrors. I know what you are thinking, you are going to say there…

Why Your Family Needs to Be in Worship

[241 words] It is important for family to worship together. The God who created each and ordained marriage and the family knew the importance of families worshiping together. To a woman who had miserably failed in her family life, Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the…

Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership

[136 words] People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies.Succeed anyway.  If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.Be honest and frank anyway. What…

Am I Strong?

[338 words] How do I know if I am strong? There are numerous ways to measure physical strength. One example of a physical strength test would be the bench press. Each year at the NFL combine players demonstrate how many times they can press 225 pounds. Fifteen to twenty-five times seems to be about the…

A Judgment Jesus Reserves for Himself

[519 words] I know of no congregation of the Lord’s church that can claim perfection. If churches are composed of people, they will have their problems. It is true that we are saved people (Acts 2:47), holy people (1 Pet. 2:9), and sanctified people (1 Cor. 6:11). But we are also weak people (Matt. 26:41)…

Self-Pride

[464 words] How easy it is for us to become puffed up and prideful. We all have talents and areas in our lives where we excel. We receive complements, awards, promotions at work, and other recognition for the good job that we may have done. Each of us at one time or another have probably…

Summer Plans

[404 words] It is coming faster than we would think, and not soon enough for kids in school! Summer is near, and that means a whole different kind of busyness for a lot of families. Vacations, camps, travels, and family reunions quickly fill up the calendar (if they haven’t already)! Consider three ideas to help…

Watch Out for the Traps

[349 words] Once there was a little fly who saw a spider’s web in the corner of the room. “I’ll fly away from it,” he thought; “For if I should get one foot in it I might get two, and soon I would be caught all together.” Wasn’t this little fly a wise fellow? In…

The Threefold Witness of Good Character

[447 words] In 3 John 12, we have reference made to a fine Christian individual. In fact, this short verse is all that is said of this man of God, but what is said of him and the standard he sets is truly amazing. The verse begins by saying of him, “Demetrius has a good…

When You Are Blessed

[195 words] How do you respond when you are blessed? Do you respond gratefully when someone says something nice to you, or does something for you? Picture a wife who spends two hours making a delicious meal for her husband because she wants to give him something special. The husband eats it without comment and…

The Great Transition

[243 words] Making big changes or transitions in life can often usher in things like anxiety, apprehension, and even down right fear. Moving from one stage of life to the next can be really hard. I think one of the most difficult transitions comes between adolescence and adulthood. Making that transition well is super important.…

Memorial Day

[247 words] “Since the first shots fired in the Revolutionary War, Americans have answered the call to duty and given their lives in service to our Nation and its sacred founding ideals. As we pay tribute to the lives and legacies of these patriots on Memorial Day, we also remember that they sacrificed to create…

A Man of Many Hats

[336 words] Have you ever heard the phrase “He is a man of many hats”? I can remember hearing this growing up. I remember thinking how funny a man would look with a stack of hats on his head. The real meaning goes back to the days when everyone was wearing hats and different professions…

In the Doing of It

[427 words] Nothing will motivate us more than becoming better at what we do. As we dedicate ourselves to having Jesus at the center of our thoughts, our actions, and our words, we will begin to be motivated by “Christ being formed in us” (Gal. 4:19). This does not happen by accident but it has…

God and the Big Bang

[300 words] I was surprised to learn the Big Bang Theory is credited to Georges Lemaître (1894-1966), a Belgian Catholic priest. It’s concerning that an alleged “man of God” promoted such rubbish. Lemaître postulated that the observable universe began with the explosion of a single primeval atom. Aside from contradicting God’s Word (Genesis 1:1), this…

Beauty and Substance

[87 words] Beauty is skin deep, but it does not even exist at skin level when a woman of beauty fails to understand her role in the Lord’s eyes. She is like a ring of gold in the snout of a pig because she lacks discretion (cf. Prov. 11:22). What does “discretion” mean in this…

Have You Stumbled?

[78 words] Stumbling is considered a bad omen in many countries. When Napoleon’s horse stumbled as he led his army to attack Russia in 1812 many of the French soldiers thought they should immediately turn back. Napoleon continued the advance, but it turned out his soldiers were right. When it comes to faith, stumbling is…

Thieves of Time

[28 words] Dwelling on past mistakes…Failing to make decisions…Failing to follow through on plans…Procrastinating…Laziness…Not sticking to the task at hand…Doubting God’s ability to help…… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register), have yet to confirm your email address (Check your email),…

Because of Sin

[78 words] Our Lord arrived at the Gardenwith darkness in full array, He poured out His heart to the Father,as He fell on His face to pray.He was carrying a heavy burden,And from it He must not run.  With love He promised faithfullynot My will, but Yours be done.The cup of the cross was bitter,yet…

Let All Creation Bless the Lord

[130 words] Let all creation bless the Lord,till heaven with praise is ringing.Sun, moon, and stars, peal out a chord,stir up the angels’ singing.Sing, wind and rain! Sing, snow and sleet!Make music, day, night, cold, and heat:exalt the God who made you. All living things upon this earth,green fertile hills and mountains,sing to the God…

Today

[123 words] I shall do so much in the years to come,But what have I done today?I shall give out gold in princely sum,But what did I give today?I shall lift the heart and dry the tear,I shall plant a hope in the place of fear,I shall speak with words of love and cheerBut what…

There is a Green Hill Far Away

[122 words] There is a green hill far away,outside a city wall,where our dear Lord was crucifiedwho died to save us all. We may not know, we cannot tell,what pains he had to bear,but we believe it was for ushe hung and suffered there. He died that we might be forgiven,he died to make us…

Just a Weaver

[84 words] My life is but a weaving,between my God and me,I do not choose the colors,He worketh steadily. Of times He weaveth sorrow,and I in foolish prideforget He sees the upper,and I the underside. Not till the loom is silent,and the shuttles cease to fly,will God unroll the canvas,and explain the reasons why. The…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 6:7-11

[84 words] The fourth seal revealed a __ horse.What was the name of the one seated on this horse, and who followed with him?“And __ was given to them over a __ of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”“When He opened the __ seal,…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 6:12-17

[65 words] When the sixth seal was opened, there was a great __ and the sun became __ as sackcloth.“And the __ of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree __ its late figs when it is shaken by a __ wind.”What receded as a scroll?Men tried to hide themselves in the __…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 7:1-8

[53 words] Verse one mentions three things that are numbered “four.” What are they?“Then I saw another __ ascending from the east, having the __ of the living God.”“Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the __ till we have __ the servants of our God on their __.”How many were sealed?From how many…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 7:9-17

[75 words] “After these things I looked, and behold, a great __ which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the __ and before the __…”They wore white __ and had __ branches in their hands.“These are the ones who come out of the great __, and __ their…

Quotes and Sayings (June 2022)

“Let us go singing as far as we go; the road will be less tedious.” — Virgil “The misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never happen.” — James Russell Lowell “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” — Mark Twain “What one has,…

On the Lighter Side (June 2022)

A farmer was driving along the road with a load of fertilizer. A little boy, playing in front of his house, saw him and called, “What’ve you got in your truck?” “Fertilizer,” the farmer replied. “What are you going to do with it?” asked the little boy. “Put it on strawberries,” answered the farmer. “You…

Tragedy in Uvalde, Texas

[256 words] Inevitably, when bad things happen to good people, folks ask “why?” and “where was God when the bad thing happened?” At the time of the writing of this article, we have had several tragedies in the Unites States. The one closest to home was the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where nearly 20 people…

A Mother’s Love

[328 words] There was a widow who was trying to raise twin sons on her own. When the boys turned 18 and graduated from high school, they thought they could do whatever they wanted. So they stopped going to church and started going out at night to some very unsavory places. Their mother kept begging…

Happy Mother’s Day!

[312 words] In the passage on “the worthy woman,” it is noted, “Her children rise up and bless her” (Proverbs 31:28a). The King James Verson expresses the thought this way: “Her children arise up, and call her blessed.” Mothers are special. In a Peanuts comic strip, Charlie Brown said, “Everyone needs someone to love them,…

Who is My Mother?

[540 words] Mother’s Day can be a challenge for many. After all, some mothers do not want to be mothers but are one anyway. Some mothers have aborted their babies and regret it and others have disowned their children and do not care. Some women want to be mothers but for one reason or another…

Which Sea Are You Like?

[217 words] In Palestine there are two seas that are mentioned in the Bible: the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is fed by the Jordan River, and the Jordan River flows out of it. This water system supports many fish and supplies fresh water to thousands of people even…

Thankful for the Gospel

[425 words] Gospel = Good News. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news that sinners can be saved! Thanks to the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, sinners like you and me have hope because we can be cleansed of our sins and made righteous in the sight of God.…

Showing Honor to the Son

[472 words] Jesus’ ministry was known as a ministry of many things. It was a ministry of healing (spiritual and physical), teaching and preaching, redemption, justification, reconciliation and suffering. But it was also a ministry of controversy. Why was Jesus’ ministry so controversial? While there are many reasons for such, the following will provide some…

A Bad Obsession

[217 words] In Psalms 37:1 we read, “Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.” It’s a good warning because that is exactly what we do. Think about it. How many times do we see folks that are beside themselves about worldly shenanigans? They obsess about the evil they see to the…

Sincerely Wrong

[313 words] “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s…

Promises to Make to Your Child

[296 words] There are some very interesting promises that God, as our heavenly Father, has made to each of us. And since He has made such promises to us, we as parents ought to use them as an example of the promises we should make to our children all through their lives. I promise to…

Three Great Principles

[241 words] Life is Tough. Job observed that man has but a few days, and they are full of trouble. Jesus said that each day has its own evil. The wise man Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes about the subject…Heaven is not on earth. Nothing is ever as good as we think or as…

What Are You Talking About?

[483 words] So, what are the last words you say when you are leaving others? I find myself often ending a phone conversation with family members by saying, “Goodbye, I love you.” Those words are not just meaningless words, but are intended to remind those who are so precious to me that I cherish them.…

If We Would Just Communicate

[356 words] One of the chief sources of problems and difficulties that we will most regularly deal with in our lives, comes from communication, the lack thereof, or the misunderstanding thereof. Marriages fail because husbands and wives stop communicating. If they do communicate, they do so in the wrong way or they misunderstand each other…

Nobody is a Nobody in the Family of God

[199 words] If you have ever read Romans 16:1-16, you will see a list of people Paul wished to commend for their work in the church. The vast majority of them are individuals of whom we have no additional details concerning their lives or service in Christ. But Paul wanted to honor them for their…

Four Reasons to Attend Every Service

[201 words] We assemble together because God has provided a place for salvation and learning. If you study the early days of the Lord’s Church you will see that they understood what it truly meant to give up of self and the value of assembling with the saints. Here are four reasons we should attend…

Wednesday Night Bible Study

[250 words] Adam grew up in the church. His parents were both Christians from the day he was born. He attended Sunday Bible class, his family went to worship God on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and then on Wednesday nights. They were a very happy Christian family. Then something happened. Adam started school and his…

It’s All About the Lord

[49 words] The Lord’s people,having been baptized with the Lord’s baptism,cleansed with the Lord’s blood,and added to the Lord’s body,gather around the Lord’s table,in the Lord’s name,upon the Lord’s day,to remember the Lord’s death and resurrection,until the Lord comes. Are you the Lord’s? Edd SterchiBroadway church of ChristCampbellsville, KY… We are sorry, but this content…

Self Improvement Requires a Better Model

[45 words] Regarding improvement, Oliver Goldsmith once said, “People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy after.” How true! That’s why God gave us the perfect model to follow (Rom. 8:29) instead of the example of the world (Rom. 12:2). BulletinDigest.com… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual…

Twelve Givers in the Bible

[208 words] The Willing Giver, Abraham, who offered his only son (Genesis 22:1-19). The Big Little Giver, the widow, who in giving two mites, gave all she had (Mark 12:42-44). The Stingy Giver, Saul, who wanted to offer the spoils of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 14:17-23). The Sacrificial Giver, David, who refused to give that…

Even Dirt Gets to Rest

[486 words] We are busy! It doesn’t matter whether young or old, employed or retired, there is a lot going on in our lives. Sometimes, we can feel overwhelmed and on the brink of burn out but just keep going on. Before that happens, or if that is how you feel right now, consider these…

A New Tomorrow By the Power of God

[443 words] In a dream our minds create as we go. Landscapes, people, everyday objects…all these are made in an instant. Granted, they are imaginary, but have you ever considered how impressive that is? Sometimes what your mind makes is so convincing that, upon waking, it takes you a couple of seconds to realize that…

Some Things Cannot Be Changed

[474 words] Some time back the writer was getting a bulletin ready to print at the West Concord Church of Christ. He was using John Priola’s name for some announcement. The computer did not recognize the name Priola, and it suggested changing the spelling to one of the following: Preload, Oriole, Pergola, Premolar, Portola, Prolix,…

HEAVEN is a place of…

[6 words] HealingEternityAbundanceVictoryExcellenceNewness Edd Sterchi… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register), have yet to confirm your email address (Check your email), or we have not received your payment yet (if paying by check). Register Already a member? Log in here…

We’ll Praise the Lord

[124 words] We’ll praise the Lord for sins forgiven,Praise Him evermore;Till earth has passed away forever,Christ we will adore. We’ll praise the Lord for full salvation,Hearts made pure and free;We’ll praise Him for a blest infilling,And for victory. We’ll praise Him for a church triumphantHere on earth below,Where every soul is made, in Jesus,Whiter than…

A Servant’s Prayer

[166 words] Make me a servant, Lord. Give me a servant’s eyes,Able to see the slightest needs of those around me. Let me have a servant’s ears,Tuned to detect the softest cry of helpfrom the lowliest person. Give me a servant’s voice,One which speaks words of comfort andcheer to those in despair. Give me a…

In Sweet Communion

[116 words] In sweet communion, Lord, with TheeI constantly abide;My hand Thou holdest in Thine ownTo keep me near Thy side. Thy counsel through my earthly wayShall guide me and control,And then to glory afterwardThou wilt receive my soul. Whom have I, Lord, in heaven but Thee,To whom my thoughts aspire?And having Thee, on earth…

Living and Giving

[176 words] Whatever you give away todayOr think or say or doWill multiply about tenfoldAnd then return to you. It may not come immediatelyNor from the obvious source,But the LAW applies unfailinglyThrough some invisible force. Whatever you feel about anotherBe it love or hate or passion,Will surely bounce right back to youIn some clear or…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 4:6-11

[64 words] “Before the throne there was a sea of __, like __.”What were the four animals the living creatures were compared to?How many wings did each of the living creatures have?“__, __, __, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”“You are __, O Lord, To receive glory and __ and…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 5:1-7

[91 words] How many seals were on the scroll?“Then I saw a __ angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is __ to open the scroll and to __ its seals?’”In this section Jesus is called the __ of the tribe of Judah and the __ of David.“And I looked, and behold, in the midst…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 5:8-14

[77 words] “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living __ and the twenty-four __ fell down before the Lamb…”The golden bowls full of incense represented the __ of the saints.“And they sang a __ song, saying: “You are __ to take the scroll, And to open its seals;”“Worthy is the __ who…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 6:1-6

[79 words] The first seal revealed the image of a __ horse.“He who sat on it had a __; and a __ was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”What color was the second horse?“And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take __ from the earth,…

Quotes and Sayings (May 2022)

“A mother is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning unnecessary.” — Dorothy Canfield Fisher “Men are what their mothers made them.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” — W.S. Ross “All that I am, or hope to be,…

On the Lighter Side (May 2022)

I told my doctor that I broke my arm in two places. He told me to stop going to those places. — Once there was a man who went to an exotic country and came across a stall selling handmade handheld fans. He asked for the prettiest and longest-lasting one and the owner charged him a…

God Is Fighting For Us!

[321 words] “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses…

What to Do in Uncertain Times

[211 words] During an earthquake that occurred many years ago, the inhabitants of a small village were very alarmed…and at the same time surprised at the calmness and apparent joy of an old Christian lady, whom they all knew. At length one of them, addressing the elderly lady asked: “Aren’t you afraid?” “No,” she replied,…

Sending Messages Through Worship

[360 words] Long before e-mail and long before texts, people were sending messages. Solomon sent a message to Hiram, asking him to provide lumber for the building of the temple (1 Kings 5). Hiram answered with his own message, “I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs” (1 Kings 5:8). John…

Ten Things to Do When People Make Mistakes

[481 words] “Nobody’s perfect!” You’ve heard it. You’ve thought it. You’ve probably said it. Unfortunately, we seem to often find ourselves on the receiving end of the imperfection. Sometimes the mistakes are not that big of a deal—putting pickles on a plain burger or calling you by the wrong name. Other times the mistakes are…

Two Things That Trouble Me

[182 words] There are a couple things that concern me when I observe some Christians in today’s times: How much of the world is in them and how little of the Bible is in them. I believe that there is a correlation at work here: the less of the Bible that one knows, the more…

A Truly Global Outlook

[602 words] The world is getting smaller. We constantly hear about globalism—global economics, global politics, global environmentalism, and a host of other world interests. It is time that we tell others how to look at the world rather than letting people who are not even Christians and who don’t know the Bible lecture us about…

The Beauty and Power of Hope

[306 words] Viktor E. Frankl is one of those rare and special individuals who survived Hitler’s concentration camps. He went on to become a well-respected psychiatrist in his time after the war. Frankl dedicated his life’s work to exploring and sharing the necessity and influence of meaning and hope. Frankl observed that the people who…

A Tough Parable

[498 words] Most of Jesus’ parables are easily understood; they cut straight to the heart of his point. For example, the message of the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27) is simple and clear: foolish people hear only, while the wise ones hear and do. But a few of Jesus’ parables leave…

Grasping Hope

[346 words] Charles Spurgeon, a well-known denominational preacher of 19th century, related in one of his sermons the story of a sailor who fell overboard amid a great storm and the thrilling rescue that followed. As soon as the cry, “Man overboard!” was sounded the crew flew into action determined to save their shipmate from…

Have You Seen the Sea?

[262 words] Once upon a time there was a young fish that heard other fishes taking about the sea. One day he thought, “I will go and find the sea.” He searched for a long time but could not find it. Then he met another fish, and asked, “can you tell me where I may…

Facing Our Own Monsters

[183 words] Did you know that Melville’s Moby Dick was loosely based on a true story? In 1819, the whaling ship, Essex, left port from Nantucket to sail to the Pacific Ocean via Cape Horn. The crew took several whales without incident. Then one day, a massive whale hit the ship head-on. The giant then…

Can I Borrow Your Rope?

[392 words] A farmer came and asked his neighbor if he could borrow his rope. The neighbor said, “No, I can’t let you borrow it.” “Why not,” he replied. “Because I’m using it to tie up my milk.” “But you can’t tie up milk with a rope.” “I know, but when you don’t want to…

God’s Design in the World Around Us

[271 words] In the late 1700’s, a fellow named William Paley gave an illustration about how we look at the world around us. He said that if you were walking through a field and came across a watch on the ground, you would not think that watch came about naturally. Instead, you would recognize that…

Measuring Our Love for God

[543 words] While there is definitely an emotional component to love, true love is not merely emotion. True love is also a decision. It is a deliberate act of the will. The Bible reveals some measuring sticks by which we can determine whether or not our love for God is as deep as it could…

Proper Punctuation

[208 words] I have always thought we need more punctuation marks. As it is, we really only have three ways to end a sentence. Even those are fairly new. The question mark came about in the middle ages when scholars would write the Latin “quaestio” at the end of a sentence to show that it…

People Like Us

[448 words] We believe the book of First Peter was written about 30 years after the time of Jesus. The people to whom Peter wrote were a lot like us. They were people who had to base their faith on what they were told by preachers, like the apostles, and what they could read in…
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