Only One Right Way

[237 words] There is only right and wrong. In true religion, there is only one right way, and that way is made plain in the Bible. King David learned this. His decision to have an adulterous affair with Uriah the Hittite’s wife was wrong. His adultery with her violated God’s law in the Ten Commandments…

He is Always the Majority

[228 words] Abraham Lincoln understood that while he was in charge of a democracy, his office wasn’t one. Once at the end of a disagreement with his cabinet, he announced the vote, “Seven nays, one aye; the ayes have it.” He was the one aye and that was all that mattered. Some folks have got…

Eat This, Not That…Maybe

[217 words] Many of us are trying to “eat right”, but it can often be difficult to figure out what is really good for you. Products have all kinds of health claims on the label but how do you figure out which ones are really true? Well, that is why the FDA has a website…

Finding True Power

[365 words] People sometimes look in the wrong place to find power. Sometimes, folks look for power in the teachings of human beings. We humans are sometimes amazing. But, when it comes to true power we suddenly find ourselves unable to do very much. The teachings of Confucius are great, but are not divinely inspired…

The Angry Man

[352 words] “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare” (Proverbs 22:24-25, ESV). When I was growing up, I had a friend with whom me and a couple of other hung around. He was a good fellow,…

Wisdom is Obeying God

[336 words] Jonah heard the call of the Lord. “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me” (Jonah 1:2). Jonah, however, made an executive decision to ignore those clear instructions. By doing so he became one of the premier Biblical examples of what not…

Responding When You Are Blessed

[199 words] How do you respond when you’re blessed? Did you respond gratefully when someone said something nice to you, or did something for you? I hope so. 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…

A Life Without Disease

[195 words] At the time of this writing, I just got the news that another relative of mine has left this life due to Covid-19. Wouldn’t it be great to wake up tomorrow and read this headline? “Covid-19 Now Cured!” But despite the great gains medical science has made, disease and death is still a…

Lessons from a Skunk

[146 words] Back when I was a teenager, I and my brother were helping my dad with his lake cabin. While I was unloading some plumbing supplies, Gary was pulling off some trim from the crawlspace. Suddenly, my brother let out a yell, and a distinctive smell filled the air. It was the smell of…

No Excuses

[227 words] On September 26, 2021, Elijah Saolo was about to win the Quad Cities Marathon in Illinois. As he sprinted down the final stretch, not only was he in the lead, he was on pace to set a record time!  But then, instead of turning right and following the designated path, he went straight…

A Dogged Servant

[297 words] If you were to go to the Shibuya train station in Tokyo, Japan, you would see a bronze statue honoring a dog named Hachiko.  Hachiko was born in 1923. His master was a professor at the Tokyo Imperial University. The professor would commute home on the train, get-ting off at the Shibuya train…

Be Like God!

[404 words] The self-help industry has grown by leaps and bounds. Books, videos, podcasts, life coaches all claiming to teach you how to live and make your life better. I know that if you are like me, you have heard people complain about their lives. I hear complaints about how complex life is and how…

Who Do You Like More: Barnabas, or Ananias and Sapphira?

[426 words] My kids are into asking me who I like more in movies and literature (for example, Anakin Skywalker or Obi-Wan Kenobi; Harry or Hagrid, etc.). We ask questions like this and compare names occasionally, but usually it doesn’t involve a comparison of one who has a good reputation with someone who doesn’t. It’s…

How to Be More Productive for Christ

[146 words] Start with the Root. Become well grounded in Christ and His word. Make sure He is the foundation of everything you think and do. Establish yourself in His principles. Grow a Shoot. A shoot is a new growth on a plant. Develop your talents and grow in a new direction. Keep feeding on…

The Bible Is Right!

[421 words] Willie Cato’s book, “His Hand and His Heart,” is about the wit and wisdom, dedication and sacrifice of the beloved Marshall Keeble. “Brother Keeble,” as he was affectionately known, was one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century. I highly recommend that you read about this great servant of God, listen to…

What Can We Do to Prevent Apostasy?

[143 words] We need to appoint and support faithful elders who will properly oversee the flock (Acts 20:28-32). We need to be busy now training other leaders to take their place. Consider Joshua’s training and the influence it wielded (Joshua 24:31). We need to learn again proper respect for the Word of God (Psalm 119:9-16).…

A Big Name

[257 words] When Walter P. Paepeke started a carton company and called it the Container Corporation of America, his attorney said it was “a big name for such a small company.” Mr. Paepeke’s reply was, “We’ll take the name and grow into it.” That’s the task we have before us. We have taken a big…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 3:21-24

[93 words] “Beloved, if our heart does not __ us, we have __ toward God.”True or False: John writes that whatever we ask of God, we receive from Him.Christians have their prayers answer because of two reasons. What are they?“And this is His __: that we should __ on the name of His Son Jesus…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 4:1-6

[103 words] “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but __ the spirits, whether they are of __; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”“Every spirit that __ that Jesus Christ has come in the __ is of God,”True or False: A spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 4:7-11

[93 words] “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of __; and everyone who loves is __ of God and knows God.”“He who does not __ does not know __, for God is love.”True or False: The love of God was shown by Him sending His Son into the world.“In this is love,…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 4:12-16

[79 words] True or False: No one has seen God at any time.“By this we know that we __ in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His __.”Did John see that God had send Jesus into the world?“Whoever __ that Jesus is the __ __ __, God abides in him,…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 4:17-21

[100 words] “Love has been __ among us in this: that we may have __ in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.”True or False: There is no fear in love.“We __ Him because He first __ us.”“If someone says, “I love God,” and __ his brother, he…

Quotes and Sayings (October 2021)

[326 words] “Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” — Henry Ward Beecher “Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to…

On the Lighter Side (October 2021)

Let’s Get CookingA new survey found that 80 percent of men claim they help cook Thanksgiving dinner. Which makes sense, when you hear they consider saying ‘that smells good’ to be helping. This morning, my wife said she wanted me to help fix Thanksgiving dinner. I said, “Why? Is it broken?” Q: How do you…

Concealed Carrier

[488 words] To get your concealed carry permit for a firearm in Kentucky, you can expect to undergo a background check, complete gun safety training, and pay a fee. There is a minimum age requirement, and there are other conditions to meet while holding a permit (which can be revoked or suspended). Did you know…

Unemployed Christians?

[360 words] We continue to see unprecedented job opportunities in our nation and locally. It almost seems employers are literally begging people to work. We can find work if we are seeking. This is especially true in the work of the church.   Someone once told me, “there should never be any unemployed Christians.” Much…

Criticism and the Beehive

[249 words] It is said that someone reported to Abraham Lincoln that Edwin Stanton, one of the President’s cabinet members, had referred to him as a fool. Mr. Lincoln replied, “Well, I must check into that, for I have found that he is usually correct in his judgments.”  This indicated President Lincoln’s great capacity to…

‘I Am’ Able to Help You

[316 words] Each of the “I am” statements of Jesus in the book of John displays an important aspect of how He can meet our true needs. When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), He stated that He can sustain our souls forevermore. He is that which nourishes and satisfies. When…

Forgetfulness

[277 words] Ever forget something? Sure you have. If it is any consolation, you are not alone. All of us can forget and often do.  Some years ago, a researcher from Johns Hopkins University compiled a list of what we forget most often. At the top of the list was names (83 percent), followed by…

Delight

[127 words] To “delight” in something is to experience great pleasure. It is to be pleased by someone or something. Scripture tells us that God delights in His Son (cf. Isa. 42:1; Matt. 3:17). In like fashion, we should too! Knowing and following the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, should delight those of us…

Are We That Helpless?

[548 words] I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Of course, we say that about a lot of what we hear these days. This time I was in a waiting room where health tips were given on a screen—how to lower blood sugar, getting better sleep and dealing with other common problems. Then a lady…

What Works Best for You?

[192 words] Let me share an interesting way to get out of conflict. You could look the other person in the eye and ask, “What works best for you?” Okay, I get this isn’t the most popular option – and that you might rather walk on hot coals than concede anything to someone who is…

What Would You Take For It?

[363 words] When my dad bought me something or gave me something he knew I really wanted, after a period of time, he would grin and say, “What would you take for it?” Knowing I wouldn’t part with whatever gift he had bestowed upon me, he liked to test me and reassure himself he had…

Please Pass the Bread

[85 words] According to the Bible: • Consuming bread is for nourishment (2 Cor. 9:10) • Receiving bread with the right attitude brings satisfaction (Pro. 20:13) • Enjoying bread lifts one’s spirit (Psa. 104:15) • Dealing with bread is a daily endeavor (Matt. 6:11) • Breaking bread indicates fellowship (Acts 2:42, 46) • Sharing bread…

Abraham’s Early Mornings

[363 words] I am not really a morning person. I loathe early alarms. Most days, it takes me a while to really get going. If, however, the day promises something out of the ordinary and pleasant, like the beginning of a vacation, I’ve been known to wake up before the alarm clock goes off. But…

Five Wise Sayings for Life

[381 words] I love sitting and listening to older, wiser folks than myself. I love history and learning it from people who loved it. There is something about sitting on a porch swing with someone old in days who has seen so much change and endured so much through their walk in life. The proverbial…

Spurt and Sputter Religion

[219 words] Did you ever have a car that would run well for a short spurt and then the motor would sputter? It appears that some folks have a spurt and sputter religion. Something will stimulate their interest and they will have a spurt of enthusiasm. For a while they will be seen at all…

Without

[121 words] Without Jesus as the FOUNDATION, the structure of righteousness is built on sand.  Without the TEACHINGS of the NEW TESTAMENT, the body of Christ has no guide to direct in a dark world.  Without BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP properly in place, the body of Christ is no longer, each member going his own way, doing…

The God of the Impossible

[291 words] Amy Brockman worked as a ski instructor for the more prestigious ski areas in the world. This allowed her to train for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team while earning a living.  One day a beginning skier accidentally skied into Amy, knocking her into the path of the lift chair. The operator didn’t see…

I Am the Only One!

[346 words] Have you ever felt like you were alone? Maybe at work you felt like you were the only one who does any real work. We can feel isolated like we are the only one going through struggles. The devil uses these feelings to break us down and attack us. We start to feel…

Shelter in the Storm

[391 words] A young man named Gus was taking a walk through the English countryside one day in 1753 when a sudden storm swept across the landscape. Running for cover, he spotted a wide rock formation with an opening where he sought shelter until the storm passed. He had been fortunate to find this hiding…

Nothing But the Blood of Jesus

[398 words] Robert Lowry composed both the words and music of the beautiful hymn, “Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus.” In the hymn we are asked, “What can wash away my sins?” and “What can make me whole again?” Each time we respond, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” In Lowry’s hymn we sing of…

Worship God

[335 words] Fact One: We are worshiping God! Fact Two: God sees our worship! Fact Three: Being conscious of these facts should greatly impact our worship! Fact One: We are worshiping God! When we sing, we sing “to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). When the lesson is taught, we are studying to present ourselves “approved to…

Inconvenient

[368 words] Power was off at the house and church building (and other places) Sunday night until about eleven o’clock Monday morning. Inconvenient! I came into work Tuesday morning ready for a day of working on sermon and class notes and found that the power had knocked out the church internet and phone lines. Inconvenient!…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 3:1-3

[76 words] “Behold what __ of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called __ of God!”Does the world know Christians?Is it possible to know that we are children of God?“…and it has not yet been __ what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 3:4-9

[81 words] What word does John use to define sin?“And you know that He was __ to take away our __, and in Him there is no sin.”“Little children, let no one __ you. He who __ righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”True or False: A person who makes a habit of practicing…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 3:10-15

[75 words] True or False: If you do not love your brother, you are of God.The message that John says they heard from the beginning was to __ one another.“Do not __, my brethren, if the world __ you.”“We know that we have __ from death to life, because we love the __. He who…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 3:16-20

[83 words] True or False: John says we know love because Jesus laid down His life for us.“But whoever has this world’s __, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his __ from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”“My little children, let us not love in __ or in…

Quotes and Sayings (September 2021)

“Do not waste time bothering whether you “love” your neighbor; act as if you did.” — C.S. Lewis “To love someone means to see him as God intended him.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky “I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” — Henry David Thoreau…

On the Lighter Side (September 2021)

Mental Age Test This test was developed as a mental age assessment by the School of Psychiatry at Harvard University. Take your time and see if you can read each line aloud without making a mistake.  The average person over 50 years of age cannot do it. 1.  This is this cat.2.  This is is cat.3.  This is how…

Loose Leaf Paper and #2 Pencils

[278 words] “Parents that treat the church as optional, shouldn’t be surprised when their children treat Jesus as unnecessary.” — Unknown “Going back to school” is once again upon us! In our part of the world, August always means “school” will soon be starting! Education was always important to my parents, especially my father. My…

Mourning Without Moaning

[202 words] In His “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). Did you see that? Read it again just to make sure you got it right. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” There you have it; what Jesus…

Time Management

[289 words] Living the way God wants us to live requires the proper consciousness, commitment, and management of time. Paul exhorted, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is”…

Open Your Eyes and Heart, and You Will See

[235 words] There is a theory among some Christians that maybe God created the world and the things in it through the organic evolutionary process. This is an obvious attempt to combine macro evolution (being taught in our public schools) and the Bible. But if we read the Bible carefully, we see that this cannot…

That Little Extra

[143 words] At 211 degrees water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling comes steam. Steam when channeled correctly can re-move stains, kill weeds, disinfects, and can even power an engine. One degree makes all the difference. In the Bible Jesus states, (Mat 5:40-41), “If someone wants to sue you in order…

The Mediation Of Christ

[519 words] The Master said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ is our Savior, our Mediator, our High Priest, and our Advocate. Jesus Christ is our SAVIOR. The angel directed Joseph to “call His name Jesus, for He will…

‘My Precioussss…’

[470 words]  Gollum/Smeagol is one of my favorite literary characters in Tolkien’s Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Gollum talks to himself obsessively over the One Ring—even after he loses it in the deep caverns of the Misty Mountains. He constantly seeks his “precious” ring which Baggins finds. While Peter writes some two thousand…

Are You A Good Listener?

[251 words] James tells us that we should be a people who are “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). There is certainly a gift that can be learned in becoming a better listener. James is concerned with the anger of man, within the context of this particular verse, when he…

What Can One Person Do?

[291 words] Nearly eight billion people now inhabit this planet! What difference can one person (you) make? Oh, sure, the President of the United States is only one person, but he can make a huge difference. A multi-millionaire can make a noticeable difference. But ordinary folks like you or me – do we really matter?…

What You Can’t See

[345 words] Sometimes I know when I’m in error. I’ve been around enough to know the sins that I am most tempted by. When my willpower fails and I commit one of these sins I know immediately afterward that I did wrong. God, forgive me for “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”…

The Word Of God Is…

[286 words] Powerful: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes…

Signs of Grace

[370 words] Paul began his second letter to the Thessalonian church with these encouraging words, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly…

When It Comes to Jesus, Never Assume

[196 words] It was about 8:30 when the rather fierce-looking father of the girl entered the parlor where the young man was courting her. The father had his watch in his hand. “Young man,” he said, “do you know what time it is?” “Y-y-yes sir,” stuttered the frightened lover, as he scrambled out into the…

Help in Time of Sadness

[322 words] Numerous are the occasions that may cause us to feel the emotion of sadness. Seeing someone we love make sinful choices will break our hearts. Seeing someone we love go away (either temporarily like moving or permanently like dying) will cause a wellspring of tears to overflow. Scripture prepares us to expect times…

The Gospel Message in “Modern” Language

[588 words] Language is constantly changing (and not always for the better!). With texting and posting on social media have come a whole host of abbreviated words and phrases. I do not know them very well, but I do know a few of them. Likely you do, too. Using some of them, let me offer…

Lessons from a Messed Up Church

[591 words] Corinth was a busy metropolitan city in the days that Paul helped start the church there. But Corinth also had a much-deserved reputation for moral bankruptcy. Folks who were in the practice of using prostitutes were said to have “Corinthianized.” This term later came to be used to describe moral decay in general.…

Can Our Conscience Be Our Guide?

[316 words] “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another” (Romans 2:15). You may have been told, “Let your conscience be your guide.” The conscience sits in judgment of man’s actions. According to Romans 2:15…

Giving Thanks

[209 words] The Apostle Paul gave us an important charge. He said: “Always and for everything give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father” (Ephesians 5:20). This means going to God in prayer and thanking him for what He has given us. And doing this every day. The word…

Two Battlefronts

[581 words] A Christian friend from a third world country told me, “America is in a war.” That war is inside our land. It is a moral and spiritual conflict. We have been saying this for years, and we sense it now more than ever. To hear someone who was raised in such a different…

We Gather Together

[438 words] As a young teenager, I was introduced to the song, “We Gather Together.” Some of you may remember it as a song used to celebrate Thanksgiving. I never really gave it much thought until this week when it came to mind as I read a bulletin article on worship. I googled the song…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 2:12-14

[72 words] True or False: John wrote to children, fathers, and mothers.“I write to you, little children, Because your sins are __ you for His name’s sake.”“I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the __.”True or False: John wrote to the young men because they have “overcome the wicked…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 2:15-17

[52 words] “Do not love the __ or the __ in the world.”“If anyone loves the world, the love of the __ is not in him.”What are the three types of temptations John says is in the world?True or False: The world will never pass away.“…but he who does the __ of God __ forever.”…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 2:18-23

[93 words] True or False: There is more than one antichrist.“They went __ from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have __ with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”“But you have an __…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 2:24-29

[86 words] True or False: Those who have the word of God abiding in them also will abide in the Son and in the Father.“And this is the __ that He has promised us—__ life.”True or False: No one was trying to deceive the Christians to whom John was writing.“And now, little children, __ in…

Quotes and Sayings (August 2021)

[238 words] “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” -Milton Berle “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” -Thomas Edison “Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.” ― Elisabeth Elliot “We need never shout across the…

On the Lighter Side (August 2021)

[181 words] Miniature GolfIt was at a miniature golf course on a brutally hot day when I saw a father with 3 kids. “Who’s winning?” I asked cheerfully. “I am” said one. “No, I am” said another. “No,” the father said, “their mother is!” Well That Makes SenseVacationing in Vermont, I picked up the local…

Equal Before God

[510 words] “There is no partiality with God” (Rom. 2:11). “All men are created equal” (Declaration of Independence). People are different and life is not fair. No government program can change this. These may be cold hard facts but they are the truth. God did not make everyone the same. He could have made us…

H.O.P.E.S

[519 words] One of the great needs of the church today is for our members to be more evangelistic. We have more people living in our world today and yet fewer people becoming Christians and being involved in the life of the church. There are people all around us, we have neighbors, co-workers, family, and…

Things for Which We Must Pray

[392 words] It’s a simple enough title and concept, but for each season and busy opportunity in our lives, there ought to be a reminder, “this is something for which I MUST pray” (Ps. 55:7; Zech. 8:21; 1 Thess. 5:17). Here are some things God’s people need to be lifting up and praying about NOW: …

Times Change

[354 words] Most of the time, change is good. We all want to grow, get stronger, learn more, see more places, etc. Certainly we are aware of the fact that our methods and tactics must change and adapt when we become ineffective. We must take advantage of opportunities as they are presented. On and on…

What a Pitcher!

[187 words] Last November, Lindy McDaniel passed away. If you look him up in the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, you will notice that he was well-known in baseball circles. His pitching career spanned 21 years (from 1955-1975). He was an amazing relief pitcher who “saved” many games.  Wikipedia makes one additional brief mention. It states: “He…

God Already Knew

[162 words] After a week of binge drinking, a man stumbled home, drunk, sick, and weak. As he fell into his bed, he asked his brother who was a preacher to pray for him. The brother agreed and prayed, “O Lord, please help this old miserable drunken fool…” When the drunken man heard this, he…

Why Should I Attend VBS?

[235 words] Vacation Bible School is upon us again and you may be asking, “Why should I attend VBS?” VBS is another opportunity for spiritual growth! Jesus established His church as a community of His followers to worship God, encourage one another, and spread the Good News. Attending VBS will allow you to grow closer…

Behold, I Thought; Now I Know

[287 words] Despite being a leper, Naaman the Syrian army commander retained his pride. Didn’t his status merit a dramatic healing ceremony from Elijah? “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal…

A Different Spirit

[403 words] At Kadesh Israel caught a terminal case of “the grasshopper complex” from the ten faithless spies. The reports of giants and walled cities blinded them to the greatness of God and deafened them to His promises. What a sad day in Israel’s history! Moses wrote, “we were like grasshoppers in our own sight,…

The Endurance Test

[68 words] 1. “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) 2. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9) 3. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that…

“Listen” to the Sky

[64 words] Each and every shining starTestifies from vast afarAll the planets do agreeThe moon joins in with unityThe marching clouds e’er proclaimAs does the sun with heat and flameThe brilliant sky and all beyondShouts “it’s through God that we spawned” “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”…

Empty Spaces

[396 words] Empty space gets filled. Have you never noticed this phenomenon when you move into a larger house? You think to yourself “oh, I’ll have so much room now!” But no…as time goes on various things encroach upon that space. You thought you were going to have a home office? Joke’s on you when…

Warning!

[154 words] 9:00 a.m., 1:42 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9:40 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. During the course of April 14, 1912, the R.M.S. Titanic received six warnings concerning icebergs. She received the last warning only 40 minutes before her collision. Six warnings! All of which were ignored! As a result, 1500 passengers and crew…

The Good Confession of Romans 10:9-10

[395 words] “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved” (Romans 9:9-10). When Bobbie was 9 years…

Everyone Needs a Sword!

[340 words] Growing up I often played with sticks, gift paper cardboard rolls, and basically anything that could have even resembled a sword. Thinking back, I realize that the image of a sword was something that I was exposed to in literature, TV, movies, and video games. Shows like Zorro, He-Man, Star Wars, Thunder Cats,…

When the Water is Still

[339 words] I went fishing for a couple of hours recently, caught one fish, and learned a lot. I drifted into a daydream as the ripples kept a steady rhythm on top of the water. As I thought a little deeper, I thought of the little ripples in the pond as kind of like the…

If You Stand Firm

[287 words] Paul was worried about the brethren in Thessalonica. He barely had any time with them before circumstances have driven him from the city. Paul had wanted to return to them but Satan had kept that from happening. All he really wanted to know was ‘were they faithful”? Finally, when he receives the news…

Wrong Revenge

[336 words] In September of 1982, relatively healthy people around the Chicago area began dying unexpectedly. Soon it was discovered they all had been poisoned with cyanide ingested from Tylenol they had taken. Panic ensued.  Tylenol was taken off the shelves and police searched for any clues to who had done the tampering. Authorities asked…

The Fear of the Lord

[419 words] I read a devotional thought earlier this week that made me stop to consider for a little while longer (Selah). It is a thought I have struggled with for a time now and a thought I share with you in the hopes that it will cause each of us to consider more deeply…

Stand Fast

[415 words] According to the American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, the phrase “stand fast” means, “to be firm or unyielding.” It also reveals that: “This idiom, dating from the early 1600s, originally was applied to an army holding its territory against the enemy.” The phrase “stand fast” occurs in our English Bibles, as well. Actually…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 1:1-4

[90 words] True or False: The apostle John says he was a witness of all the things about Jesus.“That which was from the beginning, which we have __, which we have __ with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have __, concerning the Word of life”“…and declare to you that eternal…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 1:5-10

[90 words] “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is __ and in Him is no __ at all.”Can one walk in darkness and at the same time have fellowship with God?”But if we __ in the light as He is in the light, we have…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 2:1-6

[88 words] True or False: John says he is writing these things to Christians that they may not sin.“And He Himself is the __ for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole __.”True or False: If we claim to know Him, but do not obey His will, we are lying.“But…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 2:7-11

[94 words] “Brethren, I write no __ commandment to you, but an __ commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the __ which you heard from the beginning.”“…because the __ is passing away, and the true __ is already shining.”True or False: If you hate your brother, you are still…
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