Beds, Aren’t You Glad We Have Them!

[352 words] It was another cold rainy morning. I just wanted to go back home and curl up in my bed. Sound familiar? It got me thinking about the word bed in the Bible. The word bed is mentioned in the Bible about 108 times in the King James Version. We know that people made…

Traveling the Rocky Road

[115 words] The road is long, the rocks are large,But we needn’t go ‘round them all,For if we muscle, and keep on moving,We’ll gain more strength for the haul. The road is tough, the rocks are many,But they needn’t cause us to slip,For if we’re careful where we tread,We’ll more quickly learn how to grip.…

Age Is Not the Issue

[177 words] David was a youth when he defeated Goliath (1 Sam. 17:33). Jeremiah was a youth when he was called to be a prophet (Jer. 1:6). Timothy was a youth when Paul left him to care for the church at Ephesus (1 Tim. 4:12). We are never too young to serve the Lord. Moses…

Moving the Comma

[426 words] Alexander III was Tsar of Russia from 1881-1894. His rule was marked by repression, and in particular by persecution of Jews. His wife, Maria Fedorovna, provided a stark contrast, being known for her generosity to those in need. On one occasion her husband had signed an order consigning a prisoner to life in…

Ants

[307 words] In the fable of the ant and the grasshopper, the ant is portrayed as wise because he prepares for winter while the grasshopper lacks the common sense to acknowledge its approach and thus suffers and dies. God seemingly did infuse the ant with an instinct to cooperate and work for the common good…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 11:8-12

[51 words] “By faith Abraham __…”True or False: When God first called Abraham, He told him exactly where he was going.True or False: Isaac and Jacob were heirs with Abraham of the same promise.“By faith __ herself received strength to conceive seed…”From Abraham were born as many as the __ in multitude. Solution: Obeyed; false;…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 11:13-16

[62 words] “These all died in __, not having received the __…”The faithful in Hebrews 11 confessed that they were __ and __ on the earth.“For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a __.”True or False: The heavenly country is not as good as the earthly. “Therefore God is not __ to…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 11:17-22

[69 words] True or False: According to Hebrews 11:17, Isaac was Abraham’s only begotten.The quote, “In Isaac your seed shall be called” comes from what place in scripture?True or False: Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead.“By faith Isaac blessed __ and __ concerning things to come.”True or False: Joseph game command regarding…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 11:23-29

[76 words] True or False: Moses’ parents were too afraid of the king’s command, and therefore didn’t protect Moses.”By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of __’s daughter.”Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the __ pleasure of sin.True or False:…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 11:30-40

[85 words] By faith the walls of __ fell,  and by faith __ did not perish with those who did not believe.“For the time would fail me to tell of __ and __ and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets…”True or False: The people of God did not experience much…

Quotes and Sayings (March 2020)

“We have little control over the circumstances of life. We can’t control the weather or the economy, and we can’t control what other people say about or do to us. There is only one area where we have control–we can rule the kingdom inside. The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart.”…

On the Lighter Side (March 2020)

Now There’s the ProblemOld man comes into a restaurant, sits at his usual table, and orders the usual — matzoh ball soup. The waiter sets it down in front of him, and stands back to watch him enjoy it. But the man just sits there. “Is there something wrong?” the waiter asks. “I can’t eat…

Jesus Will Help You Overcome Temptation

[123 words] Being tempted is something we will all face; let us stand boldly against the devil and have the courage to resist temptation. Matthew wrote, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) In James 1:12 we read, “Blessed is the…

The Intelligence of the Intelligent

[194 words] There is an urban legend about a group of famous scientists who stopped for lunch at a small-town diner. Seated at the table were six of the greatest thinkers of our day. Their average IQ was in the 160s. They noticed that their salt and pepper shakers had been reversed. One with the…

How To Make Sermons Last

[272 words] A preacher posted recently that someone had commented to him, “sermons are ineffective because they are forgotten by the time people get to the restaurant after church.” This statement concerned me because I feel the person who suggested this idea to the preacher put preachers in a negative light (probably not intentionally). I,…

The Cure for All Ills

[97 words] You may have the best of doctorsWho can treat the best of menBut there’s an ill he cannot cureIt’s the ravages of sin For sickness and diseasesCan take a mighty tollBut their dark and gloomy fingersCannot reach or touch the soul But sin, with its ugly natureHarms body, mind, and spiritAnd no man…

Thanks For Ruining It For The Rest Of Us

[198 words] Oscar Wilde said, “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” I’m sure you know what he was talking about. Those folks of whom your best memory involves a door swinging shut as they walk out of it. Yet they may not be the most damaging of folks. It’s those that…

Are You in it for the Long Haul?

[458 words] A very interesting word occurs in a familiar Bible passage that helps us to understand something of our Christian lives upon the earth. The passage is Heb. 12:1-2 and the word translated “race.” “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,…

Securing Their Hearts

[387 words] How shall the young secure their hearts and guard their lives from sin? Thy Word, the choicest rules impart to keep the conscience clean! Where in the world can young people learn what is holy and pure and right? The words of that old song clearly and lovingly convey the solitary truth that…

Family in the Faith

[328 words] Throughout Paul’s missionary journeys recorded in the book of Acts, he interacts with a number of young men who variously traveled with him, ran errands for him, and continued the work in a congregation begun by him. However, while the text mentions a few of these younger preachers, the relationship Paul had with…

Seeking the Lost Coins

[521 words] During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, the British government began to run low on silver for coins. Cromwell sent his men on an investigation of the local cathedrals to see if they could find any precious metals there. After the investigation they reported: “The only silver we could find is in the statues…

God’s ‘House-Law’

[643 words] Every home has some kind of system in place to keep order. Maybe you were told to take your shoes off at the door, keep your elbows off the table, make your bed in the morning, or brush your teeth more than twice a month. Every home is different and the expectations for…

His Yoke is Light

[509 words] The commands of God are wonderful. They guide our lives and bring healing to our souls. People, however, sometimes have the bad habit of making these commands a little less enjoyable than they should be. Once the disciples were following Jesus on the Sabbath. Which is a good thing. And the Sabbath is…

The Extra Mile of Honesty

[150 words] Did you know that Abraham Lincoln went into the general store business with another fellow and it failed? Lincoln ended up $1,100 in debt. He could have pleaded divided responsibility and found a legal loophole of escape but that wasn’t Lincoln’s way. Instead, he went to his creditors and promised to pay them…

How God Speaks Through Nature

[174 words] George Washington Carver said, “I love to think of nature as unlimited broadcasting stations, through which God speaks to us every day, every hour and every moment of our lives, if we will only tune in and remain so.” There is an element of truth to what Carver said. The Bible says, “For…

A Restoration Observation

[131 words] If I want to grow watermelons in Tennessee today, I do not have to have an unbroken watermelon vine stretching down through all the millennia from the Garden of Eden to Tennessee. All I have to do is plant watermelon seeds in Tennessee today. They will produce in Tennessee today what they have…

Do You Need a Lawyer?

[133 words] I see billboards advertising lawyers. Do you need an attorney? Someone to plead your case. The psalmist said he did. “Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation” (Psalm 43:1). Because of sin, Satan, and unjust men we need an attorney to defend us today before a holy God.…

Times of Grief

[343 words] Have you ever been in such emotional pain that your heart felt like it was literally aching? The worst pain in this life is not always physical. Often times it’s the emotional pain of saying “good bye” that can drive us to our knees. It can make us lash out in anger. It…

How a Christian Should Walk

[221 words]  • “Walk while you have the light” (John 12:35)  • “Walk in the steps of faith” (Rom. 4:12)  • “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4)  • “walk…according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1)  • “walk properly” (Rom. 13:13)  • “as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk” (1 Cor. 7:17)…

Masquerade

[268 words] Some years ago, the singer George Benson had a hit song called “This Masquerade” (1976). I always thought the song was okay, but never smitten by it. The other day I heard it again for the first time. “Are we really happy here with this lonely game we play?” These are the words…

Were You Praying for Us?

[255 words] It has always been difficult for this writer to understand why half the membership of the body of Christ finds no Christian joy or spiritual satisfaction in mid-week Bible Study. During this period, we sing, pray, and study the Lord’s Book. We enjoy the spiritual presence of our heavenly Master and add another…

Say It Now!

[100 words] I would rather have one little roseFrom the garden of a friend,Than to have the choicest flowersWhen my stay on earth must end. I would rather have a pleasant wordIn kindness said to me,Than flattery when my heart is still,And life has ceased to be. I would rather have a loving smileFrom friends…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 10:26-31

[55 words] “For if we sin __ after we have received the knowledge of the truth…” True or False: Those who trample underfoot the Son of God will receive punishment. Can a person insult the Spirit of grace?“‘Vengeance is Mine, I will __’ say the Lord.”“It is a __ thing to fall into the hands of the…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 10:32-39

[52 words] True or False: The original readers of Hebrews had endured a great struggle with sufferings.True or False: The writer of Hebrews had been imprisoned.True or False: The original readers of Hebrews were stingy with their possessions.“Therefore do not cast away your __, which has great __.”“For you have need of __ …” Solution:…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 11:1-3

[59 words] “Now faith is the __ of things hoped for, the __ of things not seen.”It was by faith that the elders obtained a good __.True or False: The word of God is powerful enough to create.“By faith we __ that the worlds were framed by the word of God.”“…the things which are __…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 11:4-7

[45 words] Who offered a more excellent sacrifice than his brother?“…and through it he being dead still __.”Who was taken away so that he did not see death?Without this it is impossible to please God.Noah became an “— of righteousness” which is according to faith. Solution: Abel; speaks; Enoch; faith; heir BulletinDigest.com… We are sorry,…

Quotes and Sayings (February 2020)

[243 words] “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” — Margaret Atwood “Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” — Lewis Grizzard “Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.” Laura Ingalls Wilder “There is something infinitely healing in the…

On the Lighter Side (February 2020)

[628 words] History According to SchoolchildrenThe following excerpts are actual answers given on history tests and in Sunday School quizzes by children between 5th and 6th grade ages in Ohio. They were collected by two teachers over a period of three years. Ancient Egypt was old. It was inhabited by gypsies and mummies who all…

Fill the Year with the Fruits of Righteousness

[207 words] In Philippians 1:11 Paul records that Christians are to be filled with the “fruits of righteousness.” Of course the fruit of the Spirit come to mind with a statement like that. The fruit of the Spirit are mentioned in two passages in the New Testament: Galatians 5:22-23, “the fruit of the Spirit is…

Use the New Year to Get Closer to God

[119 words] This world is not my home. I want to go to heaven. Use this New Year to get closer to God and closer to heaven. I want to go to heaven because it is a place of beauty and splendor. Our hope is, “Laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard…

Christians and Lethal Force

[524 words] Much has been said in recent days about the “church shooting” in Texas on Sunday, December 29, 2019 ― the right and wrong of it. The initial shooter was clearly wrong. He was evil incarnate, whose history of bad choices ended in a final bad choice to take innocent human life. God’s judicial…

We Become What We Worship

[413 words] Have you ever noticed the affect culture and trends have on our lives? Think about it. Doesn’t almost every person you know own an iPhone or smart phone of some sort? Things like movies, sports, clothing, and music have great influence over people. But do you ever wonder why we’re so heavily influenced…

A Walk Down Memory Lane

[303 words] Bill drove into his hometown for one more chore. His mother’s funeral had been a month earlier. His dad had passed away two years ago. Today, he had to sign final papers to sell his childhood home. He arrived in town a little early, so he decided to take one last look at…

You’re Going To Fake It After All

[239 words] In his youth, the grandson of John Philip Sousa made large sums of money as a guest bandleader. He knew it wasn’t because of his talent. Since he shared the same name as the great American composer and conductor, he knew that is what impressed the crowds. His invites were about his name…

Help Wanted

[302 words] The kingdom of Christ has the following positions available for immediate employment: Ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20) – Must be willing to represent Christ honestly, honorably, and faithfully. Bakers (Matt. 13:33) – Must be able to add leavening properly. Farmers (Matt. 13:3) – Must be willing to rise early and sow the seed in…

Good Communication Requires Wisdom

[324 words] The root cause of conflict points back to “poor communication.” How many of us want to be “heard?” How many times do we feel we failed in a conversation? My parents would not be happy and would say to me, “You shouldn’t speak before you think!”  Forty-six years later, I still struggle to…

Dealing with Shame

[341 words] Rayden Overbay is a 12-year-old with special needs from Yukon, Oklahoma. He became somewhat famous not long ago because of the terrible way he was treated. A video of him being bullied went viral. He was bullied to such a degree—he felt such shame—that he had written, “I want to kill myself” on…

Overcoming ‘Cognitive Dissonance’

[440 words] Any person interested in religion will inevitably be exposed to new ideas he has never considered. This is a natural part of the growth process. Some ideas that seem new may actually be ancient, being rooted in sound Biblical teaching (Jeremiah 6:16). Other ideas or teachings are new because they did not come…

The Importance of Knowledge

[387 words] It has been suggested that the word “knowledge” is the key word of 2 Peter. A quick reading of Peter’s letter shows why that may be true. In the New King James Version, the word appears five times in chapter 1, once in chapter 2, and is found in the final verse of…

The Ultimate Prize

[190 words] In late 1989, Steven Covey wrote, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It quickly became a number one best seller. This book was the result of observing effective, successful people. In it, he noted that such people begin each day with the end in mind. In other words, they set important goals and…

Why Do Some Attend the ‘Optional’ Worship Services and Bible Classes?

[388 words] It has always been a struggle to get every member of the local church to attend all Bible classes and worship services. Yes, they will come to the A.M. worship service, but not to the other periods of Bible study and worship. When asked why, they will respond: “Those services are optional. They…

Suffer The Little Children to Come Unto Me

[550 words] “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.…

Maybe I Can Wait

[331 words] The Houston Airport had a problem. Over and over, a major complaint from its customers was that they had to wait too long for their bags after the flight. So the executives worked to address the issue. They added new staff, streamlined the process and were able cut wait time from as long…

Taming Life

[495 words] James 3 concerning the tongue is fascinating. In a series of word-pictures, James describes the control of large ships and the control of powerful horses by tiny, man-made devices, before stating that all the animals of the land and sea have been “tamed” by man. Then in a surprising twist, James adds, “but…

Will You Withstand God’s Refining?

[205 words] “And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?’ And the Lord said, ‘Go up against them’” (Judges 20:23). It had come to this. When God’s people…

What Would You Be Remembered For?

[222 words] “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). God would be a terrible obituary writer. You know, no matter how the person lived his or her life, the blurb in the newspaper always says glowing things about the person … but…

Perseverance and Hope for the Future

[234 words] “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). In so many ways, the very end of the Bible is a mirror-image of its beginning. Because of sin, man in Genesis is separated from God’s presence and…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 10:1-4

[62 words] “For the law, having a __ of the good things to come…”True or false: The Old Testament sacrifice were offered continually.True or false: The sacrifices of the Old Testament Law of Moses made one perfect.“But in those sacrifices there is a __ of sins every year.”“For it is __ possible that the blood…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 10:5-10

[57 words] “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a __ You have prepared for Me.”“In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no __…”“He takes away the __ that He may establish the __.”True or false: By the will of God we have been sanctified through Jesus’ death.How many times did Jesus…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 10:11-18

[52 words] How often did the Old Testament priests stand ministering?Could those sacrifices take away sin?“For by one offering He has __ forever those who are being sanctified.”What prophet does the Hebrew writer quote in 10:16-17?“Now where there is __ of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” Solution: daily, no, perfected, Jeremiah,…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 10:19-25

[54 words] “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the __ by the blood of Jesus…”Jesus consecrated a new and __ way for us.“…let us draw near with a __ heart in full __ of faith…”“Let us hold fast the __ of our hope without wavering…”“And let us consider one another in order to stir up…

Quotes and Sayings (January 2020)

“A simple “I love you” means more than money.” — Frank Sinatra “If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.” — Winnie the Pooh “Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey.” — Lord…

On the Lighter Side (January 2020)

Funny ValentineA little boy found a frog that said, “Kiss me and I will become a beautiful princess.” The boy studied the frog, then put it in his pocket. “Hey,” the frog croaked, “how come you didn’t kiss me?” “I’d rather have a talking frog than a princess any day!” NewsworthyTwo antennae met on a…

What is Your Gift to Him?

[182 words] The Christmas holidays are here upon us, and the world around us is filled with the noble notions of gift-giving. “What am I going to get my spouse?” “Will my kids like this gift?” “What can I do for my boss and co-workers?” Giving gifts is a godly behavior, and we should all…

How Bad Can I Be?

[445 words] With the winter holidays just around the corner, we will all be seeing items and hearing stories related to the season. As such, I just read about the fact that there is a website known as emailsanta.com where young ones may write an electronic letter to the North Pole. Several letters from these…

A Time to Rejoice

[301 words] Overheard at the Mall: “I just dread the Christmas season.” When I heard these words, I felt sorry for the one speaking them. To me, this time of year lifts my heart because of three nostalgic reasons.  First, I remember how my parents (especially my mother) worked hard to make this season of…

Bible Blindness

[283 words] Several videos have been published online depicting colorblind individuals seeing color for the first time, with the help of a pair of special glasses. Valspar Paint partnered with scientists and ophthalmologists from a company called Enchroma to make the seemingly impossible become a reality for the colorblind.  “Oh, look at that!” one man…

Without Restraint

[90 words] Near the end of the book of Hosea, the prophet delivers a message from God that relates to the time of the Messiah’s kingdom. That means it is a message for members of the church of the Lord.  That’s you and me. Here’s the message: “I will heal their apostasy. I will love…

Reasons to Rejoice!

[329 words] The Bible speaks a number of times regarding rejoicing. David once stated, “This is the day which the Lord has made,” and then he added, “We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). Why isn’t that just as true today as the day David wrote it? A celebrated writer once wrote,…

What Does Humility Look Like?

[220 words] If you were to encounter a truly humble person (at work, school, on the street, etc.), what would they look like?  C.S. Le wis wrote, “Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him” (Mere Christianity,…

The Christian’s Priorities

[240 words] Perhaps certain ones of us need to get our priorities straight. It may seem somewhat naive to some to say that if more professed Christians would “seek first the Kingdom of God,” fewer problems would exist in the Lord’s Church, but the statement is nevertheless true! The reason that early Christians were so…

Am I Being A Good Sibling?

[364 words] As the oldest in my family, I was held responsible for my younger siblings’ actions. There were times I would be put in charge. There were times I just happened to be with them when they got in trouble or hurt. Suddenly, it was my responsibility. I should have been watching them, I…

Through Him

[363 words] Christianity is all about our relationship with Jesus. He died for us and we are to live for Him. Upon obeying the gospel, we gain a lot of “prepositional aspects” having to do with ourselves and Jesus: we are in Him, with Him, and for Him. But there is another preposition that describes…

I-N-V-O-L-V-E-M-E-N-T Equals Church Growth

[540 words] The early church grew (Acts 2:41; 5:14; 6:1,7; 9:31; 11:24). As we read of this growth explosion, we see the key role member involvement played. Christians were spreading the word (8:4), involved in each other’s lives and in the lives of the lost around them. This is such a simple concept, but churches…

We Will Talk Face to Face

[261 words] A line like this can make us curious: “I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face” (3 John 13-14). We can’t know for sure what else John needed to say, but…

What Percentage is Enough?

[293 words] The Communications Division of Syncrude Canada Ltd. once did research on the danger of completing only 99.9% of some task. Of the many things they studied, their findings on money and the medical world will resonate with us the most (these are but a sample). If only 99.9% of the job is done……

It Isn’t Hard to Find the Flaws

[352 words] Take a moment to think about what happens in the course of a typical day. The coffee’s too hot (or not hot enough) or it tastes funny. The car in front of me is going too slow. The internet’s malfunctioning. The waitress has forgotten me. My coworker is lazy or undependable. My spouse…

I Don’t Get Anything Out of the Services

[406 words] Has worship become a lost art? I’m afraid that many of us go through the motions without ever really reaching out to God. Consequently, we tend to leave a service much as we came in. Before long there is the tendency to dismiss the whole concept of assembling for worship. At its best…

Pride

[183 words] Most of us know about a man named Haman. He was the villain of the book of Esther. Haman was a man of pride and his life shows us the truthfulness of God’s word. Proverbs 13:10 says, “By pride comes nothing but strife.” When Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman his pride…

What is a Friend?

[122 words] A friend is someone who knows us and loves us in spite of all our faults. It is someone we can depend on even when it takes great effort on their part (think “Jesus”). A friend is someone we trust, respect and depend on in times of need as well as in the…

Negative Attitudes

[169 words] Christians must not allow themselves to live with negative, faultfinding and critical attitudes. Decide to be positive and spiritual in both feelings and attitudes. Start acting the way you want to be and should be. When you take that first step, you will see major changes in your life. It is first the…

Wickedness

[245 words] There are over 200 verses in the Bible which contain the words “the wicked.” The wicked, of course, practice “wickedness” and there are 121 occurrences of this word. Synonyms for wickedness are also numerous in scripture: “evil” (533 times), “iniquity” (229), “sin” (1467), and “malice” (6). In addition to these words we read…

The Twig

[257 words] “Just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.” — Alexander Pope, 1734. With all the education, all the psychoanalysis experts, and other so-called advancements in child raising, most of us parents still haven’t grasped what Alexander Pope was saying. If we want a straight growing tree, we make sure the tree is…

What Is Your Life?

[143 words] Life truly begins once you become more loving, proud and boastful of others, than you ever are of self. When you see the needs and desires of others as foremost and any of your own as an afterthought. When you recognize that any beauty in the mirror is pale in comparison to the…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 9:1-5

[43 words] “Then indeed, even the first covenant had __ of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.”“For a __ was prepared…”Name three things in the sanctuary.Behind the second veil was the __ of All.Name three things that were in the Ark of the Covenant. Solution: ordinances; tabernacle; lampstand, table, showbread; Holiest; manna, Aaron’s rod, tablets…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 9:6-10

[79 words] “The priests __ went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.”How many times a year did the high priest go into the second part of the tabernacle?True or false: the high priest offered a blood sacrifice for both his and the people’s sin committed in ignorance.True or false: The sacrifice…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 9:11-15

[55 words] “But __ came as High Priest of the good things to come…”True or False: The greater and more perfect tabernacle is not of this creation.How many times did Christ enter the Most Holy Place with His own blood?Jesus is the __ of the new covenant.The promise under the new covenant is an  __…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 9:16-22

[60 words] “For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the __ of the testator.”“For a testament is in force __ men are dead…”True or False: The first covenant was dedicated without blood. “For when Moses had spoken every __ to all the people according to the law…”True or False: Without shedding…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 9:23-28

[89 words] “Therefore it was necessary that the __ of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”True or False: Christ entered into heaven itself to appear in the presence of God for us.“…not that He should offer Himself __, as the high…

Quotes and Sayings (December 2019)

[214 words] “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” — Bill Vaughan “We meet today To thank Thee for the era done, And Thee for the opening one.” — John Greenleaf Whittier “Now there are more overweight people in…

On the Lighter Side (December 2019)

[132 words] Punny New Year A New Year’s resolution is something that does in one year and out the other. Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up for New Year Eve, middle age is when you’re forced to. My New Year’s resolution is to help all my friends gain ten pounds so I look…

Thanksgiving All Year Long?

[345 words] On November 11, 1620, about 102 settlers aboard the Mayflower arrived in the New World, and there was nothing to greet them except the harsh reality of a New England winter. Within five months, over half their number had died of starvation, cold, and disease. How amazing, then, that these “pilgrims” could still…

What Should We Really Be Thankful For?

[171 words] The Apostle Paul encourages us with these words: “Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to Him through God the Father” (Colossians 3:17). As we examine this text, we see that prayer is a constant event in the life of…

Thankful, Even in Chains

[149 words] Many hearts turn toward the concept of thankfulness during this time of year, and rightly so! God has provided an abundance not only of the physical things we need (Acts 14:17; 17:25; Matt. 5:45; 6:25-33), but also all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3), which we need more. He is indeed a…

‘My’ Religion

[565 words] A famous country singer told how she got religion. When she was a child, her mother said the Holy Spirit told her that her daughter had a special gift. When she grew up and started singing, she said the gift had to come from God because she didn’t get it from her mother…

Healing A Broken Heart

[310 words] “We spend the first half of our life making friends, we spend the second half of our life burying them.” — Unknown How many of us have said “goodbye” to a friend or family member at the funeral home? I find myself attempting to provide comfort to others and watch people I care…

Mimicking a Viper

[384 words] What looks like a Gaboon viper, sounds like a Gaboon viper, and acts like a Gaboon viper? A Gaboon viper, of course. Also, the Congolese giant toad. With its two-inch fangs, the Gaboon viper is one of the largest vipers in Africa. The Congolese giant toad can be found only in the same…

Be Dependable!

[465 words] One of the hamstrings of most every church is a lack of dependable Christians. When Christians do show themselves undependable, they contribute so much to a church: much frustration, disappointment, and friction. We should all be dependable. You probably know little about Shelemiah, Zadok, Pedaiah and Hanon. Little is said about them. But…

Use Me, Lord

[235 words] Most of us will live on the earth between 70 to 90 years. Why are we here? To fear God and keep His commandments according to Ecclesiastes 12:13. Why should be care? Because He will bring every work into judgment along with every secret things (Eccl. 12:14). With this in mind, we should…

He Came

[435 words] It was toward the end of March in 2006. A tragedy took place in a small west Tennessee town. The news of the tragedy quickly spread through the town, across the state, and then throughout the nation. The various news networks in our nation reported the news of this unreal event near the…
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