Brief Rules for Bible Study

1. Read it through (get something definite). 2. Write it down (mark your Bible). 3. Work it out (in daily life). 4. Pass it on (tell others). via Findlay church of Christ Sparta, TN… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register),…

It’s Hard to Give it to God

[364 words] Sometimes when we go through tough stretches (often made by our own hands!), we procrastinate about turning to God. We think that because we make dumb decisions that we must always figure out a way on our own. God would help us if we would tum to Him. At least if we turned…

Attitude

[347 words] Attitude has so much to do with living the Christian life. A negative attitude will cause one to be overly critical and to see only the dark side of life. Such a perspective can be very depressing. When we see only the bad, we cease to experience the joys of being a Christian.…

Fight, Finish, Fulfill

[268 words] Second Timothy 4:7 has often been referred to as Paul’s valedictory: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” It has also been observed that this statement had something for every group of people in the first century. The idea of fighting the fight appealed…

Too Much Pressure?

[243 words] The USS Thresher was a nuclear submarine that was designed to go to great depths due to its great strength. The steel bulkheads were built to withstand great pressure from tons of sea water. But, on April 9, 1963, it went too deep during routine deep-diving tests,  and was subsequently crushed into little…

Country Music Theology

[122 words] Many people, it seems, follow a “Country Music” Theology, rather than the Bible. “The Red Dirt Road,” for example, said, “I learned the path to Heaven is full of sinners and believers.” Really? Psalm 1:5 says “sinners” are not “in the congregation of the righteous;” Jesus said He “did not come to call…

Titles

[211 words] We sure like titles don’t we? Regional Manager, District Supervisor, Vice President, Executive Director, Chairman of the Board, President. You never see a letterhead or an ID badge with “Flunky” on it! Even the low man on the to totem pole will be called “Management Trainee.” We want everyone to know we are…

The Offensiveness of the Gospel

[168 words] For millennia the gospel of a crucified savior has offended people, and it continues to do so to this very day. Some are offended at the suggestion that a crucified savior was the actual Messiah of the Jewish people. Some are offended at the suggestion that a crucified savior was the prophesied and…

Losing Our Senses

[179 words] When unusual behavior is observed in another, someone may say, “They have lost their senses.” It seems proper, based on certain observations, to say that many people today seem to have lost their senses! Some have lost their: Sense of God. More and more a practical atheism is getting around (Titus 1:16). People…

Unique Expressions

[483 words] “And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before” (Gen. 31:2). Jacob could tell by the look on Laban’s face that he was not happy with him. The expression on our face may say more than we realize. God made us social creatures who communicate not…

Unconditional Love

[230 words] “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). God’s love for His children stands unmatched by anything this world has to offer. Only the love of God can: Calm the restlessness of your soul. Heal any hatred you have…

The Coming Disaster

[389 words] The internet buzzes with sensational predictions of looming disaster. Titles read, “Collapse of the Dollar,” “Food Shortages Ahead,” “Polar Icecaps Melting,” Hyperinflation on the Horizon,” “Terrorism on the Rise” and so on. YouTube especially has numerous videos telling how to prepare for the imminent and abrupt end to life as we know it…

Dealing with a ‘Short Fuse’

[295 words] The apostle Paul reminds us that “no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13). That certainly applies to the danger of expressing wrath and anger! Anger in itself is not sinful (Eph. 4:26), but how we express it can be! Even Jesus was angry (Mark 3:5),…

Blessings We Always Have

[291 words] As my youngest daughter (who is 4 years old) prays, she inevitably expresses thanks to God for the blessings that He provides. However, when she states it, there is a truth that she adds in which many of us adults forget. She prays, “Thank you for the blessings that we always have.” It…

Fruitful Disciples: 2 Peter 1:5-9

[199 words] Because Christians have these resources (the power and the promises) Peter urges the importance (make every effort) of the goal (growth to be more like Jesus) and spells out the steps towards it: love, brotherly kindness, godliness, perseverance, self-control, knowledge, goodness and faith. Faith must express itself in action (goodness) and this experience…

Protection and Destruction in the Same Phrase

[274 words] Nahum prophesied against Nineveh over 100 years after Jonah. In the midst of words of destruction and the downfall of the superpower of that time, the prophet cannot but speak of God’s goodness as well. “The Lord is good–indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress, and he protects those who seek…

Is Your Bible ‘Red’?

[172 words] A preacher once observed in a sermon that every Christian should own a “red” Bible. At least that was what people heard He actually said, “Every Christian should own a ‘read’ Bible.” Regardless of the color, it should be well-worn by the constant study of its owner. It is amazing how little people…

Caught Talking to God

[168 words] Two boys were put in I.S.S. (in school suspension). The one boy asked, “Whatcha in for?” “I got caught talking to Bill. You?” “I got caught talking to God.” Strange how talking to God can get one into trouble, especially when you consider all the benefits it affords. Martin Luther once said, “The…

Dying Wedding Vows

[373 words] Remember when “honor and obey” was a standard part of wedding vows? Then, the feminist movement said, “No way will I vow to obey my husband!” Today, you rarely hear a couple using this worthy vow to recognize and accept the roles and relationships God established in marriage (Genesis 2:22-24; 3:16; Ephesians 5:22-24;…

What an Invention!

[188 words] I once heard of a mother who was very frustrated one day as she was hunting all over the house for her cordless phone. After several minutes of searching, her little ten-year-old son said, “You know Mom, I’ve got an idea. We should invent a phone that stays connected to its base so…

The Snowball Effect

[398 words] Much of the news this week concerned the snow storm affecting the northeastern section of the USA. Though it was responsible for approximately two feet of snow in some areas, it did not reach the extreme levels that were predicted and anticipated. I am thankful that it did not result in widespread harm…

Good News: Hope!

[273 words] The apostle Paul said it this way: “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise” (Romans 1:14). Recall that he had been brought up in, and participated in the strictest Jewish tradition. As a Jew, it would have been unthinkable for Saul…

The Untold Story: John 3:1-15

[338 words] What do we know about Nicodemus? This man Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews (v. 1), in a group that we know as the Sanhedrin. They potentially consisted of 70-72 men who made judgments concerning disputes, law-breaking, and questions. We also know, for better or for worse, that Nicodemus came to Jesus…

1000 Miles Per Hour

[230 words] The earth rotates on its axis at approximately 1,000 miles per hour. If that had been 100 miles per hour, our days and nights would be 10 times longer, and our planet would alternately bum and freeze. Under such circumstances vegetation could not live. If the earth were as small as the moon,…

Worship from the Heart

[309 words] A little boy asked his father what was the highest number he had ever counted. Replying that he didn’t know, the father asked his son his highest number. It was 973. “Why did you stop there?” wondered the father. “Because church was over.” I suspect that you have probably sat through worship services…

Help Wanted

[154 words] “I lift up my eyes to tne hills–where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). If this week you are driving along and see some hills, or you find yourself longing for some help, then remember the words of Psalm 121.…
Funny Jokes for Church Bulletin

On the Lighter Side (March 2015)

“We had a power outage at our house this morning and my PC, laptop, TV, DVD , iPad, and my new surround sound music system were all shut down. “Then I discovered my phone battery was flat and, to top it all off, it was raining outside so I couldn’t play golf. “I went to…

89 Inspiring Ways to Know Christ…or So I Thought

[484 words] There it was in the magazine rack amongst all the juicy titles: “9 Practices for Better…,” “12 Ways to Know your Man is…,” “The Scandal Comes to Light, Interview with …” This particular title stood in stark contrast to those around it. Printed above a picture of a large towering cross against a…

Receptivity

[386 words] Receptivity is the desire to hear and the willingness to accept God’s Word! The Master exhorted, “Therefore take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18). This admonition concluded His teaching about the different soils (hearts) on which the seed (God’s Word) falls. Some hearts are hard. Some hearts are shallow. Some hearts are distracted.…

‘Ole Rock’ the Mule

[367 words] Rock was one mean mule. He would chase the rest of the stock around the barn yard biting them. He especially liked to bite cows on the top of their rumps because it hurt and they would bellow. He had the best pasture in which to graze but chose the road ditch instead.…

The Wednesday Night Crowd

[312 words] As a gospel preacher I have noticed the various names that we give to our Wednesday night assembly. We have called it “Prayer Meeting Night,” “Mid-Week Bible Study,” “Wednesday Night Classes,” etc. By whatever name we choose, it is a very important time for spiritual development. It is a spiritual shot in the…

Jesus’ Deity

[163 words] Many books have been written by men concerning the deity of Jesus but there is no need to read any of them. Just read the Bible and you will be convinced that Jesus is God. Here is a simple verse that sets forth the deity of Jesus: “‘Behold! The virgin will conceive in…
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Clock Watchers

[189 words] Shortly after he opened his first plant, Thomas Edison noticed that his employees had gotten into the bad habit of watching the factory clock, which was the only clock in the plant. To the indefatigable inventor who never thought about the time a task took, this was incomprehensible. He did not express his…

Do These Verses Apply?

[554 words] People find ways to get around verses that condemn them. Two groups with different agendas use the same maneuvers to reject passages that are against them. One is the homosexual movement and the other is the feminist movement. Here are some of their arguments . “I’ll Take Jesus Over Paul.” President Barack Obama…

Out of the Mouths of Babes

[108 words] A family is riding in the family car and an ad for a current movie comes on the radio. At the end of the advertisement comes the disclaimer, “Opens Friday in a theater near you! This film contains intense thematic material, graphic violence, nudity, strong sexual situations, drug content and coarse language. May…

Make Today Great!

[337 words] The second stanza of Charles Kingsley’s poem, “The Noble Life,” goes like this: “Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; Do noble things, not dream them all day long; As so make life, and death, and that For Ever One grand sweet song.” Such is a good reminder that today…

How You Live

[203 words] I grew up with ESPN’s Sportscenter as a part of my morning routine. I always wanted to see what Michael Jordan, Tom Glavine, Cal Ripken, the Tennessee Vol football team, etc. had accomplished the night before. Stuart Scott made ESPN fun for me. At the July 16, 2014 ESPY awards, Scott remarked on…

Washed or Wet?

[73 words] Intentions make a difference between getting washed and getting wet (Matthew 3:7-9). Purpose makes a difference between getting washed and getting wet (Acts 19:1-5). The origin of the act makes a difference between getting washed and getting wet (Matthew 28:18-19). The result makes a difference between getting washed and getting wet (Acts 2:38).…

Resisting the Devil

[352 words] “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9). The United States has not won the wars we have fought…

Take a Bullet for Jesus!

[247 words] Years ago when Warren Sapp was describing his love and devotion for his coach, Tony Dungy, he said, “I would take a bullet for him–if it wouldn’t kill me.” The Bible teaches us to be so devoted to Jesus and His cause that we’d be willing to die for Him. Perhaps you’re familiar…

Anything for a Buck

[82 words] A bald man told a hair stylist that he had gone for a transplant, but he couldn’t stand the pain. He said, “I’ll give you $5,000 to make my hair look like yours.” The stylist said, ”No problem,” and she quickly shaved her head! We have to be careful that we don’t have…

My Need, His Supply

[424 words] “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of…

Awake 36 Hours Straight to Satisfy a Craving

[238 words] Some people, if you let them, will play video games to the point of exhaustion. Others practice some addiction or compulsion to their great injury . “And the people stayed up all that day, all that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail. The one who gathered the least gathered…

Kiss Someone Before You Go

[323 words] The subway train sways back and forth, its wheels screeching more fiendishly than ever against the tracks. Outside the window the freezing cold of winter rules and the dreary bay looks like a yawning abyss as the train rumbles across it. The carriage is filled with frozen self- centered, bored passengers. Good morning!…

Blessings of Being Punctual

[206 words] Growing up I was in “that family.” You know the one. The one by which you could measure yourself. My family was the “late family.” If you pulled in the church parking lot and saw the brown 1978 Toyota Celica or silver Cavalier station wagon you knew you were late. I think now…

Be Zealous for Good Works

[104 words] After bringing home their first baby from the hospital, a new mother thought her husband should try his hand at changing diapers. “I’m busy, I’ll do the next one,” he said, never looking up from the TV. The next time the baby was wet, the mother said, “Are you ready to change a…

Nostalgia

[280 words] Nostalgia has a selective memory. When we feel this, “sentimental longing” for the past we often remember the good times fondly and forget the hardships. Many hit songs use nostalgia as a theme: “Yesterday,” “Time in a Bottle,” “Those Were the Days,” “If l Could Tum Back Time,” “Yesterday When I WasYoung,” and…

Looking Unto Jesus

[223 words] If you have ever watched a choral group or orchestra, you will note one thing each member always does – they look at the conductor from time to time. This is to insure that they are in harmony and performing in accordance with the conductor’s directive. As members of the church, we make…

What About the Unfit?

[114 words] The theory of evolution declares mankind is the result of the survival of the fittest. If this is so, then getting rid of the unfit is desirable. To conquer and exploit weaker people, businesses, or countries is simply the law of the jungle from which we evolved. Mercy killings, forced sterilization, and selective…

Take Note

[132 words] Lying at your side, perhaps, Or living right next door, Or working at the desk across The company’s polished floor; Seated next to you and riding On the city bus, Or walking in the city park And making nary a fuss; Hidden from view, a smarting hurt Behind the checker’s smile, Or a…

Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

[132 words] Read Matt. 27:11-26 Do we crucify the Son of God afresh today in our careless and indifferent attitude at His table? “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine…

Christian Service

[414 words] One of the essential characteristics of a servant is “humility.” Without this trait the Christian cannot be successful in his attempt to serve. Peter says, “Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another; for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). Of interest…

Why is He Old?

[281 words] Everyone should have some interest in paleoanthropology; not necessarily that branch of science, but the word itself. Paleoanthropology is a compound word meaning “the study of ancient man.” Interestingly (at least to this preacher), the primary root words that make up our English word are found together in the Bible. For example, the…

Home

[294 words] Over the past several weeks many people have traveled because of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. During those trips many people either went home or came home. Home is an important place for many people. It is the place where either you grew up or where your parents or grandparents live now…

A People Eager to Do Good

[309 words] We are God’s people, His holy people, the church of God, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). We want to do what pleases Him; it is our new nature (2 Cor. 5:17) and our identity as His children (1 John 3:22). However, we do fail, we sin! If we…

Is There Enough Snow to Shovel?

[331 words] Several years ago I recall having awakened from my slumber to find that it had snowed a little while I had slept. It was just a ground dusting, but snow nonetheless. As I do every morning, I prepared myself for the day ahead, then I went in to get my children up and…

What Time is It?

[215 words] Ever been in a group of people and ask what time is it? How many answers did you get? You perhaps got as many answers as there were people with watches. Yet there is a place in Denver where time is correct to a split second. It is never wrong and many watches…

Who Will You Worship Sunday?

[89 words] The god of Ease? “Had a hard week, gotta rest some.” The god of Mammon? “Gotta get another dollar.” The god of Popularity? “Folks came, gotta stay with them.” The god of Pleasure? “Only day I have to hunt, fish or play.” The god of Self-Pride? “They do not do me right.” The…

God’s Only Way 

[276 words] Ever since the creation, man has sought to have his own way in religion. It started with Cain and continues today with people going in every direction but the right way in trying to be religious. People are being told they are saved when they “accept Jesus as your personal Savior” and say…

Test Your Love

[198 words] The Savior taught us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Simply put, We are to love God completely and with an undivided heart. Test yourself and see how you measure up. We wish to be in the presence…

God Forgives Completely

[142 words] The East-West Promise (Psalm 103: 12) “As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” The Stain Remover Promise (Isaiah 1: 18) ” … though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as while as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they…
Funny Jokes for Church Bulletin

On the Lighter Side (February 2015)

A proud and confident genius makes a bet with a dummy. The genius says, “Hey dummy, every question I ask you that you don’t know the answer, you have to give me $5. And if you ask me a question and I can’t answer yours I will give you $5,000.” The dummy says, “Okay.” The…

‘OMG’

[481 words] “Oh my God!” Hardly a day goes by that we do not hear someone exclaim it. You hear it at work or school, at the bank or the supermarket, and sometimes even on the church parking lot. Television, no doubt, is the chief offender, with nearly every game show, soap opera, situation comedy,…

Commitment

[301 words] In the book, Driven from Within, Michael Jordan (Hall-of-Fame basketball player) recounts an event from his life that exemplifies just how committed he was to the things that were important to him. Jordan asked to borrow a jacket from a friend before they went out to have dinner together. He was told where…

Giving God the Glory

[321 words] “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation, the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me. He delivers me from my enemies; surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man” (Psalm…

A Deer and a Blind

[318 words] It was early Saturday morning. The alarm clock went off and I jumped out of bed, excited at the opportunity to do a little deer hunting. I threw on every article of clothing I found that was camouflaged, grabbed my bow, and headed to my blind (small camouflaged tent). It was a perfect…

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

[359 words] It was a fact that Jesus was innocent. The Roman governor in charge of Judea, Pontius Pilate, so stated himself after having examined Jesus personally (John 19:4). It is also a fact that Jesus never even committed a single sin (Heb. 4:15). And yet, they fashioned the crown of thorns and placed a…

Path Determines Destination

[421 words] God created us as free moral agents. We choose the path we take in life, for good or for ill. While most of us relish our freedom, the down side is that we must take responsibility for the choices we make. I like the way Joe Fitch put it: “When you choose the…

The Seven S’s of the Savior

[164 words] Jesus came to the earth to… … Speak – “I have many things to say… He who sent Me is true ; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him” (John 8:26). … Seek – “for the Son ofMan has come to seek… that which was lost” (Luke…

Burning Your Priorities

[420 words] From Jumper Fables by Ken Davis Years ago, when I was a teenager, I sat in a youth meeting and listened to a speaker talk about identifying the important aspects of your lives. “Don’t waste your time working towards goals that aren’t really important to you,” he said. “Figure out what really is…

A Judgment Worse Than The Flood Looms!

[325 words] “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth… ” (Gen. 6:5). Before moving in judgment against the most evil and corrupt society in history, God commanded Noah to build an ark. It soon became a symbol of life and salvation to the few who believed God. Even though…

Jesus Solves Problems

[376 words] As I watched my television recently and saw people making accusations of racism and injustice, setting fire to police cars, breaking windows, and stealing from unprotected stores, one thought kept coming to mind: this country needs Jesus. If you have followed the Ferguson case at all, you probably have an opinion about it.…

Is Life Fair?

[333 words] Is life fair? Do we always have our needs met? It seems like in life we expect to be able to control every thing that happens to us. In a recent Oklahoma high school football game, the referees mistakenly erased a go-ahead touchdown because of an erroneous assessment of a penalty. The coach…

Habits Are First Cobwebs, Then Cables

[249 words] There is an old saying, “Habits are first cobwebs, then cables.” We have all experienced how true this proverb is. Some habits are ridiculously tough to form and others nearly impossible to break. If we continue building our habits, they can turn to addictions. This can either be wonderful or terrible. In 1…

Dees The Bible Really Mean This?

[238 words] “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Phil. 2:14). When the children of Israel left the bondage of Egypt one of the first things they started to do was complain. If you recall God did not deal kindly with such actions, He put them to death! Do we think that the judgment of…

God ls Colorblind

[441 words] Quite often, when someone learns that I am colorblind, they begin to quiz my ability to see colors. “What color is this?” “And how about this one-what color is this?” Colorblindness is not the same for every person that experiences it. For example, I know a man that is so red-green colorblind that…

What About Me?

[195 words] My sister is taking a meal to the sick My brother has gone a wayward one to see They both were busy, no “convenient” time to pick But what about me? They invite their neighbors to come to church Have over people with frequency and glee For good deeds they seem to constantly…

Remember Who You Are

[528 words] If you are familiar with the story The Lion King, you know the critical point of Simba’s life. He was a young lion cub destined to become the next King. But due to some tragic events, including the death of his father, and the evil influence of his wicked uncle he had left…

Are You Lying to God?

[132 words] Acts chapter five contains a familiar account. It tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira. They sold some land and gave a portion of that money to the church. Normally this would be a great deed. However, they claimed that they were giving everything to the church, most likely motivated by wanting all…

Unappreciated Love

[223 words] Doing the right thing is hard Harder than it seems it should be. I always think the right will bring me reward. And my good deeds the world will see. But most of the time it goes forgotten, No one notices my noble cares. The satisfaction I hope to receive rarely comes, It…

God’s Eternal Plan

[216 words] The purpose of our meeting at the Lord ‘s table each week is to bring to remembrance the eternal plan of God to offer His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. In the ages before Christ’s time, God ‘s people had offered animal sacrifices to have their sins rolled…

Hating is Serious Business

[494 words] Some of those reading this can recall a television show called “Our Gang.” It flourished in the 1920’s, ’30s and ’40s, but enjoyed a comeback in the ’70s. It featured a lovable group of kids who occasionally got into mischief. Viewers identified with “Spanky,” “Alfalfa,” “Buckwheat” and others of the regular cast. One…

Being Faithful

[147 words] There can be nothing more important in any relationship than faithfulness. It is the test of true devotion and love. It is the virtue that authenticates the bond and communicates an invention to “stick with” one another to the end. We value faithful friends, family members, and especially spouses as the people in…

Home Improvement

[587 words] Recently as Alice and I were traveling, we saw this bumper sticker on the back of a vehicle:‘Home Improvement Begins With the King James Bible.’ We speak of home improvement in different ways. Perhaps we are painting or remodeling our home or maybe even building a new one. There are certainly many ways…
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If Today Was the Last Day

[162 words] Imagine that today was the last day of each person you see today. Everyone you associate with at work, school, where you attend worship, your family, your friends, your acquaintances. If you knew today was their last day in this life, what might you do/say differently? How would your conversation, your actions, your…

How to Respond

[525 words] How do we respond to others when they mistreat us? With love and understanding so that we can, hopefully, share the “Good News” with them? Or do we respond with whatever the law will allow? Of course if we choose the second one, we may never have the chance or opportunity to share…

How To Identify a Lukewarm Christian

[171 words] • He has time to read the newspaper everyday but not the Bible. • He spends more time with the sports page than he does in prayer. • He spends as much for pleasure as he gives to the Lord. • For lack of study he is unqualified to teach others. • He…

Faithful Attendance

[430 words] God expects (demands) His faithful followers to worship Him. The Scriptures are emphatic in the faithful child of God reflecting their love and loyalty by coming together with the saints, to worship their Heavenly Father, on the first day of the week. While attendance at worship services is NOT the only measuring stick…

Precious to Christ

[205 words] Anytime we buy something we have to decide how important that thing is to us. There more we want something, the more we are willing to pay for it. You might want a new computer, but I doubt you would be willing to spend $ 150,000 on it. However, you might be willing…
Funny Jokes for Church Bulletin

On the Lighter Side (January 2015)

“Dear God: I bet it’s very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only four people in our family and I can never do it.” – We had just finished tucking our five kids into bed when three-year-old Billy began to wail. Turns out, he had accidentally swallowed…

The Bible’s Advice on Thanksgiving

It is very interesting to note the various contexts in which the word “thanksgiving” occurs in the Bible (NKJV). Here are just a few of the places: • In Lev. 7:11-15, it is connected with offerings and sacrifices to God. • In Psa. 26, it is connected with the proclaiming of God and His “wondrous…

Giving Thanks in ALL Things

Most of you I am sure have heard of the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville. It tells the story of Captain Ahab’s relentless hunt for the great white whale Moby dick who had destroyed his ship and bitten off his leg. Ahab was obsessed with destroying the whale—his life revolved around his resentment, bitterness…

Thanksgiving?

Paul told the young preacher Timothy concerning the eating of food, “for every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Tim. 4:4). That certainly includes the Thanksgiving meal that we will partake of in a few days. But, it seems that, in this day…

How To Observe Thanksgiving

Count your blessings instead of your crosses. Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes. Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears. Count your courage instead of your fears. Count your full years instead of your lean. Count your kind deeds instead…

Our Influence

We all have influence over others that we come in contact every day. As a parent, teacher, and youth minister, I have influence over the many youth that I work with each day. I must take this task seriously. I must think of the words that I use and the actions that I take because…

Is Your Marriage Lawful?

Marriage is a beautiful God-ordained union between men and women (Gen. 2:18,23,24). In marriage, there is a solemn vow to maintain faithfulness to one another until death. For this reason, it should never be entered haphazardly (Rom. 7:2; Mat. 19:6). Since God is the originator of marriage, He is the one who has set the…

Excuses

Man has made excuses for his behavior and actions almost since the beginning of man’s history. In the Garden of Eden, the devil tempted Eve to sin and eat the forbidden fruit. She in turn enticed her mate to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When God asked Adam if…

Thanksgiving Proclamation

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a…

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is, in the eyes of some, esteemed as the greatest of holidays. When one thinks about the idea of thanksgiving, it is easy to appreciate the holiday as some do — being the greatest of holidays. Those who are truly thankful, however, are those who were once dead, but are now alive. The Lord…

Thanksliving: “Living Your Thanks”

(Colossians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18) Remember the “magic words” we teach our children: please and thank you. Those words remain effective as long as we live, not only in regard to our human relationships, but also and especially in relationships with God. There are three aspects to consider. Receiving with thanks. “Thanks” is not payment…
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