Blog - Page 37 of 44 - Bulletin Digest

On the Lighter Side (June-July 2016)

Lunch Time Joey: “I don’t want to take my little sister fishing. Last time I didn’t catch a single fish.” Mother: “I’ll talk to her. This time she won’t make any noise.” Joey: “It wasn’t the noise. She ate all the bait!” Click It or Ticket A lady who was speeding was pulled over to…

How The Devil Works

The worst enemy of man is Satan. His goals are wicked; his ways evil. In the Bible the devil is called “a roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), and “that old serpent” (Revelation 20:2). Do we know how he works? The Bible says he works by: Telling lies (John 8:44). Satan told Adam and Eve, regarding…

Shepherd Style Evangelism

The world has been changed by shepherds… They shared their experience. They told everyone they met, they couldn’t stop talking about Jesus and what God had done for them: “When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this Child” (Luke 2.17). Question: Are we sharing Jesus with…

Rumors

Some time ago, Dr. Albert Cantril, a professor at Princeton University, conducted a series of experiments to demonstrate how quickly rumors spread. He called six students to his office and in strict confidence informed them that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were planning to attend a certain university dance. Within a week, this completely…

Characteristics of Good Bible Teachers

A good Bible teacher carefully examines the Master teacher’s life and methods. Here is a partial list. Consecration: A teacher must be dedicated to the task of teaching as well as to the Christian life (Gal. 2:20). Love: A faithful teacher has a strong love for God, His holy word and the Lord’s church (1…

Good Advice

In the blink of an eyeEverything can change.So forgive often, andLove with all your heart.You may never knowWhen you may not haveThat chance again…. We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register), have yet to confirm your email address (Check your email),…

Motivation Inspection

If you are a Christian, probe the deep recesses of your heart and determine what’s motivating you to follow Jesus. What’s driving you? Is it fear? Fear has undoubtedly turned many people from their sinful ways. The thought of “the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10) has a way of humbling the proudest of people…

Jesus Loves Me (Senior Version)

Jesus loves me this I know Though my hair is white as snow. Though my sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in Him. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so. Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His…

Cause for Celebration

“It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32). Following both World Wars our nation celebrated! We did not necessarily celebrate the battles won, but the return of those brave men and women who went off to foreign lands…

God’s Plan Revealed

God had a planned the church before the creation of the world (Ephesians 3:10-11). But it was not made known until “the dispensation of the fullness of times” (1:9). The “dispensation of the fullness of times” is a statement filled with meaning. Jesus was sent into the world by the Father “in the fullness of…

A Matter of Perception

It is not a secret that people may have a different perception of the dame thing. Some people are always looking down only seeing the mud; others are always looking up seeing only blue skies. Now which perception is right? Well, in a sense they are both right because they only see what they are…

Wasting Time

I have heard others say, myself included, “This is a waste of time?” How do you define wasted time? By what standard or what measure do you utilize to determine if the use of your time has been worth it or wasted? For example, I have a friend who thinks he is funny. He always…

For The Love of Money

Ananias and Sapphira lied to God about the price of the land they had sold. They died for their greed (Acts 5:1-11). King Ahab pouted like a baby when Naboth refused to sell him his vineyard, so Jezebel killed Naboth and gave the land to her husband. But this evil pair paid for their covetousness…

Perfection

Christians struggle with the concept of perfection. We associate perfection with sinlessness. However, the New Testament word has reference to completeness. The word “teleios” is found 19 times in the New Testament and is translated “perfect” every time in the King James Version. While rendered “perfect” on several occasions in the New King James Version,…

Greetings

When you think of your home congregation, what are some words you would use to describe it? Active, warm, loving, sincere, giving, evangelistic or cold, dead, apathetic, stuck in a rut, cliquish. Part of how your home congregation can be described is directly related to your role in that same congregation. If you are consistently…

Burnt Biscuits

When I was a child, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned biscuits…

A Valuable Teacher

A little more than ten years ago, I went through a rather difficult time. I had noticed a small knot on my neck, went to the doctor, and was diagnosed with having a tumor in one of my salivary glands. According to what the doctors told me, tumors in this particular salivary glad typically have…

Combating Consumerism

As I sat eating lunch at Subway today, my view outside reminded me how much we have come to depend on the services that are provided to us. Restaurants of all types compete to feed us tasty meals. Doctors want to improve our health, while gas stations keep our cars running. Where would we be…

Lights In the Darkness

(from Ephesians 4-6) Lights in the darkness are Christians who: • Walk worthy of their calling (4:1) • Are humble (4:2) • Are gentle (4:2) • Are patient (4:2) • Bear with one another in love (4:2) • Are eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (4:3) • Are…

Who is Your Barnabas, Paul & Timothy?

Most young boys admire and look up to their father as they are growing up. I was no different. I wanted to be just like my father. Grow up to be strong, smart, funny, kind, loving, honest, hard working, a farmer, and many other things just like my father as I got older. As a…

Prayer Helps

The inspired apostle Paul affirmed that prayer helps. In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul described how there had been a time, in Asia, when he was in danger and facing the possibility of death (2 Corinthians 1:8). However, Paul was delivered from death by God and also by the prayers of the brethren…

Who Wants You to Have Salvation?

The answer may surprise you! God want you to have salvation. His grace is for everyone. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,” Titus 2:11. The grace of God came to all through Jesus His Son. He is the savior of all the world. When Peter and John were…

The Severest Sin of Christians

The severest sin of Christians is a numbing lack of concern, an anesthetized attitude of “I don’t care. I’m in the fold. Why should I concern myself? I have a fire insurance policy against hell.” When Gideon was through thinning out his frightened and indifferent soldiers, he discovered that only one out of one hundred…

The Importance of Family

Picture this Scene. A little baby boy is born in a hospital and everyone is so excited. However, when it comes time to take him home, the parents say, “we think he should stay here with you.” While such would never happen to a child born into a loving or even semi-loving family, the question…

Life More Abundant!

Our main purpose in life is reverencing God and following His directives. However, do we realize that God wants us to enjoy our lives glorifying Him? The devil always wants to make rule keeping and obedience a drudgery. God wants to make living for Him a satisfying and joyous way of life. “Oh, taste and…

Beware of Satan’s Nose and Foot!

The ancient Arabs had a saying: “Beware the camel’s nose” which means that if we let one small undesirable situation occur, then there would soon be a worsening to a disastrous predicament. The context is that if you let a camel get his nose into the tent, the whole body would soon follow. In America,…

We Wish To See Jesus

In John 12:21, it is recorded that some Greeks came to Philip and said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” If someone said that to you, what would you do? When my kids ask me a tough question I’m likely to pull out my phone and look it up right away. However, such would not…

On the Lighter Side (April-May 2016)

Repentance: Tax Style After hearing a sermon on Psalm 52:3-4 (lies and deceit), a man wrote the IRS, “I can’t sleep knowing that I have cheated on my income tax. Enclosed is a check for $150. If I still can’t sleep, I’ll send the rest.” Renters’ Excuses These tenants gave landlords creative reasons for avoiding…

Do You Believe and Obey?

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel” (Romans 9:2-4). Anyone who has ever known a loved one to slip away from this life…

Are You Ready?

One of the questions that is asked frequently in my house is, “Are You Ready?” It is a question of preparation that always comes before something that is about to happen. This question is asked before we do a number of physical things: before leaving the house, before bedtime, before meals, before school, before sports,…

Twelve Simple Rules for Marital Satisfaction

1. Never both be angry at once. 2. Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire. 3. Yield to the wishes of the other as an exercise in self-discipline if you can’t think of a better reason. 4. If you have a choice between looking good or making your mate look good,…

No Pain

July 16, this year, I was suddenly afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis. My hands hurt and were swollen grotesquely. It was hard to walk. For a time I was disoriented and afraid my career and usefulness were over. It still hurts to walk, but the pain is tolerable. Thanks to a good Lord, good doctors and…

Looking Like A Christian

A little old Jewish lady is flying out of New York City on her way to Miami Beach. She looks at the businessman sitting next to her and asks him, “Excuse me sir, but are you Jewish?” The man responds politely, “No, ma’am, I’m not Jewish.” After a little while, she again asks him. “You’re…

Are You A Buzzard?

“Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly ove r our nation’s deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was.…

Responsibility

In one of the many Biblical dictionaries it states, “God has entrusted humankind both individually and collectively with responsibility.” Jesus told several parables with responsibility or accountability at the center. One example is the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27). Two of the servants were responsible with the money—invested it and returned it…

Be Patient

[283 words] This writer’s taste buds can almost nearly always generally distinguish instant potatoes from real mashed potatoes. The imposter can be tolerated, but the real is preferred. However, time constraints may make the real a less-real possibility for some meals. There is peeling, cutting, rinsing, boiling, mashing, adding milk, butter, salt and pepper, then…

How Valuable ls One Soul?

How valuable is one soul? The Master said, “For what proﬁt is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). One soul is worth more than “the whole world.” Every soul is valuable because it…

The Role of Knowledge

The Christian religion is a religion of learning. One’s participation in the blessings of God as manifested and made available through Christ and his gospel is proportionate to his knowledge of the things that God wants him to know. When the law of Moses was in effect, God’s people were often in distress because of…

Map, Compass, and Blueprint

A traveler was packing his suitcase in preparation for a long journey. He said to his friend, “In this small corner of my suitcase, I am going to put a lamp, a mirror, a telescope, a sharp sword and a small library.” His friend inquired, “How are you going to manage that?” “Easily enough,” came…

Instruments of Praise in the Church

One of the first questions about the church of Christ is, “Why don’t you have instruments?” Even though our worship does not involve instruments that can be seen, we do have instruments of praise. It all revolves around faith! Faith is a strong conviction of religious truth based on what God has revealed (Heb. 11:1-6).…

He is Our Only Hope

When I was about 8 years old, I was asked by a neighborhood friend to attend an afternoon of swimming. I could not swim but I thought, “Just getting to tag along would be fun.” Within a few minutes of arriving at our destination, I was easily talked into getting in the water while holding…

On The Lighter Side (March 2016)

Confusing Password I was in a couple’s home trying to fix their Internet connection. The husband called out to his wife in the other room for the computer password. “Start with a capital S, then 123,” she shouted back. We tried S123 several times, but it didn’t work. So we called the wife in. As…

Love

A story is told of a young sailor who called his parents from San Diego after the Vietnam Conflict. He said he was bringing his buddy home with him to stay. “You see, mom” he said, “my buddy is pretty badly broken up. He was severely wounded and has only one leg, one arm, and…

Have You Earned Your Place In Heaven?

After making a whopping $50 million donation to a gun control initiative, and because of his work against obesity and smoking, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was quoted as saying: “I am telling you, if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading…

Making a Difference in the Family

God gave each member of the family a role to play. Each one playing his or her part will make a difference in the family, as can be seen in Paul’s instructions to the saints in Ephesus. Christian wives are to place themselves under the control of their husbands as one means of showing that…

Good News and Bad News

There is a lot of bad news out there, as mirrored on TV and the Internet. The stock market is in trouble, thousands of Americans jobs are on the line, and threats of terrorism are shadows in the background. And then there are our own personal pain and problems to contend with. Financial, physical, medical…

Pray Boldly!

Television interviewer and journalist Larry King describes three farmers who gather daily in a ﬁeld during a horrible drought. The men are down on their knees, looking upward, and praying the skies will open and pour forth a much-needed rain. Unfortunately, the heavens are silent, and the petitioners become discouraged, but they continue to meet…

Unity

God’s word is truth (John 17:17) and when we are all grounded in the truth of God’s word unity will be the result (Ephesians 4:1-15). Truth does not cause division because truth is constant. Division comes when someone blows the winds of false doctrine and topples Christians who are not grounded in truth. They are…

The Five Finger Prayer

The five finger prayer is a great way to teach someone to pray, or a good model for anyone to use to pray. Remember, James 5:13-16 teaches us to pray for one another. First, your thumb is nearest you. Begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. Second, the next finger, is the…

Jesus vs. the Jews

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus is essentially on trial. The reader is forced to make a decision around every corner about whether he or she accepts the claims of Jesus or the claims of His opponents: the Jews. In the second half of John 10, Jesus is in the midst of one of His…

In Season, Out of Season

On his second missionary journey, Paul came to the city of Philippi. There, while worshiping by the river, he met and baptized Lydia. But not all in Philippi listened to Paul and he was falsely accused of “troubling the city” (Acts 16:20). Beaten and thrown into prison, Paul and Silas did not let persecution stop…

What Howard Learned in Heartbreak

Howard Rutledge, a United States Air Force pilot, was shot down over North Vietnam during the early stages of the War. He spent several miserable years in the hands of his captors before being released at the war’s conclusion. In his book In the Presence of Mine Enemies, he reflects upon the resources from which…

Reliable

It is probably sound advice that, when a car leaves you stranded, you should return the favor. Few people would keep a car that cannot be depended upon to work as needed. There may be a parable here. Remember that David described himself and his fellow Israelites as “…his people, and the sheep of his…

The Tick

Ever had a tick on you? Ticks are small blood sucking mites. They spend a good bit of time just waiting in bushes, grass and woods for a victim–you! Once you happen by, they jump on and attempt to quickly crawl to a protected spot on your body. Then they sink their mouth parts into…

What is My Food?

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work” (John 4:34). 1. Spiritual birth is part of God’s will (John 1:1,2). 2. Doing the will of God brings satisfaction (John 7: 1,7; Acts 13:22). 3. The will of God provides for everlasting life (John 6:40).…

Do Non-Christians and Christians Stand on Equal Footing with God?

The Bible seems pretty clear about this question. We can read for ourselves the answer. The real question is: Do we accept the answer? The world doesn’t see the difference at times. Sadly, there are some within the church who can’t tell the difference either. Let me start with a scripture. Galatians 6:10 reads, “As…

Faith and Optimism

When your cup runs over, is it a blessing, or a mess? Is your glass half full or half empty? Do you make difficulties out of your opportunities, or opportunities out of your difficulties? Are you the kind that complains about the noise when opportunity knocks? Do you claim to be an optimist who doubts…

Do You Love Me? Feed My Sheep

“The third time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’” John 21:17. Peter knew how his sin of denying…

Boost Your Budget by Missing Worship?

If you miss worship on the first day of week does that mean your pocket has a little extra in it to spend the rest of the week? If you answer yes, you have the wrong answer. Giving as we have been prospered means exactly that – giving as we have been prospered; not giving…

They’re Your Buttons

In one of my graduate classes last week my professor made this comment: “Don’t blame others for pushing your buttons. They are your buttons.” If we’re not careful we have a tendency to blame others for our thoughts and actions. “Well _________ just made me so angry that I couldn’t control myself”, we might say.…

What’s First?

Rick Reilly wrote an article for Sports Illustrated in 2003 titled, “Let Us Play.” He described in his article how many families in America are opting to engage in recreational activities on Sunday instead of attending worship services. He quoted many religious leaders who have decried the loss of spirituality in our society. Reilly attributed…

The Pattern of Sound Words

Man has ever sought to be free of divine restraint. In the early days of the church, a philosophy known as “antinomianism” was prevalent. It was the ideology that argued: “We are not under law.” The concept is not dead even today. There are some, even in the church of the Lord, who allege that…

Three Cheers for Jesus!

We often give a hearty “Hip, Hip, Hooray” to one we wish to celebrate or honor. I think we don’t celebrate Jesus enough in our memories, words, and lives. Jesus came to make our lives blessed, joyous, and fruitful (cf. John 10:10). There are several instances in the Scriptures where Jesus said “Be of good…

The Joyful Life

May the grace of Christ our Savior, And the Father’s boundless love With the Holy Spirit’s favor Rest upon us from above. Thus may we abide in union With each other and the Lord; And possess in sweet communion Joys which earth cannot afford. via Broadway church of Christ Campbellsville, KY… We are sorry, but…

Worrying and Precious Time

Time is a precious blessing not to be wasted. With each tick of the clock, the brief span of time we have in this world is passing. This is why Paul exhorts us to use our time wisely: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). We should “number our days,” making the…

I’m a Christian First

Life. Sometimes it controls us. Sometimes we get so entrenched in what we’re doing that we lose sight of what is most important. As Christians, there is one simple truth that must guide every decision we make and every move we take: Christ is to “have first place in everything” (Col. 1:18). Christ must have…

Peace to the World

The Charter of the United Nations was signed in June 1945. The stated purpose for its existence was to maintain peace and security, to solve problems, and to promote harmony among nations. However, since it was signed, there have only been twenty-six days without armed conflict somewhere in the world. For sure, nations and individuals…

Caution: In Case of Rapture

A popular bumper sticker says, “Caution: In case of rapture this car will be unmanned . . .” This is a popular doctrine taught by many religious groups. But would you be surprised to learn that neither the word rapture nor the commonly taught doctrine of the rapture even occurs in the Bible? It is…

Missed Opportunities

The story is told of a young man who wished to marry the farmer’s beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and responded, “Son, go stand out in that ﬁeld and I’m going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the…

Conforming To His Image

In his book, “The Kingdom Agenda,” Tony Evans tells the story about a man who was mystified at what he saw painted on a rural barn. There were twenty painted targets. Each one had only one bullet hole in it, each perfectly centered in the bull’s-eye. Whoever had been using the barn for target practice…

The Divine Word Versus a Deceived World

The Bible teaches that men can be deceived by Satan (Revelation 12:9,10). Deception in vital matters pertaining to the soul means damnation. The religious world is deceived if it believes that God approves of religious division (denominationalism). The Divine Word teaches such division is sinful (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; John 17:20,21; Ephesians 4:1-4). The world is…

Still Standing!

Despised and torn to pieces, By infidels decried, The thunderbolts of hatred, The haughty cynic’s pride All these have railed against it, In this and other lands; Yet dynasties have fallen, And still the Bible stands! Author Unknown via Broadway church of Christ Campbellsville, KY… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and…

You Can’t Have a Rainbow Without the Rain…or Can You?

You can’t have a rainbow without the rain is the old saying. But is it true? I guess it depends on where you’re at. If you’re talking about life on Earth, the saying definitely holds water. Cloudy days and storms are the norm in mankind’s life (Job 14:1). Rich, poor, man, woman, young, old, red,…

Do Not Wait For The Kingdom

A few weeks ago a couple of nice gentlemen associated with a religious denomination knocked at my door. After introducing themselves, they got to the point they wanted to discuss: the kingdom of Christ. They insisted that the kingdom would soon be established. It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning, and I had plans for…

The Amazing ‘Chesed’ of God

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:22-24, RSV). Those who say that the God of the Old Testament was a God of…

Thoughts Not to Entertain

If Paul had thought like some today, he would have written to the Ephesians like this: “Paul the apostle to the saints at Ephesus. Brethren, I rejoiced when I went into the theater in your city to behold the shows. The play of Aristophanes was a magnificent story of a man who overcame poverty and…

The ‘Corinth Syndrome’

The fact that the man speaking was supposedly a gospel preacher made his words that much more incredible. His solution to dwindling attendance and a seemingly unpopular preacher in a small-town congregation near his home was to build a really nice (expensive) new church building there and hire him to be the new preacher. All…

Frantic? Or Faithful?

When Elijah fled from the threats of Jezebel, he was asking God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). The Lord then led Elijah to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where Elijah confessed to the Lord that he was the only prophet left. All the others had been killed (1 Kings 19:10). Even though Elijah had just…

Who Are You Living For?

Who is it that we should live life for? Is it to please others, self, or God? Remember what Jesus prayed for in the Garden of Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39b). It was not about…

Finding My Worth in God

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in Iowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Phil 2:3 NKJV). One of the greatest struggles for humanity is the discovery of our own value and self-worth. People often feel so very empty and insignificant. The cares of life tend to batter…

‘A Time to Embrace’

I had not heard of the “hug lady” until this past Saturday, January 2, 2016. Because of the political nature of most stories, I usually avoid the national news shows as much as possible. However, that day I happened to be watching the last segment. The news was that the hug lady had died (http://www.nbcnews.com/nlghtly-news/video/fort-hood-s–hug-Iady–…

Chosen by God

In school many kids dread the scenario in gym class, where two captains pick teams. Every kid is lined up and one-by-one the teams are picked. No one in that line wanted to be the last kid to be picked. Being picked last means the two captains valued you the least out of everyone else.…

Industrious

An industrious person is attentive and active. An industrious person is committed and conscientious. An industrious person is dedicated and diligent. An industrious person is focused and faithful. An industrious person is hardworking and helpful. An industrious person is studious and steady. A Christian is an industrious person. Paul exhorted, “not lagging in diligence, fervent…

Who Will Guide You?

Think about a boat on the river with no one in it just going with the waves; side to side, bank to bank, and not knowing where it will end up. It could end up stuck next to the bank with branches all around it and not able to move. It could end up at…

The Search for Spirituality

Spirituality is a highly sought after quality, and has been throughout the ages. In the ancient city of Ephesus, sacred prostitutes served daily in the temple of Diana because it was thought that sexual union brought closer union with the gods. Mothers have thrown their babies into the crocodile-infested Ganges River in the search for…

Grounded in Truth

Truth is constant. Truth does not vary from one person to the next and it does not change with the circumstance. Truth is like a tree with deep roots. The winds of change may blow strong against it but that tree does not move an inch and when the storm passes by the tree is…

Dare to be Different

[114 words] I remember a book we used in 4-H some years ago titled, “Dare to be Different.” What a challenge this is to Christians today. Dare to speak out for the Lord; dare to do what is right when society says sin is okay; dare to grow in knowledge of God’s Word – and…

Who Will The Lord Find Watching?

“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he comes shall find watching…” (Luke 12:37). Fanny J. Crosby’s grand hymn is based on the above passage. Watching is an important spiritual exercise denoting a perpetual state of vigilance and readiness (Matthew 26:41; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 4:2). It also denotes a constant condition of soberness…

God is The Giver

[326 words] God is a giver. Better yet, God is the giver. And when God gives, He goes all out. He doesn’t give a little of what He’s able to. He doesn’t give only some of what He’s willing to. No, when God decides to give, He goes big, because He is the giver. From…

Charges of Sexual Misconduct

[455 words] Sexual scandals among high-proﬁle people in politics and the media don’t surprise us. We’ve heard so much of it that we’re sick of hearing about it. What else can we expect from Godless people who lie for a living? A few generations ago there was a clear line between what should be mentioned…

The Earth is Losing Its Darkness

[243 words] According to an article in the science journal, Science Advance, artificially lit surfaces around the world are spreading, growing brighter, and producing more light at night. There are many ramifications of having too much light shining in the world at night. Nocturnal animals’ sleep patterns are thrown off according to Franz Holker of…

Elementary School Rules

[181 words] We gave our son three key rules to help him get through primary school without causing too many incidences. They worked, and he came close to admitting they continue to help make him successful now. In light of all the misconduct and abuse being recently revealed about some powerful people, I thought I…

Rejoicing Angels

[372 words] Ever wonder what causes the angels in heaven to shout for joy? There are several instances of angels proclaiming joy, and they all seem to have a common thread. The first instance of the heavenly host expressing joy is during the creation of the heavens and the earth. Recounting the incident, God tells…

What Christ Is To Me

[87 words] The Shield from every dart; The Balm for every smart; The Sharer of each load; Companion on the road. The Door into the fold; The Anchor that will hold; The Shepherd of the sheep; The Guardian of my sleep. The Friend with Whom I talk; The Way by which I walk; The Light…

The Gospel is for All!

[344 words] One thing that impresses me every time I read the book of Acts is the fact that the gospel is for all. Before leaving for heaven, Jesus told His apostles “and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Fulfilling…

You Can Be a Teachers’ Aid

[375 words] Several of our classes have assistants to the Bible class teacher. She (or perhaps in select cases “he”) serves in a support role, helping students do handwork, find Bible verses, or occasionally keep order. These are vital roles, and often a teacher’s aid later actually becomes a teacher. Teachers’ aids are part…

Satan Met a Brick Wall

[402 words] “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). Temptations to forsake good works have ever plagued mankind. Satan has always known that the quickest and surest way to bring a good work to a halt is simply by discouraging…

Depending Upon God’s Grace

[281 words] “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). After these forty-two years of ministry, I have learned two important things. First, God’s servants are totally dependent upon the grace…

Putting God First, Not Second

[307 words] God and Christ must be first in our lives, and not second. Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Our number one priority in this short life must be to go to Heaven or otherwise we most…

Relationships Are Like Old Barns

[306 words] Not too long ago I read the story of a farmer who was just devastated over the fact that his barn’s roof fell in. Someone asked the farmer, “what happened?” The farmer told the one asking the question that the roof had been leaking so long that the timbers just rotted through. Of…

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