April 2017, Vol. 36, No. 4 Archives

What Does It Cost You?

[312 words] A certain group of teens wanted to raise awareness about the plight of the homeless. They decided that for a week they would live like homeless people live. However, the activity was postponed due to weather! Isn’t that ironic? They said they wanted to live like the homeless, but don’t the homeless get…

On the Lighter Side (April 2017)

Quick Thinking There is a story about a new clerk in a supermarket. A customer asked him if she could buy half a grapefruit. Not knowing what to do, he excused himself to ask the manager. “Some nut out there wants to buy half a grapefruit…” he began, and, suddenly realizing that the customer had…

Jesus, the Answer

[446 words] The young lady could not have been too much over sixteen years old. She came to the office in an old pickup with two men who stayed outside in the cab. Before she was finished filling out a benevolence form, they left and she went outside to wait on the steps going up…

Take Heed Lest Ye Fall

[456 words] There are times when it seems like we are on a roll. Life is good. God is blessing us with smooth sailing. It seems as if it couldn’t be better. And then life takes a 180-degree turn. Our life falls apart. The Old Testament relates the story of Josiah. He was a good…

Reading the Bible

[431 words] The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him…

They Are Blessed

[155 words] When the Israelites defeated the Amorites as they drew closer to the Promised Land, Balak, the King of Maob called on Balaam to come and curse the people of Israel. God said to Balaam: “Do not go with them, you shall not curse the people for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12). The story…

Enjoy While You Can

[75 words] A young mother, holding her toddler-sized child, was enjoying playful time with her daughter and the daughter was loving the attention and time from her mother. I rejoice when I see parents enjoying their small children. Certainly, children can be burdensome at times but, speaking as one whose youngest grandchild is just about…

New Songs, Old Songs

[178 words] Neither new songs or old songs should be accepted or rejected just because they are old or new. There are unscriptural songs in both categories, songs that are trite and drivel in both categories, beautiful, biblical, uplifting songs among both old and new. A song does not have to be written by someone…

Into Texting?

[602 words] The word “text” has taken on a different meaning in this generation. In light of our familiarity with texting, we should be able to relate to a few lessons about the most important text message that has ever been sent. Context. A text of Scripture must be understood in its context. The verses…

Small Things — Or Are They Small?

[260 words] We must not despise “the day of small things” (Zech 4: 10). The flame emerging from a match when it is struck is little, but “behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a ﬁre!” (James 3:5). “A cup of cold water only” is a small gift, but Jesus promised that the…

The Joyful Things

[87 words] At times I’m so discouraged With problems of the day, I fail to see the joyful things That are along the way. When troubles overwhelm me, It’s then my nerves may fray, That’s when I need to take the time To simply sit and pray. Reflecting on God’s many gifts Does make…

Incorruptible Seed

[249 words] First Peter was written to Christians scattered throughout Asia. He says that they had been “born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:23). Seeds are remarkable things in their ability to reproduce. Gardeners love them and farmers live by them.…

What a Day That Will Be!

[211 words] Some years ago Paul Harvey reported that a poll indicated just 27.4 percent of the people in this country attend worship services at least once a week. That’s slightly more than one-fourth! There are many legitimate things such as illness, health, necessary work, and other things that can prevent us from attending worship.…

Finding the Ancient Paths

[408 words] Twenty-five hundred years ago, through Jeremiah, God said to the southern kingdom of Judah, “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” However, they said, “We will not walk therein” (Jer. 6:16).…

How to Face Fiery Trials

[373 words] The Roman Emperor Nero began persecuting Christians on a very horrible and violent level. Tacitus, the Roman historian, records that “Nero falsely accused and executed with the most exquisite punishments those people called Christians…And perishing they were additionally made into sports: they were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached…

The Palmyra Massacre

[290 words] One of the darkest chapters of the Civil War is “The Palmyra Massacre.” In 1862, the Confederate Army released 45 Confederate prisoners from a Union stronghold and arrested an Union sympathizer, Andrew Allsman. Union Provost Marshal William R. Strachan re-took the post and demanded that Allsman be returned or 10 Confederate POWs would…

Revealing Authenticity

[272 words] An online dictionary defines the term authentic as the following: not false or copied; genuine; real. With the use of social media in today’s world, being authentic has taken a backseat to having the “perfect” image online. We have become obsessed with ourselves and making ourselves as near-perfect as possible. Social media is…

Are We Bringing Our Children Up or Down?

[309 words] Rules for Bringing Up a Child: 1. Make home the brightest and most attractive place we can. 2. Make him responsible for helping in some daily duties at home. 3. Never punish in anger nor to relieve our own feelings, but only in love and for disobedience. 4.Do not ridicule his ideas; talk…

Self-Control

[196 words] An Old Chinese proverb goes like this: “If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.” I’m not sure about the number of days, but the basic idea is certainly true. Any of these sound familiar? “I wish I hadn’t said what I did.” “I…

Effectiveness vs. Busy-ness

[289 words] We all are given the same amount of time in a day. We strive to be busy when it comes to the work of the church. Being busy is good but being effective bears fruit for the Kingdom. The difference between effectiveness and busy-ness is the result! Effective Christians do what they say…

She’s Got It?

[287 words] One of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite stories was about a horse that was about sold near where he once lived. He told it as follows: The horse was supposed to be fast, and quite a number of people were present at the time appointed for the sale. A small boy was employed to ride…

Sentence Sermons from Acts (Part 3)

[266 words] The book of Acts vividly records the first thirty years of the history of the church of Christ. As Wayne Jackson noted, “Christianity burst into existence with a debut more dramatic than anything history had ever known” (The Acts of the Apostles: From Jerusalem to Rome, p. 1). Embedded within this thrilling description…

Sentence Sermons from Acts (Part 2)

[281 words] The book of Acts vividly records the first thirty years of the history of the church of Christ. As Wayne Jackson noted, “Christianity burst into existence with a debut more dramatic than anything history had ever known” (The Acts of the Apostles: From Jerusalem to Rome, p. 1). Embedded within this thrilling description…

Sentence Sermons from Acts (Part 1)

[284 words] The book of Acts vividly records the first thirty years of the history of the church of Christ. As Wayne Jackson noted, “Christianity burst into existence with a debut more dramatic than anything history had ever known” (The Acts of the Apostles: From Jerusalem to Rome, p. 1). Embedded within this thrilling description…

Why Did They Leave The Church?

Flavil Yeakley, Jr. wrote a book entitled “Why They Left: Listening to Those Who Have Left Churches of Christ.” Yeakley does a good job compiling his findings. He digs deep into various reasons as to why people have left the church literally and figuratively. He explores doctrinal differences, neglect, instrumental music issues, the role of…