April 2024

Discouraged: We’ve All Been There

[507 words] I am reminded of the story of the man that approached a little league baseball game one hot, sunny afternoon. He asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy kept his gaze on the field and responded, “Eighteen to nothing—we’re behind.” “Woah,” said the man, “I’ll bet you’re discouraged.”…

A Time That Will Not Change

[180 words] I love Spring! But one thing I’ve never liked is Daylight Savings Time. It has been shown that the changing our bodies’ rhythms back and forth isn’t healthy. But our government still insists on doing it. For one thing, it is good for business, they say. Up north, the sun sets earlier and…

Homefront Crumbling

[498 words] Douglas MacArthur II (the general’s nephew) worked for the government. The Secretary of State once called his home and asked to speak with him. His wife replied, “He’s not here. He’s where he always is—weekends, nights, Saturdays, Sundays—at the office. You can reach him there.” She had not recognized the Secretary of State’s…

Confession vs. Hypocrisy

[133 words] After hearing a sermon on confession, a man approached his preacher with a heavy conscience. He explained that he worked for a boat builder and stole expensive brass nails. The man could not tell the boat builder, he said, “Because he would lose his job and his boss would think him a hypocrite…

No Time to Complain

[176 words] Never once did our Lord have a path free from trouble. When He went into the wilderness, He was tempted of the devil. When He tried to rest, the multitudes followed Him. When He taught in the synagogue, the hearers became angry and sought to throw him off the brow of the hill.…

He Gave Thanks

[121 words] Ten times in the gospels, Jesus is recorded as giving thanks mainly at the Lord’s Supper and some other meals. The Lord gave thanks before He fed 4,000 (Mark 8:6). He gave thanks to the Father for hearing Him (John 11:41). We also should give thanks when we eat (Rom. 14:6). Thankfulness is…

Big Bang Theory

[142 words] I have to come clean and confess that I believe in the Big Bang. Now wait! Don’t stop reading here. Let me explain. The Bible, itself, teaches a “Big Bang.” Read it for yourself: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens…

Like is Like a Clock

[69 words] Life is like a clock. The hands of time go only forward, never backward. Life is not like a movie. It can never be rerun for a second showing. Life is not like an automobile. It has no reverse gear. Life is not like a pencil. You cannot erase your mistakes. Today is…

Tragic Nature of Bible Ignorance

[97 words] Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno frequently did man-on-the street interviews. Once he stopped some young people to ask them questions about the Bible. “Name one of the Ten Commandments” he asked two college-age women. One replied, “Freedom of speech?” He said to the other, “Complete this sentence: Let he who is without…

New Testament Writers

[200 words] • The Gospel of Matthew was written by the Apostle Matthew about (circa) A.D. 55–62. • The Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark c. A.D. 55–62. • The Gospel of Luke was written by the physician Luke c. A.D. 55–62. • The Gospel of John was written by the Apostle John…

Ask for the Old Paths

[114 words] Christianity is not some newfangled way gotten up in modern times by men more zealous than well-informed. The whole of Christianity is in the New Testament. Anything in religion which is not as old as the New Testament is no part of Christianity. The “Old Paths” for us are the ways traveled by…

No Worries

[173 words] I’ve no time to worry about what I’ve not.I’m too busy praising Him for what I’ve got…Like the sunshine around me; the honey bees;The shade of an oak tree; an afternoon breeze;The birds when they’re singing; the fish when they bite;The rest that’s so welcome when day turns to night. I’ve no time…

His Presence Came Like Sunrise

[126 words] I met God in the morning,When my day was at its best,?And His presence came like sunrise,Like a glory in my breast. All day long the presence lingered;All day long He stayed with me;And we sailed in perfect calmnessO’er a very troubled sea. Other ships were blown and battered,Other ships were sore distressed,But…

A Cry For Light

[82 words] There comes a wail of anguishAcross the ocean wave-It pleads for help, O Christians,Poor dying souls to save. Those far-off heathen natives,Who sit in darkest night,Now stretch their hands imploring,And cry to us for light. We have the blessed gospel;We know its priceless worth;We read the grand old storyOf Christ the Saviour’s birth.…

In Earthern Vessels

[44 words] The dear Lord’s best interpretersAre humble human souls;The gospel of a life like HisIs more than books or scrolls. From scheme and creed the light goes out,The saintly fact survives;The blessed Master none can doubt,Revealed in holy lives. John Greenleaf Whittier… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 5:1-12

[57 words] True or False: Jesus was seated when He gave the “sermon on the mount.” The poor in spirit are blessed because the __ of __ is theirs. Who will inherit the earth? “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall __ __.” “Rejoice and be __ glad, for great is your reward in heaven,…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 5:13-16

[62 words] Jesus said His disciples are __ and __. “…but if the salt loses its __, how shall it be __?” “You are the light of the __. A city that is set on a hill cannot be __.” Jesus said no one lights a lamp and puts it under a __. “Let your…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 5:17-20

[97 words] Jesus came to __ the Law and the Prophets, not to __. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass __, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the __ till all is fulfilled.” “Whoever therefore __ one of the least of these commandments, and __…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 5:21-26

[75 words] Jesus said anyone who is __ with his brother without a __ is in danger of the judgment. “But whoever says, ‘You __!’ shall be in danger of __ fire.” “First be __ to your __, and then come and offer your gift.” “Agree with your __ quickly, while you are on the…

Quotes and Sayings (April 2024)

“Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.” — Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. “Nostalgia in reverse, the longing for yet another strange land, grew especially strong in spring.” — Vladimir Nabokov “Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” — Lewis…

On the Lighter Side (April 2024)

A religious ‘awakening’ occurs at church when the preacher has finished his sermon. — A Sunday school teacher asked the class to draw a picture illustrating a Bible story. Little Johnny drew a picture of a big car. An old man was driving, whiskers flying in the breeze. A man and a woman was seated…