February 2022, Vol. 41, No. 2

What You Have To Wear To Be In Church

[237 words] I guess “what to wear” has always been an issue in the church. As our world goes through a casual dress phase, we see that reflected in church services as well. I oftentimes now see groups advertise their informal attire as an attribute. In times past, include the era of the New Testament,…

On Perseverance and Giving Up

[435 words] Everyone gets tired from time to time. Often tiredness leads to exhaustion. When exhaustion is full and there’s still work to be done, it can lead to burnout. With burnout comes an increased distance from job or family responsibilities, negativity, cynicism, and an abiding feeling of needful change. The thought is that if…

The Super Bowl’s Winning Desire

[165 words] This afternoon a game will be played. Large athletes will face off against each other in a football game known as the “Super Bowl.”  In the end, only one team will emerge victorious.  Do you know where the rest of the NFL is tonight? At home watching the game. What separates a Championship…

Life With A Purpose

[357 words] Our life upon this earth is of few days and full of trouble. Some days are the best of times; some days are the worst of times. There are moments that look like the spring of hope; others look like the winter of despair. Through it all we need to live a life…

Don’t Tell Bryce Weiler It’s Impossible

[337 words] Inspiring stories of people who succeed against all odds come to our attention all the time, but the case of Bryce Weiler is a little different. The 30-year-old from Claremont, Illinois, is a huge sports fan, and has worked his way up the ladder to be a radio commentator. So far he has…

Love’s Rollercoaster

[206 words] A male and a female get married. They think they know one another well, but soon learn not that well. They move into their first home together, he leaves the seat up, she has hair everywhere. The roller coaster is halfway up the steep hill. Children come into the family; the son is…

Love With Persistence

[221 words] In his book entitled Love More, Sin Less, Aubrey Johnson says, “The call of the gospel is a call to love. We are summoned by God’s love to share in the fellowship of loving spirits in heaven and on earth (Philippians 2:1-2). Making a commitment to the love-based life is the best decision…

Has God Forgotten Me?

[229 words] We live in the land of opportunity. Our cities are overpopulated but yet we feel alone, discouraged and deserted. Has God forgotten me? The children of Israel accused God of this very thing as recorded in (Isaiah 49:14). Has God forgotten you? Let us examine the evidence. Notice the sparrow, two were sold…

Dedicated

[355 words] I have an affinity for big trucks of all kinds. My daddy was a truck driver most of his life, picking up “canned milk” in the 1950’s to delivering feed to farmers in the 1960’s and 1970’s, then back to picking up milk in a tandem tank truck in the late 1970’s. As…

Four Parts of Ephesians 2:16

[300 words] Paul wrote, “and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Ephesians 2:16). There are four parts to this verse that answer four questions: Who, What, Where, How? The “Who” is Jesus. None less than the Christ, the Messiah, the Prince…

Some Thoughts on Jesus Coming to the Earth

[365 words] I found an interesting quote in my files recently. I don’t know who to attribute it to, but it is really thought provoking. The quote is this: “Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the…

Water Cycle

[439 words] In modern times we often want to think that science has all the answers, that they have figured everything out. Science is making great strides in our understanding of the world around us and we think we are getting to know and understand our world in ways that ancient people never could have.…

The Mechanics of Daily Bible Reading

[496 words] We have been devoting time recently to the subject of daily Bible reading, considering both the benefits and the goals of spending time each day in the word of God. Let us consider the mechanics of daily Bible reading. What are some practical tips that can help us to read God’s word each…

You Are Valuable To God

[524 words] Because of our keen awareness to our own imperfections, we are made to wonder, as did the Psalmist, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him” (Psalm 8:4)? I wonder, just as you do, how God could still love us after all our sins? The answer to this great question came in…

What is Christ Worth to You? 

[367 words] Is He worth studying the Word for? Are you willing to give up your free time and put your effort into studying God’s Word? “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV). Is He worth forsaking…

Lessons Learned from Joshua

[289 words] The book of Joshua is so great. Not only is it “for our instruction…and…encouragement” (Romans 15:4), it is captivating! Joshua tells us of war and intrigue, victories and losses, warnings and challenges, miraculous signs and wonders (huge fortified walls crashing down, a river drying up for people to cross, the sun standing still,…

Friends with Jesus

[186 words] Proverbs 17:17 says: “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” True friends have a connection that goes beyond a couple of years. They are committed for life. Jesus highlighted the importance of friendship in John 15:15. He gathered his disciples together the night before he was going…

The Bible Still Reads

[251 words] You may have heard of the Reformation doctrinal stance of Martin Luther, which has now become a doctrine so imbedded in the minds of some, to say anything different is to be branded a heretic. It is said by man that one is justified by faith alone through grace alone. When I ask…

One Bucket at a Time?

[460 words] “I only have to attend one service each week to be pleasing to God!” Have you heard this before? Perhaps not in these words, but the sentiment is certainly expressed on occasion, whatever words are used. Is it true? Not with the attitude that is seemingly conveyed with the remark (as written above).…

A Parent’s Example is Important

[445 words] When I was young, there was a cigarette commercial in which a father was sitting by a tree with his child. He lit a cigarette then set the cigarette package down on the ground. Immediately the small child picked up the package. The lesson was impressive. Little children are watching their parents. Not…

Say it With My Life

[338 words] Out of the things that Jesus taught during His ministry, there is one that has a supreme importance. It can be summed up in only four words: “Say it with my life.” Jesus said: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”(Luke 6:46). He is teaching…

Tell Me Again How Great I Am

[72 words] Movie star Joan Crawford is said to have hired an assistant to stay by her side on movie sets to whisper compliments in her ear between takes. It is clear that the human desire for self-glorification is never-ending! However, by both word and deed, Jesus the Christ encourages us to deny ourselves, take…

Never Too Late

[59 words] American folk artist Anna Mary Robertson Moses (better known as Grandma Moses) began painting at the age of 78. She completed more than one thousand oil paintings depicting farm life and the rural countryside she knew so well. What a great lesson! It is never too late to start a new venture, especially…

The World is Hard to Please

[45 words] Once while traveling, movie star Charlie Chaplin came across a Chaplin look-a-like competition. On a whim he decided to enter, and came in third. Just goes to show you that even when you are doing everything right, the world is hard to please! BulletinDigest.com… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual…

Going Down with the Ship

[95 words] One of the most extraordinary acts of heroism occurred on February 3, 1943. The U.S.S. Dorchester was hit by a German torpedo and began to sink in the frigid waters off Greenland. When it became clear that there were not enough life jackets to go around, four United States Army chaplains on board…

How Fragile is Life!

[58 words] Newly-elected U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt almost lost his life on February 15, 1933. Fortunately for Roosevelt a spectator altered the gunman’s aim. However, the by-standing Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, the bullet struck and killed him instead. the Bible’s reminder that life is like a vapor ever proves true (James 4:14; Psa. 39:5).…

A Blessing

[158 words] One day I paused to see the needOf a poor man beside the wayAnd thought to divest myself of greedAnd help him just today.My mind kept saying, “He’s no good,He brought it on himself.”But my heart kept saying, “I really shouldJust do it for myself.”I gave my hand to lift him upAnd brought…

Dear Shepherd of Thy People, Hear

[157 words] Dear Shepherd of Thy people, hear;Thy presence now display;As Thou hast given a place for prayer,So give us hearts to pray. O Lord, our languid souls inspire,For here, we trust, thou art!Send down a coal of heav’nly fire,To warm each waiting heart. Show us some token of Thy love,Our fainting hope to raise;And…

The Good, Great, Glorious God

[50 words] When I think on GodAll the things I should,I readily seeThat God is good. When I speak of God.And His awesome state,I am proclaimingThat God is great. When I dwell with God.Fulfilling Christ’s story,My life of joy showsThat God is glory. Edd SterchiBroadway church of ChristCampbellsville, KY… We are sorry, but this content…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 1:1-8

[101 words] “The Revelation of __ __, which God gave Him to show His __—things which must shortly take place.”By whom did Jesus send and signify the revelation to the apostle John?“__ is he who reads and those who hear the words of this __, and keep those things which are written in it; for…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 1:9-11

[59 words] John calls himself, “both your __ and __” in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.John says he was “in the __ on the __ __…”John says he heard a loud voice that sounded like a __.The voice told him, “I am the __ and the __ , the __ and…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 1:12-16

[75 words] When John turned to see the voice that spoke to him, he saw seven golden __.John saw “One like the __ of __, clothed with a __ down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.”“His head and hair were white like __, as white as snow, and His…

Bible Quiz: Revelation 1:17-20

[84 words] “And when I __ Him, I fell at His feet as __.”“But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be __; I am the __ and the __. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive __.’”Jesus had two keys in His hands.…

Quotes and Sayings (February 2022)

“February is the shortest month, so if you’re having a miserable month, try to schedule it for February.” ― Lemony Snickett “February is always a bad month for TV sports. Football is gone, basketball is plodding along in the annual midseason doldrums, and baseball is not even mentioned.” ― Hunter S. Thompson “While it is…

On the Lighter Side (February 2022)

Never fall in love with a pastry chef. He’ll only dessert you. Man: “Honey, on this Valentine’s Day, I want to tell you something… I’m not rich like Jack. I don’t have a mansion like Russell. I don’t have a Porsche like Martin. But I do love you and I want to marry you.” Woman:…