July 2023, Vol. 42, No. 7

What is Growing in Your Garden?

[452 words] Change takes time. Peter’s life displays a man who developed spiritually over years with ups and downs. Yet time was not the only factor in Peter’s development. Left to time without proper care and nourishment, stagnation comes, and life that once was present will die out. Peter grew because his lifetime was spent…

If I Recall

[200 words] The Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from dangerous products. They might fine companies for bad practices or force them to recall products that are too dangerous. To facilitate that mission, they made 80,000 lapel buttons, but they had to be recalled since the edges were too sharp. And the paint had…

Rather Obvious 

[223 words] “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom…

Plenty of Proof

[272 words] There are more than 300 predictive prophecies in the Old Testament Scriptures concerning Jesus that were recorded centuries before He was born. Each was accurately fulfilled. Unlike modern predictions, note one of the predictions concerning Jesus missed the mark. Have you ever seriously analyzed the implications of those signs? Peter Stoner, a renowned…

Long Enough Arms

[453 words] A group of students from Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee, traveled to the Dominican Republic for a Spring Break mission trip. The group conducted a Vacation Bible School program at a children’s home in Bobita. After their final day of work at the children’s home, team members went to see the ocean. Tragedy…

Are You Excited About the Church?

[358 words] In the Psalms, we see a certain eagerness and excitement connected with the “house of the Lord.” Now, the Lord’s house in those times was the tabernacle (and later the temple), and also used symbolically as faithfulness in God’s kingdom. But for today, we know that the church (the people of God) is…

Showing Our Christianity

[240 words] “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human…

Jesus in the Old Testament

[544 words] “Is Jesus in the Old Testament?” The short answer is “yes.” However, He is in the Old Testament in more ways than people think. There are three main ways Old Testament reveals Jesus; prophecy, typology, and theophany. Prophecy. The most significant Old Testament Christology material is in the Messianic prophecies. While the number…

How Long Does Encouragement Last?

[619 words] Hot weather does not bother me so long as I can feel a breeze. One of the hottest summers I can remember was 1987—not much of a breeze seemed to exist! I was entering my freshmen year of football camp. I readily admit I was intimidated! Our little high school was known for…

Our Declaration of Independence

[148 words] On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the United States Declaration of Independence. This declared the original 13 colonies’ freedom from the oppressive rule of England. We celebrate this emancipation as a nation every year on July 4—and well we should. We live in the freest, greatest, most abundant land of opportunity…

On Independence Day Remember our King!

[164 words] When this country was born, one of the great slogans was, “We have no king but Jesus.” As the Bible says: “He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16; 1 Timothy 6:15). Despite what history “revisionists” and so-called fact checkers spin, this country was founded by people who…

Signs of Spiritual Maturity 

[217 words] How can we tell a spiritual person from a worldly person? The Bible tells us in several places. In James 3, the terms used are “Godly wise” implying a contrast with foolish. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy…

There’s a Great Day Coming

[291 words] Excuses that won’t work at the Judgment: Lord, I didn’t know enough. “Thy word is a…light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Lord, I didn’t know which church to join. “And I say…I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). “Search, and look” (John 7:52). Lord, I didn’t believe I could hold out. “I can…

How to Be Happy

[252 words] If you ask a millionaire to define happiness, he might say that to be happy is to have two million dollars. If you ask a nine-year-old boy, he might answer happiness is being ten years old. If you ask a candidate, he might say winning an upcoming election. To the athlete, it might…

Fingerprints on the Wall

[61 words] Dorothy Evslin observed, “It will be gone before you know it. The fingerprints on the wall appear higher and higher. Then suddenly they disappear.” How sad, but how true! We must redeem the time that we have with our children (Ephesians 5:16). We must waste no time in training them in the way…

Best Words

[33 words] Six hundred students at a university were asked to write the most beautiful word in the English language. Four hundred and twenty-two wrote the word mother. One hundred and twelve wrote home…. We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register),…

Always Abounding

[99 words] Christianity is the abundant life (John 10:10). In what should we abound? 1. In faith (2 Corinthians 8:7) 2. In knowledge (2 Corinthians 8:7) 3. In love (1 Thessalonians 3:12; Matthew 22:37-39; 19:19) 4. In hope (Romans 15:13; Colossians 1:27; Titus 2:13; Lamentations 3:26) 5. In diligence (2 Corinthians 8:7) 6. In every…

Family is the Best Investment

[68 words] Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. Yet, we may pour ourselves more into work than into our own family—an…

How to Give

[51 words] Give as you would if an angelAwaited your gift at the door.Give as you would if tomorrowFound you where giving is o’er. Give as you would to the MasterIf you met His loving look.Give as you would of your substanceIf His hand the offering took. Anonymous… We are sorry, but this content is…

His Gift and Mine

[70 words] Over against the treasuryHe sits who gave Himself for me.He sees the coppers that I giveWho gave His life that I might live.He sees the silver I withholdWho left for me His throne of gold,Who found a manger for His bed,Who had nowhere to lay His head;He sees the gold I clasp so…

Love

[33 words] Love gives its best,And knows no rest.Its highest joy,Is giving joy.It knows no rest,Until its bestIs given.And that is whyLove at its bestIs Heaven. John Oxenham… 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…

No Time for God?

[139 words] No time for God?What fools we are, to clutter upOur lives with common thingsAnd leave without heart’s gateThe Lord of life and Life itself—Our God. No time for God?As soon to say, no timeTo eat or sleep or love or die.Take time for GodOr you shall dwarf your soul,And when the angel deathComes…

Bible Quiz: 1 Timothy 1:1-11

[58 words] Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, whom he called a “true __ in the faith…” Where did Paul tell Timothy to remain? “Now the purpose of the __ is love from a pure __, from a good conscience, and from sincere __…” “But we know that the __ is good if one uses…

Bible Quiz: 1 Timothy 1:12-20

[89 words] “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has __ me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the __…” Paul said he himself was formerly a __, a __, and an __ man. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all __, that Christ Jesus came into the world to…

Bible Quiz: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

[62 words] True or False: Only certain people should be prayed for. Kings should be prayed for so that Christians may lead a __ and __ life in all godliness and reverence. True or False: God desires all men to be saved. “For there is one __ and one __ between God and men, the…

Bible Quiz: 1 Timothy 2:8-15

[57 words] “I desire therefore that the men __ everywhere, lifting up __ hands, without __ and doubting…” Women should adorn themselves in __ apparel, with propriety and __. “And I do not permit a woman to __ or to have __ over a man, but to be in silence.” “For __ was formed first,…

Quotes and Sayings (July 2023)

“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” — George Washington “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his…

On the Lighter Side (July 2023)

Birthday SurpriseA young man was very much in love with a beautiful girl. One day she told him that the next day was her birthday. He told her he would send her a bouquet of roses…one for each year of her life. That evening he called the local florist and ordered twenty-one roses with instructions…