July 2024

A Hero

[372 words] The events that took place Saturday, July 13, at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania have the entire world talking. Some of the discussion centers around the apparent lack of security and ease with which the shooter got into position to attempt his evil deed. Nevertheless, one thing that jumped out to me (and…

Helping Them See

[257 words] A report by Dr. William Martin to the American Medical Association in 1913 didn’t pull any punches. In his assessment of public school children in New York, he found forty pupils he described “as the worst in the school” and eighteen of which being “so stupid they were in ungraded classes.” He also…

Guess Who’s Coming to Church Next Sunday!

[276 words] One of the most humbling passages in the whole Bible is this one: “I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). Jesus told this to His disciples as He…

Conduct Worthy of the Calling

[429 words] The fabled “Pony Express” was short lived. It lasted only about a year and a half (April 1860—October 1861). The transcontinental telegraph put an end to the need for the horses and their riders. However, in the brief time it existed, the service made a lasting impact on American history. Before the creation…

The Local Church that God Desires

[358 words] As I study about the church in the pages of the New Testament, three important concepts concerning the local congregation keep coming to mind. It is very obvious that each congregation, as God desires it, must be… Scriptural. The church was founded by the Lord Himself (Matt. 16:18), and it is His desire…

Proceed!

[412 words] Earnest Shackleton and his men sailed for Antarctica on the very day that England declared war on Germany in World War One. At their first port of call the party sent word they would abandon their expedition and offered themselves and the ship to their country. But Shackleton received a cable from a…

The ‘Art’ of Singing

[423 words] As a preacher I often sit and look around at the people who are singing. We are singing songs of praise to the God of the universe. We stand in awe at the power and majesty of God. We know this is the same God who created the universe and who will bring…

He Who Has An Ear

[376 words] “I think a Christian can go anywhere,” said a young woman who was defending her attendance at some very doubtful places. “Certainly she can, why not?” said her friend. An older man spoke up and said, “There is nothing keeping her from going but many things will come back with her.” He went…

Not the Same

[494 words] I drive an SUV. It is called a “crossover.” I noticed many of the “crossovers” that are made by different companies in the same year as mine look very similar. If you were to put them all side by side, it would be difficult to tell what company made which vehicle. If you…

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

[531 words] I used to coach high school football with a gentlemen who also served our state as a Kentucky State Trooper. Kids loved him (and still do) and I learned about life while being in his presence. When it came to dealing with emotions or people, he was, as my momma would say, “cool…

Life Is a Journey with Daily Choices

[511 words] One simple way to view life is to think of how it is a journey up a mountain trail. There are many times when on this journey there are forks in the path ahead of us, and we must choose which one to take, knowing that one of them leads to the place…

Bird Fight in the Church Parking Lot at Dawn!

[395 words] Wednesday morning, as I drove in, I noticed dark feathers flopping around on the parking lot. It looked like a bird had a broken wing and was trying to right himself. The wings kept fluttering, but the bird silhouette that is normal for a bird never emerged. I immediately wondered what happened. Was…

No One Came to Our Party

[306 words] After a few days of hard work, all the preparations had been made and it was time for the party. The tables were ready, filled with stacks of paper plates, plastic flatware, and cups. Cold drinks were iced and ready while the grill belched out smoke with the smell of cooking steaks. There…

The Unimportant Church Member

[335 words] Have you ever met a member of the church who was unimportant? You know the type—the one who says, “My presence in worship services is really not important. After all, I’m not a preacher, Bible class teacher, or a song leader.” Or someone might say, “I’m just a one-talent man. The service I…

Then Who, What, When, Where, Why?

[381 words] We are all familiar with the Five W’s of writing/reporting/journalism: Who? What? When? Where? and Why? Answering these helps people to understand all the details about certain situations. I have seen some of these used in the form of a personal question to help motivate people to action. Let’s use all of them…

No Fool like an Old Fool

[242 words] I’ve heard this phrase all my life – There’s no fool like an old fool. This usually refers to an older man who starts behaving like a child with no sense. Sometimes such fellows had more sense as a teenager than they exhibited in the later life. In the Bible, Solomon began life…

Let’s Invest In People!

[236 words] After being warned by the prophet Daniel about his sinful pride (Proverbs 6:16-17; Psalm 101:5; cf. Proverbs 16:18), the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was struck with insanity. The Lord restored his mind, but only after he spent a long period of time in a field thinking he was a wild animal (Daniel 4:28-37). Nebuchadnezzar…

An Easier Way?

[496 words] The journey to the promised land was a long, hard road. I am not just talking about the forty years in the wilderness. Long before that trial when Abraham didn’t even have a son, God told him that his descendants would suffer many years in another country. “Know certainly that your descendants will…

Have You Not Read?

[54 words] Jesus was constantly asking people about their Bible reading: “Have you not read…?” (Matthew 12:3) “Have you not read in the law…?” (Matthew 12:5) “Have you not read…?” (Matthew 19:4) “Have you never read…?” (Matthew 21:16) “Have you not read…?” (Matthew 22:31) What about you? Have you not read?… We are sorry, but…

Six Stewardship Principles

[68 words] 1. You reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). 2. The attitude of the giver is more important than the gift itself (2 Corinthians 9:7). 3. The time to give/commit is now (2 Corinthians 9:5). 4. We must give ourselves to God first (2 Corinthians 8:5). 5. “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew…

Life is a Gift

[63 words] Today before you say an unkind word, think of someone who can’t speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat. When depressing thoughts seem to get you down, put a smile on your face and remember that you’re alive and still around. Always…

Why Do You Believe That?

[67 words] Most people’s religious beliefs are really not their own, but what they’ve gleaned from others (family, friends, media, co-workers, neighbors, classmates, etc.). The majority will admit they have not taken the time to see what the Bible actually teaches. Frighteningly, all people will one day stand before Almighty God in Judgment based on…

I Forgot to Live

[71 words] First, I was dying to finish high school and start college.And then, I was dying to finish college and start working.And then, I was dying to marry and have children.And then, I was dying for my children to growold enough for school so I could return to work.And then, I was dying to…

You Tell on Yourself

[139 words] You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,By the very manner in which you speak,By the way you employ your leisure time,By the use you make of the dollar and dime. You tell on yourself by the things you wear,By the spirit in which your burden bear,By the kind of things that…

You Tell Me I Am Getting Old

[170 words] You tell me I am getting old;I tell you that’s not so!The “house” I live in is worn out,And that, of course, I know.It’s been in use a long, long while;The color’s changing on the roof;The windows are getting dim,The walls a bit transparentAnd looking rather thin.The foundation’s not so steadyAs once it…

The Greatest Thing You Can Do

[69 words] The greatest thinganyone can do forGod and man is pray.It is not the only thing, but is thechief thing. The great people ofearth are the people who pray. I do notmean those who talk about prayer;nor those who say they believe inprayer; nor yet thosewho can explainabout prayer; but Imean those peoplewho take…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 7:1-6

[78 words] “__ not, that you be not judged.” True or False: Jesus is condemning hypocritical judging, not all judging. “And why do you look at the __ in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the __ in your own eye?” True or False: Jesus said to work on your brother’s faults before your…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 7:7-14

[97 words] “Ask, and it will be __ to you; __, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” True or False: Jesus said a father would give his son a stone if he asked for bread. “Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a __?” “If…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 7:15-23

[69 words] False prophets come to you in __’s clothing. “You will know them by their __. Do men gather __ from thornbushes or __ from thistles?” True or False: Trees that do not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. True or False: Those who say to Jesus “Lord,…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 7:24-29

[102 words] Those who hear and do the words of Jesus will be like a __ man who built his house on the __. “…and the winds __ and beat on that __; and it did not fall, for it was __ on the rock.” Those who reject Jesus’ words will be like a __…

Quotes and Sayings (July 2024)

“Great minds have purposes, others have wishes.” — Washington Irving “Unless you give yourself to some great cause, you haven’t even begun to live.” — William P. Merrill “A useless life is an early death.” — Johann von Goethe “The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without…

On the Lighter Side (July 2024)

It’s All in How You Look at It A fisherman returned to shore with a giant marlin that was bigger and heavier than he was. On the way to the cleaning shed, he ran into a second fisherman who had a stringer with a dozen baby minnows. The second fisherman looked at the marlin, then…