June 2017, Vol. 36, No. 6 Archives

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

[195 words] “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But, there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). We all have a Friend. Jesus left heaven to come to earth to live–and die–for you and me. He was tempted just as we are so He would know the trials…

Hold to Good People

[172 words] All of us know that “evil companions corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). But many of us seem to prefer the company of bad people rather than good people. Good people will be at worship on Sunday. They will sing praise to God, pray and study together; but many had rather sit beside…

The Warning Sign

[349 words] Argentinean race driver Juan Manuel Fangio was only a lap through the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix. As he approached a dangerous bend for the second time, Fangio noticed that something was wrong. The faces of the spectators, which he usually saw as a whitish blur as he drove by, were all turned and…

What Vision Is

[419 words] It is the ability to see what a thing could be. A carpenter, looking at a tree, sees with a trained eye much more than others can see. With his expert shaping, appropriate tools, and seasoned patience, he can make out of that tree what was once only in his mind. The Lord…

Integrity and The Great Wall

[174 words] In ancient China the people desired security from the barbaric hordes to the north, so they built the Great Wall of China. It was so high and thick the Chinese thought no one could break through it. But, during the first 100 years of the wall’s existence, China was invaded three times! Not…

The Fear of Missing Out

[233 words] Oxford English Dictionary defines “Fear of Missing Out” as “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social media website.” This sounds new and modern but it isn’t really new at all. Satan has been using this tactic since the beginning. In the…

Top Tips for Biblical Fatherhood

[831 words] “As a father, if my words did not correspond to my actions, that which I taught was more in what I did than in what I said (cf. principle of Titus 2.9-10).” — Ron Thomas, Chillicothe, OH “Don’t forget to teach/show grace. Discipline and training is vitally important, but so is grace.…

The Patient Father

[320 words] We are told that children learn many life lessons from their fathers. I am delighted to hear that more and more fathers are seeing the importance of their role in the upbringing of their children. A recent survey showed that nearly half of all fathers spend more time with their children than their…

Faithful Fathers

[412 words] It has been said that Father’s Day is just like Mother’s Day except you spend less on the gift! All humor aside, society has sadly downplayed the importance of a father in the home. Too many children are being raised without their fathers in their lives. And too many fathers who are…

Our Father

[311 words] I remember the morning of my father’s funeral, my mother was in a hurry to leave the house. In a confused voice, I asked, “Why are you in such a rush?” She said, “Today is the last day we will get to see him.” I have longed to see and talk with…

Learn the Lesson of the Ant

[342 words] They get into everything; they are bothersome, contrary, persistent, and, on top of all of these things, they hurt! However, the Bible tells us: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” (Proverbs 6:6). Thus, we “go to the ant” for some guidance, some instruction, and some motivation. Please…

The Blessing of Christian Friends

[331 words] One of the great blessings of being a Christian is that you are not the only one. Though at times you may, like Elijah (1 Kings 19:10), feel like you are alone in the fight, the reality is that there are many other kindred spirits fighting the same battles and bolstered by the…

Do You Struggle With Parenting?

[291 words] Parenting is challenging. The top of the Christian parent challenge list would be, “Will my child be faithful to Christ into adulthood?” The Fuller Youth Institute says 50% of students walk away from the church after they graduate High School. Our youth need: Intergenerational relationships: Titus 2:1-5 says, “But as for you, speak…

Worship or Entertainment?

[387 words] Neil Postman described serious problems in modern culture in his insightful 1985 book, Amusing Ourselves to Death. His thesis was that public discourse has been reshaped to such an extent by television and entertainment that thoughtful discourse is missing. “Show business” hype has affected advertising, politics, and religion. Postman’s conclusion is that none…

The Key to True Happiness

[209 words] Psychologist Bernard Rimland once developed an interesting test you can use to determine what causes true happiness. Make a list of 10 people whom you know the best. After each name write either H (for happy) or N (for not happy). Then go down the list again, this time writing S (for selfish)…

Oh, It’s Nothing

[302 words] It’s greater than God yet also more evil than the devil. The poor have it, and the rich don’t want it. If you wear it you show everything, if you speak it you remain quiet and if you buy it you save money. The blind see it, the deaf hear it but if…

A Mirror For The Soul

[412 words] A mirror is probably one of the most honest things there is. It doesn’t lie. Every time one looks into a mirror there is an accurate reflection of exactly what we are. About the only way to make a mirror lie is to distort it. Even then, the reflection is not flattering. James…

‘At the End of the Day’

[373 words] For about a month or so, recently, news reports were marked with frequent mentions about an ongoing kidnapping case. It involved a fifty-year-old-man (who was a public school teacher) and a fifteen-year-old girl (a student at the school) from Tennessee. The media reported how the teacher persuaded the young girl to go with…

God’s Wings

[207 words] An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of God’s wings. After a forest ﬁre in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to access the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petriﬁed in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base…

On the Lighter Side (June 2017)

Flash Photography When a mother saw a thunderstorm forming in mid-afternoon, she worried about her seven-year-old daughter who would be walking the three blocks from school to home. Deciding to meet her, the mother saw her daughter walking nonchalantly along, stopping to smile whenever lightning flashed. Seeing her mother, the little girl ran to her,…

Fathers, What is Your Legacy?

[288 words] Inheritance is important. Good fathers desire to leave something behind for their children (Prov. 13:22). Old Testament law even regulated the passing down of a father’s possessions (Deut. 21:15-17; Num. 27:8-11). As fathers, what sort of inheritance would we like to see our children get? Material Possessions. There is nothing wrong with…