June 2025

Independence Day

[182 words] In a few days, our nation will be celebrating Independence Day (July the 4th). It is a time when we remember the sacrifices that our nation’s fathers made to win the freedoms we enjoy, today. The United States is an experiment to see if true democracy can prevail and “one nation under God”…

Our Dress Code

[292 words] It seems that dress codes have always been a source of controversy within societies and of course within the church. In most cases, popular culture drives the clothes that people wear, while dress codes attempt to monitor apparel by opinions of what is considered decent and moral. The following dress code was recently…

A Minute Too Short?

[337 words] Joe Munch is believed to be sentenced to the shortest prison sentence in history, one whole minute. In 1906 while serving in the army he was out on leave and drank too much passing out on the street. A policeman found him in this condition and he was arrested. The court sentenced him…

What Does It Mean to Be Spiritual?

[458 words] It is rather popular in our day for a person to be “spiritual.” One might ask, “What does it mean to be spiritual?” The answer(s) to that question will vary from person to person. If you ask the “experts,” you will find that being a spiritual person could involve anything from practicing yoga…

The Gift You Give Yourself

[139 words] I always hating buying gifts for my Mom. If I got her something like a new set of pans, it was like saying “Here’s something you can use to go make me something to eat”. A gift for her was seemingly a gift for me. There are however gifts you give that benefit…

Picking Up Sticks

[426 words] Surely, picking up some sticks is innocent, right? God would never care if someone took a few minutes to gather a few limbs and branches, right? Not so fast, my friend. Let us examine the matter carefully. Consider with me what is recorded in Numbers 15:32-36. Here we read about a man who…

Do Trials Make Us Patient?

[383 words] “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally…
Nadab and Abihu

Actions Without Authorization

[381 words] All through the Bible, we see an important principle revealed: we are not to change what God has authorized. In Leviticus 10, Nadab and Abihu, priests of God, offered a kind of fire for the burning of incense that God had not authorized (v.1). As a result, God struck them dead (v.2-3). In…
Clock

What Are the Worst Six Hours You’ve Ever Spent?

[211 words] I once heard a preacher ask the question: “What was the toughest six hours you have ever experienced?” He then proceeded to give examples of some tough times he suffered. He recalled how he went into the hospital for a short, routine procedure and ended up enduring a six-hours-long major heart surgery. Then…

Yellow Jackets in the Church

[190 words] When I was a young preacher, I traveled to several small churches to fill-in for vacationing preachers. In one smaller church, I was bringing a message of joy. To make a point, I rapped on the pulpit. Suddenly, a cloud of yellow jackets buzzed out. Three or four made their point on my…

Beautiful

[242 words] A grandmother and a little girl whose face was sprinkled with bright red freckles spent the day at the zoo. The children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws. “You’ve got so many freckles, there’s no place to paint,” a…

Proof That God Governs

[61 words] More than 200 years ago, Benjamin Franklin stood before the Constitutional Convention and said, “I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth: that God governs the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall without His notice, is it possible…

Write Your Own Pleasure Book

[95 words] There once was an elderly woman who had many troubles. In spite of everything, she maintained a sweet, happy face and a cheerful heart. When asked her secret, she said that for many years she had kept a “Pleasure Book.” Every evening she would write down something pleasant that happened to her that…

Heavy Hands of a Leader

[97 words] As Moses found out, the hands of a leader can get heavy (Exodus 17:8-13). Amalek had declared war on Israel, and Israel was assured victory as long as Moses could hold up the staff of God, but the battle outlasted Moses’ arms. Enter Aaron and Hur. They helped Moses keep his hands lifted…

A Divine Name

[94 words] Isaiah the prophet wrote that a “new name” would be given to the Lord’s people. It was to be given only after the Gentiles were invited to become partakers of salvation through Christ (Isa. 62:2; 65:15). It could not have appeared before Acts 10 when the Gentiles were recognized as being heirs of…

Did You Know This About Daniel?

[114 words] Daniel is one of the only major figures in the Bible that left behind a completely positive record. Nothing negative is said about him.  This could be because Daniel’s life was characterized by great faith, prayer, courage, and a refusal to compromise with a culture that was against God’s people.  Carried way in…

Did You Know This About Hosea?

[89 words] The prophetic ministry of Hosea stretched about 45 years, from 755 to 710 BC. He preached to the northern kingdom of Israel, which is sometimes referred to as Ephraim.  He prophesied through the reigns of six kings of Israel, from Zechariah to Hoshea. Hosea gives 150 statements about the sins of Israel, and…

Did You Know This About Joel?

[136 words] Joel was one of the early prophets of Judah, and was likely prophesying during the days when Elisha was in Israel. Joel’s preaching carried the theme of great disasters, with locusts, plagues, famine, fire, war, and strange celestial events. Probably the most amazing fact about Joel is the book’s connection to the New…

Did You Know This About Amos?

[100 words] The name Amos means “burden” or “one who bears a burden.” This is a fitting name for a prophet who brought a message of warning to Israel during a time of optimism and prosperity, around the year 755 BC. At this time Assyria and Babylon were relatively weak, but just three decades later…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 15:21-28

[61 words] Jesus went to the region of what two cities? A woman from __ came and cried out to Him. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of __! My daughter is severely __-possessed.” Jesus told her it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little __. “O…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 15:29-39

[93 words] “Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of __, and went up on the __ and sat down there.” Great __ came to Jesus with the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others. “Then His __ said to Him, ‘Where could we get enough bread in the __ to fill such a great…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 16:1-12

[86 words] “Then the __ and __ came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.” Jesus called them __, and said no sign would be given to this wicked and adulterous generation except the sign of the prophet __. “Now when His __ had come to the other side,…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 16:13-29

[57 words] Jesus took His disciples into the region of __ Philippi. The disciples said that some people were saying Jesus was __ the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other __. “Simon __ answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the __ God.’” Jesus said He would __ His __.…

Quotes and Sayings (June 2025)

“It’s only when you grow up and step back from him—or leave him for your own home—it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it.” – Margaret Truman “A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow.” – Unknown “Dads are most ordinary men turned by…

On the Lighter Side (June 2025)

Dad Jokes What kind of shoes do frogs wear? Open-toad sandals. I just built an ATM that only gives out coins. I don’t know why no one’s thought of it before: it just makes cents! Did I ever tell you about the time I went mushroom foraging? It’s a story with a morel at the…