March 2025

Dress With Respect

[382 words] When I saw the President of Ukraine sitting in the Oval Office with the whole world watching, I couldn’t help but notice how out of place he appeared in the clothes he wore. He looked like someone going for a jog. He knew how important this meeting was. He knew how the President…

Auditing Our Time

[340 words] There has been a great amount of press lately on the effort being made to identify wasteful and corrupt spending of taxpayer dollars. Billions and trillions of dollars will be identified as having been unwisely or corruptly used. When our government continually operates with trillions of dollars of debt, I am hopeful that…

Teaching With Food

[470 words] Jesus is the master teacher. One reason was His masterful use of stories. He could take the relatable events and situations and impart heavenly truths through them. Preachers joke that they can re-preach their sermons as long as they change the illustrations. We sometimes remember the “story” longer than the lesson. The best…

Free Church Pews

[318 words] I recently saw an ad in the classifieds for free church pews. A local church was giving away 20 perfectly good traditional wooden pews with padded backs and seats. Now I’m assuming that they are replacing the wooden pews with nice padded folding chairs, as is the practice of many churches today. I…

One Step at a Time

[186 words] One of the most vivid images in the Bible is what we read of in Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” This presents a powerful picture, especially in the context of those who lived in biblical times. In the times of the Psalmist,…

The Best Investment

[172 words] There is an old saying I used to hear. It is: “a rooster one day and a feather duster the next.” This is a Texas way of saying that you shouldn’t “crow like a rooster” (boast) about what you have, because it could all disappear tomorrow. This reminds me of Proverbs 23:5 –…

Evidence of His Handiwork: Bees Outsmart Scientists

[210 words] Scientists have long recognized that bees are intelligent creatures. Many believe that this intelligence is the product of millions of years of natural selection. But the extremely fast learning ability of the bee puts in doubt the millions of years and instead shows the hand of the Creator. Researchers at Princeton University decided…

In Times of Stress

[197 words] In Psalms 56, we read David’s words during a time of extreme stress. There came a time when the young warrior was captured by the Philistines in the area of Gath. You will recall that David defeated and killed the Philistines’ beloved warrior, Goliath, in battle (1 Samuel 17). Goliath’s hometown was Gath.…

What Every Christian Needs

[243 words] “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). In our confused, broken, and chaotic world, there are some fundamental things every person needs! Yes, they need each of these things. These things are not to be taken lightly or dismissed as trivial. They…

Jesus Christ is First!

[178 words] In 3 John 9-10 we read John writing, “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he…

Just the Bible?

[258 words] Have you ever thought, “Are there any churches that use just the Bible?” We are trying. When you visit us, you will not find a creed book. You will not find a set of written rules or traditions that must be obeyed. We have no earthly headquarters, no earthly president, and no board…

Great!

[352 words] The word “great” has been used a great deal. Many times it is used to refer to a singer or actor. During this time of year, a football team may be called “great” after winning the Super Bowl. The word itself means that something is superior to something else. The word “great,” however,…

Did You Know This About Ezra?

[83 words] Although the book of Ezra bears his name, the prophet himself is not mentioned until the 7th chapter.  The book of Ezra shows how God fulfilled His promise to return His people to the promised land after 70 years of exile, but He did so in two separate waves. The first was led…

Did You Know This About Nehemiah?

[148 words] Nehemiah helped lead an effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. At the beginning of the book, he is living in Persia in the palace of King Artaxerses, working as his cupbearer. When he heard a report about the wall of Jerusalem being broken down, he was determined to help.  Like Moses about…

Did You Know This About Esther?

[161 words] God is not mentioned a single time in the book of Esther. This has led some people to claim the book should not be included in the Bible.  However, there are a few good reasons to know that God is deeply involved in the events of this book. First, Mordecai told Esther that…

Did You Know This About Job?

[130 words] The book of Job gives an account of events that happened to a man named Job, and deals with the questions such as why the righteous suffer, and the sovereignty of God over His creation. Due to some of the things mentioned in the book, the action likely takes place in the patriarchal…

A Wise Father

[113 words] During the frontier days in the United States, the driver of a covered wagon stopped his horses on the street of a young town and called to a passing man, “Hey, any saloons in this place?” “Sure, we have four!” the man replied boastfully. “Giddap,” the driver shouted, urging his horses on. “Stop,”…

God is With You

[129 words] Joshua was taking over the leadership of the people of God, and knew that Moses left some big shoes to fill. But God gave him the assurance he needed to lead the people into the promised land. He told him to “be strong … do not be afraid…for the Lord your God is…

The Right Road

[85 words] 1. The right road is a way of purity and holiness (Isaiah 35:8).2. The right road is protected. “The redeemed shall walk there” (Isaiah 35:8–9).3. The right road carries you forward. It is a guide for your life (Isaiah 35:8).4. The right road is a way of praise (Isaiah 35:10). Which road are…

How Much Does It Cost?

[81 words] The cost of consecrated living for Christ can be high. • Abraham had to yield up his son (Genesis 22:1–19).• Daniel was cast in the lions’ den (Daniel 6).• Stephen was killed by stoning (Acts 7).• Paul spent years in prison (Act 7).• Jesus died on the cross (Hebrews 12:2). How much does…

A Closer Look at Jude 24

[53 words] Now (that’s the present) to Him (that’s the Person) that is able (that’s His power)to keep you (that’s His protection)from stumbling (that’s to make you perfect),and to present you faultless (that’s to make you pure) before the presence of His glory (that’s His prestige)with exceeding joy (that’s our pleasure)…. We are sorry, but…

The Ironies of Calvary

[66 words] Man of sorrows, Prince of Peace, Son of Joy, Man of griefs, Wounded healer, Rejected King, Earth’s disdain, Salvation’s wing. Friend of sinners, Friendless One, Men charge sin to the Holy Son, Innocent, yet judged with guilt, Had no home, but mansions built. The irony Christ was and gave, Buried, yet o’ercame the…

God Knows Best

[189 words] Our Father knows what’s best for us,So why should we complain …We always want the sunshine,But He knows there must be rain …We love the sound of laughterAnd the merriment of cheer,But our hearts would lose their tendernessIf we never shed a tear. ..Our Father tests us oftenWith suffering and with sorrow,He tests…

We, the Church

[111 words] ‘Tis joy, O God, thy church to be,Blood purchased by thy love,Part of thy eternal purpose,It’s glory from above. The holy bride of Christ the Lord,Made clean and sanctified.In holiness we live our lives,That He be glorified. The body of the Son of God,His work, we e’er perform.We are His eyes, His hands,…

The Optimistic Frog

[123 words] Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl; One was an optimistic soul,But the other took the gloomy view: “We shall drown,” he cried, without more ado.So with a last despairing cry,He flung up his legs, and he said, “Goodbye.” Quoth the other frog with a merry grin, “I can’t get out, but…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 13:10-17

[68 words] “And the __ came and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them in __?’” “For whoever has, to him __ will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken __ from him.” Which prophet does Jesus quote in this section?…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 13:18-23

[100 words] This section has as explanation of the parable of the __. The __ seed is the one who hears the word, and does not understand it, and the __ one snatches it way. The __ ground is the one who hears the word and receives it with joy, but stumbles under tribulation. “Now…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 13:24-30

[98 words] “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed __ seed in his field; but while men slept, his __ came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.” When the grain sprouted, the __ also appeared. “So the __ of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 13:31-35

[91 words] Which kind of seed does Jesus call the “least of all the seeds?” “…but when it is grown it is __ than the herbs and becomes a __, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” “The kingdom of heaven is like __, which a woman took and…

Quotes and Sayings (March 2025)

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.” — Doug Larson “The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.” — Henry Van Dyke “Music comes from an icicle as it melts,…

On the Lighter Side (March 2025)

Scientists have found a way to genetically cross a praying mantis with a termite. In other words, they’ve created an insect that says a prayer before it eats your house. — It was the day of the big sale. A long line had formed by opening time. A man pushed his way to the front…