November 2021, Vol. 40, No. 11 Archives

Are We Truly Thankful?

[510 words] Many, many years ago a story is told of a good king in Spain known as Alfonso XIX who learned that the boys who served in his court were forgetting to pray before their meals. So, he decided to teach them a lesson. He gave a banquet and invited them to attend. Midway…

Outside Looking In

[432 words] A young girl stood alone, watching the other children play. She leaned against the window, trying to be unnoticed but watching intently while the rest of the kids laughed and held hands and talked excitedly. She shifted her weight back and forth. Her body language clearly said she wanted to be included in…

Where Did Thanksgiving Come from?

[189 words] The present-day American practice of Thanksgiving descended from the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621, 399 years ago. It is a unique holiday because it doesn’t commemorate a special event such as a battle or a birthday. It is simply a day set aside to tell God thanks for his many gifts.…

You Are of Your Father

[431 words] In the heartfelt book of John, Jesus has several confrontations with the Jews to prove to them His deity (John 8). The hardness of heart of these people broke the Savior’s heart as they claimed allegiance to God, to the things of God, and to God’s faithful servant, Abraham. However, Jesus cuts to…

Lord, Send Someone Else

[426 words] In the book of Judges, we read about a time when the nation of Israel was overrun with Midianites. They would rob God’s people of their harvest and do even more evil things to God’s people. Israel prayed and begged God to send a leader who would run the enemies out of their…

Today

[270 words] Today, I will live as if it is the most important day I possess, because it is actually the only day I have. Today, I will whine and complain less. I will be thankful more, because I know that gratitude makes a better person out of me. Today, I will criticize less and…

Sleep Well at Night

[201 words] Have you heard another say to you, “How does he sleep at night!” This is not a question asked, but a pointed and judgmental statement about the thinking or bad actions of the one this remark is pointed to. How does one sleep at night? Some have a hardened heart, troubled not by…

If It Is The Lord’s Church…

[131 words] …then shouldn’t He determine how one enters it? …then shouldn’t He regulate how it should worship? …then shouldn’t He decide who should be qualified to be its leaders? …then shouldn’t He govern what it should do? …then shouldn’t He ascertain who are faithful members? And do you know what? It is and He…

Are You Starving?

[345 words] Are you starving? This is probably a funny question to ask, especially since we just celebrated Thanksgiving and most of us probably ate more than we needed to. For most of us the holiday season includes good food and more desserts than you can shake a stick at. I know I enjoy all…

Father, Forgive Them

[114 words] The Jewish authorities: “They spit in His face and struck Him. And some slapped Him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?’” (Matt. 26:67-68). The Roman soldiers: “They spit on Him and took the reed and struck Him on the head” (Matt. 27:30). Peter: “I do not know…

When We Lose a Friend

[231 words] I once had an elder in another congregation tell me: “You know you are growing old when you walk into a café and see several widows and realize that they were married to men younger than you.” This article is not about aging, but it is about coping with the loss of a…

Do You Love Your Family?

[460 words] Being in a family is sometimes hard. Loving your family is sometimes harder. The Bible teaches that each of us that have become Christians have a new Father, a Father that is perfect and loves us. When we all have the same loving Father that makes us family. “See what great love the…

Neglect Nothing Lost

[473 words] I sort of kind of remember an episode from the Little House on the Prairie books. It was in the book about Laura’s future husband, Almanzo Wilder. In his childhood he once found a wallet lying on the ground, full of large amount of cash. If I remember right it was several hundred…

Helping

[436 words] “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it upon His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, ‘Why this waste?…

Rock of Ages

[282 words] As you know, I like rocks and stones. I find them unique and fascinating. I cannot collect enough of them. But there is one stone that intrigues me more than any other: the Stone – the Rock. No, not Dwayne Johnson. Jesus! From 1 Peter 2:4-10, we see Jesus referenced as a stone…

Take as Much as You Can

[189 words] A city dweller moved to a farm and bought a cow. Shortly after he did, the cow went dry. When he reported this fact to a neighbor farmer, the farmer expressed surprise. The city man said he was surprised too. “I can’t understand it either, for if ever a person was considerate of…

You Never Know

[242 words] Last year we enjoyed a really nice crop of sunflowers. When their time of prime was over, they were cut and cast onto the burn pile. Lo and behold, what should sprout this year in the middle of that pile but a sunflower. I don’t know how many sunflowers or how many seeds…

When I Am Tempted

[139 words] When I am tempted I dare not strayFor many people look my way;Loved ones to sicken and distrustIf I betray my sacred trust;Weak ones to stumble and to fallIf I should heed temptation’s call;Young ones to follow in my wrongIf my heart’s not kept pure and strong;Older ones to mourn and grieveIf I…

More Than Warnings

[197 words] Some will look at Proverbs 2 and see the exhortation and admonition, interpreting it exclusively as a warning to males to stay away from females not belonging to them. This certainly is a significant teaching of the chapter, but not an exclusive one. The Holy Spirit has more in mind that just that.…

Just Don’t Quit

[140 words] At any given moment in the life of the church, there are those teetering on the border of departure. But if you quit, will you be happier? Will your children thereby be improved? Will those who know and love you be encouraged? And, will the angels in Heaven weep or rejoice? There is…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 5:1-5

[91 words] “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is __ of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is __ of Him.”True or False: If we don’t love God and keep His commandments, we don’t love the children of God.Are God’s commandments burdensome?“For whatever is born of God overcomes…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 5:6-13

[91 words] John says that Jesus came by both __ and __.“And there are three that bear __ on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three __ as one.”“If we receive the __ of men, the witness of __ is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 5:14-17

[109 words] Does God hear our prayers?True or False: If we ask for things that are against His will, He will still answer.“And if we know that He __ us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the __ that we have asked of Him.”“If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does…

Bible Quiz: 1 John 5:18-21

[81 words] “We know that whoever is __ of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps __, and the __ one does not touch him.”“We __ that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the __ one.”Where do we get understanding about salvation?True…

Quotes and Sayings (November 2021)

[190 words] “A good conscience is a continual Christmas.” — Benjamin Franklin “The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” — Burton Hills “If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.” — Bob…

On the Lighter Side (November 2021)

Thanksgiving Sillies About two weeks into November, the head turkey turns to his second-in-command and says, “I have a feeling something’s going down. The farmer just unfriended me on Facebook.” Q: What’s the difference between Election Day and Thanksgiving?A: On Thanksgiving, you get a turkey for the day. On Election Day, you get a turkey…