November 2023, Vol. 42, No. 11

23,000 Breaths

[363 words] “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6). One of the good things about the Thanksgiving holiday is that we are “forced” to stop our busy, self-centered lives and count our blessings. It is so easy to take our blessings for granted! I was recently reminded of how…

Black Friday

[444 words] I have been seeing ads recently for “Black Friday.” This used to be the day after Thanksgiving when retailers lure customers with all kinds of special incentives. Now “Black Friday” comes earlier and lasts longer. People line up to get the special “door buster” savings. They will flock to stores and spend large…

Holy Rest

[217 words] Under the old covenant, God commanded the Israelites to keep a Sabbath rest (Exodus 20:8-11). On the last day of each week, those who followed God were to take off from work any kind. They were to worship God with their Jewish brethren and they were to rest. In additional to taking one…

What is That You Have?

[540 words] In the early 16th century, William Tyndale made it his purpose to translate the New Testament Scriptures, written in Greek, into the language of his people, the language of England. Getting word of this, “Edward Lee, the king’s almoner [giver of alms] and future archbishop of York…” heard about it. He reported back…

What Does God Expect from Our Elders?

[145 words] The following acrostic describes many of the attributes and behaviors that God expects of elders. We can read more about what God expects of elders by reading Eph. 4:11-16, 1 Tim. 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5. E – Encouraging members, enthusiastic about the Lord’s work. L – Leader, looking after one’s…

Baseball Wisdom and Life

[212 words] This past week, the Texas Rangers earned a place in baseball history. Not all teams have achieved this honor. They won the World Series. Five major league teams have not achieved this honor, and there are many players who will retire never having been in even one World Series game. Concerning the World…

It Is Quantity and Not Quality

[505 words] All my life I have heard people say, “It is quality and not quantity.” Perhaps in some areas of life this is true, but not when it comes to souls. Since every soul is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), every soul has value. Picking one soul or group of souls…

The Bible is God’s Unchanging Standard

[189 words] Man is not left to “do his own thing” religiously. He has the Bible, God’s unchanging standard upon which to build his life. Confusion comes when “Every man does that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). When man becomes a law to himself and tries to direct his own affairs…

All or Nothing

[259 words] The story is told of the little boy who cut off his puppy’s tail an inch at a time to keep from hurting it so badly by cutting the whole tail off at once. This sad story illustrates the tragic error that many people have with leaving the world behind them when becoming…

Where is God?

[394 words] Once upon a time there was a young fish that heard other fishes taking about the sea. One day he thought, “I will go and find the sea.” So he set forth to find the sea. He searched for a long time but could not find it. Then he met another fish, and…

The Dying Leaf

[234 words] As autumn approaches, we welcome the cooler temperatures and the changing of the seasons. We remember the promise of God to Noah, “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). Along with the change in the weather comes the…

Down to Only One Fear

[349 words] WE NEED NOT FEAR: Economic Collapse. Whether the breaking of Social Security, a major stock market crash, the mounting U.S. debt, recession, the real estate bubble bursting, bankruptcy, out of control inflation, or job losses. “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his…

That’s Not Right

[232 words] Cunningham’s Law is an axiom coined by Steven McGeady. It’s named after Ward Cunningham, the inventor of wiki software, who initially gave him the advice.  It states “the best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it’s to post the wrong answer.” That…

What Have You Got to Smile About?

[185 words] Smiling is a natural reaction to having a happy heart. I’m not talking about a smirk, leer or a sneer but a genuine, radiant, beaming smile. Actually, there is a lot about “smiling” in the Bible although the actual word isn’t used much in most English translations. For instance, Proverbs 15:13 in the…

What Does the World Need?

[349 words] As time moves on, I am thankful for Jesus and the church. While having an attitude of gratitude, I also have a feeling of concern. I am concerned about the world really not knowing Jesus or having an understanding of the church. I know this is not a new concept, but our concern…

The Religious Nones

[541 words] Who are the religious nones? Sounds like a religious order (almost), but it is actually a segment of the population that declares no religious affiliation, 28 percent of the population so declare. This means that of the “religious” affiliations, they are the second largest group, behind 40 percent of the population who identify…

Wardrobe Change

[259 words] Have you ever voyaged into the deep recesses of your closest only to discover clothing that is well past its time? The style is out, they no longer fit, and the holes are no longer justifiable in polite society. We would be embarrassed to be caught wearing some such things we find in…

Love or Like?

[449 words] The two words above are confusing to many people. I can love someone but not like certain practices. I can love someone because of the soul which God put in him; but, I may not like their life style or habits. God is a God of love (1 John 4:18), but God does…

Ask What You Can Do for Your Congregation

[343 words] President John F. Kennedy proclaimed, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country!” This challenge is a principle that should be the guide for all the citizens of the United States of America. We should desire to be citizens that want better for the…

Peter’s Final Words

[334 words] The great apostle and evangelist, Peter did some amazing things in his preaching career. In Acts 2, he delivered the first gospel sermon after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Acts 2:41 records that an astounding number responded to this and were baptized into Christ—almost 3,000! Peter continued preaching even though arrested several times, beaten,…

Whatever

[30 words] Whatever your trial, God sees.Whatever your struggle, God knows.Whatever your cry, God hears.Whatever your difficulty, God cares.Whatever your problem, God understands.Whatever your need, God provides.…

Questions Regarding Your Faith

[112 words] We are told in 2 Corinthians 13:5 that we are to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. To help us do this, may I offer the following questions for you to answer. Be honest and deeply examine yourselves. • Am I growing spiritually? • Am I able to truly…

Happy Families

[34 words] What do people consider the greatest source of pleasure in their lives? According to a study conducted for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Corporation, the overwhelming answer is “family,” selected by sixty-three percent of respondents.…

He Bought Us Back

[56 words] When sin put us on Satan’s auction block, Jesus bought us back with His own blood. Paul wrote, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We will never understand that kind of love…How can we not follow a Savior like…

Sunny Side Up

[29 words] A sunrise is God’s way of telling us… …to lighten up,…and brighten up,and start each day anew…to heighten up,…enlighten up,and take the sunny view. Edd SterchiBroadway church of ChristCampbellsville, KY…

Love Beyond Compare

[98 words] I woke one night and looked aboveInto a twinkling starry skyAnd Marveled that God’s endless loveShould come to one as small as I. When there are galaxies up thereWith measurements beyond the mindAnd yet that love beyond compareWas sent instead to humankind. The Heavens march without an endAnd we’re so fragile, and so…

The Sentinel

[93 words] The morning is the gate of day,But ere you enter thereSee that you set to guard it wellThe sentinel of prayer.So shall God’s grace your steps attend,But nothing else pass throughSave what can give the countersign;The Father’s will for you. When you have reached the end of dayWhere night and sleep await,Set there…

Possession

[44 words] Heaven above is softer blueEarth beneath is sweeter green.Something lives in every hue,Christless eyes have never seen.Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,Flowers with deeper beauty shineSince I know as now I knowI am His and He is mine.…

Bible Quiz: 2 Timothy 2:8-13

[76 words] Paul tells Timothy to remember that Jesus Christ, “the __ of David,” was raised from the dead. “…for which I suffer trouble as an __, even to the point of __; but the word of God is not chained.” Paul said he endures all things for the sake of the __. “For if…

Bible Quiz: 2 Timothy 2:14-19

[83 words] Striving about words to no profit can lead to the __ of the hearer. “Be diligent to present yourself __ to God, a __ who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Profane and idle __ should be shunned, because they will increase to more __. __ and…

Bible Quiz: 2 Timothy 2:20-26

[82 words] In Paul’s illustration of the vessels, there were four materials: __, __, __, and __. “Therefore if anyone __ himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for __, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” What did Paul tell Timothy to flee? “And a servant of the…

Bible Quiz: 2 Timothy 3:1-9

[59 words] “But know this, that in the __ days __ times will come…” Paul said in the days he was referring to, men would be __ of themselves and lovers of __. “…having a form of __ but denying its __. And from such people turn away!” “…always __ but never coming to a…

Quotes and Sayings (November 2023)

“In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.” — Henry Ward Beecher “We have become so engrossed in the work of the Lord that we have forgotten the Lord of the work.” — A.W. Tozer “He that well and rightly considereth his own works…

On the Lighter Side (November 2023)

One night a wife found her husband standing over their baby’s crib. Silently she watched him. As he stood looking down at the sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: disbelief, doubt, skepticism. Touched by this unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, with eyes glistening she slipped her arm…