November 2024

How One Person Made a Difference at Thanksgiving

[357 words] With Thanksgiving getting closer, I am reminded about the amazing story of how God used a Native American (Indian) named Squanto to bless the Pilgrims who settled in America. Historical accounts of Squanto’s life vary, but around 1608 a group of European traders sailed to what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. When the trusting…
Give thanks word abstract in vintage letterpress wood

Give Thanks

[409 words] With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us once again, it is good to be reminded to count our blessings—even in the midst of difficult circumstances. The Apostle Paul—who had encountered and endured every form of suffering  imaginable (2 Cor. 11:22-29; 12:7-10)—instructed us to be thankful at all times: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give…

The Empty Pew

[273 words] Preachers have a distinctive view of the congregation as he stands before them and delivers the message from God’s word. As he teaches the lesson, he subconsciously assesses the audience, and immediately knows if the attendance for that day is good or is lacking. As human nature would have it, members have the…

Who Is In Charge Now?

[234 words] It seems every election we go through is billed “as the most important ever” and “will change the future of the world as we know it.”  But if you look throughout history you will see leaders come and go powers rise and fall, and what we think of as important, stable, and unchangeable…
Man with red beard and glasses

We Must Be Ready

[331 words] Recently I read an article with this title: “10 of the Fanciest Entries from the World Beard and Mustache Championships.” As I continued to read I found that about three hundred men, from nine different countries, spent the entire year trying to win the title: World’s Greatest Beard. This made me think about…

Calamity Cain

[415 words] In 1852, Martha Jane Cannary, a.k.a., Calamity Jane, was born. When she was 14 years of age her mother died, and then just one year later her father passed away. Following his death, Calamity Jane found work as a scout at Fort Russell. She was well known for being a good shot and…

Send Us Some Men

[258 words] The first English settlement in America was at Jamestown. Barely a year old, the settlement found itself in serious trouble. A primary part of the problem was that the colony was made up of “gentleman adventurers.” Captain John Smith, the leader of the settlement, understood the problem and sent an urgent message back…

Forget Not All His Benefits

[213 words] David the prophet proclaimed: “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalms 103:2). The Apostle Paul encourages us with these words: “Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to Him through God the Father” (Colossians 3:17).…

The Ripple Effect

[370 words] A relay was tripped at the Sir Adam Beck Power Station on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The stage had been set when the relay was inadvertently set too low a few days before; it tripped at 5:16 p.m. on November 9, 1965. It was this incident that inspired the 1968 film,…

Freedom is Not Free

[320 words] Inscribed on the Korean War Memorial are the words, “Freedom Is Not Free.” Every time I think of these words I think of two aspects of my freedom. First, I think of my rights as an American citizen. It is a great blessing to live in a country where I have so many…

Are You Living Up to Your Name?

[313 words] Nestled in the little New Testament book of Philemon is a wonderful jewel of example and instruction. First, let’s look at a little background. A Christian in Colossae by the name of Philemon owned a slave that had run away from him. Ending up in Rome, the slave, Onesimus, had become converted to…

More Important Than Myself

[540 words] If I can learn to truly regard others “as more important” than myself (Philippians 2:3), then I will have taken a giant step toward living day by day as a faithful child of God. I struggle with this concept in some aspects and don’t struggle with it in others. How can I view…

God’s Great Love

[210 words] One of the most vivid characteristics of our Lord is that he is “a God of love.” The Old Testament Prophet David stated that God was “full of faithful love.” David wrote: (Psalms 103:8), “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who…

Three Good Fellows

[517 words] We need other Christians. We depend on them to help us. Even Paul needed brothers and sisters to help him do his work and bear his burdens. In the little book of Philemon, Paul named some of these good “fellows.” Philemon the fellow laborer (v. 1). This brother worked with Paul in the…

What’s So Great about Following Jesus?

[236 words] The word Christian means “a follower of the Christ” (Acts 11:26). Some view the Christian life as one that is unduly restricted, without any real freedom, and with no joy or pleasure. Agrippa, for instance, admitted that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian but declined (Acts 26:28). Such a notion is…

Some Things to Remember After the Election is Over

[401 words] The election will soon be over, and, boy oh boy, will I be glad. I simply detest all of the political rhetoric, spinning of the issues, and the constant, incessant, irritating ads! Regardless of whether our favorite candidate wins or not, and regardless of whether we think the country is headed the right…

Consider These Things About Jesus

[81 words] • He who was the bread of life began His ministry hungry. • He who was the water of life ended His ministry thirsty. • He who was often weary is our rest. • He who paid taxes is the king of the universe. • He who was called a devil cast out…

The Whole Duty of Man

[97 words] Consider what Solomon revealed about man’s life on earth. All that mankind might accomplish in this world is truly vain (useless) unless he becomes spiritually reconciled to God and lives in fellowship with Him. Solomon said, “And I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done…

Interpreting the Bible

[62 words] When someone says, “I may be taking this passage a little out of context,” he should repent and stop. No one has the right to twist scripture—not even a little (2 Timothy 2:15). When someone says, “I could be wrong,” appreciate his humility and know that he could be correct (Proverbs 16:2, 21:2).…

Bad News, Good News, and a Promise

[145 words] THE BAD NEWS: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10). THE GOOD NEWS:…

Why Doubt God’s Word?

  [46 words] It is strange we trust each other,    And only doubt our Lord; We take the word of mortals,    And yet distrust His word; But oh, what light and glory    Would shine o’er all our days, If we always would remember     God means just what He says. A.B. Simpson……

All One In Christ

[94 words] In Christ there is no east nor west,    In him no south nor north, But one great fellowship of love    Throughout the whole wide earth. In him shall true hearts everywhere    Their high communion find His service is the golden cord    Close-binding all mankind. Join hands, then, brothers of…

My Prayer

[32 words] Lord Jesus, make Thyself to meA living, bright reality;More present to faith’s vision keenThan any outward object seen;More dear, more intimately nighThen ‘en the sweetest earthly tie.” Anonymous… We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register), have yet to confirm…

God’s Promises

[51 words] As the deep blue of heaven brightens into stars,So God’s great love shines forth in promises.Which, falling softly through our prison bars,Daze not our eyes, but with their sweet light bless.Ladders of light, God sets against the skies,Upon whose golden rungs we step by step arise. Anonymous… We are sorry, but this content…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 10:1-15

[88 words] Jesus gave the twelve disciples power over “__ spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of __ and all kinds of __.” How many disciples named Simon were among the twelve, according to Matthew? Jesus told them not to go to the __ or the Samaritans, but only to “the…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 10:16-26

[97 words] “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of __. Therefore be wise as __ and harmless as doves.” True or False: Jesus said the twelve would never be delivered up to councils or be scourged in synagogues. “For it will be given to you in that hour what you should…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 10:27-33

[66 words] “Whatever I tell you in the __, speak in the light; and what you hear in the __, preach on the housetops.” True or False: Jesus said to fear those that can kill the body. How many sparrows are sold for a copper coin? “But the very __ of your __ are all…

Bible Quiz: Matthew 10:34-42

[87 words] Jesus said He did not come to bring peace on earth, but a __. “He who loves __ or __ more than Me is not worthy of Me.” “He who finds his __ will __ it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” True or False: Jesus said…

Quotes and Sayings (November 2024)

“Some people are molded by their admirations, others by their hostilities.” — Elizabeth Bowen “A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights.” — Napoleon Bonaparte “Great men undertake great things because they are great; fools, because they think them easy.” — Vauvenargues “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts, perhaps the fear…

On the Lighter Side (November 2024)

Two buddies decided to go duck hunting. Neither one of them had ever been duck hunting before, but they bought an expensive retriever dog from a local kennel. The trainer promised the dog was highly skilled and would get ducks. After several hours in the blind they still hadn’t bagged any. One hunter turned to…