October 2020, Vol. 39, No. 10

After the Election

[388 words] One of the most divisive and chaotic election campaigns has come to an end. During this time Christians in America have faced many opportunities to exercise patience and let our faith shine. Chances are each of us have experienced some failures and some successes. Politicians and pundits will now judge and discuss the…

Will Our Kids Tear Their Clothes?

[415 words] When I was a kid in the 70’s, tearing your clothes was a horrible event. A mother’s admonition was, “Don’t tear a hole in your jeans, or I’ll have to patch them!” It was an accidental, tragic thing, usually occurring due to a child’s negligence. In Bible times, though, tearing one’s clothes was…

What Makes a Good Judge?

[412 words] Our nation is once again in the midst of controversy regarding the appointing of a Supreme Court justice. Those on the left and those on the right will wrangle and grapple through the process, each having their own opinions on what makes a good judge. But does the Bible have any guidance for…

With All Your Mind

[125 words] Jesus said, “The great and first commandment:” “you shall love the Lord your God with all your…mind” (Matthew 22:37). The current spiritual battle is not fought with carnal weapons (swords, guns, bombs), but with ideas from the word of God. “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have…

Enemies Surrounding Me

[177 words] Many of the psalms David wrote referred to his many enemies surrounding him. In Psalm 57, he says, “My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men, Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword” (v.4). Despite his adversaries, David was…

Is This Why America is in Trouble?

[566 words] Why did God overthrow governments in the Old Testament? Was it because of idolatry? Bloodshed? Oppression of the poor? Sexual sins and perversion? These sins stand out as reasons for the downfall of nations. But one evil was beneath these sins, and it often goes unnoticed as the cause of the demise of…

Truth Should Be Published!

[173 words] The first American multi-page newspaper was published on September 25, 1690, with a single edition of “Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick” appearing in Boston, Massachusetts. However, British authorities considered the newspaper offensive and ordered its immediate suppression due to its containing “reflections of a very high nature” and “sundry doubtful and uncertain…

You Sure Are Mean to Those That Love You

[350 words] Madge Wallace hated Harry Truman. Well, it was said she didn’t care much for anyone in Independence, Missouri but she seemed to really have it in for Harry. To her, he was just a “filthy farm boy.” Early on, she might have a point. Harry lost his family farm and failed at two…

A Teacher Come from God

[132 words] Scripture pictures Jesus as a Teacher come from God. Scripture says, “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these…

Legislate Morality?

[394 words] Of course morality can be legislated. More than that, morality must be legislated. We all believe it to be so. Consider theft: We demand our government protect our property and punish the thief because we know that it is immoral to steal. Consider murder: We demand our government punish the one who has…

Perils in Church Buildings?

[533 words] I was touring one of the oldest log church buildings in America when I noticed holes in the walls. “What are these holes?” I asked. A guide explained that they were drilled so men could put their rifles through the holes to shoot at indians if they attacked while the church was meeting.…

Racism is a Sin

[111 words] Racism is a terrible sin. The KJV calls it “respect of persons.” Every translation calls it “sin” (James 2:9). We are no to distinguish by race or nationality (Acts 10:24) or by dress or wealth (James 2:1-9) or by social or economic status (Ephesians 6:9). Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a time…

Coexistence or Confrontation?

[236 words] How do you approach the sinful world in which we live? Are we content to coexist with sinful people or do we creatively confront sinners? If we are content to coexist nothing changes. But if we creatively confront sinners they may repent; they may get angry with us; and they may even persecute…

What Is Edification?

[300 words] “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19). Edification is not a word we use in everyday life. We don’t hear or read about it in the news. It’s not usually found on any TV drama or comedy. However, the Bible urges us…

Little Sharks, Big Jelly Fish

[350 words] Every time I go swimming in the ocean, someone inevitably warns me: watch out for sharks! I always do, but I’ve never seen one, I’ve never heard the “bom-bom-bom-bom” music that plays in the background when sharks come near! And it’s a good thing, because once you hear the music, it’s probably too…

Why Calamities?

[381 words] Webster’s dictionary defines calamity as: “a disastrous event marked by great loss and lasting distress and suffering.” Without a doubt 2020 could be deemed the year of calamities. When pandemics, hurricanes, or wildfires hit, the question is asked by some: “Why did God allow it to happen?” I don’t claim to have all…

Scams and Excuses

[182 words] A friend shared this tongue-in-cheek warning: “Do not let them take your temperature as you are going into the store! It’s a scam! They’re erasing your memory! I went for bread, eggs, and vegetables…but I came home with soda pop, ice cream and candy!” I smiled as I read it because we can…

That’s Some Real Long Distance

[273 words] In 2006 the Federal government did something rather unusual, they repealed a tax. This was a three percent federal charge on long-distance phone calls. It was about time. The original purpose of the tax was to help fund American efforts in the Spanish-American War, which ran from April to August of 1898! The…

Pardon Without Penalty?

[333 words] According to Numbers 13, when the spies returned from their forty days of investigating the land God had promised them, there was a divided opinion presented to the people. It was not a difference involving facts. All twelve spies agreed that the land was good. In fact, it “flowed with milk and honey”…

Upside Down

[293 words] What impact should you as a Christian have on society? Should you be passive or active in the lives of the people around you? How do we help people become better? How can we help the sinner become a saint? We are sometimes reluctant to become involved in social change. We would rather…

Maturing in the Lord

[432 words] I enjoy doing the occasional woodworking project. It keeps my hands busy and allows extra time for thinking on life. To help improve my abilities in woodworking I subscribed to a wood magazine. I was excited to get my first issue and began the process of becoming a master craftsman! As I perused…

Bible Quiz: James 4:11-12

[59 words] “Do not speak __ of one another, brethren.” In this passage, a person who speaks evil of a brother and judges a brother also speaks evil of and judges the __. “But if you __ the law, you are not a doer of the law but a __.” How many Lawgivers does James…

Bible Quiz: James 4:13-17

[62 words] True or False: Christians are promised tomorrow. “For what is your __? It is even a __ that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord __, we shall live and do this or that.’” True or False: Boasting about the future is arrogance.…

Bible Quiz: James 5:1-6

[64 words] Who will weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them?“Your __ and __ are corroded, and their corrosion will be a __ against you and eat your flesh like fire.”James says the rich kept back the __ of the laborers.“…the __ of the reapers have reached the ears of the…

Bible Quiz: James 5:7-12

[50 words] “Therefore be __, brethren, until the __ of the Lord.”What does the farmer wait for?“Do not __ against one another, brethren, lest you be __.”Who did James say was an example of suffering and patience?“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by __ or by __ or with any other __.”…

Quotes and Sayings (October 2020)

“Nature gives to every time and season unique beauty; from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it’s just a succession of changes so soft and comfortable that we hardly notice the progress.” — Charles Dickens “There is a harmony in autumn, and a lustre in its sky, which through the summer…

On The Lighter Side (October 2020)

A Punny Fall Q: Why did the lions move at the end of summer?A: Because the pride goeth before the fall! Did you hear about the tree who deserted the forest at the end of fall?He was absent without leaves! Q: Why do trees hate going back to school in the fall?A: Because they’re easily…