October 2023, Vol. 42, No. 10

The Letters in ‘All’

[184 words] A teacher once gave me some advice: On a test, “all the above” is often the right answer, but rarely is it in life.  When the claim is “everyone” or “always,” it usually isn’t accurate because there is most likely some exception. Consider Romans 3:23: “…for all have sinned and fall short of…

Living in a Right-Hand World

[388 words] I’m left-handed and throughout my life it has been a source of both inconvenience and at times downright difficult. For instance, when I started school as a kid the desk we sat at were right-handed, totally opened on the left side. When I tried to write or draw my left arm was up…

Christians Need Balance

[182 words] Christians need balance in their life. Life is a lot like riding a bicycle. You must have balance if you ride a bicycle safely. We need balance if we are to live a happy and productive life for Jesus. If we have balance; if we “love” God and “fear” God we will avoid…

How Can Increase My Dependence Upon God?

[296 words] “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). I can begin each day with prayer that includes thanks. I can replace the question, “Why has God done this to me?” with, ”How has…

Life After Death

[412 words] Job asked, “If a man die, shall he live again” (Job 14:14)? Jesus answered that question when he said, “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the…

Do You Think About the Roman Empire?

[437 words] I am amused and baffled by what amuses and baffles our culture. Trends rise and fall and what is new today is despised and forgotten tomorrow. A video trend today is to ask men how often they think about the Roman Empire. Apparently, it’s a thing now to be amused at (particularly men)…

A Suggestion for More Effective Prayer

[409 words] I hope the title got your attention. Hopefully, every Christian is concerned about not only having a continual habit of prayer, but also that their prayers be effective. Too many times, we start our prayers “Dear God“ and then start our wish list. But I think it’s important to get the proper perspective…

Courage, Strength, Compassion

[151 words] Standing for what you believe in, regardless of the odds against you and the pressure that tears at your resistance…Means Courage. Keeping a smile on your face, when inside you feel like dying, for the sake of supporting others…Means Strength. Stopping at nothing and doing what, in your heart, you know is right…Means…

Writing Down the Reasons

[301 words] I heard of a man who said he was going to decide the question of becoming a Christian in a reasonable way. He was going to write down on one piece of paper all the reasons why he should become a Christian. On another piece of paper he would write down all the…

I Can With God’s Help!

[213 words] God has always worked through His people who say, “With God’s Help, I can!” For forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness because ten men said, “We can’t.” The wilderness of Arabia was scattered with the bones of thousands of Israelites who agreed with those two men who said, “We can’t.” “We…

Victory Depends on the Vision

[337 words] I was born with extremely poor eyesight. My poor vision began to manifest itself in elementary school. At one point in the sixth grade my grades were horrible because of my vision. My mother was called in for a conference about my grades. I was terrified! I mean, the meeting wasn’t about some…

Don’t Believe Everything You Think

[411 words] I admit a curiosity for bumper stickers. On occasion, one succinctly states a great truth or at least provokes reasonable thought. Once I stopped at a light, and the car in front of mine had the sticker, “Don’t believe everything you think!” The more I thought about it, that statement struck me as…

Now It’s Personal

[432 words] Deion Sanders has worn numerous monikers. Neon Deion. Prime Time. These days he is referred to as Coach Prime. Sanders was undisputedly one of the greatest athletes of his generation as he was a two-sport star in both professional baseball and football. These days he is the head football coach for the University…

Liquid Paper and the Good News

[241 words] With today’s computers, many young people have no idea what “Liquid Paper” was. The liquid could assist anyone using a typewriter. If you made a mistake typing a letter or report, you could simply stop, then paint out the mistake. After the liquid dried, you could type over the mistake and continue your…

Jesus Never Went to Hell

[346 words] Though some translations erroneously use the English word “hell” and much tradition suggests Jesus went to hell, they are mistaken.  Matthew 16:18 (NASB95) says, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” One enters…

Praying for a Hedge of Thorns

[506 words] Today, I read a memoir of a man who lived and died over 200 years ago. His name was John Carrol, and he died at the young age of 22 years. Instead of being bitter about his circumstances (e.g., the death of both his parents and his illnesses), he was somehow able to…

You’ve Never Tried It

[198 words] I recall when I was a boy that sometimes I would turn my nose up at foods that Mama would offer. The answer Mom would give would be, “You’ve never even tried it,” followed by, “Try it; you might like it!” ​It has come to mind many times about those who find Christianity…

Can’t Swim, But Does

[153 words] The Byram River in Greenwich, Connecticut, at the crest was running twelve to fifteen feet deep. A family picnicking at the edge watched in horror as their two-year-old daughter fell into the water. Her 23-year-old mother, who could not swim and was horrified by water, jumped in and pulled her little girl to…

A First Century Perspective

[330 words] The religious world looks at religion through 21st century glasses. Seldom does it really reach back to the first century. Yet, a first century perspective is exactly what is needed. If not, it is easy to make the Bible say things it never intended to say. Too, it causes individuals to use the…

There’s Just One More Thing

[405 words] “Oh, there’s just one more thing…” There are few things more frustrating than thinking that everything is understood and then there is an addition to the instructions. In the book of Colossians, Paul is addressing a people who have been told, “you have Christ and that’s great…oh yeah, but there’s one more thing…

The Greatest Man

[63 words] He had no earthly servants, yet they called Him Master.He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.He had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.He had no army, yet kings feared Him.He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.He was buried in a…

Don’t Wait Too Late

[77 words] A gas station employee working the cash register was swarmed with last minute customers on a holiday weekend. He shook his head in disgust and said to a preacher who was in the line, “It is funny to me that people always wait until the last minute to prepare for a trip they…

Things There Won’t Be at the Judgment

[30 words] • Unbelievers (Philippians 2:10; Revelation 1:5-7)• Material possessions (2 Peter 3:10)• Mistrials (Acts 17:31)• Secrets (Romans 2:16)• Baptisms (Matthew 25:31-46)• Invitation songs (Matthew 25:10)… 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 your email address (Check…

The Bible is a Library

[32 words] The Bible is an indispensable companion for a complete life. It is carrying a whole library in one volume. It has 66 books, 1,189 chapters, 31,102 verses, 773,746 words, and 3,566,480 letters…. We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are not yet a member (Register),…

The Word of God

[44 words] For feelings come and go,And feelings are deceiving;My warrant is the Word of GodNaught else is worth believing.I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word‘Til soul and body sever;For though all things shall pass away,His Word shall stand forever…. We are sorry, but this content is for Annual and Lifetime members only. You either are…

Joy Is My Strength

[90 words] The joy of my salvation is my strength.It is a joy that makes my heart glad.It is a joy that sets me apart from others.It is a joy that witnesses to the world.It is a joy that makes me want to sing and shout!It is a joy that delights in spiritual things.It is…

Making God Second Best

[137 words] I’m always prompt to punch the clock;I never miss a date,But when I go to worship God,I’m usually always late.I wouldn’t think of leaving work,To visit brother Fred;I just wait ‘til Sunday comes,And forsake the church instead.I never miss a day at work;Perfection’s what I seek;But I miss the worship of my God,Once…

Love That Lives

[122 words] From day to day, from heart to heart There lives the hope of a love apart— Apart from the commonplace, content That this is a gift that God has sent.A love that builds, from day to day, A sense of worthiness, and not dismay A bit of heaven, a bit of home — …

Bible Quiz: 2 Timothy 1:1-7

[64 words] In the greeting of this letter, Paul calls Timothy a beloved __. Paul said he served God with a pure __. Timothy’s grandmother was __ and his mother was __. “Therefore I remind you to stir up the __ of God which is in you through the __ on of my hands.” “For…

Bible Quiz: 2 Timothy 1:8-12

[93 words] Paul told Timothy not to be __ of the __ of our Lord. “…share with me in the __ for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy __…” Jesus Christ abolished __ and brought life and __ to light through the gospel.…

Bible Quiz: 2 Timothy 1:13-18

[72 words] “Hold fast the __ of sound __ which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” “That good thing which was __ to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who __ in us.” Name the two men in Asia who had turned away from Paul. Paul prayed…

Bible Quiz: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

[66 words] “You therefore, my __, be strong in the __ that is in Christ Jesus.” True or False: Paul urged Timothy to teach faithful men who would be able to teach others. Paul urged Timothy to endure hardship as a good __ of Jesus Christ. “ And also if anyone competes in __, he is…

Quotes and Sayings (October 2023)

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” — Emily Brontë “How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.” — John Burroughs “Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.” — Samuel Butler “Wise men…

On the Lighter Side (October 2023)

A Bible school helper was delivering a van full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children began discussing the dog’s duties. “They use him to keep crowds back,” said one youngster. “No,” said another, “he’s just…