September 2019, Vol. 38, No. 9 Archives

The Gathering

[333 words] The phenomenon is called “shikadamari“ in Japanese. A loose translation would be, “deer gathering spot.” A large population of free-roaming deer live in and around the Japanese city of Nara, spending most of their time in the city park. Every summer evening at around 6:30, over 600 deer gather in the same spot…

The Horrors of Warfare

[92 words] The bloodiest day in U.S. military history occurred on Sept. 17, 1862, when Union armies and Confederate forces clashed at Antietam in Maryland during the Civil War. By the end of that day 26,000 men were dead, wounded, or missing. Over the years, more than 1.3 million Americans have died as casualties of…

Appropriate Responses to Jesus

[156 words] In Luke 4 there is a major focus on who Jesus is and the way people respond to Him. Obviously, there are both appropriate as well as inappropriate ways to respond to His presence and call. Some appropriate responses to Jesus would be: Praise Him for His powerful message (Luke 4:15). Jesus reveals…

The Christian and the World

[329 words] Do you know what you look like when you dress like the world? The world. Do you know what you sound like when you speak like the world? The world. Do you know what you “smell” like when you commune with the world? The world. Do you know what you become like when…

Let Patience Work!

[416 words] The Christian life can be very challenging. Due to the many obstacles and trials Christians encounter, we need to “let patience work.” James wrote the following about the need to let patience work: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith…

Who Has the Time?

[117 words] Most of us live time-conscious lives. We stick to tight schedules, glance at our clocks frequently, and hurry around to meet our appointments and deadlines. Time is certainly important, but the real value of time comes with the realization that our time here on earth is a countdown to eternity. Since life is…

Interesting Fish Facts From The Bible!

[341 words] God created fish and all the things that live in the water on the fifth day. “And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.’ So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with…

Do Better Than Job’s Friends

[441 words] Job had been sitting on the ground in misery. Everything had been taken from him. He showed amazing restraint after losing all his possessions. Even more incredible self-control was on display when he was told about the death of his children. Even after being afflicted with a painful illness, even after his own…

Christianity is Good for You!

[182 words] It turns out that Christianity is good for you, and good for your kids. Aren’t I Captain Obvious? Well, I suppose if you have been listening too much to certain atheists it might not be obvious. Richard Dawkins has claimed teaching children to accept their parent’s religion is child abuse, and suggests it’s…

Is the Genesis Flood Just a Myth?

[334 words] Today, there are some who would label the first several chapters of the Bible as “myth.” They do not want to believe that God created the universe, the earth or mankind. They do not believe in the worldwide flood. Interestingly, our Lord Jesus Christ and the beloved Apostle Paul believed that these events…

Someone to Listen

[245 words] How often do you pray? Do you ever let a day go by without talking to God? When you pray is it out of habit, or is it the fulfillment of a need? Ours is an age of loneliness where millions are starving for someone to talk to. Many feel tense because they…

Some See Less as Better

[293 words] There are some times when less is better. Sometime the less words we speak the better. The less fat intake, the better. The less sin, the better. Sadly, some see less as better in their Christian lives: Less time for worshipLess time for Bible studyLess time for gospel meetingsFewer verses sung in worshipShorter…

Parents, Get Involved!

[261 words] Parents get deeply excited and involved with what their children are doing in school. They make sure the children prepare for classes. They make sure the children never miss a class, a practice or an event. They are even there with them. They send their children to all kinds on clinics and training…

Safer Than Houses

[186 words] Investment can be tricky things. Do you put your money in stocks or bonds, real estate, or hide it under your mattress? Even the most seemingly stable places to put your money can turn south in a heartbeat. Lots of people have experienced the phenomena of thinking they invested well only to learn…

We Can Always Do Our Best

[205 words] Are you putting forth effort to make your life the best that it can be? We say we want to accomplish things, yet we choose to be less than we can be. People die much younger than they have to, many times because of bad habits. People go to work and do a…

Thoughts and Prayers

[281 words] There has been a backlash in recent times against those who offer prayers during a tragedy. To some, the phrase has come to be an empty gesture, which acknowledges an issue but refuses to do anything about it. I’m sure that some of this is because of a growing atheistic mindset in our…

What Do You Do With His Gift?

[230 words] “And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father’s house” (Judges 14:19). Samson is known…

Don’t Wage War as the World Does

[236 words] “Then 3000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, ‘Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?’ And he said to them, ‘As they did to me, so have I …

Do You Evangelize and Edify?

[220 words] “But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’” (Acts 4:19-20). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on those…

Motivation for the Christian

[222 words] “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that … we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11). I recently saw a picture labeled “motivation.”…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 4:11-13

[38 words] “Let us therefore be ___ to enter that rest…”By what example might Christians fall?God’s word is sharper than a ___.Who can hide from God’s judgment?God’s word is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the __. Answers: diligent, disobedience, sword, no one, heart. BulletinDigest.com…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 4:14-16

[31 words] Who is the Christian’s great High Priest?“Let us hold fast our ___.”Jesus can ___ with our weaknesses.Jesus “was in all points __ as we are…”True or false: Jesus never sinned. Answers: Jesus, confession, sympathize, tempted, true. BulletinDigest.com…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 5:1-4

[53 words] A high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices for __.A high priest has __ on those who are ignorant and going astray.Did human high priests have weaknesses?Did human high priests have to offer sacrifices for themselves as well as the people?Were high priests given this honor by God? Answers: sins,…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 5:5-11

[49 words] “So also Christ did not __ Himself to become High Priest.”Who appointed Christ High Priest?“Though He was a Son, yet He learned __ by the things which He suffered.”“He became the __ of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”Jesus is a Priest according to the order of __. Answers: glorify, God the…

Bible Quiz: Hebrews 5:12-14

[58 words] “For though by this time you ought to be __…”“…and you have come to need __ and not solid food.”Everyone who partakes only of milk is __ in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.“Solid food belongs to those who are full of __…”Does studying and practicing God’s word help us…

Quotes and Sayings (September 2019)

[223 words] “Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” — Emily Brontë “Two sounds of autumn are unmistakable…the hurrying rustle of crisp leaves blown along the street…by a gusty wind, and the gabble of a flock of migrating geese.” — Hal Borland “Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose…

On the Lighter Side (September 2019)

[206 words] Fall RiddlesQ: What is a tree’s least favorite month of the year?A: Sep-timber! Q: What do you use to mend a jack-o-lantern?A: A pumpkin patch. Q: Who helps the little pumpkins cross the road to school?A: The Crossing Gourd. Q: What is the ratio of a pumpkin’s circumference to its diameter?A: Pumpkin Pi…