200-299 words

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…

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).…

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…

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…

Good Citizens

[277 words] Immigration and citizenship are a hot topic in our country today. Why do many people want to come here and become a citizen of the United States? Is it for freedom, political asylum, or the opportunity for a better life? Currently, Christians have a dual citizenship. We are citizens of the earth while…

A Nation Without God

[249 words] George Washington, just after he took office, wrote, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly implore his protection and favor…” Abraham Lincoln once said, “It is the duty of nations, as well as…

Choosing My Altar

[275 words] We usually get pretty indignant when we realize that someone has “used us,” don’t we? Read the following verse two or three times and spend some time thinking about what Paul is saying to the Christians at Philippi. “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice…

Our Team Name

[286 words] Well football season is in full swing! If you were granted a new team to join the National Football League, what team name would you choose? Have you ever noticed that when teams choose an animal for a team name it is usually a ferocious one? For example, in the NFL, we have…

I Need A Crutch

[276 words] “On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners’” (Mark 2:17). Karl Marx is credited with the statement that “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” Freud’s view of religion is well known:…

You Will Never Walk Alone

[236 words] The prophet Elijah is at the low point. His victory at Mount Carmel turned into his being on the run for his life. He is despondent, depressed, and ready to give up. When God asks him what he is doing, his response is telling. “I tried,” he exclaims, “but no one is listening,…

There’s Something Fishy About Jesus!

[208 words] No, I have not renounced my belief concerning Jesus. I believe He is what the Bible has revealed about Him. He is God (John 10:30) who came to the earth in the flesh (Rom. 8:23). As God He is eternal (Heb. 13:8) and yet, made Himself subject to temporal limitations and temptations, and…

His Glory Is Everywhere

[224 words] Those who followed God in the Old Testament often thought that God was contained within the walls of the Temple. However, the prophet Isaiah taught us otherwise. In chapter six of the book of Isaiah, the prophet tells us of a vision God gave him. In that vision, he saw God sitting on…

Trembling Before God

[266 words] The most profound reverence characterized the ancient copyists of the Scriptures. When they came to a name for deity, they put new pens in their writing instruments, took a bath, and changed raiment. It is amazing how frail humans today approach God and His Word with such contempt and barefaced irreverence. We chuckle…

It Was Right There All the Time

[216 words] An old Eastern parable titled “The Wealth Is Nearer to You Than You Think,” relates the story of a rich merchant who took a journey to a distant land. As the businessman traveled, he met a stranger who wanted to travel with him. Although the merchant was glad to have a companion, he…
Man yawning while driving car

Danger of Drowsiness

[280 words] Being sleepy at the wrong time and in the wrong place can be very dangerous. Drowsy driving can slow down thinking and reaction times—affecting our judgment and vision. Not to mention we could outright fall asleep and wreck, injuring ourselves and/or others. An estimated 1 in 25 drivers report having fallen asleep while…

Can We Really Be Like Jesus?

[274 words] When thinking about the earthy life of Jesus Christ, it is nothing short of extraordinary. From His humble birth in a manger, to His ministry to the multitudes, we are fascinated by His composure, compassion and character. He reached out to the rich and the poor, the popular and unpopular, without partiality. Having…
Black Bear

Surviving the Shock

[252 words] Last year, a Summersville, West Virginia, school principal got quite a surprise as he prepared to begin the new day. It was 7 a.m. and teachers and staff were getting ready for the students to arrive. The Zela Elementary School custodian had a problem. He couldn’t get the lid to unlock on the…

A Traveler’s Guide to Heaven

[228 words] ACCOMMODATIONS: Arrangements for accommodation must be made in advance (John 14:2). PASSPORTS: Persons seeking entry will not be permitted past the gates without having proper credentials and having their names registered with the ruling authority (Revelation 21:27). DEPARTURE TIME: The exact date of departure has not been announced. Travelers are advised to be…

First a String

[289 words] In November of 1847, a civil engineer named Charles Ellet Jr. was commissioned to build a bridge across the Niagara Gorge. As you can imagine the greatest challenge was the start. How could you get the first cable across an 825-foot chasm with 225-foot cliffs on either side?  The solution came from a…

A Second Chance

[227 words] In Luke 7:11-17, there is reported a very special interaction between Jesus and a widow who was now grieving the loss of her only son. Apparently the whole town of Nain felt sorry for her as they were mourning with her. Jesus had compassion on her—He raised her son from the dead and…

Spiritual Standards

[287 words] Several years ago, it was reported that the telephone operator in a town in Cape Cod received a call every morning asking for the correct time. Finally, overcome with curiosity, she asked the inquirer, “Would you mind telling me why you call about this time every day and ask for the correct time?”…

Why We Fail…Sometimes

[289 words] Let’s just face the facts: Sometimes we fail. However, Jesus never fails. Multiplying the loaves and the fishes is one of the most amazing of all Christ’s miracles. Jesus set aside laws of physics and science to multiply and magnify matter. At the same time He multiplied and magnified His name. When He…

Helping Them See

[257 words] A report by Dr. William Martin to the American Medical Association in 1913 didn’t pull any punches. In his assessment of public school children in New York, he found forty pupils he described “as the worst in the school” and eighteen of which being “so stupid they were in ungraded classes.” He also…

Guess Who’s Coming to Church Next Sunday!

[276 words] One of the most humbling passages in the whole Bible is this one: “I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). Jesus told this to His disciples as He…

No Fool like an Old Fool

[242 words] I’ve heard this phrase all my life – There’s no fool like an old fool. This usually refers to an older man who starts behaving like a child with no sense. Sometimes such fellows had more sense as a teenager than they exhibited in the later life. In the Bible, Solomon began life…

Let’s Invest In People!

[236 words] After being warned by the prophet Daniel about his sinful pride (Proverbs 6:16-17; Psalm 101:5; cf. Proverbs 16:18), the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was struck with insanity. The Lord restored his mind, but only after he spent a long period of time in a field thinking he was a wild animal (Daniel 4:28-37). Nebuchadnezzar…

How We Honor Our Fathers

[201 words] My father passed away in 1996. My maternal grandfather left this earth in the 1960s. My dad’s dad died in the mid-1970s. Yet, I plan on honoring my “fathers” today in a special way. While we are worshipping and praising the Lord, I plan to thank the Lord for the influence my father…

Thanks Dad

[207 words] William woke up at his usual time on Sunday morning and headed for the kitchen. As he walked down the hall, he remembered that it was Father’s Day. But this would be a different Father’s Day than all the ones before because this would be the first one in which his 18-year-old son,…

Cross Cutting

[248 words] I once saw a cartoon reminiscent of the scene from Mark 8:34 in which the Lord Jesus challenged believers to “take up your cross.” Within the cartoon, numerous figures were dragging large crosses. Each moved slowly under the weight of the oversized burden. Suddenly, a character spoke out and asked, “Is there a…

Patience and Praise

[284 words] David wrote Psalm 59 while he was holed up in a house and Saul’s men were waiting outside to get the opportunity to kill him. We can only imagine the tense situation and what all David was going through. He begins the Psalm with a plea to God: “Deliver me from my enemies,…

Ten Commandments of Jesus

[260 words] FIRST and greatest commandment – “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). SECOND command is like It – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these”…

Honoring our Mothers

[218 words] This Sunday is “Mother’s Day.” It is a day when gratitude is expressed to our mothers. Mother’s Day in America began a century ago when Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother and the ladies in her church. Anna was so intent on calling on Americans to honor all mothers, she petitioned Congress…

Do You Want to Prosper?

[246 words] There’s an interesting verse about Isaac and his success in life in Genesis 26. It is verse 13, and it says of him: “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous” (NKJV). What was he doing at that particular time to be so very prosperous? It all begins…

A Hall of Fame for Mommas

[280 words] While preparing for this week’s traditional Mother’s Day message, I couldn’t help but to think of the old Glen Campbell song “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.” Out of all the poems, odes, and lyrics you could present on this day, this song seems to capture the essence of a “good momma.” I…

New Testament Writers

[200 words] • The Gospel of Matthew was written by the Apostle Matthew about (circa) A.D. 55–62. • The Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark c. A.D. 55–62. • The Gospel of Luke was written by the physician Luke c. A.D. 55–62. • The Gospel of John was written by the Apostle John…

Keep Moving Forward

[200 words] The nation of Israel had escaped slavery from Egypt. But now they found themselves being pursued by their former captors. At the shore of the Red Sea they felt that they were trapped. Many of them thought about going back to Egypt into slavery. Others were bemoaning their current dilemma. The LORD then…

Are We Like Christ?

[249 words] Some years ago, Brother G. F. Raines wrote about a young Buddhist who had made a very careful study of the life of our Lord said to a Christian: “Your Christ is wonderful, oh, so wonderful; but you Christians, you are not like him.” Could it be that the Christian was left speechless…

To Catch a Thief

[232 words] Marge Wilson had had enough! For the fourth morning in a row, she had gone to the chicken pen only to find feathers strewn about and one of her good laying hens gone. She knew one thing for sure, the chicken-stealing varmint was consistent and it would surely be back for more. But…

Five Wonderful Words

[210 words] The 23rd psalm has been a favorite of God’s people for thousands of years. It is steeped in the Israelite culture of husbandry. But all through the years it has appealed to people who realize that God is watching over them. Just the first five words alone in the English versions reveal so…

Greetings

[271 words] Some 21 times in Romans 16, Paul uses the word “greet” in sending kind regards to many brethren that he knows in Rome. Consider some of the people he greets: Those who risked their lives for Paul. Prisca & Aquila (Rom. 16:3).  Various workers in the Lord. Mary (Rom. 16:6), Urbanus (Rom. 16:9),…

The Time Jesus Got Sick?

[224 words] There is no record of Jesus getting sick on earth. Perhaps He had child- hood colds, the occasional stomach ache, or the flu. We don’t know; the Bible doesn’t say. The only time Scripture records Jesus being sick is after He returned to heaven. It is found in Revelation 3. Revelation 3:16 pictures…

Two and Only Two

[265 words] An elder in my home congregation once told me that back when he sold ice cream he would tell his customers, “We have two flavors: plain and vanilla.” Years ago when you went to have your teeth cleaned, there were no flavor options. Now the dental hygienist asks if I prefer mint, cinnamon,…

You Cannot Out-Give God

[222 words] Our attitude will improve toward giving when we realize you cannot out-give God (Mark 10:28-30). Here Christ is talking about an investment that yields a return of 10,000%. We give and God blesses (Prov. 11:25). We need to understand that God owns it all (Hag. 2:8; Deut. 8:18; Psa. 50:10; 1 Cor. 6:19-20;…

Love Demonstrated

[248 words] “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God did not just tell us He loved us and then left it there. As the preceding verse states, God demonstrated, revealed, and validated His love for mankind by allowing Jesus to…

The Last Verse

[274 words] In 1814 Francis Scott Key had been negotiating the release of an American from the British Fleet. Key was successful and was only allowed to return to his ship, yet not allowed to leave the fleet because he had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and their intention…

What’s in a Name?

[236 words] There was a time when the meaning of names was thought to be important. My name, for example means “laurel-crowned” meaning “a champion or a noted warrior.” Or as someone observed, it means “the guy with weeds in his hair.” Not quite so flattering! A name is important and cannot be shed like…

Looking Unto Jesus

[224 words] If you have ever watched a choral group or orchestra, you will note one thing each member always does: they look at the conductor. This is to insure that they are in harmony and performing in accordance with the conductor’s directive. As members of the church, we make up a group that is…

Our Outlook on Life

[288 words] A few years ago, a lady committed suicide, leaving behind this note. “I decided that unless life was worth living, I would just quit living.” How do you feel about your life? Is it worthwhile? Or let’s change the question. What would it take for you to feel that your life is worthwhile?…

Some Tests for the Home

[286 words] The Leadership Test. Does the husband and father assume his God-given place as head of the family? Does he provide the spiritual leadership? Does he take the lead in bringing up his children in the Lord’s way? The Discipline Test. Do children respect and obey their parents? Do parents expect and deserve such…

The Powerful Weapon of Doubt

[224 words] One of the greatest weapons Satan has is the powerful weapon of doubt. Doubt in the Savior, doubt in the brethren, and doubt in ourselves. Doubt is the world’s most powerful weapon. Satan discourages Christians with these thoughts: “Are you sure you are a Christian…Do you really think you can stay faithful…How can…

The Humility of Jesus

[222 words] Humble Birth – “And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger…” (Luke. 2:7) Humble Family – “‘Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? Are not his sisters here with…

Putting Jesus Back in the Box

[232 words] The Christmas holiday has come and gone. Time to take down those decorations, Christmas trees, blow-up yard ornaments, and lights, including those religious scenes and figurines. Along with the tinsel and multicolored lights, the little statues of the baby Jesus will be placed in boxes and storage bins and stored away till next…

He Will Take Us Through

[202 words] We are constantly reminded that life can be challenging. Life can be hard. Sometimes….life can be very hard. But we don’t go through alone! We don’t go through it unnoticed by heaven! Someone has said: “Since God the Father intends to make you like Jesus, He will take you through the same experiences…

Times Have Changed

[278 words] “Times have changed” is a common refrain from those who find themselves in contradiction with the Word of God. This happens especially when moral standards are involved. First of all, one might question what folks mean when they say “Times have changed.” Are they talking about a changing culture? Are they talking about…

Jesus Loves Me

[254 words] Around 1860, Anna B. Warner penned the following words that were later extended and set to music by William B. Bradbury and continue to be sung around the world: Jesus loves me—this I know, / For the Bible tells me so:Little ones to him belong— / They are weak, but he is strong.Yes,…

Should I Celebrate Religious Holidays?

[216 words] The title of our article asks an important question. Should New Testament Christians celebrate religious holidays? In the text of our lesson today (Romans 14:1-12) the subject is discussed because some Jewish Christians were holding on to the “special days” set aside by the Old Testament. This can also be seen in the…

Try Giving Yourself Away

[265 words] In the late 1940s, David Dunn wrote a delightful little book by the above title. He determined that he would practice, as a hobby, the art of giving himself to other people. His goal was to do small, thoughtful deeds for others as he went about his daily activities. He found that while…

How Much Is Jesus Worth to You?

[279 words] “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44). Few things are as effective in opening up our billfolds or motivating us to pick…

Teaching Children to Love the Right Things

[242 words] Teach your children not to love the world (1 John 2:15), but to love God and the things He loves (Matthew 22:36–40). Teach them to love… Learning. It is a blessing to have a de- sire to know (Proverbs 23:23; 1 Peter 2:2). It is better to get wisdom than to get gold…

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…

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…

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…

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 doesn’t just…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Full House

[225 words] The follow-up question I always get when people hear I am a minster is the “how big” question. “How big is your congregation,” and, “How many kids are in your youth group?”  I guess that is the way they measure success. The assumption is that the more folks, the better things are going.…

Living Hope

[236 words] John Maxwell tells about a small town in Maine that was proposed for the site of a great hydroelectric plant. A dam would be built across the river and the town submerged. When the project was announced, the people were given many months to arrange their affairs and relocate. During those months, a…

The Excellent Ones

[280 words] “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight” (Psalm 16:3, ESV). In the passage above, David revealed his love for his kinsmen. They were God’s people, which made them majestic and noble. That’s high praise for people who weren’t perfect. David’s fellow-Israelites made…

Wait, Who Did Shoot J.R.?

[242 words] In the summer of 1980, everyone was asking the question, “Who shot J.R.?” For those of you not around then, J.R. Ewing was the villainous character on the hit series Dallas.  That year’s season ended on a cliffhanger where J.R. is shot by an unseen assailant outside his office. The mystery became a…

Thoughts About Drought

[226 words] I hate times of drought. The grass is brown. Trees begin to wilt. Often, the excessive heat of summer is a constant companion. Our prayers always include the constant plea with God: “We need rain.” Thursday evening, parts of Abilene and the surrounding area got rain. It was good to feel a slightly…

The High Cost of Health Care

[258 words] It is reported that our country has one of the highest costs of healthcare in the world. In 2021, U.S. healthcare spending reached $4.3 trillion, which averages to about $12,900 per person. Without health insurance, it is likely that most of us could not afford to be cared for and treated if we…

What True Fellowship Involves

[251 words] “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16a, NKJV). Even…

Fight, Finish, Fulfill

[271 words] Second Timothy 4:7 has often been referred to as Paul’s valedictory: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” It has also been observed that this statement had something for every group of people in the first century. The idea of fighting the fight appealed…

Supper with the King

[208 words] I want you to imagine a scene with me, a scene of beauty and wonder and grace. The King of heaven and earth has prepared a feast in honor of His Son. The table has been prepared, the Son has taken His place at the head, and we are the ones who have…

The Demise of the Sunday Night Service

[282 words] Traditions come and go. One such tradition in American churches is the Sunday evening service. It’s unclear when the tradition started, but records would indicate that churches have been holding evening services for well over 100 years. In recent history, there has been a sharp decline in those who attend Sunday evening services.…

Assumptions: Some Do’s and Don’ts

[295 words] You can safely assume: • That God loves you (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). • That the price of your sins was paid by Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). • That your past sins were washed away— forgiven—at your baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). • That you can be faithful to God (Revelation 2:10).…

If I Recall

[200 words] The Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from dangerous products. They might fine companies for bad practices or force them to recall products that are too dangerous. To facilitate that mission, they made 80,000 lapel buttons, but they had to be recalled since the edges were too sharp. And the paint had…

Rather Obvious 

[223 words] “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom…

Plenty of Proof

[272 words] There are more than 300 predictive prophecies in the Old Testament Scriptures concerning Jesus that were recorded centuries before He was born. Each was accurately fulfilled. Unlike modern predictions, note one of the predictions concerning Jesus missed the mark. Have you ever seriously analyzed the implications of those signs? Peter Stoner, a renowned…

Showing Our Christianity

[240 words] “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human…

Signs of Spiritual Maturity 

[217 words] How can we tell a spiritual person from a worldly person? The Bible tells us in several places. In James 3, the terms used are “Godly wise” implying a contrast with foolish. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy…

There’s a Great Day Coming

[291 words] Excuses that won’t work at the Judgment: Lord, I didn’t know enough. “Thy word is a…light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Lord, I didn’t know which church to join. “And I say…I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). “Search, and look” (John 7:52). Lord, I didn’t believe I could hold out. “I can…

How to Be Happy

[252 words] If you ask a millionaire to define happiness, he might say that to be happy is to have two million dollars. If you ask a nine-year-old boy, he might answer happiness is being ten years old. If you ask a candidate, he might say winning an upcoming election. To the athlete, it might…

Honoring Dad

[257 words] If you’re a father, today you might get another “interesting” tie or a wild t-shirt. Or your kids might do something for you to help you feel like something special. Soak it all in, because you deserve it and it’s good for your children to honor you.  But as you’re celebrating, don’t forget…

Paul’s Importance to the Early Church

[215 words] It is almost impossible to grasp just how much Paul meant to the early years of the church. We can, however, get a glimpse of this great man of faith through the letter he wrote to the church at Philippi. Look a little closer into the man as he mentions his past, present,…

Regret for Our Past Decisions

[263 words] In the book of Genesis, we read the story of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. God commanded Abraham to take his family and move away from his home country to a new land. Abraham and his family and all their flocks made the migration to a land that was over-flowing with physical blessings.…

Pay Attention to the Adjectives

[267 words] It’s been a long time since I have been in English class. I sure do wish I had paid better attention then – I honestly believe that it would have greatly improved my Bible reading and study today. One aspect of grammar I do not remember studying much is the adjective (I must…

Bounce Back

[209 words] What is the difference between people who thrive and people who decline over a long period of time? It is not that they do not get knocked down; it is that they bounce back up. Every successful person I can think of has had to come back from discouraging circumstances. That is true…

I Want to Know Real Bad

[217 words] A young man came to Socrates and said, “Mr. Socrates, I want knowledge. Show me how I can have knowledge.” “Son, how badly do you want knowledge?” asked the philosopher. “Oh, Mr. Socrates, I want knowledge more than anything else in the world,” he said. “I repeat,” Socrates said, “How much do you…

Mothers in the Bible

[223 words] The role that mothers played in the biblical story is undeniable. From the beginning pages of Genesis to the latter letters of Timothy, the influence of mothers (both good and bad) is seen time and time again. The impact that the mother has on the child can and will have everlasting consequences (2…

Running Marathons

[201 words] Have you even ran a marathon? If you have I admire you because just thinking about the great strength, stamina, and length of a marathon wears me out. The amount of training and time involved really just makes you become devoted to the cause of finishing your race. I do not know anyone…

When Times Are Tough

[263 words] I once read a story about an affluent man who lost his job. This led to him losing his life savings. Then, he lost his house and car. Last of all, the wife, who promised to love him “for richer, for poorer … until death parted them,” divorced him and took up with…

My Mother

[274 words] Who fed me from her gentle breast,And hush’d me in her arms to rest,And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?My Mother. When sleep forsook my open eye,Who was it sung sweet hushaby,And rock’d me that I should not cry?My Mother. Who sat and watched my infant head,When sleeping in my cradle bed,And tears…

It’s Bean a Problem

[286 words] If you struggled in geometry, you may not like the name Pythagoras. However, he is an interesting fellow. Now it is hard to separate the myths from the facts when it comes to the ancient Greek philosopher, but his influence, not only in math, but in science, music, ethics, and religion are remarkable.…

Why Do Some People Take So Long?

[286 words] “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” — Blaise Pascal Physicist Pascal hit the nail on the head with this quote. Anyone who has taught and prayed for a loved one to obey the gospel – only to hear excuse after…

Finding It Hard to Accept

[212 words] A college student in a philosophy class was taking his first examination. On the paper there was a single line which simply said: “Is this a question? —Discuss.” After a short time he wrote: “If that is a question, then this is an answer.” The student received an “A” on the exam.  God…
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