300-399 words

Faith Check

[387 words] It is always good for a person to do regular checkups on themselves and their lives. We know the importance of this physically, mentally, and even financially. But too often we neglect to do this spiritually – and this is the most important area of all. In Micah’s day, there were questions of…

Enabling Bad Behavior is as Sinful as the Behavior

[324 words] You’ve probably watched a few programs on TV. or heard of them where families make interventions for a loved one who has an addiction problem. Years of coddling a child, friend, or loved one who has an addiction, only adds to the problem. It seems that the sooner a person hits rock‐bottom the…

Creation and the Bible Declare His Greatness and Love

[338 words] Read Psalm 19. Perhaps at some time in your life you stopped to admire a sunset – all the wonderful colors glossing into a farewell for the day; Venus begins shining brightly in the evening sky, almost calling to the other lesser lights. Or perhaps there was a time when you stood at…

Let Me Tell You About My Friend

[341 words] I have a good friend. He doesn’t drink alcohol, thus has never been involved in any alcohol-related crimes or embarrassments. He doesn’t destroy his mind through the use of illicit drugs. I’ve never once heard my friend gossip or tell a single lie. He never wastes his time in night clubs, casinos, or…

Looking Back, Pressing Forward

[333 words] As a new year approaches, many of us are reflecting upon the past year, and looking toward the hope and promise of what lies ahead. One passage we often turn to when thinking about hope for the future is Phil. 3:13-14. Paul talks about putting to rest things of the past, and pressing…

New Year’s Resolutions

[340 words] Yes, it’s that time again. It is the time of year when we usually commit ourselves to several worthy goals. We do this because we want to make our lives and faith better. We want to improve and that is a worthy goal. I have noticed that most of our resolutions revolve around…

Mother of Hope

[309 words] Recently, I wrote an article that was centered around a newborn baby named Hope Holets. Hope was born addicted to drugs and was adopted by the Albuquerque police officer who found her mother in the act of shooting up heroin. Since her adoption, Hope has gone through the agonizing, month-long process of drug…

The Two Greatest Dangers in the Church Today

[394 words] In my opinion, the two greatest dangers in the Lord’s church today are that of ignorance and inactivity. Proper knowledge and actions are absolutely essential for a congregation to please the Lord. Consider that… …if a church does not have any biblical knowledge or any activity, then it is dead (or near-dead, anyway).…

When You’re Not at Church

[351 words] When you’re not at church, you are missed. You are missed by those you sit with during our assemblies. You are missed by those by our appointed shepherds. People are concerned about you when you are not present for our family’s time of worship. When you’re not at church, lots of people miss…

It’s Hard to Give it to God

[364 words] Sometimes when we go through tough stretches (often made by our own hands!), we procrastinate about turning to God. We think that because we make dumb decisions that we must always figure out a way on our own. God would help us if we would tum to Him. At least if we turned…

Attitude

[347 words] Attitude has so much to do with living the Christian life. A negative attitude will cause one to be overly critical and to see only the dark side of life. Such a perspective can be very depressing. When we see only the bad, we cease to experience the joys of being a Christian.…

The Coming Disaster

[389 words] The internet buzzes with sensational predictions of looming disaster. Titles read, “Collapse of the Dollar,” “Food Shortages Ahead,” “Polar Icecaps Melting,” Hyperinflation on the Horizon,” “Terrorism on the Rise” and so on. YouTube especially has numerous videos telling how to prepare for the imminent and abrupt end to life as we know it…

Dying Wedding Vows

[373 words] Remember when “honor and obey” was a standard part of wedding vows? Then, the feminist movement said, “No way will I vow to obey my husband!” Today, you rarely hear a couple using this worthy vow to recognize and accept the roles and relationships God established in marriage (Genesis 2:22-24; 3:16; Ephesians 5:22-24;…

The Snowball Effect

[398 words] Much of the news this week concerned the snow storm affecting the northeastern section of the USA. Though it was responsible for approximately two feet of snow in some areas, it did not reach the extreme levels that were predicted and anticipated. I am thankful that it did not result in widespread harm…

The Untold Story: John 3:1-15

[338 words] What do we know about Nicodemus? This man Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews (v. 1), in a group that we know as the Sanhedrin. They potentially consisted of 70-72 men who made judgments concerning disputes, law-breaking, and questions. We also know, for better or for worse, that Nicodemus came to Jesus…

Worship from the Heart

[309 words] A little boy asked his father what was the highest number he had ever counted. Replying that he didn’t know, the father asked his son his highest number. It was 973. “Why did you stop there?” wondered the father. “Because church was over.” I suspect that you have probably sat through worship services…

Receptivity

[386 words] Receptivity is the desire to hear and the willingness to accept God’s Word! The Master exhorted, “Therefore take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18). This admonition concluded His teaching about the different soils (hearts) on which the seed (God’s Word) falls. Some hearts are hard. Some hearts are shallow. Some hearts are distracted.…

‘Ole Rock’ the Mule

[367 words] Rock was one mean mule. He would chase the rest of the stock around the barn yard biting them. He especially liked to bite cows on the top of their rumps because it hurt and they would bellow. He had the best pasture in which to graze but chose the road ditch instead.…

The Wednesday Night Crowd

[312 words] As a gospel preacher I have noticed the various names that we give to our Wednesday night assembly. We have called it “Prayer Meeting Night,” “Mid-Week Bible Study,” “Wednesday Night Classes,” etc. By whatever name we choose, it is a very important time for spiritual development. It is a spiritual shot in the…

Make Today Great!

[337 words] The second stanza of Charles Kingsley’s poem, “The Noble Life,” goes like this: “Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; Do noble things, not dream them all day long; As so make life, and death, and that For Ever One grand sweet song.” Such is a good reminder that today…

Resisting the Devil

[352 words] “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9). The United States has not won the wars we have fought…

Kiss Someone Before You Go

[323 words] The subway train sways back and forth, its wheels screeching more fiendishly than ever against the tracks. Outside the window the freezing cold of winter rules and the dreary bay looks like a yawning abyss as the train rumbles across it. The carriage is filled with frozen self- centered, bored passengers. Good morning!…

A People Eager to Do Good

[309 words] We are God’s people, His holy people, the church of God, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). We want to do what pleases Him; it is our new nature (2 Cor. 5:17) and our identity as His children (1 John 3:22). However, we do fail, we sin! If we…

Is There Enough Snow to Shovel?

[331 words] Several years ago I recall having awakened from my slumber to find that it had snowed a little while I had slept. It was just a ground dusting, but snow nonetheless. As I do every morning, I prepared myself for the day ahead, then I went in to get my children up and…

Commitment

[301 words] In the book, Driven from Within, Michael Jordan (Hall-of-Fame basketball player) recounts an event from his life that exemplifies just how committed he was to the things that were important to him. Jordan asked to borrow a jacket from a friend before they went out to have dinner together. He was told where…

Giving God the Glory

[321 words] “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation, the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me. He delivers me from my enemies; surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man” (Psalm…

A Deer and a Blind

[318 words] It was early Saturday morning. The alarm clock went off and I jumped out of bed, excited at the opportunity to do a little deer hunting. I threw on every article of clothing I found that was camouflaged, grabbed my bow, and headed to my blind (small camouflaged tent). It was a perfect…

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

[359 words] It was a fact that Jesus was innocent. The Roman governor in charge of Judea, Pontius Pilate, so stated himself after having examined Jesus personally (John 19:4). It is also a fact that Jesus never even committed a single sin (Heb. 4:15). And yet, they fashioned the crown of thorns and placed a…

A Judgment Worse Than The Flood Looms!

[325 words] “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth… ” (Gen. 6:5). Before moving in judgment against the most evil and corrupt society in history, God commanded Noah to build an ark. It soon became a symbol of life and salvation to the few who believed God. Even though…

Jesus Solves Problems

[376 words] As I watched my television recently and saw people making accusations of racism and injustice, setting fire to police cars, breaking windows, and stealing from unprotected stores, one thought kept coming to mind: this country needs Jesus. If you have followed the Ferguson case at all, you probably have an opinion about it.…

Is Life Fair?

[333 words] Is life fair? Do we always have our needs met? It seems like in life we expect to be able to control every thing that happens to us. In a recent Oklahoma high school football game, the referees mistakenly erased a go-ahead touchdown because of an erroneous assessment of a penalty. The coach…

Loving Good Works

  [328 words] “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Jesus was teaching during His sermon on the mount that we as Christians need to be seen by others of the world.…

The Three M’s

  [359 words] In 1 Peter 4:11 the apostle Peter wrote, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion…

‘For Christ’s Sake’

  [264 words] One of the basic attitudes of this generation seems to be “What’s in it for me?” The entire premise of the life of Christ, however, was living for the sake of others. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 8:9, reminds us that for our sakes Christ left the riches of Heaven for the poverty…

Don’t Let Shortcuts Cut You Short of Salvation

  [307 words] Sometimes when traveling, drivers will take “shortcuts” that actually result in much longer trips. Even when doing school work or being on the job, we sometimes think taking a shortcut will make our load easier, only to find out that, when all is said and done, we end up exerting more energy…

This is Just the Elevator

  [305 words] The story is told of a farmer who called into a radio station during a contest, and being the fifth caller, he was given an all expense trip paid to New York City.  The farmer was absolutely overwhelmed by his trip and the new experiences.  A stretch limo picked him up and…

GPS Signal Lost!

[316 words] This is all I heard when I had Laura’s broken cell phone thinking I had just cured what was ailing it. Thankfully, though, I was made aware of the recurring problem. How do we know when we’ve lost our ‘signal’ with God? When our relationship is not in-sync with His will? First things…

Our Father

  [311 words] I remember the morning of my father’s funeral, my mother was in a hurry to leave the house. In a confused voice, I asked, “Why are you in such a rush?” She said, “Today is the last day we will get to see him.” I have longed to see and talk with…

The Power of God’s Word

  [383 words] How often have you been sitting in a worship assembly and listening to the sermon when suddenly a point that is being made from the Bible makes you wonder, “How did he know?” Something was said that really hit home. You are struggling with a temptation, a difficulty, or a Bible question…

Review, Reflect, Reset

  [311 words] Before we plan for 2017, can we look back at 2016? We apply this strategy with most anything in our lives. It would behoove us to apply this thinking with our spiritual lives as well. Let’s Review! First Cor. 10:12-13 says, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he…

No More Excuses!

  [391 words] We all know the common excuses people make at times when it pertains to the work of the church. If we were to list them in order of their most frequent use they would fall as follows: 1. l don’t have the time. 2. I don’t have the talent. 3. l don’t…

The Reason for the Season?

  [317 words] It’s December! For many, especially children, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” It is also the time of the year when we hear the slogan, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” How do you feel about that slogan? I take issue! Jesus is not “the reason for the season.”…

Gossips: Worse Than Thieves!

[312 words] Our words can be extremely powerful, either for good (Eph. 4:29) or ill (James 3:6). One form of evil use of the tongue is gossip. The following illustration by an unknown author drives this point home: Once upon a time, an old man spread rumors that his neighbor was a thief, As a…

Fifty Shades of Betrayal

[392 words] The latest “Hollywood buzz” has been for the movie “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the film version of the pornographic novel series of the same name. Despite its upcoming “Valentine’s Day” release, “Fifty Shades of Grey” is anything but a tender romance. The story depicts graphic and perverted immorality, and the male lead is…
Man Lifting Rock

Using ALL of Your Strength

[328 words] A father was watching his young son struggle to lift a heavy rock. The little fellow grunted and strained, but couldn’t move it. The father said, “Son, are you sure you are using all your strength?” The exhausted boy said, “Yes, I am!” The father replied, “No, you are not. You haven’t asked…

Authentic Freedom!

[342 words] “Freedom” is a powerful word, full of all sorts of meaning to different people. Some people think freedom refers to political liberty, such as we have in the United States under the constitution. Others think freedom means being able to do whatever one wants morally. Some even think freedom means doing whatever one…

Running Out of Time

  [345 words] The clock is ticking. The calendar is winding down. I’m running out of time. I made myself some promises about some important things in my life that I would accomplish by the end of this year. It’s going to require me to buckle down, be incredibly disciplined, and live like every day…
+ More