When God Leads A Nation, Mercy Triumphs

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[229 words] “May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth” (Psalms 67:4). Today, many people throughout the world are seeking justice. Many more cry out for mercy. In the United States, right now, minority groups are asking for racial justice. Some are demanding it while rioting and looting and injuring others. A bigger issue world-wide exists as people are being denied fairness and are being punished because of their faith. Christians are being martyred because they show their loyalty to God and Jesus. But we...

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Choose Your Friends Wisely

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[248 words] Life is filled with choices. We chose what we do for a living, what we eat, where we live, etc. One of the most challenging is the choice of friends. Solomon the wise prophet told us: “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26). Too bad Solomon didn’t listen to his own advice. 1 Kings 11:3 tells us as Solomon grew older, he had 1000 wives and slave wives. That verse concludes with this statement: “And his wives turned away his heart.” One of the great examples of a...

His Eyes Are Upon You

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[343 words] Recently, I read a story about an 11-year-old boy up north. He was eagerly looking forward to attending a friend’s birthday party. Days before the event, he and his mother had picked the perfect gift. They had carefully wrapped it. Friday night, all was ready for the occasion. But, Saturday morning, everyone awoke to an unexpected snowstorm. The blowing snow made driving difficult…almost impossible. However, the boy insisted. “But Dad,” said the boy. “It’s not too far to my friend’s house. I could walk it in the snow. Besides, my other friends are walking there, too.” Finally, the...

Let’s Read the Writing on the Wall

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[303 words] In Daniel chapter 5, we read about how a man was stripped of his blessings. The man’s name was Belshazzar, one of the rulers of ancient Babylon. This fellow was rich and powerful. As is often the case with those born rich, he was arrogant and irreligious. One night, Belshazzar was partying and getting drunk. He and his friends were profaning Jehovah God. Then a frightening event occurred. A hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall. It was a message of judgment. No one could read and understand the message but Daniel the prophet. Daniel told...

Quarantine is a Biblical Practice

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[335 words] Peter’s first letter addressed the difficulties the church was facing in the first century A.D. Today, we are facing a pandemic unlike anyone has ever seen in our generation. To the faithful, the hardest thing is having to self-isolate away from our friends at the Lord’s church. We do this so we won’t contract the virus and spread it to others. Peter sought to encourage his readers to remain committed in all their trials. Like them, we can read Peter’s words and learn the value of putting our focus on the one who can provide all we need...

‘Do Not Be Afraid, Little Flock’

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[209 words] In Luke 12, we read how Jesus told his followers “do not worry.” He said, don’t worry about getting the necessities of life or even how long you will live. He then pointed to world of unbelievers and said: “they worry about these things.” But you should seek God’s kingdom and He’ll take care of you. Then, Jesus, finished his statement with these words: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Then, Jesus taught them about charity and watching for the second coming of the Lord (Luke 12:22-48)....

God’s Promise

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[284 words] Over the centuries, the enemies of God’s people have sought to harm the Lord’s family. Today, we are fighting a virus instead of soldiers. Our weapons are good sanitation and medical practices. But our greatest munition is our faith in God. Jesus Christ is the Great Physician (Luke 5:17-32). The most dreaded disease of Jesus’ day was leprosy. With just a word of command, Jesus healed those with this disease instantly (Luke 5:12-13). Another man was stricken by an ailment for 38 years. Again, with a word of command, Jesus instantly healed this fellow when no medical doctor...

What the Bible Says About Lent

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[249 words] “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6). Do not add or subtract commands to the Bible! This teaching is found throughout the Old and New Testaments (Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18, etc.). God takes a dim view to folks who insist on adding commands to the scriptures. One such addition is “Lent.” If you look up Lent in an English Dictionary, you will find a definition like...

The Intelligence of the Intelligent

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[194 words] There is an urban legend about a group of famous scientists who stopped for lunch at a small-town diner. Seated at the table were six of the greatest thinkers of our day. Their average IQ was in the 160s. They noticed that their salt and pepper shakers had been reversed. One with the S on top was filled with pepper. The other with the P on top was filled with salt. So, they concocted an elaborate plan to switch the contents without spilling them. It involved a napkin, a straw and a saucer. Proud of their solution, they...

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[303 words] Bill drove into his hometown for one more chore. His mother’s funeral had been a month earlier. His dad had passed away two years ago. Today, he had to sign final papers to sell his childhood home. He arrived in town a little early, so he decided to take one last look at the house where he’d grown up. Inside, there were memories in every corner. He saw the doorframe where his dad had marked his growth each year. He stood in the kitchen where he had watched his mom bake cookies. He remembered the fun times as...

The Ultimate Prize

Posted on January 5, 2020 by Bulletin Digest

[190 words] In late 1989, Steven Covey wrote, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It quickly became a number one best seller. This book was the result of observing effective, successful people. In it, he noted that such people begin each day with the end in mind. In other words, they set important goals and then identified each step to reaching those goals. His observation included this major truth: We have the power to choose. And, we are responsible for our choices. It is interesting that we can turn our lives around at any age. We can begin at 17...

A Time to Rejoice

Posted on December 11, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[301 words] Overheard at the Mall: “I just dread the Christmas season.” When I heard these words, I felt sorry for the one speaking them. To me, this time of year lifts my heart because of three nostalgic reasons. First, I remember how my parents (especially my mother) worked hard to make this season of the year special for our family. We didn’t have much money, but we took out time to do things together. We looked at Christmas lights, we went caroling, took the holiday tour at Mrs. Baird’s bakery, saw the decorated windows at Thorntons, etc. These things...

What Should We Really Be Thankful For?

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[171 words] 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). As we examine this text, we see that prayer is a constant event in the life of a Christian. And one of the main parts of that prayer is giving thanks to God. This month our nation recognizes a day set aside to give thanks. The original presidential proclamations of this holiday all point out that the subject of our thanks should...

The Highjacking of Our Language

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[310 words] Over the years, many great phrases and hand gestures have been adopted by anti-Christian people as terms of derision and hate. The most recent has been a gesture I’ve used all my life: the “OK hand gesture.” It’s a simple gesture, you make an “O” with the forefinger and the thumb and the remaining three fingers stick out. It was a sign used to show acceptance and agreement of what was said or done. I’m in good company in using it. A simple internet search showed pictures of such celebrities as President Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Jimmy Chou...

Is the Genesis Flood Just a Myth?

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[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 were true. Please consider: Jesus believed the events and the people in Genesis 1-11 were true (Matthew 19:4-6; Matthew 24:37-38; Matthew 23:35; John 8:44 cf Genesis 3:4). Those who assert that Genesis is not a true account call our Lord “a liar.” Paul, the Apostle,...

Anger: The Great Destroyer

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[204 words] In 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a baseball game. Boston had one of the finest stadiums ever built in the 19th century. During the game, a fight broke out between two players at third base. The fight be-came a “brou-ha-ha” as both teams left their dugouts to join in the brawl. Fans for both sides starting fighting, too. According to legend*, one Baltimore fan got so hot under the collar that he set fire to the beloved stadium which burned to the ground and spread to the surrounding town. In the end, nearly 2000...

A Root in the Dry Ground

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[306 words] Yesterday, I ate my first apricot off of our tree. My wife and I have an apricot tree on the side of our house. The previous owners planted it, but we’ve tried to nurture it. Despite the windstorms and a tornado, we still have a nice crop of the fruit (which I love). Apricots are difficult to grow in West Texas. The wind and early hail are challenges to their fruit bearing. But the biggest challenge is the lack of water. This year, we’ve had plenty of rain, so we’ve made a good crop. But the truth of...

Honoring Dads

Posted on June 1, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[132 words] Sonora Dodd is usually considered the architect of the American event called “Father’s Day.” Sonora’s father raised 6 children after his wife’s death, and Sonora felt that such dads were worthy of double honor. But the concept of honoring our fathers didn’t originate in the U.S.A. God was the first to urge people to honor their pops (and moms). It was one of the original 10 commandments (Exodus 20:12). It was repeated under the New Testament (Ephesians 6:2). Ephesians 2 calls it “the first command with a promise.” The promise being “long life in the land.” Some folks...

What Is Success?

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[171 words] If success means having lots of money, would we consider Jesus a success? At the end of his short life all he had were the clothes on his back – and those were taken by his enemies. If success means having a family (children and a spouse), where would be the apostle Paul? First Corinthians 9:5 indicates that Paul gave up his right to marry for the sake of preaching the gospel. If success means having a good reputation where would the prophet Jeremiah be? He was arrested, left to die in a pit of mire, taken off...

What We Can Learn from the Recent University Scandal

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[238 words] On March 12, 2019, federal prosecutors disclosed a conspiracy to influence admissions decisions at several American research universities. A number of parents of college applicants are accused of paying large sums to misrepresent student test scores and bribe college officials to get their children into top tier universities. Accused of this crime are two well-known actresses, a football star, several top executives of well-known corporations, a book author, and other rich people. My question is: Even though over 50 of the rich and famous are be-ing accused of this crime, why has most of the focus been on...

The Patience of the Father

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[151 words] We are told that children learn many life lessons from their fathers. I am delighted to hear that more and more fathers are seeing the importance of their role in the upbringing of their children. A recent survey showed that nearly half of all fathers spend more time with their children than their own dads did, and they think that is still not enough. As a father, I have learned many things from my own children. For instance, I learned the meaning of patience. But have you ever considered how patient the Heavenly Father is to us? The Lord...

The Fear of the Lord

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[192 words] Fear is normal! It is part of human nature to fear what we cannot control (or, at least, what we perceive as what we cannot control). Any thing that results in situations that we cannot control produce fear. We can actually fear our God in this way. Remember how the apostles feared Jesus as he walked on water and they thought they were seeing a ghost (Mark 4:35-41). But the “Fear of the Lord” is not like this. In Deuteronomy 5:29, God exclaims: “O that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all my commandments.”...

God Hurts When You Hurt

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[221 words] One of the most striking passages in the Old Testament is Isaiah 63:7-9. “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good things He has done for the house of Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses. He said, ‘Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me,’ and so He became their Savior. In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His...

The Importance of Honoring Our Parents

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[369 words] Jesus’ mother, Mary, witnessed the crucifixion from the foot of the cross. Despite his agony, Jesus told his best friend, John, to take care of his mom, and to his mother he said, let John stand in my place as your son. John lived a very long life, and I believe he took care of Mary until she went to heaven. I find it important that while Jesus was bearing the weight of the sins of the whole world on the cross, He took out the time to make sure His mother was taken care of after He...

When You’re Having a Bad Day

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[187 words] There are many wonderful things that happen to people when they become Christians. Unfortunately, there are also bad things that happen, like being persecuted for your faith. Later in his life, Paul would write: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted ” (2 Timothy 3:12). So what can we do when we’ re having a bad day? Here are a few things that help me survive bad times: Remember the good things. Spend a little time and think of at least two things that bring a smile to your...

God Wants You to Have Joy!

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[187 words] God wants you to have joy in your life. This truth is lost on some preachers and other church-goers. Oliver Wendell Holmes was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for 30 years. His mind, wit and work earned him the unofficial title of “the greatest justice since John Marshall.” At one point in his life, Justice Holmes explained his choice of a career by saying: “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.” They have forgotten such passages as … Psalm 21:6 which says:...

Parking on Someone Else’s Nickel

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[266 words] In the old days, cities regulated downtown parking with meters. You park, drop in a nickel or dime and get some time on the meter. Then you’d go into the store and be sure to be back before the meter ran out of time. However, occasionally, you could find a spot with time left on the meter. In that case, you would “park on someone else’s nickel!” Someone has said: “We eat from orchards we did not plant. We drink from wells we did not dig. We reap from fields we did not sow. We are warmed...

Yellow Jackets in the Church

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[282 words] I hate yellow jackets. Over the years, I’ve had many encounters with them. They are aggressive, mean and they hurt everyone they touch. Have you ever been around someone who is a “fault-finder?” All they can do is point out flaws and faults in folks. They, like yellow jackets, hurt whoever they sting with their abundant criticisms. Did you know that such fault-finding is a sin — as evil as the faults that fault-finders find? Jude speaks to the sin of “fault-finding” in Jude 1:15- 16 (best read in the NIV). Jude uses pretty graphic phrases to...

Why in the World Do We Have VBS Anyway?

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[274 words] I know that VBS is a challenge. I mean if you have been around children for any length of time you know if you get 70 (or more) children together – you have your hands full. But it is important! This week, I fired up my computer’s Bible search engine and began reading all the various scriptures about children. This is some of what I found: There are over 400 different references in our Bible about children – about the joys and challenges of raising them right. But what I really found interesting is that there were two...

Happy New Year

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Bulletin Digest

[279 words] “Happy New Year” is an expression that we throw about. But do we really mean it? As you enter the new year, is your life filled with Joy? As a Christian, you have many reasons to be joyful. May I mention a few? All your sins have been forgiven. When you came up from the waters of baptism complete and total forgiveness was yours (Acts 2:38). If you have remained faithful all your sins are constantly washed clean by Jesus’ blood (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:2). All your prayers are being answered (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes...

Rare Bible Found in Trash

Posted on December 6, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[184 words] In 2006, electrician Michael Hoskins discovered a rare, 188-year-old, King James Bible. He told his hometown newspaper, that he went to drop off his household trash, and there it was. He also related that “There were three or four boxes of books leaning up against the concrete wall behind the dump site. I found the Bible in four pieces, put them together and took it home.” The sheepskin-covered Bible was printed in Pittsburgh in 1818 and was one of less than half dozen copies in existence. When antique book dealers heard of the find, they called, offering...

I’m So Depressed!

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[215 words] “Depression” is a word often used and misused by modern Americans. True clinical depression (also known as “Major Depressive Disorder” or MDD) comes from biological root causes such as brain chemistry or hormone imbalance, bipolarism, etc. This type of depression needs treatment by a medical practitioner. Often, what is called “depression” by the average American is not MDD. It is an intense sadness. A common factor among those who have this intense sadness is that they lack hope and are discouraged. To pull out of this form of “depression,” I suggest the following steps. First, pray with...

What Arnold Palmer Learned the Hard Way

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[229 words] It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters Tournament, and golf legend Arnold Palmer had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. He felt he was in pretty good shape. As he approached his ball, he saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. The friend motioned him over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations.” Arnold later said, “I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus.” On his next two shots, he hit the ball...

When Your Heart and Body Begin to Fail

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[176 words] I and several members of our congregation have had heart issues or other serious physical problems in the last couple of years. Asaph the prophet noticed this about himself when he was inspired to write Psalm 73. In it he declares: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalms 73:26). Sound familiar? Obviously, this prophet was facing the deterioration of his body like we are. But as he thought about how our bodies begin to wear out, he makes this bold affirmation: No matter how...

Why the Planes Crashed

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[166 words] On August 16, 2015, near San Diego’s Brown Airfield, two airplanes crashed in mid-air. The two planes — a Cessna 172M, piloted by Michael Copeland, crashed head-long into a Sabreliner, piloted by Jeffrey Percy. The pilots and the others on the planes were all killed. Five people lost their lives that day. What caused the crash? The air traffic controller was the cause! Over the course of two minutes, the controller mistook the two planes and gave them wrong instructions. The controller was not sick or distracted. It was an honest mistake by a person who sincerely...

Mother’s Day

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[219 words] Where did Mother’s Day come from? While naysayers have tried to identify this holiday with past pagan rituals, the truth is Mother’s Day began as a day to honor good Christian moms. Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) is credited with bringing in the celebration of Mother’s day with the first observance at a church service held on May 10, 1908. The idea itself did not take long to be spread to churches all over. Our mothers are worthy of honor! God has given us instruction on how we are to treat our parents. We find this command in...

Satan’s Lie

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[276 words] Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the mid-dle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that...

A Winning Church

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[210 words] If you ask the average person why Jesus came to this earth you will get a variety of answers. “He came to do good.” “He came to tell people about God’s love.” “He came to heal people.” These are some of the many responses you will hear. Interestingly, Jesus, himself, told us why he came to our world. He said: “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The reason He came to this world was love (John 3:16) but out of love he came to win...

A Strange Thing Happened at the Funeral

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[305 words] Jesus once came across a funeral procession and did something strange. He walked up to the boy’s grieving mother and said: “don’t cry.” That poor lady might have said: “Why not weep? It is time. I have lost my only son.” But Jesus reached out and touched the open coffin. This was a strange thing for a Jew to do. You see, when a Jew came in contact with the dead, it made him unclean for several days. But this didn’t stop Jesus. He touched that open coffin and said: “Young man, I tell you, get up!”...

The Legend of the ‘Taste Berry’

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Bulletin Digest

[188 words] In Africa it is said that there is a certain fruit called the “taste berry.” This berry supposedly can affect one’s taste for several hours. Not only is the berry itself sweet, it makes other things seem sweeter when eaten. What a wonderful fruit this must be if it really exists and works well. There is a “taste berry” in our lives. It is called “attitude.” With the right attitude you can see the good in bad situations. Most importantly of all, with the right attitude, you can see the good in imperfect people … in spite of...