We’ve all been under extreme pressure at some time in our life. There are times when we are so burdened by tasks and responsibilities that there is simply very little time to prepare for our service to God.
In Medieval times, a king would often have a jester to entertain him and to cheer him up when he was sad or troubled. The jester would tell funny stories, perform tricks, and do almost anything to amuse and distract the king in his difficult moments. The jester was called the king’s “fool.”
My grandmother taught me that work, and having a good work ethic, is a part of God’s plan for man’s happiness and fulfillment in life, being a blessing – not a curse! We know this is true, because shortly after creating the world and making man of the dust, “the Lord God took the man […]
The idea of gun control is one of the most discussed issues in our nation. Gun control, however, is not a new issue as it has been discussed since guns have come into existence. The reason this is a “hot” issue today is because of the tragic events that have occurred in some of our […]
The return of the Lord is a truly exciting idea for Christians. When the Lord returns again, His people will be glorified and redeemed. It will be the end of our sorrows and troubles here, as well as the beginning of being with the Lord forever. Paul prayed, “O Lord come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22) and […]
Scientists have long debated the issue of “nature” versus “nurture” — that is, am I the person I am because of the way I was born, or because of the influences of my environment? There are some good arguments to be made on either side of the issue. We know that inherent factors play some […]
The message of encouragement sent to the church at Smyrna in Asia Minor by the Lord was, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 2:10 NIV). He continued by saying, “of what you are about to suffer.” The devil is going to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested. You will have tribulation […]
One of the most loosely used words in modern English is the term “Christian.” It has been applied to almost everyone from the faithful member of the church, to the non-religious moral man, who holds as his greatest attributes that he provides for his family and does not mistreat his wife. In this present generation, […]
During the California gold rush (1848), there were many men whose hearts leaped with joy when they found gold, only to discover that what they had really uncovered was
If the devil were to write his Beatitudes, they would probably go something like this (links added by Mike Riley): Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians — they are my best workers.
Four preachers were discussing the merits of the various translations of the Bible. One liked a particular version best because of its simple, beautiful English. Another preferred a more scholarly edition, because it was closer to the original Hebrew and Greek. Still another liked a
We sometimes neglect to notice all the power of the passage found in Hebrews 9:27. The emphasis is not on the fact that we will die once. The emphasis is upon the fact that death is our last appointment — and we
Anyone who is a student of the Bible can readily see the great unity and harmony that exists within the pages of God’s inspired word. Today, it would be virtually impossible to find forty uninspired men, separated by centuries and from all walks of life, to have the ability to write sixty-six books void of […]
In the movie “Forrest Gump,” Forrest meets a nurse while sitting on a park bench. He asks her if she would like a piece of chocolate from his box of chocolates. She doesn’t respond. He then tells her, “My mama always said that life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re […]
In the April-May-June, 2012, Volume 43, No. 2 Issue of the brotherhood publication, “Think On These Things,” brother David Diestelkamp has written the following above titled article (scroll down the page):
While growing up, my grandmother gave me some sage advice by saying, “If you can’t say anything good about someone, just don’t say anything at all.” Which reminds me of the following humorous stories: There was a young preacher who one day announced to his church family that he was resigning his preaching position and […]
The chief priests and elders once came to Jesus and asked him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23).
While television has a myriad of programming to watch, the most entertaining offerings are the commercials. A few years back, one of the more amusing ads was the one for
The above quote is a thought-provoking line, isn’t it? It comes from the first of Paul’s speeches in Acts. It was in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia, and he was demonstrating by the Scriptures, that God has fulfilled what He promised to the fathers by the resurrection of Jesus. Having noted their hope in “the […]
Mordecai, the cousin, guardian, and surrogate father of Esther, has always been one of this writer’s favorite Bible characters. Not only is Mordecai an example of courage and great conviction, but an individual who knew how to read a difficult situation and respond to it with great wisdom. As we recall the story of Esther, […]