In Hebrews 11:1, the Hebrew writer gives us not so much a definition of what constitutes faith as a description of what faith does in the lives of men in the verses following (cf. Gal. 5:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 6:10; James 2:24). New Testament Christianity is a religion of “faith” (Romans 10:17).
A querist asks, “1 Corinthians 2:9 is sometimes quoted as having to do with the beauties of heaven which “eye has not seen nor ear heard.” In context, what is this verse teaching?
In James 4:1 we read: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” The words “desires for pleasure” refer to our self-serving desires. That’s why in James 1:14 we are told: “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away […]
There is what is called a “catch and release” fisherman, where they do not kill the trout they catch, but net them and then set them free. It’s a technique that ensures sustainability — keeping trout and other species of fish from disappearing in heavily fished waters.
A querist asks, “Of what duration is that state to which the Scriptures assign the devil and his angels?”
In Genesis 3:3-5, the serpent tells Eve the following: “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” And the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God […]
The following are some contrasting thoughts with regard to fear and faith: Fear imprisons — Faith liberates (Romans 6:17-18).
A querist asks, “Can someone explain what Solomon is saying in Ecclesiastes 1:4? I understand the part about a generation passing away, but what does he mean, “but the earth abideth for ever”? One thing Solomon is saying in this verse, is that while the earth remains the same (relatively speaking), the generations of men […]
The following is a description of three kinds of creatures that give us insight into life’s struggles and problems: A Buzzard If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The […]
As we look back on the horrible events which occurred on September 11, 2001, we must look at both the negative and positive aspects of these events in order to maintain a balanced perspective. On the negative side, we mourn the death of nearly 3,000 souls on that fateful day because of the radical religious […]
Good grammar mattered to my grandmother. As a former English teacher, it bothered her when she heard me use an incorrect word. For instance, when I used the word “I” in a sentence instead of “me”
Winning a long distance race doesn’t always belong to the swiftest runner, but to the runner with the most stamina. To gain stamina, a runner must discipline himself, not only by running every day, but by running up steep and challenging hills.
The following is a poem written in 1921 by Myra Brooks Welch (scroll down page). This lady reminds me of my Aunt Lee, who spent 67 years in a wheelchair because of crippling rheumatoid arthritis. Folks, when we’re down and out, thinking that life is no longer worth living, please think of the pain these […]
An anonymous writer once stated, “The tongue can be a blessing, And the tongue can be a curse; Say, friend, how are you using yours: For better or for worse?”
One of the great temptations we face in life, is yielding ourselves to the popular side of an issue. This is especially true of young people in dealing with peer pressure (cf. Exodus 23:2). It’s tough to stand firm and hold on to our convictions, when we find out that losing popularity with our peers […]
A little over six hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Jeremiah came upon the scene in Judah. God’s people had abandoned loyalty to Him and were on the verge of being completely carried away into captivity due to their sins (Jeremiah 25:8-14; Deuteronomy 28:63-64). Through the prophet Jeremiah, Jehovah begged His people […]
The story is told of a stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man as they drove on a busy boulevard. When he slowed to a stop at a yellow light, the woman hit the horn, began cussing, screaming, and angrily gesturing in frustration. As she continued raving and ranting, she heard a tap on her […]
The British people were anxiously awaiting the news of the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo on June 18,1815. Their only means of communication was a system of signals. One of the signal stations
According to the National Institute Of Mental Health statistics in 2001, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. It was the eighth leading cause of death for males, and 19th leading cause of death for females. In this brief article, let us study why suicide is not a viable option […]
Much is said regarding the qualifications of elders, but what about the qualifications of preachers? Many of the admonitions to preachers and qualifications of preachers are found in Paul’s discourse to Timothy and Titus. The following is a partial list: 1) “Charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables, and […]