What is prejudice in the religious realm? The following are six observations in answering this soul-searching question: 1) Prejudice involves folly and shame! The wise man wrote: “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” (Proverbs 18:13 KJV).
The story is told (author & origin unknown) of a father who had six daughters. He determined to teach the girls a lesson on morals. He knew the necessity of impressing Bible values upon the mind of each daughter as an individual. As he returned home from work one evening, he stopped by a local […]
It was preacher and author A. W. Tozer, who said, “Little by little evangelical Christians these days are being brainwashed. One evidence is that increasing numbers of [Christians] are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe, but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible […]
The story is told of an art enthusiast who displayed a collection of etchings on his office walls, including one of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Every morning he noticed the picture was crooked, so he straightened it. Finally one evening he asked the cleaning woman if she was responsible for moving the picture each […]
Many years ago, a mayor of a large metropolitan city sometimes presided as judge in a night court. In one case, a man was found guilty of stealing a loaf of bread. He pleaded that he had committed the theft to feed his starving family. “The law is the law,” the judge declared. “I must […]
It’s been said that there are two types of people in the world: Those who come into a room and say, “Here I am!” and those who come in and say, “Ah, there you are!” How different are those two approaches! One says, “Look at me! I need attention”; the other says, “Tell me about […]
The Hebrew writer certainly strikes a strange note for men and women living with the material values of the 21st century, when he states, “Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have” (Hebrews 13:5). He wasn’t saying that having money is a sin, but it can be a […]
As in the first century, many so-called “religious” folks today would prefer to see God perform mighty miracles or show them some kind of “sign” (Matthew 11:20-24; Matthew 16:1-4), rather than to have intimate fellowship with Him, obeying His commands (Psalm 103:18; cf. Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:1-3).
The younger generation now know about Spider-Man, in the wake of the Spider-Man series of movies, featuring the legendary comic book character. For those who didn’t grow up reading Marvel comics — as this writer did (it’s how I motivated myself to read), Spider-Man is the story of a high school student (a shy, bookish […]
Many denominational preachers tell sinners seeking salvation, that in order for them to be saved, they have to “just receive Jesus into your heart.” But they fail to tell people “how” to receive Jesus. The sinner needs to be told the specifics of “how” a person must comply with the clear teaching of Scripture in […]
In February 1946, the world’s first general-purpose electronic computer was introduced at the University of Pennsylvania. The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) filled a 30-by-50-foot room, weighed 50 tons, and used enough electricity every second to power a typical home for a week. Today, a pocket calculator contains more computing power than ENIAC did.
There is an interesting web site entitled, “The Death Clock.” The site claims to predict when a person will die. After answering a series of questions, the projected date of death appears along with a digital clock counting down the number of seconds an individual has left to live. While it is based on current […]
The story is told of a painter who was commissioned to portray a run-down church. But instead of an old, tottering ruin, he painted a magnificent edifice of modern design. Through the windows could be seen an ornate collection box for the gifts of the fashionable worshipers. Above it hung a sign bearing the inscription […]
When people in today’s society say the popular catchphrase, “it’s all good,” they usually mean that it doesn’t matter what’s happening — everything is okay. Nothing is characterized as being wrong or inappropriate, because “it’s all good.” The entire concept of denominational religion is that whatever one wants to believe and practice — “it’s all […]
Why do seemingly intelligent people do not-so-intelligent things? Time after time, this writer hears of sad stories about people with high IQ’s who fall short in the area of moral discernment, leading to tragic results. Obviously, intelligence alone isn’t enough to keep a person from making bad choices.
A wise friend once advised me, “Never be quick to judge whether something is a blessing or a curse.” The story of Naomi reminds me of this advice.
The story is told of a college student who one summer decided that he would earn money for his tuition by selling Bibles door-to-door. He began right away by knocking on the college president’s door. His wife opened the door, the student explained to her what he was selling, and then she politely explained that […]
Sometimes, our life can become dull, bleak, and routine. But it doesn’t have to remain that way. The following are ten suggested ways to get more out of life:
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote: “Into each life some rain must fall.” Into every life, sooner or later, the rains descend, the floods come, and the winds blow and beat. For one man, the “house” of his life falls in ruins because of his carelessness in the building of it, while for another, it stands […]
The Live Science web site reports that a 2006 article in the journal Perspectives in Psychiatric Care said the Internet can “promote addictive behaviors.” We know there are all kinds of addictions — drugs, alcohol, sex, tobacco, etc. As an example, television can be used as a great tool in acquiring information for school reports, […]