In the 2011, volume 49, number 2 edition of The Sword and Staff publication, pg. 2, comes the following proverbs of wisdom (appropriate Scriptures and related articles have been added):

As Jesus approached Jerusalem for the last time, He sent two disciples into the city to bring Him a donkey and told them, “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it’” (Luke 19:28-31).

The demise of man very quickly began Soon after he was placed in the garden, For, Adam’s wife Eve, Satan did deceive, And, for them, there was found no pardon. Satan told her a lie to get her to try The fruit God forbade them to eat. She was tempted and then she ate and […]

A querist asks, “What do you consider a hindrance to spiritual growth?” One hindrance to spiritual growth would have to be the problem of neglect (see Hebrews 2:3). It’s been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and there’s more truth to that saying than we might realize. Because of the […]

Most of us know that good communication skills are essential in order to experience a happy marriage relationship, or any other kind of personal relationship. There’s a formula that the famous poet Ogden Nash once wrote that hopefully will help us remember how to communicate more effectively.

If a tree puts on a lot of top growth and few roots, it is liable to be weak-wooded and short-lived. If a tree puts down a great deal of roots and adds shoots more slowly,

By the first of the year, my kitchen cabinets are a mess. Outdated spices, stale cereal; old cans and jars of unusual things (stuffed cabbage leaves or hot mushroom dip??). You probably have the same problem. I simply must clean those shelves.

The most effective way to encourage people not to take something seriously, is to trivialize it. In recent decades, such has been done not only with Satan, but with the eternal domain which the Bible terms “hell.” It’s unfortunate, but this word has been introduced into everyday conversation and used so frequently, that it has […]

Christ as the master teacher (John 3:2) taught his disciples not only by word but by example (John 13:15). He demonstrated by His living how they should live before their heavenly Father. After washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:3-5), Christ explained to them the spiritual “benefits” of serving others (John 13:14-17). In fact, true happiness […]

Psalm 15 gives a vivid picture of the person whose conduct grows out of fellowship with the living God. The question, “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?” (Psalm 15:1) is answered with examples from everyday living: “He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart” (Psalm 15:2).

In a large metropolis, a newspaper ad showed three people waiting for a city bus. Two of them were bored and listless, while the third was happily playing a game on a small

There’s a definite connection between the epidemic of violence we’ve seen among children in recent years and the lack of conscientious parents. Many children are left home alone with unsupervised television after school, on holidays, and during summer months. From this

There are few things which contribute more to the growth and strength of the Lord’s church than qualified and dedicated Bible class teachers. Parents want the very best Bible-based instruction available for their children, and they deserve it!  Yet, at a time in which mature and competent

Since the advent of social networks such as Twitter, Google+ and Facebook, and being able to access these networks 24/7 either via computer or Smartphone, this writer is convinced that as a society, we are definitely promoting an artificial and temporary long distance social environment in interacting with our fellow man, over a long term […]

Using the Phillips Translation, James 4:14 reads: “How do you know what will happen tomorrow? What, after all, is your life? It is like a puff of smoke, visible for a little while

The story is told of a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups.

America has become a land of “instant” everything. One can purchase instant soup, instant coffee, instant iced tea, instant mashed potatoes, and countless other instant items. The advent of the microwave oven also has increased this demand for instantaneous fulfillment. No longer must hungry consumers wait thirty minutes for a meal to be prepared; now […]

The story is told that in ancient times, a King had a large boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not […]

As Christians, we’ve all heard and studied the story of Jonah and the great fish. But do we know that the disobedient prophet was “swallowed up” — not once, but three times? 

Our son Brian is an avid football fan, his favorite team being the Dallas Cowboys. The interesting thing about being a Cowboy fan is that the team has a way of letting folks down. While marching down to the goal line, they’ve been known to fumble the football at the one-foot line, missing an opportunity […]