Selective hearing, especially on the part of children or husbands, is a common phenomenon. One hears what one wants to hear and ignores the rest. “Take out the trash,” is one of those phrases that gets tuned out. “Do your homework,” has to be repeated. But say, “There’s ice cream in the freezer,” and reception […]

In cultures where slavery existed, it was historically common for slaves to be “branded.” This fleshly mark identified ownership. Slaves usually belonged uniquely to one master and served him. They did not belong to or serve two masters.

There’s an old proverb that says, “Old tigers, sensing the end are at their most fierce.” There’s a great spiritual lesson for Christians in this proverb — that as we inch our way further into life, the experience of Christian living should make us bolder in the face of

The story is told of a woman who entered a hospital for tests. While she was being tested, her husband wrapped her very expensive 3.5-carat diamond ring in a napkin for safekeeping. In a forgetful moment, the woman’s husband threw the napkin in the trash.

God’s prophet Jeremiah wrote the following inspired words over two thousand years ago:

While working in a warehouse several years ago, I fell while walking in a small puddle of water on the concrete floor. As a result, I severely sprained my ankle, requiring a cast and

In Acts 17:13-32, Paul preached to the Athenians at Mars Hill, declaring the truth of the resurrection. Unfortunately, many listeners gathered there were not seeking spiritual truth, but simply wanted to

In our technological world of greater productivity and efficiency, we overschedule our days, rush through meals, drive impatiently, and wonder why the joy of living eludes us.

The story is told of a woman who dressed in rags, lived in a tenement house amid mounds of garbage, and spent much of her time rummaging through trash cans. The local

As Christians, associating ourselves with a congregation of the Lord’s people is not a difficult task. Unfortunately, some Christians want to be considered a part of the congregation, but they do not desire to be involved in the Lord’s work.

God has built into our nature an internal judicial system — the conscience. It commends us when we do right and condemns us when we do wrong (cf. Acts 23:1; John 8:7-9). But this vital monitor of morality does not say the same thing to everyone (Titus 1:15). In some

According to various studies conducted by doctors around the country, counting our blessings promotes good physical health. Volunteers who kept weekly gratitude journals, reported fewer aches and pains than

While working for a major gas transmission company a few years back, I worked in an office building for two years where there were few windows. In fact, the majority of those two years were spent in rooms

In Jeremiah 32:1-44, we see Jerusalem surrounded by Babylonian armies. Resistance was futile (Jeremiah 34:1-3; cf. 2 Kings 25:1-3). The prophet Jeremiah had already warned the leaders that the city would fall (Jeremiah 19:7). Now he languished in prison for prophesying the truth (Jeremiah 32:2).

The story is told of a gospel preacher who was able to look at the bleakest of circumstances and always find something to be thankful for. One Sunday, while the weather was cold, wet, and stormy, one of the deacons whispered, “I’m certain the preacher won’t be able to thank God for anything on a […]

Some days, many of us wake up with aching joints and ho-hum spirits, wondering how we can shake off our lethargy and make it through the day.

From life’s experiences, we know that some folks grow old gracefully, while others become grouchy and ill-tempered. Knowing this, it’s important for us as Christians to know which direction we’re

If we follow any kind of sports at all, we know that fans can change like the weather. For example, a football team”™s star quarterback can hear 70,000 cheering and screaming

The story is told of a teenage boy who struggled with a question that theologians have wrestled with for centuries. He was trying to understand why his mother had to have brain surgery, so he asked his mom, “Why do good people suffer?” She answered, “Son, suffering is part of living in a sin-cursed world, […]

People all over our country are constantly looking for the better item, whether buying fruit in a market or choosing a place to live. We examine, ponder, compare, and finally make a choice based on what we