The Bible is certainly not a written record of perfect people. In fact, it’s just the opposite. God’s word points out in painful detail the Bible characters who made mistakes. This is just one of the ways (there are many others) by which we can know that the Bible had to have originated from the […]
How much of the good salt of Christian influence do we have in us? Probably not as much as we should have. Thus, we often need to refresh our memories with our Lord’s precious words:
The Bible is a very practical guidebook which contains principles that will improve our moral standards, bring joy to the sorrowful, and strengthen us in times of severe trial (cf. Philippians 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-9). However, experiencing the thrill of God’s help with our trials and tribulations, sometimes causes us to forget the […]
“Grandma used to get up on Sunday morning before daylight (at least mine did), cook a big breakfast for her very large family, milk three or four cows, churn butter, clean the house, kill and dress a couple of whole chickens, bathe and dress the kids, then go with the family in a horse-drawn buggy […]
The story is told of a man who was trying to explain the meaning of the word “oratory.” He commented with tongue in cheek, “If you say black is white, that’s foolishness. But if while you say “black is white,” you roar like a bull, pound on the table with both fists, and race from […]
As we celebrate this 4th of July with family and friends, we rejoice and are thankful for the many freedoms we have in our country that are many times taken for granted. Similarly, we rejoice in the spiritual freedom we have by faith in the sin-canceling death of Jesus, but do we realize at least […]
Years ago, I had several pet goldfish in an aquarium that I fed three times a day. Each time I approached the aquarium with their food, the goldfish would race toward me, their little mouths frantically opening and closing in eager anticipation of their expected treat. Why did the fish so furiously flap their fins? […]
The solution to many of America’s ills can be found in Deuteronomy 6-7, Psalms 78:1-8, and Ephesians 6:4. We’ve got to get God and His instructions regarding morality and godly living back into the home. When we do that, we’ll get God back into our nation. Teaching our children and grandchildren the inspired instructions found […]
In 1865, the initial responsibility of the United States Secret Service in their creation, was to deal with counterfeiters in an attempt to protect the dollar, the end result being the protection of America’s national economy. However, this group of law enforcement officers experienced a change of direction in 1902. They became best known for […]
We often hear people say things like: “I’m just a housewife,” or “I’m just a custodian,” or “I’m just a shoe salesman.” Underestimating one’s usefulness to God is nothing new. In Old Testament times, for example, when God looked for someone to conquer the troublesome Midianites, He chose unimpressive Gideon, calling him a “mighty man […]
When we think about heaven with all of its splendor, we can’t wait to enter into that unending existence — what unimaginable joy, peace, and tranquility we will experience! (Matthew 25:23; John 14:27; Revelation 22:1-5). C. S. Lewis once said that while we are on this earth we are “on the wrong side of the […]
An MTV commentator was once reported as saying, “A little lust, pride, sloth, and gluttony—in moderation—are fun, and that’s what keeps your heart beating” (source). Is there really such a thing as gluttony in moderation? How in the world can we practice excess in moderation? Although moderation is a virtue (Philippians 4:5 KJV), it can […]
In the lyrics of the hymns that we often sing, God combines the power of music along with His truth to draw His people closer to Himself (Ephesians 5:18-21; Colossians 3:16-17). In Deuteronomy 31-32, God instructs Moses to teach a new generation of Israelites a song that proclaimed God’s faithfulness, but it would also become […]
In the context of Hebrews 10:22, reference is made first to the offering for sin “once for all” by Jesus who is our High Priest (Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 4:14-15). His sacrifice stands opposed to animal sacrifices which had to be offered yearly (Hebrews 10:3). God had before spoken of the “new covenant” where […]
The neck muscles that are supposed to hold our head upright sometimes become lazy, not doing their job. As a result, our shoulder muscles have to take over the function of holding up our head, causing unnaturally stiffened shoulder muscles.
“All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all. “Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings.
As a child, my neighborhood friends and I enjoyed pretending like we were cowboys and Indians. Our vivid imaginations allowed us to take on the roles of other make-believe characters as well. We understand that pretending is normal for a young child, but some carry the habit of pretending into adulthood — including those who […]
On various cooking programs, we sometimes hear the phrase “comfort food.” It speaks of the things that are so good, so familiar, that they always bring a smile to our face. Comfort food usually includes hamburgers, French fries, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy (are we hungry yet?). Also, chocolate in almost any form imaginable. These […]
Of the many gospel hymns written in recent times on the theme of God’s goodness and faithfulness, the following above titled hymn stands out like a beacon in the night. While many hymns are produced out of a particular dramatic experience, the above titled hymn is simply the result of the author’s “morning by morning” […]
No one in our society wants to “appear” as being weak, so we find ways to “appear” as if we are very strong. Some folks use the force of their emotions to manipulate people, while others use the force of their personality to control people. This writer has even worked with bosses who have used […]