Articles by Dayton Keesee

Words from the past by Dayton Keesee (September 14, 2018)Solomon stated: “ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in setting of silver” (Prov. 25:11). Your speech can deeply and sweetly enrich others. Yet, Solomon adds Proverbs 18:7:  “A fools mouth is his destruction and his lips are a snare to his soul.”  James even warns that “out of the mouth comes forth blessing and cursing,” ad...

Two millenniums ago in a shepherd’s field, A Heavenly Host sang—as God willed— “Peace on earth,” the Almighty decreed: A Savior was born to meet our need! That Heavenly Host was “praising God,” For His response where human’s trod; From the beginning blood had flowed, As Cain—like conduct growed and growed! Jesus, that Savior, solemnly warned You and me, That “wars and rumors of wars” would continu...

Paul stated that he had given us an example of what to do, and we should be imitators of him (c. Phil. 4:9; 1 Cor.11:1). That is a bit difficult in regard to some things Paul wrote. For example, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:15, “I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also.” To sing with “the spirit” (Gk. Pneumati of pneuma) is a special Greek term with extensive meani...

Even though Paul was a prisoner, had been in a shipwreck, and had been bitten by a snake, when he saw those brethren from the Market of Appius and The Three Taverns “he thanked God and took courage” (Acts 28:15). The Choctaw congregation at the service of the Lord’s Day, November 3, was able to greet Mary and Geoffrey Kirima (whom we support to share the Gospel in Kenya), and to hear brother Jean-...

The “Step Up In September” plea was a genuine, sincere effort by the elders to overcome—”bridge the gap”—between the Sunday morning and Sunday evening —Wednesday evening attendance numbers. The imposed Divine obligation for the elders “to feed the church of the Lord” (Acts 20:28 AS) automatically imposes a Divine obligation for members of the church “to be fed!” Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and...

V.E. Howard, well known preacher for the International Gospel Hour, who preached on the radio for fifty years, punctuated his sermons with the sobering question, “Are You Listening?” Despite the reputation he gained for that preaching pattern, have we appreciated the appropriateness and pertinence of what he was doing?  In Jeremiah 7, God “rejected and abandoned “ His people  (v.29), men...

Andrew Connally (as given by his wife, Claudene, in her book, I Walked By His Side, pp.103ff) told of a heart-touching moment, when he stood near Lake Nyasa (Africa) in the midst of “The graves of Bandawe.”              Here were some twenty three missionaries who left Scotland in the 1870’s with a burning desire to establish the Church o...

Oft told is Christ’s story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).  Careful attention and fitting applications have been given to: 1. The robbers, who attacked, beat, stripped his clothing, and left the man “half dead.”  They demonstrate The Iron Rule-”Might makes right.”  It is the selfish, shameful, stronger-than you, bullying, bad guy lifestyle; 2. The priest and Levite, each walk...

Dayton wrote the poem below 16 years ago in celebration of someone else turning 90, but it now applies to himself and the seven other “90 plussers” of this congregation we want to honor….. A Happy 90th Birthday!The Lord has granted you three score and ten, Then He added another decade and did it again! Your years have grown up to ninety by God’s grace; Among the masses of men you’ve had you...

The unnamed, insignificant (?), Hebrew slave girl of Naaman was the central cause of one of the most unusual Spirit supplied stories in the Old Testament.  Here is what we know about her: 1. She retained faith in God, while serving as a slave in the foreign region of Syria; 2. She was confident of God’s power and knew God’s prophet (Elisha) could cleanse a leper (II Kings 5:3,8); 3. She since...

This articles relates to something each one of you has—young, old, single, married, rich or poor.  That something is TIME!  It is tied to something else—choices, responsibility, accountability, (Romans 14:10-12; II Corinthians 5:10).  It is also tied to one other sobering factor-Eternity!  Every piece of it-every tick of the clock is tied to eternity.  The fact...

The Holy Spirit and Paul in the context of Colossians 3:12-15 gave us multiple reasons to “be thankful.”              Christ made it possible to end all racial, religious, social and domestic division [ending the enmity and alienation], by reconciling us all in one body, the church (carefully read Ephesians 2:11-22; Galatians 3:26-28)&hel...

It is sincerely hoped that no one will read the Title and assume it relates to school houses and school teachers. God’s people are students “til death do us part!”  Our culture may segment a year to a “in school” or “out of school” concept, but when Christ gives His precious and exceeding great promises for us to take on the Divine Nature, He enrolled us for eternity (cf. II Peter 1:2-4).&nbs...

Around the celebration of Independence Day (July 4th), we need to remember that Solomon stated: “Righteousness exalts a nation” (Proverbs 14:34).  What that exalting process involves was well stated by a Chinese Proverb: “If there is righteousness in the heart there will be beauty in the character.  If there be beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home, there will be order in...

The world, the government, the family, the church — all have a common foe, who quite consistently goes undetected.  As a result humanity and homes are hurting, society is suffering, while chaos and conflicts darken and dampen our days!  Unless we “wake up” to the deeds of the Devil, our dreams will consistently become nightmares!! The Devil and his disciples invariably dress up lik...

Paul charged the brethren at Corinth to “imitate him” (1 Cor. 11:1-GK. Mimatai...ginesthe-imperative of ginomai), and he commanded the bretheren at Phillippi (relative to what they had learned, received, heard and saw in him), “these things do” (GK. Prassete, imperative of prasso).  Those verses seem to form a pattern that charges us to follow Paul’s pattern of behavior.  Therefore, it i...

I have just read the “Opinion” page of the Oklahoman (March 18, 2018, p.14A) and “Views” of several (p.15A), covering thoughts about: Teacher pay; projected strikes if demands are not met; deep concern about our leaders in the Federal Government, including pregnancy and abortion.  That reading projects a conglomerate of charges, chaos, conflicting concerns, worrisome warnings, and agitated ci...

While some folks still emphasize that we don’t “go to church,” because we are the church, our decision to assemble is a matter that should capture our attention.  I recently came across a poetic piece that is worthy of our mediation.  Someone wrote:   “Some go to church to take a walk;  Some go to church to laugh and talk;  Some go to church to meet a friend;  Some go...

As media songs again announce the Season, And manger scenes begin to appear; A missile is fired for no good reason: So anxiety grows in the hearts that fear!   Doomsday disciples point to global warming, Warning the masses of the air we’re harming; As though we are in charge of planet earth, While ignoring the One who gave us birth!   Our dwelling place can surely be abused, But greater ...

With all of this talk about family, I became interested in my ancestry.  What I have found out is downright amazing.  As I traced my DNA, it provided some astounding and marvelous insights as to my spiritual lineage. My “D” (Divine relationship) informed me I was related to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20).My “N” (Nature) could be traced all the way back to Noah (Genes...