Articles

Dear Brethren, the City of Choctaw has mandated that masks be worn from September 6th through October 6th of this year. Here are a few particulars from the City’s document itself, Ordinance 830-2020. Actual quotes are underlined: Section B. Definitions, paragraph #1 – “Face Covering” means a covering that fully covers a person’s nose and mouth. The term “Face Covering” includes, but is not limited...

I was just reading about the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:7). They had problems with some guys there who were false apostles and liars. I wonder what kind of trouble that caused, especially among the weaker members of the church. There were also people there called “Nicolaitans” whose behavior was so bad that God said he hated it. Jesus warned the church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8) that some of ...

Boom! Everything is different now. As shepherds, we used to agonize over cancelling a worship assembly because of icy roads or stormy weather. Who ever imagined the present circumstance? We used to joke about how the back pews always filled up first, and that having to sit near the front was the penalty for coming late. Now we only have every other pew available. Our loved ones go to the hospital,...

Joshua 1: 8-9, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” I’ve been thinking about this passage lately. I know t...

Jesus’ apostle Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’” Romans 1:16-17 So just how is God’s righteousness revealed in the gospel? Paul returns to this idea a...

Man’s worst plagues are not of the body, but of the mind and spirit. Anxiety, guilt, fear, pessimism, negativity, hatred, apathy, depression and their cousins torment us beyond any physical malady we may face. These are the very troubles addressed by Jesus, the Great Physician. Do you see how the earth renews itself? It is not by accident that all the mechanisms necessary to produce clean air, fre...

There is only one truly great profession, and that is that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God. It was made by Jesus’ apostle, the one he called “Cephas,” also known as Peter (Matthew 16:16). Whoever walked on water? Peter walked on water. Well, sure, he began to sink after a bit, but there were eleven other guys in the boat who never got out. Peter got out, and he walked on water with ...

Today at lunch, I spilled my drink. It was a dramatic experience not only because it was a mess, but because I was looking forward to drinking it. So, when my delicious soda fell off the desk and hit the floor, I let out an audible, “NO!” I sat there staring at the wasted liquid seep into the carpet. I was so disappointed. In fact, it almost ruined my afternoon. A drink affected my attitude to the...

Is kindness real? Can you touch kindness? Can you hear it or smell it? You can see an act of kindness, but you’re not really seeing the kindness itself, just an outward expression of an otherwise invisible character trait. What about joy? Is joy real? You may see someone so filled with it that they jump up and down and shout, but those are only behaviors we may exhibit when we are joyful. Is anyth...

There are four references to the God of the Bible in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. They are as follows, with emphasis being mine: 1st paragraph “…the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…" 2nd paragraph “…that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” Last paragraph “…appealing to the Su...

I know I will be dating myself, but 60 years ago I was 12. My grandfather gave me my very first Bible. I was so proud - it even had my name on the front. But even more important, on the inside, he had written in "Psalms 119:11.” Before you read any further, please open your Bible and read that scripture.... I have worn out at least four Bibles since then, but in every one I wrote that scripture in...

Six times in the 14th chapter of 1st Corinthians, Paul speaks of the church being edified when it assembles. Edification is about people; building up people. As a member of the Lord’s church, I know I have an obligation to God to attend the assemblies of the church to worship him. No one in the universe is more deserving of my devotion and service. Isn’t it interesting though, that when we assembl...

– “The action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue” Virtue signaling is born out of the fear of public opinion. That fear will make you hypocritical and weak. Here are just a few examples. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus called out those who sounded trumpets to get f...

It started in a place so far away we never dreamed it would get to our country. From Asia to Europe then the USA, it was a war with an unseen enemy. Some people think we don’t need to worry while others say it could kill us all. More people praying to God for answers, it is a war with an unseen enemy.We struggle mightily upon two battle fronts one is our health the other our economy. At times we d...

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse”- John Stuart Mill, British philosopher. Mill’s words tell us that there are some things worth war. Ironically enough, it is actually love in the minds of right-thinking people, compelling them to fight. Do you love your freed...

Jesus told a parable about a widow who incessantly went to a judge for legal protection against an enemy. The judge refused at first, but eventually helped the poor woman just because she wouldn’t quit coming (Luke’s gospel, 18:1-8). Jesus finished the parable with the question, “… when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Faith trusts the reality of what is not yet seen. Lookin...

Jesus said: “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.” He knew what he was talking about, having created the whole process of conception, gestation & birth (see John, 1:1-3; 14), no other man could ever have understood and appreciated...

During my time in the military, I spent extended periods away from my family. In the past it was hard to stay connected but, given the technology today we can keep up with loved ones from a far daily. It’s incredible how we can hear and see loved ones from a phone or computer. I can attest how good it is, to partake in service online every Sunday and Wednesday. I also must confess that it is not a...

During these uncertain and unsettling times, we find ourselves in the midst of one of the greatest pandemics since the Flu pandemic of 1918. Now, we as a nation are faced with another deadly pandemic which has nearly brought our country to its knees. There are many fears associated with the coronavirus pandemic. We fear getting it and dying of it. We fear that our families and friends will get it....

Boredom. It is a word that we are getting to know very well during this time of necessary quarantine. The world’s population is being asked to stay home from work, play, school, travel, etc. and we humans have quickly gotten bored, at least I have, with no foreseen end to social distancing. Therefore, I think it might be wise to ask, “How are we as Christians supposed to handle our growing boredom...