Articles

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...

Enough cowering! Enough hiding out and social distancing from getting things done because of the virus! Paul said that there would be “in season” and “out of season” times for preaching the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2) and for growing the kingdom. He did not mean that sometimes we work and serve, and at other times we should stop because it is inconvenient or dangerous. I believe he was exhorting the ch...

What will it be? Corona Virus? Heart attack? Brain aneurysm? Stroke? Blood clot? Cancer? Car wreck? Hepatitis C? Lyme Disease? Swine Flu? Bird Flu? Asian Flu? E-coli? Mrsa? Sars Virus? Legionnaires’ Disease? Asbestos poisoning? Lead poisoning? Mercury poisoning? DDT poisoning? Food poisoning? Old age? Dirt on the Clintons? Mad Cow (more than one way for that to happen in rural Oklahoma)? As an ast...

How do I become content? It’s a question that is constantly in the back of my mind. You see, I was raised in a family that seemed to be content with little. We didn’t have much and weren’t able to do much. I didn’t like growing up that way and as a result, I have never stayed still. I’ve come to look at everything in the world as a steppingstone. How do I get to the next level? What can I do bette...

The time of year has arrived that we have come to know and prepare for all too well. The threat of nature’s fury by way of thunderstorms and tornadoes has conditioned us in this area to be aware of the possible destruction that can happen. At last, this year brings something different. The imminent threat of the covid-19 virus, sweeps around the world and has made its way into our area. This raise...

This poem, attributed to John Clifford, has long served as an encouraging word to me. I hope you find it does the same for you. Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith’s door, and heard the anvil ring the vesper chime; Then looking in, I saw upon the floor, old hammers, worn with beating years of time “How many anvils have you had,” said I, “To wear and batter all these hammers so?” “Just one,” sa...

Funny, huh? I found these in my archives: > Funny How $100 "looks" so big when taken to church, but so small when taken to the mall. > Funny how long it takes to serve God for an hour, but how quickly a team plays 60 minutes of basketball. > Funny how long a couple of hours spent at church are, but how short they are when watching a movie. > Funny how people get thrilled when a footbal...

Worldly folks doing worldly stuff, is expected. But when those who name Jesus as their Lord begin listening to the world instead of him, they trouble the church. One trend I will briefly address here, is male leadership in the kingdom. Anyone with the eyes to see it will note that a lion’s share of kingdom work is done by our ladies. God has made sure that their influence and works were recorded i...

For God so loved the world”, is a line Jesus himself spoke and preambles the statement that because of that love God offered his only son to give us eternal life (John’s gospel 3:16). Jesus also said with that, “… whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea...

Consider some of the influences that impact the formative years of your life and how little (?) control you have in each of them: · Your parents (the good, the bad, the ugly) · Your DNA (looks, athleticism, health, height, weight, sex, skin color) · Your siblings (birth order, brothers or sisters, difference in age or lack thereof) · Your extended family (grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins, in-...

Solomon said we are all crazy. “This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. For whoever is joined with the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.” Ecclesiastes 9:3-4 He was talki...