Articles
Metaphysics – “1. The branch of philosophy that investigates principles of reality transcending those of any particular science, traditionally including cosmology and ontology 2. All speculative philosophy” – From the Funk & Wagnall’s Standard Desk Dictionary Does it seem odd to you that the metaphysical is relegated simply to the realm of philosophy, even speculative philosophy? I ask this ...
This has become a fairly popular question due to modern denominational teachings. The question is answered in several passages and in several ways. First we see it in the use of the passive voice. Active voice in NT Greek as well as in English means that the subject does something. Passive voice, however, means that something is being done to the subject, with the subject being o...
Jesus healed the sick, made the lame walk, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and enabled the mute to speak. Thousands were fed by this man who carried no stores of food. He even raised the dead. What right-thinking being would not want such a beneficial man to live and walk among those they loved? But he was called “ruler of demons” by his enemies; those who had invest...
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...
No matter what Church people attend, there is usually a time set aside to worship and within the worship, there is a time to sing. We, in the Church of Christ, are especially careful about how we sing together. We do not use musical instruments or dance, but I think we all know that. My question is not how do we sing together but why do we sing together? What is so important about us singing toget...
There are many things required when building a foundation in the Lord. One of them, I’m sure we all will agree, is consistently reading and studying our bibles. It is God’s Word given to us so that we may learn about our Creator, teach the Good News and build our faith. The other day, I was told it is good to find a version I enjoy reading. Later on, this idea re-surfaced when thinking about my da...
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...
In my daily Bible reading I’m currently in the book of Job, which our gut reaction sometimes is to think of Job as a book on perseverance. And that is certainly an element of Job and his situation, but if we stay in that camp we completely miss a deeper understanding of the book and a deeper understanding of who God is. Job is sitting there with 3 of his “friends” (I use the word friend loos...
You and I had a sin problem that was personal to each of us as individuals. My sins were my sins, yours were yours, and we were on a fast track to paying for our sins with our souls. What did God do? He sent Jesus who would “taste death for everyone” (as Hebrews 2:9 says). Now I have eternal life through him, and this life is available to everyone who wants it. But nations still ...
What is Patience? A word extremely common in our every day vocabulary. I thought about how I needed some this morning trying to help get our children around for the day. Then I realized I didn’t even know the meaning. I only know what I THINK the meaning is. So what is the actual definition of patience, what does the Bible say about it, and how can we apply it in our every day lives? The word “pat...
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...
If you are familiar at all with Naaman, captain of the Syrian (Aramean) host, you may think first of his miraculous cure from leprosy. While that cure is truly remarkable, it was merely a change in his flesh, which God can easily affect. Did you notice, however, the change that was made in his heart? Naaman arrived at Elisha’s doorstep with a grand assumption of what the prophet would ...
70’s rock group Moody Blues blended rock & roll with symphonic orchestrations. Founding member and lead singer Ray Thomas is now gone. We will miss the comic antics of Beloved Jerry Van Dyke, Dick Van Dyke’s brother. Alan Bean & John Young, who both literally walked on the moon, now walk in eternity. If you can hear “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” in your mind’s juke box, you’re remembering the v...
That’s what the song says, and it is not entirely wrong. But Christmastime and year-end festivities can often remind us of reasons we have to be sad. How does one cope? Okay, you know some suggestions are coming. Get ready! Make contact with loved ones as you are able. Take them some cookies (even store-bought) if they are close enough. If not, make a phone call...
What does this idea from 2nd Corinthians 12:9 mean? Maybe it’s like when God promised Abraham and Sarah, a couple waaaay past the age of bearing children, that they would have a son through whom the entire world would be blessed. But then, as if to prove a point, he waits 25 years more to fulfill this promise so that they don’t have a son together until Abraham is 100 and Sarah is 90. Or may...
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...
Thankfully, what will be done regarding the folks from Ecuador, is not to be decided by the church, but by our government, and the responsibilities of government are very different from those of the church. Governments are ordained of God to maintain justice among their citizens, rewarding good and punishing evil, according Romans 13:1-7. The government’s response, therefore, should no...
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...
Just the other day on the radio I heard them discussing a survey that talked about what kinds of dishes should not be present at Thanksgiving meal. I’m sure we’ve all got our opinions on those things that must be present at Thanksgiving, maybe it’s mac n’cheese, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes with the LITTLE marshmallows. But this survey did the opposite, it asked people ...
There are currently three holidays in the United States of America that honor military service. Armed Forces Day is observed on the third Saturday of May, honoring all those who are CURRENTLY SERVING in any branch of the military, whether Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May and is specifically set aside as a day of remembrance FOR...