Articles
We’ve been told over and over that the last living dinosaur lived millions of years ago. If that’s so, I have some questions. First, why are there accounts of human encounters with dragons (“dinosaur” was not coined until 1841) from nearly every ancient culture on the planet? England, Italy, France, Greece, Israel, Nepal, Russia, China, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Ethiopia, Egypt, P...
Some years ago, I recall visiting with some friends. I don’t remember any part of our visit except one statement they made. They said they did not want to influence their children in matters of religion. They wanted their children to grow up and make their own choices and decisions about the subject. Needless to say, I was stunned at such a strategy for raising children. I’ve always thought it was...
When brethren assemble to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (acappella), varied stages, levels and responses as to worship may unfold. Sister Silence may not sing at all, nor does she open the song book to gain the richness, benefits and responsibilities the message of the song offers. Brother Bewildered, who has only been “in Christ” for two months, may properly mouth the words, but he has ...
In John 9:20-22 we can read of Jesus giving sight to a man who had been blind all of his life. The man’s parents knew Jesus had done this for their son, but refused to publicly acknowledge him because they feared they would be put out of the synagogue for admitting that it was so. In John 12:42-43 we are told that among those in authority in Jerusalem, many believed in Jesus. These, however, ...
Each day reminds me that I'm one year closer to my time to die. That's not meant to be morbid nor sad, but it is reality. I have thought about this for many years and have concluded that I am (we are), "living the dream". We go to sleep, dream for a short while, and we wake up to continue with whatever life deals us. Our dreams are short compared to our daily lives. But dreams aren't reality....
Jesus said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself”. This truthful claim of his is why I believe he commissioned the church to preach the gospel of his death, burial and resurrection to the whole world. Jesus taught us to do good works that God may be glorified, and to impact the world like salt & light according to Matthew 5:13-16. Doing good lifts up Jesus to the world today.&nbs...
Charles Darwin noted several problems with his own theories. Below is one of my favorites: “But then with me the horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of man's mind, which has been developed from the mind of the lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy. Would any one trust in the convictions of a monkey's mind, if there are any convictions in such a mind?” Charles Da...
Two archers are honing their skills, slinging arrows at the same target. One man’s arrow strikes the target near the bullseye, and he feels a sense of satisfaction at coming close to his mark, yet determines to make every effort to bring his next shot even closer. His desire is to master his bow so that his arrows will consistently strike wherever he aims them. The second man draws his b...
I am indebted to Irishman John Lennox, mathematician and Christian apologist, for the following insight. God teaches us to love him with all of our heart, soul and mind, said first in Deuteronomy 6:5 and repeated by Jesus in Matthew 22:37. What does it mean, however, to love God with all of your mind? Suppose for example, that an unbeliever asks you why you believe. Have you thought...
Josh Wallace, staff writer for The Oklahoman, had an interesting article (“Dozens Gather For Pagan Winter Celebration,” December 29, p.3A) related to “The Spiral Circle Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans.” How they came to this philosophy of life is quite interesting. Many of the participants said “they came from traditional Christian homes, but agreed that for them, something was missing s...
The world of music lost Glen Frey of the Eagles, David Bowie, Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane, Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Keith Emmerson of Emmerson, Lake & Palmer, Merle Haggard the Okie from Muskogee, Prince & Ralph Stanley the godfather of traditional bluegrass music known from the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Hollywood lost Alan Rickman of Harry Potter fame, Dan Haggerty who...
This is my 55th Christmas without my father. I thought of him recently while I browned some meatballs for a spaghetti sauce we were cooking up for guests over the holidays. This was his recipe. One handed down from his father and passed on to me by my mother years after he passed away. The pungent smell of the garlic and Romano cheese filled the kitchen and flashed back his old ritual of tas...
The holiday season is for me, like the evening of a year-long day. My "instinctive" hope is for the whole family to return from the day's activities and be gathered together around the table at home. But as many of us have learned, their return is not guaranteed.I was 13 when my brother-in-law stepped through the door of our home to tell me that my dad would not be returning. No holiday season has...
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 an...
“Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My People, so His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; for what had not been told them they will see, and what they had not heard they will...
Our natural Human delight for Holidays, Unfolds for people in multiple ways; So many sights and seasons for which we long; Family visits and trips, oft’ captured in song; But, if God should for a Holiday try, How sobering the fact—All folks would die! If He were to shut down His air supply, Twould instantly launch as international cry! Plants, Animals, Humans—life in every shape and fo...
I know that you are just like me and have never or would never judge anyone. We don't pay any attention to their appearance, or skin color, or religious convictions, etc. That's us, right? But I find myself GUILTY. I catch myself passing judgment on all sorts of situations involving people. As the old saying goes, "You gonna believe your lying eyes, or...?' Regrettabl...
It is a principle as old as creation, and which is stated ten separate times in the Biblical creation account (Genesis 1:11-12, 21 & 24-25). Everything reproduces after its kind. Reproduction in kind is not limited to biology. Similarly, Isaac Newton observed that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So consistent is this truth that he identified it as the t...
It was in a context dealing with freedom that Paul issued the sober warning, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:15 NIV). Paul used graphic terms of inhuman behavior in the words “Biting” (Greek - dakno, which means “to wound the soul, cut, lacerate, rend with reproaches”¹) and “devouring” (Greek - katesthio—”...to c...
Amber alerts are for missing children. Silver alerts are now understood to mean an older person is missing. Our ears perk up when we hear of these announcements because we care. What alert do we have for sheep that are missing from the Lord’s fold? Who do you know whose name needs to be plastered across a screen somewhere within sight for all of the “spiritual” saints to see? Tha...