Articles

Just a word of encouragement for those times when it seems like the whole world is against your faith.God is not concerned with numbers. Never has been.When violence and evil characterized the whole world, he saved eight people on an ark. Only eight were faithful, only eight were preserved.Of the 600,000+ fighting men that came out of Egypt during the Exodus, only two went into the promised land. ...

We are swinging through another cycle of child abuse charges, comments, and confusion. The advocates for removal of privileges type punishment, and bold expressions of cruelty of a belt, paddle, tree limb, or hand action on a girl or boy’s bottom are rising to the surface to express strong statements against any corporal punishment. Sadly, such comments would nullify and eliminate all comments Sol...

A couple of weeks ago I received a practical example of escaping the law. Apparently, as was pointed out to me by an OKC Motorcycle policeman, my foot was weighing far to heavily on the accelerator. I was unaware of my speed so he wished to remind me with a friendly but expensive document. After confirming I wasn't a fugitive from justice he proclaimed my judgment...45 in a 25 construction zo...

I believe we see a microcosm in John 11 surrounding Lazarus’ sickness and death.#1 Jesus openly states that Lazarus’ sickness and death have a specific purpose- “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it”, John 11:4.#2 The wisdom of Jesus’ decision to return to Judea and fulfill this purpose is questioned by his apostles- “Rabbi, ...

Moses was 80 years old and tending his father-in-law’s sheep when God called him to deliver Israel (Exodus 3:1-10). He wasn’t expecting that.Gideon was hiding in a winepress trying to save some wheat for his family when God called him to save Israel from their Midianite oppressors (Judges 6:1-14). He wasn’t expecting that.Peter, Andrew, James & John were working their fishing businesses when Jesus...

Below are just a few things I’ve discovered that really work to keep a church alive and shining the light of Jesus’ gospel.Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Preach the gospel to all creation. Hold fast your profession. Be steadfast and unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord. Imitate what is good. Hold firmly to the traditions that were delivered you. Present your body as a...

In one part of the world, people who name Christ as their savior are being murdered and driven from their homes. In another, rioters and looters are terrorizing an entire community. A godless barbarian beheads a journalist and we see the pictures.You and I see only a fraction of what is happening and understand very few of the facts in any of these situations. God, however, sees every single evil ...

Monday evening, August 11th, 2014, I was shocked to look up at a television screen and see wirtte4n across it: “Robin Williams, 1951-2014”. Like others, I had no idea that I would be so affected by his death.I realized that I felt like I know him. Perhaps this was because he played so many characters, many of which I had seen in movies and television shows, and also because he was the ever-present...

Sometimes I wish I had an eye on each of my big toes to protect from banging them on things in the dark when my "Nite Lite" is off. My toes are truly thankful for "Nite Lites" for they are little lamps unto my feet.But more importantly is the "nite lite" for our souls. David said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path... Ps 119:105. God's word is our nite lite to keep us from stum...

One of our seniors suffered chest pains and had to be rushed to the hospital recently. They told her to take it easy and not do so much, she wasn't getting any younger and neither was her heart.That same Wednesday evening she quietly took her place among the saints for the regular mid-week service. No clamor, no fanfare, just a member showing up for church as she has done all her life.The moment I...

Do you realize that the New Testament is filled with them?The church at Ephesus had “fallen” by having left their first love, and as a result, were in danger of losing their place in God’s kingdom, Revelation 2:1-7.The brethren at Pergamum allowed false teachers to influence some of their flock to take part in idolatry and immorality and so did the church in Thyatira, Revelation 2:12-29. Jesus eve...

Carla Hinton, religious editor for The Oklahoman (“Faith In The Summer,” June 28, 2014, p. 1 D) reports concerning a five year old girl who “closed her eyes and held her breath in preparation for a life-changing experience” - her baptism. Her religious leader asked her “if she was ready to be baptized as an outward sign of her acceptance of Christ into her heart.”This young girl was one of 214 peo...

Being “a preacher” I have often been praised for having done something for someone in need in one way or another. It may be the couple sacks of groceries that come out of the church’s pantry, a tank of gas, some bit of family or marital counseling, answering a Bible question or resolving a faith issue of some sort.Some such folk have openly expressed what a good guy they believed me to be. I must ...

Cyrus, king of Persia, commissioned Israelites living in Persia to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple which had been destroyed decades earlier.The previous temple had been built by king Solomon with all of the grandeur that Israel, at her apex of economic power, could provide. The new temple being built at Cyrus’ command under the leadership of Zerubabbel and Jeshua, paled in appearance to...

1.Choking on an ice cube? Don’t panic. Simply poor some boiling water down your throat and, presto, the blockage will be removed.2.Clumsy? Avoid cutting yourself while slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop away.3.High-blood-pressure? No problem. Simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins.4.Sleeping too late? A mousetra...

My father was not normally philosophical, but at times could be a wise man. Though these sayings were to guide me in a physical life, without too much trouble I can find spiritual parallels in the words of our heavenly Father. First my Dad's words.....then my (our) Heavenly Father's.... 1. "You don't learn a thing when a mule kicks you the second time." (Stop and leave) - 2 Tim 2:22-23..."Now flee...

Jesus said that God is seeking those who will worship him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24). God’s Spirit is the source of all scripture, according to several passages such as 1st Corinthians 2:12-13:“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which thingswe also speak, not in words taught by...

Justin Juozapavicius and Kristi Eaton (“Oklahoma Gambling Addicts Have Few Places To Get Help,” “The Oklahoman, May 19, 2014, p.5A) call our attention to a generally silent, subtle sin that surrounds our current social scene—Gambling! While the news media boldly advertises the places, and gifted, hired promoters, in TV’s colorful, dazzling display, seek your presence at some 120 casinos in Oklahom...

The Jewish nation of Jesus' day sought a savior who could free them from Roman authority. They molded their religious hopes around this false human dream. When Jesus came along, He had all the marks of the Savior (miracles, fulfilled prophecy) but His humble demeanor and death on the cross conflicted with their view of what the Messiah should be. In the end they chose to cling to the shadow of the...

It is presently being questioned here in Oklahoma. The following is my view.God destroyed the world with the great flood because of the violence of humanity, according to Genesis 6:5 & 11-13. We find the remains of the world that once was, now buried underneath us and encased mostly in the water-borne sediments that cover the planet. Deep and massive oil, gas and coal deposits world-wide are a las...