Articles

Both views (all views) of origins rely on faith.The first two laws of thermodynamics, however, respectively argue against the ideas that matter is eternal and that it increases in complexity or gains organization with time. Organization does not occur by accident but by intent. Even given the assumption that organization occurred, if left on its own, it would soon become disorganized without conti...

Likely by now you have heard the news about a temple of Satan in New York vying to place a statue of Satan on the grounds of the Oklahoma capitol building.Consider the Preamble to the State Constitution of Oklahoma:“Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessing of liberty; to secure just and rightful government; to promote our mutual welfare and happiness, w...

Paul charged Timothy: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (I Tim. 4:12 NKJV). A parallel to this passage is Midline Maxius, a young lady in Haiti, who has been one of the “Hope For Haiti’s Children” for the past 12 years. Midline’s father and mother were too poor to care for her, resulting in Midline being...

Magnets fascinate me. I certainly don't understand everything about them. Their invisible magnetic field can be seen working, whether generating electricity or levitating a train! Magnetic forces may be tiny or larger than the earth. Its magnetic field extends from the earth's inner core well into outer space, reflecting excess solar radiation and causing the Northern and Southern lights. Its forc...

Sound exciting? But what if your adventure is something that you did not expect, or even want?Joseph went on an adventure, didn’t he? Sold into slavery while just a teen he went through a series of what I would definitely call “life changing events” to eventually be made the second most powerful man in the world. Joseph said in the end “God meant it for good in order to bring about this present re...

Robert George has been overseeing IBC, one of Choctaw’s outreach programs for 22 years. IBC has had a host of volunteers that have mailed out thousands of lessons and Bibles. Many souls have come into our Lord’s Kingdom because of IBC. Now at 80 Robert and Viola have had to retire because of health reasons.The elders at Choctaw do not want to see a great mission work like WBS stop. It is our desir...

Time moves on and that helps us to see how our lives change. Two of our faithful and dedicated men have resigned from serving as deacons and the responsibilities that went with those assignments. One of these men is HAL BARNES. HAL has served this church for around 15 years. One of his  assignments was that of maintaining the baptistery and that service has been very well accomplished. Also, ...

The earthquake woke me up.  I was napping last Saturday noon trying to ward off a nasty head cold when the 4.5 quake, centered in Jones, OK, rattled me out of a feverish sleep.  At that same moment my wife, Lise, came to the bedroom door to inform me that Charles Branch had died… two seismic events in a single moment. Dr. Charles Branch, noted neurosurgeon, father of five, elder in the L...

Ever been in awkward situations where we would like to say something to someone but just don't know what to say. A death in a family, and you would like to offer condolences but you just don't know what to say.  You find a person you know has developed an incurable illness...and you don't know what to say.  Maybe it's a suicide, a divorce, or a parent with a "problem child" - a wayward b...

Dave Stone told about a mother who called up to her son to get out of bed. “’It’s time to get ready for church.” He yelled back, “Mom I’m not going.” She said ‘Why?’ He replied, ‘The people are mean to me and the service is boring. Why should I go?’‘I’ll give you two reasons,’ she shouted. ‘One, you’re 40 years old; and two, you’re the preacher!’”¹That preacher had Jonah’s mindset. Masses of peopl...

It sounds good to those of us in leadership here at Choctaw.We believe that a full-time or at least a part-time man on staff whose focus would specifically be ministering to our young families and young people could prove to be a great asset.We live in an age when the security of our families and the innocence of our children are under attack.  Dysfunction and divorce are rampant.  Drugs...

It has been said "that if we don't learn from history we are bound to repeat it".  Just look back throughout history and you will easily this statement is verified. That includes Biblical history.  The "father of lies", Satan, has been busy changing history through his lies since the dawn of mankind in the  garden.  By twisting the scriptures, he caused man to sin against God a...

God has given national governments the responsibility to “bear the sword” for the purpose of keeping order by punishing evil.  Jesus’ apostle Paul made this very clear in Romans 13:1-5 calling governments (including the Roman government) God’s “deacons” whose intended purpose is to “bring wrath on the one who practices evil”.Obviously some abuse power.  Such abus...

Have you thought about heaven lately? Paul was emphatic in Colossians 3:2, as he wrote: “Set your mind on things that are above, not things that are upon the earth.” The verb “set” (phroneite from phroneois an  imperative that means to seek or strive for, to be intent on—cf. J.H. Thayer’s, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 658). Have You been that dedicated—concerned—having “seek...

Thankfully, during nearly 2,000 years since its establishment in Jerusalem, the kingdom of God has never shut down.Nations come and nations go.  Our beloved country, the United States of America, was begun by men who understood both the tenuous nature of nations and the eternal nature of God’s kingdom as well.  Benjamin Franklin was one of those men:“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and t...

The church has always relied on men who could be counted on to carry out important matters discreetly and competently. In I Cor. 16:3 Paul refers to such men who were to safely transport a money gift from the Corinthian church to the church in Jerusalem, some 800 miles away:  “...When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem…”It’s inter...

How many times has it been lamented, “All good things must come to an end”?Specifically, two good things have now come to an end here at Choctaw.Billy VanCuren is stepping down from the eldership so that he and Judy can take full advantage of his retirement.  Just this week a “little bird” overheard Judy say, “Billy has been all around the world without me, but we have never gone around the c...

At a recent Celebrations Service for a Sister-in-Christ, the preacher noted, “We are not bodies with a soul, but we are souls in bodies for a season!” That is why Tryon Edwards stated: “This world is the land of the dying; the next is the land of the living.”¹ Herman Hooker adds, “Death is as the foreshadowing of life. We die that we may die no more!” (12,000 Inspirational Quotations, p. 101). Tha...

We are entering my most favorite time of the year...fall.  Maybe it's yours too.  I love the more pleasant weather, the vivid changing of the leaves, but most of all - the clouds.  This is the time of year God provides us with milder temperatures, the brightest of blues skies, and punctuates them with marshmallow puffs of white clouds.  A divine palate of color for our eyes. Ye...

One day you pick up a box or a book and “snap”, you join the legions of back pain sufferers.I experienced the usual therapy and advice from my doctor who said, “use your meds to manage the pain as best you can”. This experience is not without its good side however, since it has taught me several lessons:1.Pain is a Fact of Life. We try so hard to avoid any type of discomfort that when it comes, we...