Articles

  The above name is given to the existence of billions of widely diversified and fully developed life forms in the lowest layers of earth’s sedimentary strata.  The fossil record should, if we assume the so-called theory of evolution to be accurate, show very gradual change from the supposed first simple life forms to the more complex ones that are thought to have evolved later, af...

  (1st John 3:13)   The “Miss U.S.A.” pageant is over, and Carrie Prejean, Miss California did not win.  Miss North Carolina did win, a beautiful and talented young lady to be sure, but under the circumstances, one must wonder if Miss California was not a victim of bigotry.   It all stems from her answer to the very politically charged question she was asked as a pa...

As I write, it has been less than a week since wild fires raged through several parts of Oklahoma. Extremely dry conditions and wind gusts over 60 mph set the stage for disaster, and disaster sure enough took the stage. Like many other families in the Choctaw and Midwest City area, we alternated watching news reports on television concerning the fire’s progress with calling to check on frien...

(I’m not sure how I came on this story, but if you gave it to me, thank you.) A woman looked out her kitchen window and observed her new neighbor hanging out her wash while her husband consumed his breakfast. She began to complain about how this “new neighbor lady”, whom she hadn’t even yet met, needed to do something about the ‘dingy’ clothes she was putting ou...

Jesus wants us to remember at what cost we have been bought, that is ransomed, from our own sin. That is why He gave us the simple, yet perfect observance of eating unleavened bread to represent His body, and grape juice to represent His blood. You and I may each recall different aspects of His sacrifice, but consider those things Matthew recorded in his account, 26:36-27:50: 26:36-46 - He was lef...

There is a time when we must firmly choose the course we will follow, or the deceptive drift of events will make the decision for us. A delayed decision before God is dangerous, and it may launch us into eternal disaster! I recently read of Archias, the magistrate of Thebes, who was sitting with many mighty men, drinking wine. “A messenger came in bringing him a letter, informing him of a co...

I’ve lived through several economic recessions, personal upheavals and family challenges in the last 30 years of marriage and ministry. These experiences have taught me several key lessons about living through hard times. Lesson #1 – Always Wait on God When calamity strikes, the temptation is to do something. Governments have to have action plans and we’re always ready to make so...

Initiative. One dictionary offers as a definition, “that which begins”. It is a character trait each of us should develop, but often seems like few of us have. Sadly, it seems that the ‘wicked’ are the ones who develop this tendency more than any other group. God speaks of them… hearts that devise wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil (Proverbs 6:18), inventors...

Use Your Speech - Not just your vocabulary, but the things you talk about, and especially the way you talk about others. Refuse to be a source of gossip, or perhaps even better, refuse to be an ear for it. Always speak as positively as you can about others and this will make a positive impression on those who hear you. Remember, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anythin...

I recently read the following article about evangelism that could be adapted for our use. “What is the method? I call it newsletter evangelism. It involves passing out a series of about 25 different newsletters to homes in your area by church members who volunteer to have “paper-routes” of the size of their choosing, for about a 3 month period. After passing out the series of new...

How are you handling the financial fears, the declarations of pending depression, or the worry about work? Christ’s attitude, as given in Hebrews 12:3, is astounding and so heartening: “Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross.” What a paradox! The greatest love entwined with joy at the same moment of the greatest loss amidst agonizing affliction! “Greater...

1.    Have you ever gone away, for example, on a vacation, and when you returned no one in your church family noticed you had been gone? 2.    Do you feel like no one ever tries to find out about you or your family? 3.    Ever feel like you have the “family name”, but aren’t a real part of the family? 4.    Would you say...

God has always regulated worship. He has never left it up to us to come before Him as we please. Something I have come to call The Romans 10:17 principle, is axiomatic. The passage itself teaches: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Several Biblical passages and historical references, aside from our own ‘common sense’, teach us that we do not have the capaci...

Your initial response to the above question may be, “Duh, anyone who sins”; and you would be right. This is the simplest definition. Jesus used the term “sinner” frequently and so did the gospel writers. Typically, it seems to refer to those whose behavior was considered outside of the law in an open and obvious way. Both Matthew and Mark called some with whom Jesus ate, si...

#1 Each one of us has been designed by God. He made the first man and woman and put within them the genetics we see represented in the diversity of mankind. The colors of our skins, the textures of our hair, the body types and facial features we see from nationality to nationality were all placed in Adam and Eve and have been handed down to you and me and every one else in whatever combination we ...

But to which of the angels has He ever said, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET”? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:13-14 In the context of the letter, the inspired writer was primarily making a point about the preeminence of Jesus over the angels. In the p...

I love to hunt. Bow hunting in particular, for deer. Problem is, I can’t really articulate why I have such strong feelings about it. Others like myself simply describe our mutual passion for the sport as something that “gets in your blood”. Obviously there are the “regular” commonplace things we love about it, like the smell of the woods in the fall or the ever-changi...

In Carl Menninger’s book, Whatever became of Sin? (chapter 3 entitled, “The Disappearance of Sin: An Eyewitness Account”), are some sobering comments about the trend to eliminate from our vocabulary those deeds which the Holy Spirit stated all people do, and whose wages are death (Romans 3:23;6:23)! Paul further specified some such deeds, affirming that one who practiced such &ld...

You have a conscience for a reason. Think of it as a highly advanced onboard warning system, hardwired down so deep within you that it is often referred to as your “gut”. Be advised, situations often arise in life that call for just such a system to be in place when nothing else would be reliable. Perhaps someone you trust tries to talk you into doing something with which you are not c...

The following points are recurring topics in these letters and they would likely be things that Jesus would say to us today. Jesus knows His churches. He said such things as: “I know your deeds”, I know where you dwell”, “I know your tribulation”. He knew Antipas of Pergemum by name. He knows us very well. He wants churches to guard their teaching. We must understand ...