Articles
My sister, Vickie sent this to me and asked me to share this beautiful woman’s message with her special Oklahoma ladies and give them her love… so I will. (Ditto from me also) It is a wonderful poem written by Audrey Hepburn when she was asked to share her ‘beauty tips’. It was read at her funeral, years later. I think it falls in line with scripture, (I stuck in some exam...
No, cosmology is not the study of cosmetics; that’s cosmetology. Cosmology is the study of our universe, its origin and meaning. Any view taken of the origin of the universe must be based on faith, since there is no extant method of ‘proving’ how it came into being. I put my faith in God, accepting what I believe to His account of creation recorded in the Bible. Others take a dif...
We can learn much about our circumstances of life from the parable of the sower. We can learn that as we go through life there is always a real possibility of falling away from God. Jesus said there are those who have heard the word of God and as they go their way, they are choked with worries, riches and pleasures of this life. (Luke 8:14) Mark 4: 18,19 records that some because of worries of the...
Seems like a good question for everyone who’d claim to be a disciple. After all, a disciple is a learner or a pupil. Jesus Himself said, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free‘, John 8:31-32. What do you make of that statement? Is just being ‘in the church’ enough? As Jesus gave ...
Last week it was my honor to have a part in presiding over a funeral for Louis Thompson. He served as the pulpit minister for the Choctaw congregation for seventeen years and then as a family minister and elder for several years after that. Those of us who took part in his memorial service were commended by many for doing a good job of handling it. The reality, however, is that it was Louis’...
There is a Dutch Proverb which states: “Never was hood so holy but the Devil could get his head in it.”* As a church member, has the Devil ever gotten in you (John 8:43f)? When one fails to assemble for worship services and Bible classes (see Hebrews 10:25-31), does the absentee need to ask, “Has the Devil got-a-hold of me? Even church going is no guarantee for pure living (see T...
A perception generally exists in the minds of men that says, “When a woman openly displays a part of her body “beyond reasonable propriety”, it is in order to attract attention and even to arouse desire.” Such displays usually come across this way regardless of what is intended. It seems a sort of taunting, tempting tease. The progression of thought in a man’s mind ma...
“I am flat worn out! It’s all I can do, trying to make a living, and my wife wants this and that, my children have to go here or there, they need this and that; they have sports and school activities that take up my time. The only “free time” I have seems to be spent on nursing my aches and pains. Just watching my grandchildren makes me tired; they are so full of energy. I&...
I don’t remember what the hard piece of news was that I overheard in the church announcements. All I remember was the question that occurred to me in regard to it, ‘What would I do if I cared?’ It is a simple question to understand, but not always so simple to answer. And with so many possible applications, it is a constantly reoccurring one. For example, what would I do if I car...
Our Bible classes are one very important way we can all pursue spiritual growth as our Lord intended for us. Our spiritual growth should include: A. Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Pet.3:18). B. To our faith we are, with diligence, to add moral excellence, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love in order that we may ...
I see a subtly detrimental habit being practiced by some very good people. I speak of those who are chronically late for worship or Bible class. There, I said it. Hunt me down and give me a piece of your mind if you must, but I am compelled to admonish the guilty and hopefully, effect a life changing renewal of punctuality. Why? Well, really, if you ask someone who tends to show up late for schedu...
What guides your decision making? Do you allow yourself to fall victim to your own selfishness, or are you guided by good reasoning based on what you know to be right? Let’s put it in a context. Bible Class. Uh, oh. I know, I’m meddling again. But really, do reason and right rule in your God-given right to decide for yourself? Are you the ant (Proverbs 6:6-11) or are you the sluggard? ...
Under the title, “Bible 101,” The Oklahoman (May 7, 2008, 6E) gave some facts concerning a survey related to the U.S. and eight European countries. Portions of the data gleaned from the survey were encouraging. “More than 90 percent of American households have at least read one copy of the Bible.” Also, three out of four Americans had read at least one Scripture over the pr...
Emotions often run high when people speak of the present day nation of Israel. Some still consider them to be God’s chosen people. Others speak as though God has totally ‘written them off’ so to speak, and that we should as well. I believe the truth is somewhere in between. As far as I can tell, there is no definitive word from Jesus or His apostles that teaches us exactly how we...
By Roger Saumur Ville-Émard Church of ChristYou may not have noticed it, but there’s a new religion that’s emerging. In this religion the majority of traditional sins are minimized and even tolerated in favor of a new group which has come to the forefront. Many followers of this religion openly practice fornication, abortion and dishonesty without guilt. However, certain other sins are intolerable...
Most of us probably think of thugs as dim-witted, brutal hoodlums who do harm to any who are unfortunate enough to be found in their path. Well, ok, maybe this is because that’s what a thug is… today. But did you know that ‘thugs’ were originally members of a religious sect in India that apparently came into being sometime in the 1300’s? They were worshipers of Kali,...
Your shepherds in this church have a tremendous responsibility in trying to provide you a continuous opportunity to learn the scriptures (Matt. 28:19,20). That learning opportunity includes equipping each one through Bible study so that we can all be built up together in the work of service to the Lord and each other (Eph. 4:11,12). At least three methods of learning are very important to every fa...
Does the word make you think of the last day, the final day, when the Lord returns and we stand before Him to give an account? We should make ourselves aware that even though there will be a final judgment, God has already come in judgment many times throughout history and that He has made this fact very clear. Have you read of His coming in judgment on Egypt from long ago? Behold, the Lord is rid...
Peter spoke of those in his day who distorted God’s word and brought on their own destruction by manipulating (wresting/twisting) it to make it appear to teach things it didn’t, 2nd Peter 3:14-18. He referred to such people as untaught, unstable, and unprincipled. I believe that a good ‘modern day’ example of what Peter was talking about is what some are now doing with a pa...
Paul concluded his great chapter on the Resurrection with the climactic charge: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58-emphasis mine-dk). If every member of the church, because he or she believes in the ultimate victory of the resurrection, would heed Pau...