Counting Your Blessings (Various Sources)
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in…
The Age of the Troll – Patrick Hammack
The internet is a remarkable thing. Now, I know that in the darker corners of the online world there are things that are unsavory to those professing Christ. But, all in all, the internet has made an undeniable and beneficial mark on our lives. Unless you want to set out for open wilderness, there are very few places that you can go and very few things you can do where the internet isn’t somehow involved, either directly or indirectly. Just…
From Garbage to Goodness – Justin Guess
Last month a cyclist was riding from Portland to Corpus Christi across the bay bridge. For an unknown reason, the man veered diagonally across two lanes of traffic, running into the wall. As he the collision happened, the man flipped over the barrier and fell about 30 feet down into the four foot water below. A couple following not too far behind witnessed the accident and pulled over immediately to render aid. A 60 year old man got out of…
Biblical Balance Ends With Attitudes – Ross Haffner
So much controversy, so much conflict! To answer the division present in the Lord’s church today, many are calling for Biblical balance. I am sure some who are asking for balance actually mean, “There should be less preaching that expects me to change and more preaching that makes me feel good.” Others mean, “Let’s change the truth slightly so that it’s easier to digest.” Neither of these positions should be supported because they show a lack of concern for God’s…
I Have Found a Friend in Jesus – Cody Westbrook
With Song of Solomon 2:1 in mind, hymn writer Charles Fry penned the song “The Lilly of the Valley” in 1881. Seeking to describe the intimacy that exists between the Savior and His disciples, the song begins with the words “I have found a friend in Jesus.” Friendship in the ancient world was a reciprocal relationship built upon loyalty, trust, affection, and service (2 Sam. 16:16-17; Pro. 18:24; 1 Sam. 18:1-4; Phil. 4:1). Such a relationship exists between people, but…
Lessons in Faith – Ronnie Scherffius
When studying the gospel records we often discover multiple accounts of teachings and events in the life of Christ. One would expect to observe a repetition of Jesus’ betrayal (Matt. 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-52; John 18:1-11), His trials before the Hebrews (Matt. 26:57-75; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54-71; John 18:12-27) and Romans (Matt. 27:1-25; Mark 15:1-14; Luke 23:1-26; John 18:28-40), His suffering and crucifixion (Matt. 27:26-66; Mark 15:15-47; Luke 23:27-56; John 19:1-42), as well as His resurrection and ascension (Matt.…
Signposts on the Way to Apostasy
We know how important it is for us to be aware of the symptoms of disease. The signs indicating the possibility of cancer or some other malady may save our lives and/or those of our loved ones. To ignore these symptoms can be an extremely dangerous choice. Medical experts continually expend large amounts of funds on research hoping to warn our population of the symptoms that eventuate in life-threatening diseases. There are also symptoms of spiritual disease, that of departing…
The Problem With Complaining
If we are honest, we would all admit that we struggle with complaining from time to time. The bible identifies complaining as a worldly exercise and commands Christians to avoid it. Paul wrote, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14-15). The children of Israel stand as a perfect…
Bless the Lord!
Psalm 103:1 is an emphatic and imperative call to praise the Lord. The command implies affection and a sense of gratitude as well as effort and energy. To bless the Lord with all that is within me involves my entire being. Someone may casually remark that they do not get much out of worship. As this passage reveals, that is the case when one does not put enough into worship. The remainder of the psalm identifies a number of reasons…
God Among the Nations – Steven Lloyd
A theme that is repeated in the books of Kings, some of the Psalms, and in some of the prophets is the justice and righteousness of God. These are described as being the foundation of God’s throne. Because our Lord is considered infinite in these qualities, He cannot, with a wave of the hand, dismiss unjust behavior from His own people. When Israel went astray after other gods, the Lord chastised them. On a broader scale, the Lord would use…
The Friend of God – Bill Burk
Man was created for community. All of us need good friends whom we may trust and count on. Probably each one of us can see in his mind’s eye someone whose friendship you hold near and dear. The Bible says “a friend loves at all times but a brother is born for adversity” (Pro. 17:17). If there is any being about whom we can truly say He loves us at all times in both good times and bad it would…
Unless the Lord Builds the House… – Cody Westbrook
The Latin motto Nisi Dominus Frusta has adorned the coat of arms of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland since 1647. The meaning is “Without the Lord, frustration,” and it is taken from the first line of Psalm 127:1– “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” The sentiment accurately portrays the outcome of one who seeks to navigate this life apart from his Creator. The emphasis of this Psalm, however, is not on the individual…