Wendell and Betty Winkler’s Advice on Marriage – Neal Pollard
Several years ago, I asked the Winklers to pass along advice for married couples on how to have a successful, happy marriage. They were very kind to comply and I have the material, in brother Winkler’s easily distinguishable hand-writing, in my files. Their suggestions were broken into two categories, the first being positive things couples can do for their marriages and the latter being habits, actions, and attitudes that hurt a marriage. Here are the answers from a couple who…
Encouragement – Johnny Ramsey
When we sincerely search the sacred text, we can find myriads of reasons to hold to our Creator’s unchanging hand. Everyone needs encouragement. In this wicked world finding the joy and happiness we all cherish is never easy. But the very God who made us has revealed in the Scriptures many reasons for Christians to find calm in the midst of stormy surroundings. In Joshua 1:7, Jehovah promised to bless Joshua’s future days with boundless benefits if that valiant leader…
Jesus: The Sinless Sacrifice
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (Eph. 2:4-5). Imagine the horror of cutting the throat of an innocent lamb, watching as its life’s blood pours from its body, and knowing you are the reason it had to die. This is precisely what was required of the Jew’s living under the…
Are We Prepared for the Judgement Day? – Don Walker
In Hebrews 9:27, the inspired writer reminded us “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Biblically speaking, it is no secret that the last great prophecy to be fulfilled is the return of our Saviour Jesus Christ and our standing before the Great Sovereign, our God, in judgment. For the righteous, the events of that day are set on display in First Thessalonians 4:13-18. The same is true for the wicked in…
What Does My Family Owe The Church? – Bill Burk
Certainly, the concepts of sacrifice and duty seem odd to a culture that often asks, “What’s in it for me?” Even among God’s people, as it relates to loyalty and service to the local church of Christ, the attitude of “meet my needs or else…” is found far too often. Consumerism has had a profound effect upon Christendom and the church. When people begin to search for a church home seldom do they look for the place where the truth…
Known – Kevin W. Rhodes
The information age and the rise of social media have created a new layer of identity for individuals. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and online gaming have all made it possible for people to build a persona online that sometimes has little to no resemblance to real life. The deception that once fell within the purview of online dating websites has gone mainstream— so much so that creating completely fictional characters for the purpose of fooling others has turned into sport. However,…
Escaping Temptation
Temptation is a phenomenon to which everyone is subjected. It is not prejudiced, and it is certainly not convenient. Though we all must deal with temptation, we have no need to sorrow because the Scripture tells us, The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of Judgment (2 Pet. 2:9). Through a study of God’s Word, we can properly arm ourselves with the tools to help us…
Bid Me Come Unto Thee – Tom Wacaster
Over the course of a few short years, the twelve men whom Jesus had chosen began to grow and mature into the material that God could, and would use to proclaim the gospel to a lost humanity. The more time they spent with Jesus, the stronger grew their faith. Their courage often amazes us; their weaknesses puzzle us. Consider the background of the request Peter made as expressed in the five words of the title of this article. The twelve…
Opening To Opportunity – Brian R. Kenyon
When “opportunity knocks,” what is our reaction? Sometimes we are fearful. Sometimes we ignore it. Sometimes we do not even realize it is present. Unfortunately, opportunities do not always return when missed. Let us learn about opportunity from Paul’s statement to the Corinthians: But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). The word “door” is often used as a metaphor for opportunity…
Courage – Clay Bond
The Bible is a book that is filled with accounts of courageous men and women, people who faced down danger and death with lion-like boldness (Proverbs 28:1). Turning to our Old Testament we can read the story of Gideon, who had the courage to turn away from the false religion of his father. He threw down the altar of Baal and built an altar to the true and living God (Judges 6). We might also read of Esther, who had…
4 Admonitions from Jesus to Shepherds – Andy Baker
Though he was not an elder at that time, Jesus could see Peter’s future and know that he was ready to sacrificially follow Him—and part of that would be in shepherding the New Testament church (see 1 Peter 5:1-5). In John 21, Jesus gives Peter four charges that are worth an eldership looking at carefully, and also for a congregation to look and see if their eldership is actually doing these things. #1—Feed My Lambs: give attention to the young…
The Nature Of Truth – Ronnie Scherffius
One of the most profound questions ever posed to Jesus by mortal man was asked by Pontius Pilate, “What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38). While this question was likely asked by Pilate with a sarcastic tone it is nevertheless a question that continues to reverberate. By definition, truth in a general sense is “what is true in any matter under consideration as opposed to what is false.” In reference to religion, the term denotes “what is true in things appertaining to…