Sunday, June 14th 1777, was the day that the Second Continental Congress of the United States of America officially adopted the basic design of our nation’s flag.
The original resolution called for a flag with thirteen alternating red and white stripes with a union of thirteen white stars on a field of blue. Nearly every aspect of our flag communicates sentiments of our forefathers as they struggled to establish a new nation.
Th... read all »
The above phrase is taken from the second letter the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, where he explained his “thorn in the flesh”, 12:7.
A great deal of study and speculation has centered around the question of just exactly what Paul’s thorn was. Some believe it was an eye problem, and there appears to be some evidence for that. The apostle at least sometimes used an amanuensis, one who took dictation, rathe... read all »
If I were an atheist, I would not try to convert anyone to my way of thinking. What would be the purpose? Logically, if there is no God, nothing matters. There is no purpose. There is no purpose in life or in anything. There is no such thing as morality; no right or wrong to be done. To argue against the existence of someone, or something that doesn‘t exist would be to waste my time, and without God, time is all I... read all »
Just what is a primitive life form? Are we talking small? Because if we are talking about the smallest, tiniest microorganism, then we are talking about a “nano-bio-technology” that modern day technicians are trying very hard to emulate and can‘t even come close. Nothing man-made can begin to approach the complexity and efficiency of even the simplest microorganism. And we should note at this point that what the worl... read all »
Let’s put things into perspective: What would you think if a group of liars decided that the rest of us needed to be forced into accepting that there is nothing wrong with lying? What if these liars sought to amend local, state and even national laws to provide special protection for liars, and even demanded that school curriculums be amended to teach all of our children that lying is an acceptable way of life? Would you be opposed to... read all »
A Brief Tribute To My Mother,
And To All Those Like Her Everywhere
If you would, please indulge me in a bit of personal reflection. As I write this, just a few days before Mothers’ Day 2009, my own mother is a new resident in a nursing home near “the old home place” back in West Virginia.
She lived in the house she and Dad built for us back in 1963-64, until her poor health and failing mentality dictated that that ... read all »
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, after eons and eons of change.
(I say “so-called”... read all »
(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 part of the competitive pageant process. The question, from P... read all »
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 friends
and neighbors and packing up what belongings we could.
Weat... read all »
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 left to pray alone by His sleeping apostles
26:47-49 - He was betr... read all »
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 of evil (Romans 1:30), enticing
by fleshly desires (2nd Peter ... read all »
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 anything at all” .
As the book says, “Let your speech alwa... read all »
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 capacity to know what God’s will is for us regarding worship ... read all »
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, sinners, Matthew 9:10 & Mark 2:15. Luke used the term in refer... read all »
#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 have them. This is what we read in the first two chapters of Genesis, ... read all »