Time is a sobering commodity granted to all— rich, poor, young, old, male, female— and the use of it has timeless, eternal implications! Unless each day is organized and properly managed, it can waste away without accomplishment and pass by without attachment to any purpose.
God’s Word challenges us to “redeem the time,” especially when the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). In a wicked world, people who have &ldquo... read all »
Christmas is over. Homes and businesses previously decorated with bright and cheery holiday lighting are all taking those lights down again.
What about you and me? Jesus was speaking to people just like us when he said to them, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16). He defined their “light” as good works that they could do that would bring glory to God. What sort of good works do... read all »
The Christmas season of 2011 was different. There was an old practice revived due to the economic situation in the U.S. Those “seasoned” Santa’s will recall the ways which businesses conducted “lay-a-way” plans. This was credit before there were credit cards. You paid some money down, and some each week, until you could get your merchandise out of lay-a-way. Almost all stores did it, especially during the Christmas ... read all »
Solomon said it was. In Ecclesiastes 3:4 he said that there is an appointed season to weep and a season to mourn.
Later in chapter seven he wrote that it was better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting. His reasoning was that it would put us in mind of our own mortality and we would take it to heart. Solomon then said that sorrow is better than laughter
because when a face is sad a heart may be ha... read all »
This is my 50th Christmas without my father. I thought of him recently while I browned some meatballs for a spaghetti sauce we were cooking up for guests over the holidays.
This was his recipe. One handed down from his father and passed on to me by my mother years after he passed away. The pungent smell of the garlic and Romano cheese filled the kitchen and flashed back his old ritual of tasting the first batch of sauce with ... read all »
The general pattern of brethren assembling relates to 4 hours of the 168 hours of a week. Considering traveling time, the gathering times would likely require another 5 hours. This article, therefore, relates to some 9 hours of the 168 hours each member needs to consider per week.
Note the ways brethren relate to these moments of assembling. Brethren respond in some 4 different groups: 1. Some do not attend at all (Observations over the years indicate 40-50% of tho... read all »
I believe Martha's gotten a bad rap as far as Bible characters go. The most quoted reference about Martha is where Jesus gently admonishes her concerning this good woman's frustration at not receiving help from her sister, Mary, in serving their guests. This story recorded in Luke 10:40-41 has become, for many, the defining image of this woman, a worrier, a person consumed with tasks, and a disciple not attuned to spiritual things like her sister, Mary.
Mar... read all »
All my life I have heard people use excuses not to go to church services.
"Those people 'pretend' to be religious, but they're just hypocrites!"
"It's just full of gossips and people who are worse sinners than I am!”
"I messed up so bad even God wouldn't want me."
There are many more excuses, which are supposed to be valid reasons, for not attending worship, but most are at best half-truths, if not... read all »
God did not design us for violence. Sin, however, changed everything and it became the responsibility of righteous people to take violent situations in hand.
As soon as Noah stepped off of the ark God instructed him that any man or beast who took the life of another man was to be put to death, Genesis 9:5-6. God had noted for us in Genesis 6:5 & 11 & 13 that mankind had become steeped in violence. God’s plan was that the crim... read all »
'Church' these days has been turned into a show by many in the religious world. Worship is for them a big production that is performance oriented and entertainment driven. Such assemblies beg for applause and they get plenty of it. It seems to me that it is a lot of hype with very little of God in any of this.
But getting back to the question about applauding at a baptism, or some good news announced among God's people, I think it a completely d... read all »
There has been much talk concerning Social Security that has a lot of folks in a lather. The government is suggesting a variety of ways to save it or make it more viable.
Some groups want to abolish it in favor of private plans, others suggest delaying retirement or having part of the S.S. payments put into private funds. With the bulk of the population rapidly approaching retirement, it‟s natural that people are feeling a little panicky.
The problem, ... read all »
God said it. He said it to Joshua. He said it three times (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9 & 18).
The third time God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, He also asked him, “Have I not commanded you?” Doesn’t that sound to you like God wanted Joshua to understand that since He had commanded him to act, that there was no reason to be timid or afraid? God’s authority is all we need to plow through our fears.
This w... read all »
When do we have the right to become children of God?
John 1:12 states “But as many as received Him to them He gave the right to become children of God even to those who believed in His name.” This verse indicates the point in time in which we have the right to become children of God. It is when we receive Him (Jesus Christ) and believe that He is the Son of God. Can we say at this point that we are children of God?
... read all »
“Sticks and Stones may break my bones…but words can never hurt me!”
Remember learning that? How’s it workin’ out for you? This was the tool I was told to use when people called me names, made fun of me, or insulted me. It certainly has never worked for me. It never fixed anything nor did it make me feel any better. Nothing can hurt us more permanently, cut our hearts in two more quickly or ca... read all »
God teaches us that it is right to punish those who do wrong. When He or those authorized by Him (see Romans 13:1-5) punish evil as He designed, it is justice. When individuals take things into their own hands, however, it is usually for revenge.
Justice is a matter of comparing one’s behavior with a recognized code of behavior or law. When the law is broken, justice demands a fitting punishment.
Vengeance is not about justice, but personal ego. The apostle ... read all »