The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn’t even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn’t so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That’s a mere $24.24 a day! Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice says don’t have children if you want to be “rich.” It is just the opposite. What do you...
Month: December 2025
Does this Seem Ridiculous?
“Hello…Yes…Oh, you’re Johnny’s teacher. I’ve been meaning to call you…No; he isn’t planning to be in school this year. You see he has so much work to do at the church – he has Bible school lessons, church services, youth activities and such takes up his time; then there are daily devotionals at home and other interests, so there isn’t time left for school… Well, yes I know that school is important, and I know that you are doing a fine job with the kids in this community – and I’ve been intending to write...Continue reading
Christianity: A “Daily” Perspective
Bob Patterson It does not take long (even for the casual reader of the New Testament) to recognize the importance that is placed upon such terms now, today, or daily! Most of us look at our schedules and calendars, and we find that our lives have become regimented by the demands placed on us at the work place, appointments here, doing this, doing that, going here, traveling there, pick-up this, deliver that, a meeting here, and a deadline there! If we are not extremely careful we can become like the one in James 4:13-15, who...Continue reading
Make Today Count!
Allen Webster A plaque marking Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace near Hodgenville, Kentucky, records this scrap of conversation: “Any news down t’ the village, Ezry?” “Well, Squire McLain’s gone t’ Washington t’ see Madison swore in, and ol’ Spellman tell me this Bonaparte fella has captured most o’ Spain. What’s new out here, neighbor?” Nuthin’, nuthin’ a tall, ‘cept fer a new baby born t’ Tom Lincoln’s, Nothin’ ever happens out here.” Life’s great moments rarely receive a glance from the world. Positive things go unnoticed by the masses while negative events make the news. If you...Continue reading
Silencing The Lamb
Glenn Alexander I’m afraid the voice of our dear Savior is being heard less and less in the worship services in our brotherhood. Dire predictions have surfaced in recent weeks. Of great concern are the words of Ron Cook in the Sunday edition of The Tennessean dated, August 29, 1999. Forecasting looming changes in our worship as in introduction of instrumental music he said, “Instrumental music is already apart of youth events that happen at churches. Teenagers love Christian music. Music is a fact of life. It’s inevitable.” Ray Waddle, who wrote the newspaper article,...Continue reading