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Sacred Matters Demand Proper Respect
It has amazed me for years to see folks demand proper respect for sacred matters in the Lord’s Day assembly and then treat these same sacred matters as a form of entertainment in the home. Years ago an aged gentleman led the singing at the congregation where I preached my first sermon. He would have never consented to using a piano to accompany the singing of praises to God during the assembly of the church. This same gentleman, however, invited his denominational neighbors to his home of Sunday afternoon, and while his wife played the...Continue reading
Some Thoughts for You to Ponder
Drug Problem? Author Unknown I had a “drug” problem when I was a young person and a teenager. I was “drug” to church on Sunday morning, I was “drug” to church on Sunday night, I was “drug” to church on Wednesday evening. I was “drug” to Bible study every Sunday morning and I was “drug” to Vacation Bible School every summer. I was “drug” to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents. Thos “drugs” are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say and think. The “drugs” I received...Continue reading
The Empty Seat Has a Powerful Voice – Noah Hackworth
David and Jonathan, Saul’s son, were true friends. They loved each other as much as if they were blood brothers. In fact, their souls were knit together (1 Sam. 18:1). For a number of reasons, none of which were justified, King Saul was obsessed with the relentless pursuit of the youthful David. His intense desire to kill him was not hidden (1 Sam. 19:9-10). David had several opportunities to slay Saul, but he would not touch him because he was God’s anointed (1 Sam. 24:6). David apparently did not fully understand why Saul wanted him...
One Hundred Years Ago
What a difference a century makes! Here are some U.S. statistics for 1902: The average life expectancy was forty-seven (47). Only 14% of homes had a bathtub Only 8% of the homes had a telephone. A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars. There were only 8,000 cars and 144 miles of paved roads. Maximum speeds in most cities was 10 mph. Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa and Tennessee were each more heavily populated than California. With a mere 1.4 million residents, California was only the 21st most populous state in the Union....
Parachute Mentality – Tom Wacaster
Having never worn a parachute, and fortunately never having needed one, I do not know if I can appreciate what a paratrooper goes through in the exercise of his basic kills as a skydiver. While serving in the Coast Guard in Corpus Christi, it was my privilege to work in the field of aviation search and rescue. Those of us who went on search and rescue missions were never issued a parachute, never trained in the use of them, and seldom had one on board when we went out on search and rescue missions. I...Continue reading
We Must Be Set for the Defense – Bob Patterson
In 1 Timothy 3:15 we have the church described as “the pillar and ground of the truth.” Sad to say, with some the pillar has become pillow and they are fast asleep on the truth, and the ground has become ever shifting! Should such be characteristic of any member of the Lord’s church? If this kind of attitude and disposition does characterize any member of the Lord’s church, then there are several areas that would automatically become suspect. The first area would be the truth itself! Obviously, to the person who has such little regard...Continue reading
Bible Study
We are to study our Bibles. Isaiah says, “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18). In another passage Isaiah says, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). We find also in Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Still in another place, “Study to show thyself approved unto...
Meeting
Are Gospel Meetings a thing of the past? I know that they have been shortened. Meeting at one time lasted at least three weeks, then it went to two weeks, then the Gospel meetings went from Sunday to Sunday. The next change was from Sunday to Saturday. Folks got where they were not coming on Saturdays so that length stopped. Now most Gospel Meetings are from Sunday to Wednesday. I have heard of a few starting on Wednesday and going until Sunday. For whatever reason, the Gospel Meeting seems to be losing days. Let us...Continue reading
10 Reasons Why the Church Is to Have Elders
God has an image for His church and she is to wear that image. The image of that church is that she is to have elders. Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. Acts 14:23 “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” The church is to be sowing the seed. The seed...
Unity
As the church goes through time of growth, there is one thing that needs to be brought to remembrance, and that is unity. There may be other ideas that you can see that we need to discuss and bring to the forefront of our memory but today let us talk about unity. Psalm 133:1-3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his...Continue reading