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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
Tragedy
A few years ago the news was full of the events of the nightclub in Rhode Island. The week or so before that it was the nightclub in Chicago. Why is there so much new coverage about what took place? Is it because of the number of people that perished in the blaze? Is it because of the use of pyrotechnics? Were they used illegally? These question will be answered sooner or later in the courts, but I wonder why all the news coverage? I do think it was a tragedy but for different reasons...Continue reading
“Whosoever is Born of God Doth not Commit Sin” – 1 John 3:9
This article is found in the book: “Difficult Texts of the New Testament Explained” edited by Wendell Winkler pages 380-382. In this passage asserting that one begotten of God is incapable of a single act of sin? If it is, then it is in direct conflict with other plain passages in this very epistle. (Note 1 John 1:1-10). One basic rule of hermeneutics is that one can never correctly interpret one passage of scripture in such a way as to cause it to contradict another passage of scripture. To interpret 1 John 3:9 to mean...
Guard
Paul gave Timothy a duty in 1 Timothy 6:20, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.” The word “keep” has the idea of isolation; to watch; i.e. be on guard. The word “committed” has the idea of a deposit; i.e. trust. “Profane words” are empty words. The duty of Timothy is to guard that which was deposited into his trust. That is the Gospel, 2 Tim. 2:13-14, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me,...Continue reading
What Can We Do?
This is an interesting question due to the political climate today. We think that we are just one citizen and what can we do to help. There is always a lot we can do. One thing for sure we do not need to do nothing! That is a sure way to lose ground and let the enemy do what they please. This is also an interesting question due to our religious climate today too. Yes, there are things you can do to help yourself and also help the church. What can you do? Here they...Continue reading