A young boy received a toy sailboat for his birthday. He treasured it greatly. One day, while he was sailing it in a pond in one of the city parks, a strong rain storm came up. The high wind swept the sailboat to the other side of the pond, and the hard rain caused the overflow to be high enough to sweep the boat into the city water drainage system. The young boy was heartbroken, but there was nothing he could do. The boat was lost. Some time later, he was walking down the street...Continue reading
Author: Keith Dixon
Traditions versus Divine Law
“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandments of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by...Continue reading
In Pursuit of Christianity
When one studies the book of Colossians he is impressed with the idea of who a person is to be when he becomes a Christian. In chapter 2:12 the student will find that a person is “buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him” (2:12). Thus we are “in Christ” and are a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are now in pursuit of being a Christian; we are becoming the kind of person Christ wants us to become. Let us notice and think about what that involves from Colossians chapter...
Counting the Cost
Have you ever wanted to build a new house? Did you ever want a new car? After the decision was made to buy or build what was the next question? Most likely it was: what is the cost of building or buying? If the cost was too high then there might be other options were thought of or sought that might be available. The Bible talks about this same thing when considering discipleship. Luke 14:25-33 reads thusly, “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come...Continue reading
You Can Still Find the Church of the Bible
There are identifying marks on everything that we buy. The same is true of everything that we own. Identifying marks also are what we used to tell animals apart. It may be numbers. It might be spots. It could even be scratches that are on our item by which we could identify that item. Dents can also identify an automobile. There may be marks that identify people as well. One could have a birthmark that identifies them. One could have a scar that now identifies them. Identifying marks are all over the place. This illustration...Continue reading
Are You Growing Spiritually?
Spiritual growth is an essential part of preparing for heaven. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). Paul described spiritual growth by saying, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). The Hebrew Christians had to be reminded of the need for spiritual growth. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you...
Thanksgiving
This time of year is a time of family. Many families get together for many different reasons, but one is so that all can catch up with other members of the family. Sometimes families swap out with this day and with Christmas meeting with one side or the other. It is still a good time to get together and renew the love that we have for one another. It also is a time to be thankful for our heritage. Our heritage is those family members who have gone before us who have made us into...Continue reading
Change
When was the last time you changed a tire? If so how long did it take you to change that tire? When was the last time you had to change clothes? You found something on the clothes that you wanted to wear somewhere and could not wear that piece so you had to go and change? How long did it take you to change your clothes? When was the last time you have to make some changes in your life? There was something that you were doing that the doctor said you must quit or...Continue reading
The Church Ain’t Doing Nothing
By Raymond Elliott How often have we heard that statement from a brother in Christ? And it is to be admitted that we often fail in fulfilling the many obligations that God has given us. But there are some pertinent observations that need to be made relative to this broad statement. First of all, we could say that the brother who makes such an accusation has taken to himself some of the attributes that are considered belonging only to God. In Psalm 139 we learn that God is omnipresent and omniscient. Thus, for a brother...Continue reading
Where Do We Go from Here?
When one enters an airport there must be a destination in the immediate future. This destination must be known to oneself and then made known to others. One can not buy a ticket without first having thought of this destination and then verbally committing it to others. The same is true for any manner of travel conveyance. This is all true with our personal life. We start off with a big plan. We ask our children or our grandchildren what they want to be when they grow up. Right now we have a grandchild that...Continue reading