“WE’RE ALWAYS HERE, UNLESS WE’RE GONE! W. Kent Graham A local business in Atoka, Oklahoma, has an advertising slogan which proclaims, “We’re always here, unless we’re gone!” Every time I see this commercial I cannot help but think of some of our beloved brethren. The story is told of a Christian who was compelled to extol his faithfulness in worshiping God. He rightly asserted that every faithful child of God is present and an eager participant at every designated Bible Study and Worship Assembly. He professed that those who were unnecessarily absent from any...Continue reading
Category: Faithfulness
The Cracked Pot
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on opposite ends of a pole he carried across his neck. One pot had a crack in it; the other was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house. The cracked pot arrived only half full. For two years the bearer delivered one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house daily. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. The cracked pot was...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
Faithful
While on vacation several people asked me about this word, what does it mean? I thought this would be something that we could do in the bulletin this year is to define words in our Bibles. There will be several helps, really dictionaries that will help us. One is Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Another is Thayer’s Greek – English Lexicon of the New Testament. Another is Strong’s Concordance, which has a dictionary in the back of it. Of course there will be the context of the word that will help us to...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
Bible Class Attendance
Stephen Wiggins I stand in utter amazement as to why so many members of the Lord’s church neglect our Bible study morning and Wednesday nights. By their lack of attendance these Christians show that they obviously do not attach very much importance to studying the Bible together with God’s saints. They seem not to know that it has always been characteristic of faithful Christians everywhere to attend and take part in, if at all possible, these periods Bible study every time the church comes together for such a purpose. These sporadic and infrequent Bible study...Continue reading
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...
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