Monthly Archives: April 2016

April 13, 2016 · 6:39 am

What Guides My Life?

 

Portrait of a pensive businessman at the office

The church where I currently preach, Hickman Mills church of Christ, in Kansas City, MO, recently presented a special series called “Week-End in the Word.” The theme was Bible Answers To Tough Questions. The speaker invited to address these questions was Dan DeGarmo from Chillicothe, Ohio.

The questions included, “Why Bad Things Happen to good people” How should I Respond to Terror?” “Who Am I? And “God, What Do You See in Me?”

In my mind the key question, answered Sunday morning, was “What Guides My Life?” This answer impacts the answers to all other questions. Continue reading →

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April 12, 2016 · 7:05 am

Should We Guided by Law or Love?

Pope.Francis.Joy of love

 

“Pope stresses spirit over rules” read the front page headline of Saturday’s Kansas City Star.

The article reported Pope Francis’ news conference at the Vatican Friday unveiling his latest 260 page writing entitled “Amoris Letitia” or “The Joy of Love.” According to the article “Francis’ worldwide challenge (is) to minister to the consciences of people in all their fragile imperfections and not be cornered by rigorous doctrine.” Continue reading →

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April 11, 2016 · 4:27 am

Word of the Week: Commandments

Commandments“Life is a lot like a minefield,” wrote my favorite author anonymous.

What Mr. Anon meant is that minefields are incredibly dangerous places. Of course, the danger lurks in not knowing where the mines are planted. However, if a soldier had a detailed map of a minefield showing where a mine is located, the infantry could walk through unscathed.

I understand the military has specialists whose job is to locate these mines. Using high-tech methods, they locate the mines and plant a small flag by them. When the troops march through the area they know where to step and more importantly where not to step! Continue reading →

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April 10, 2016 · 5:32 am

Preaching

While on his third missionary journey, Paul came to Troas where he spent the week. He met with the brethren. Worshipped. Communed. And preached. (Acts 20:6-7)

Preaching. It’s been a part of worship since the first century church began on that Pentecost Sunday in Acts 2. Peter preached. He preached Jesus. His death. Burial. Resurrection. And ascension. He preached God’s plan for salvation. Continue reading →

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April 8, 2016 · 7:24 am

Rest for the Restless Soul

Haggard

Wednesday was Merle Haggard’s 79th birthday. Ironically it was the day he died.

Haggard has been hailed as a country music “icon.” A “legend” in his own time. “A pioneer.” “A true entertainer.” And “the outlaw of country music.” Haggard did more than sing country music. He lived it.

His troubled youth, brushes with the law and imprisonment in San Quentin are well documented. Johnny Cash advised Haggard to write and sing about the darker side of his life. “Mamma tried,” one of his 40 #1 hits, was an apology of sorts to his hard-working, Christian mother for his rebellious life. Continue reading →

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April 7, 2016 · 6:42 am

Is the Bible Outdated and Unreliable?

Bible.Question2

My recent post on gender identity has elicited a good bit of reaction from readers, especially on facebook. It has been shared hundreds of times. Most have commended the post, but not everyone. One reader expressed her disagreement this way.

“To keep trying to reason this out with ancient language from a religious text that NOT everyone follows is hurtful, damaging, a complete waste of time, pointless, and mean.” Continue reading →

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April 6, 2016 · 5:48 am

GREAT VERSES OF THE BIBLE: Proverbs 27:15

Couple Having Argument At Home

I woke up early this morning. Very early. Way too early! It was 3:00 a.m.

I couldn’t go back to sleep because in the stillness of the night there was this constant, continual sound. Drip. Drip. Drip.

It had rained sometime during the night, which I did not hear, and now all that’s  left is the ever so slight, but annoying sound of water dripping off the roof to the patio below.

It reminded me of a classic metaphor by the wise man in Proverbs 27:15. Continue reading →

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April 5, 2016 · 7:21 am

What Does The Bible Say About Gender Identity?

 Gender

Hannah Holloway says, “I never really thought to myself, yes, I am a girl.  Or, yes, I am a guy.  I’m Hannah.”

Hannah’s story along with several others was reported in Sunday’s Kansas City Star in the Arts and Culture section.  The Star devoted three full pages to the issue of gender identity. Hannah and others want to be classified as nonbinary.  So, she doesn’t want to be called by the pronoun “she” but the pronoun “they.”

Continue reading →

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April 4, 2016 · 6:05 am

Word of the Week: Called

 Called by God

There’s an old story about a young farmer down in the Bootheel of Missouri who’s plowing his field one Spring. He’s kinda discouraged with farming. He tried growing cotton and didn’t do very well. Soy beans weren’t any better. And rice was a total failure.

He’s wondering what he ought to do with the rest of his life. As he steers his tractor up one row and down another, he utters a fervent prayer to God: “Lord, if you have a plan for my life, please send me a sign, and I will obey.” Continue reading →

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April 3, 2016 · 6:35 am

A Good Word

 

For nine years during the 1970’s and 1980’s I preached in Palmetto, Florida. Our family has many fond memories of the brethren during that time.

One brother, D. B. Whittle, was especially an interesting fellow. He lived to be 105. When I would walk in his room at the nursing home, he would quickly sit up on the side of his bed, give me an enthusiastic handshake and always asked, “Preacher, what do you know good?” Continue reading →

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