When the Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff first came to the United States he jokes that he wasn’t prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores.
“On my first shopping trip” he says, “I saw powdered milk–you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice–you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to my self, what a country!” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Word of the Week
Without forgiveness we cannot worship God acceptably. Obviously this is true in terms of our relationship with God, but it is also true regarding our fellow-man. Jesus said, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt 6:15) Continue reading
Filed under Forgiveness, Sunday Seed Thoughts
Two or three times a year we take a break from blogging. This next week is one of those times. Norma Jean and I will be celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary on August 23rd. We’ve been blessed for the past several years to take a trip during the week of our anniversary.
Typically I will post when away during meetings or some other trips. The year after I began blogging and we took our anniversary trip, Norma Jean asked, “You’re not going to do your blog on this trip are you?” Continue reading
Filed under Blogs
Our Wednesday Bible Class at West Main is studying the history of the Old Testament this quarter. Last night we surveyed the book of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah led the third group of Jews who returned from Babylonian captivity in about 445 B.C. His mission was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Although he was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, he demonstrated tremendous wisdom and leadership in his role not only in rebuilding the walls but in spiritual and moral reform. Continue reading
Filed under Leadership
This morning when I turned on my computer, this random screen saver appeared, pictured above. The caption reads: “You’re looking at a spiral galaxy containing upwards of 400 billion stars and 100 billion planets. Ahhh….”
Immediately my mind went to one of the great verses of the Bible, Psalm 19:1-2. “The heavens declare the glory of God, And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.” Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
The events last Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia, fueled by racial bigotry were wrong. Sickening. Shameful. And sinful.
A 32-year-old woman, Heather Heyer, who was “a passionate advocate for the disenfranchised” was killed when a car was driven into a group of counter protestors. At least 19 others were injured. Continue reading
Filed under Racism
A wise old man was once taking a stroll through a forest with a shiftless young fellow by his side. Seeking to teach him an important lesson he stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, the second was a little larger with some roots, the third was a small shrub, while the fourth had grown into a small tree.
The tutor said to his young companion, “Pull up the first plant.” The boy did so eagerly, using only his fingers. Continue reading
Filed under Habit, Word of the Week
“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting;” once quipped G.K. Chesterton, “it’s been found difficult and not tried.”
Christianity has been defined by many different people over the years in a variety of ways.
By definition Christianity “is the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.” From that perspective, we understand the importance of the gospel accounts–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And we realize why Luke records in the book of Acts that the preachers and apostles went into every city and village preaching that “Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 17:3) Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
“Will Polygamy be legalized in the United States?” asked Kiley Crossland in a recent WORLD News Service report.
“Acceptance of polygamy is at an all-time high, according to recent Gallup poll.”
“The survey found 17 percent of Americans say the practice of having more than one spouse is “morally acceptable,” up from 14 percent a year ago and more than double the 7 percent who found it acceptable when Gallup started polling in 2003.” Continue reading
Filed under Marriage
“Flashy displays of wealth do not impress me,” wrote Lauren Lyons Cole in a recent article for Business Insider
Cole is a New York City financial planner who has worked with everyone from Wall Street professionals to lawyers to social workers. She said, “I get to see behind the curtain of people’s finances all the time,”
During her ten-year career Cole says, “I’ve realized almost everyone gets the same thing wrong about money:” Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
ThePreachersWord 