Author Archives: ThePreachersWord

June 11, 2014 · 7:00 am

Does Anyone Believe in Sin?

SIN.Guilt

Several months after moving to Kansas City my friend, Dick Harmon, gave me an autographed copy of Dr. Karl Menninger’s classic book, “Whatever Became of Sin?”

Dr. Menninger, a well-known and highly respected Psychiatrist, wrote that “The very word ’sin,’ which seems to have disappeared, was a proud word. It was once a strong word, an ominous and serious word. It described a central point in every civilized human being’s life plan and lifestyle. But the word went away. It has almost disappeared—the word, along with the notion.”

“Why?” asks Dr. Menninger. “Doesn’t anyone sin any more? Doesn’t anyone believe in sin?”  Continue reading →

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June 10, 2014 · 7:11 am

Why I Haven’t Changed My Mind on Homosexuality

Romans1

“I recently became gay affirming after a 15-year journey,” said Danny Cortez, a preacher for the New Heart Community Church in La Mirada, California.

In a letter to blogger John Shore, founder of “Unfundamentalist Christians,” Cortez said he “realized I no longer believed in the traditional teachings regarding homosexuality.” The Baptist trained preacher said after reading many of Shore’s posts his “eyes became open to the injustice that the church had wrought.” Continue reading →

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June 9, 2014 · 7:02 am

Word of the Week: Judge

Judging.Bible

“I think I’ll just say I don’t agree with judging fellow human beings like this and leave it that!”

This was the response from one of my readers regarding a recent post on America’s Abortion Culture.

After replying to her objections, she did respond again saying, “ I don’t think Jesus (as far as I remember from childhood teaching) ever tried to change things by judging others. Compassion might change things. Helping people overcome bad circumstances might change things. But not judgment.” Continue reading →

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June 6, 2014 · 6:51 am

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! The Empty Tomb Dispels Despair

Cross.EmptyTomb

Auguste Bartholdi was discouraged. Ten years of his life. Wasted!

The year was 1856. Barthold had traveled to Egypt and was captivated by the magnificence of the pyramids. The magical Nile. And the mysterious Sphinx. There he met Ferdinand de Lesseps who began a ten-year project of cutting a canal from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. He succeeded. And the Suez Canal began a reality.

Bartholdi was inspired to design a grand lighthouse to adorn the entrance of the canal. His ten years of work, planning and designing did not produce the same results. No one was interested in financing the statue. Continue reading →

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June 5, 2014 · 7:16 am

You’re Making History Today!

History.ThisDay

On this day in history, 50 years ago, Jim Ryun became the first High School athlete to run a sub-4 minute mile. I wrote about it Monday in my “Word of the Week” column on endurance.  It occurred to me, however, that I might be in the minority that finds his feat very important! 

So, I wondered what else happened on this day in history. Events that other people believe are significant and note worthy. Here are a few published on history web-sites.

On this day in history…..  Continue reading →

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June 4, 2014 · 7:33 am

Be a Rainbow in Somebody Else’s Cloud

Rainbow

Poet Laureate Maya Angelou passed away last week at age 86. Active in the civil rights movement, she became a celebrated poet, novelist, educator, dramatist, and producer,

The list of her published works included over 30 best-selling titles including her internationally acclimated auto-biographical book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.   Continue reading →

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June 3, 2014 · 7:20 am

A Great Lesson From an Unknown Baseball Player

ClintCourtneyHey baseball fans, ready for a trivia question? Who was Clint Courtney?

Don’t bother checking Cooperstown.  He never made it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.   He never became a baseball legend. He wasn’t a great player.  He didn’t break any records–only bones.  He wasn’t a power hitter.  He only hit 38 home runs in his entire career.  He had little speed on the base paths.  And to quote one sports writer, “ As for grace and style, he made the easiest play look rather difficult!” Continue reading →

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June 2, 2014 · 6:12 am

Word of the Week: Endurance

JimRyun.2This Thursday, June 5, 2014, one of the most significant athletic accomplishments of the 20th century will be celebrated in San Diego at Balboa Stadium: the 50th anniversary of Jim Ryun’s sub-4 minute. He was the first High School athlete to achieve that extraordinary feat.

While Ryun never won an Olympic gold metal–his best finish was silver in the 1968 Mexico games–he did hold world records in the half-mile, 1500m and mile. In the ensuing years Ryun served five terms as a Congressman from his home state of Kansas. Continue reading →

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May 30, 2014 · 3:11 am

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! The Absurdity Of It All

Jesus.Collage

“You mean to tell me God became a baby and He was born in a stable?”

This question was asked by a young man following one of Landon Saunders lectures.  It was obvious this man wasn’t being cynical, or seeking attention.  He just had to understand. So he half asked and half stated what Saunders had been explaining. Continue reading →

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May 29, 2014 · 6:59 am

Responding to America’s Abortion Culture

Baby.Blog

“How do we interact in a secular world, where we often feel between a rock and the hard place?” asked Stephen, one of our regular readers.

Stephen cited two areas of concern.  The Christian’s attitude toward the sin of homosexuality and the problem of abortion.  Yesterday, we discussed the importance of applying the command to “love your neighbor” as it relates to those engaged in sinful lifestyles.  Today, we want to address to the issue of abortion.   Continue reading →

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