Category Archives: Word of the Week

January 3, 2022 · 7:53 am

Word of the Week: Renew

Kenneth Cober was a 20th-century hymnist who wrote a hymn in 1960 entitled, “Renew Thy Church,” In recent years, some songbooks have adapted the hymn. The first verse goes like this.

Renew your church, our ministries restore:
both to serve and adore.
Make us again as salt throughout the land,
and as light from a stand.
‘Mid somber shadows of the night,
where greed and hatreds spread their blight,
O send us forth with power endued,
help us, Lord, be renewed.

Our word of the week, “renew,” will serve as our preaching and writing theme for 2022. Continue reading →

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December 13, 2021 · 6:52 am

Word of the Week: Goodwill

“Peace on earth, goodwill toward men,” is a common refrain we hear repeated during this time of year.

Of course, it’s part of the chorus of praise from the angelic heavenly host when they appeared to the shepherds in the field at Jesus’ birth (Lk. 2:1-14).

Peace and goodwill go together like peanut butter and jelly. Like salt and pepper. Like shoes and socks. Continue reading →

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December 6, 2021 · 5:42 am

Word of the Week: Giving

Bit’s and Pieces magazine related a story about the American industrialist, Henry Ford, who was once asked to donate money for the construction of a new medical facility.

The billionaire pledged to donate $5,000. The next day the newspaper headline read, “Henry Ford contributes $50,000 to the local hospital.”

The irate Ford was on the phone immediately to complain to the fund-raiser that he had been misunderstood. The fund-raiser replied they would print a retraction in the paper the following day to read, “Henry Ford reduces his donation by $45,000.” Continue reading →

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November 29, 2021 · 8:27 am

Word of the Week: Courageous

In his book Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, Chuck Swindoll tells the story about an experiment conducted by Ruth W. Berenda and her associates designed to demonstrate how young people handle peer pressure.

Ten students were placed in a room and shown three lines of varying lengths drawn on a card. The students were told to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line. However, nine of the students had been instructed beforehand to raise their hands when the instructor pointed to the second-longest line. Continue reading →

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November 22, 2021 · 7:55 am

Word of the Week: Thanksgiving

This week as we begin preparations to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, this thought expressed by author and lecturer Katrina Mayer is worthy of our serious reflection. “Thanksgiving isn’t just a day. It’s a way we can live our lives every day.”

Mayer reminds us that Thanksgiving is an attitude. A spirit that ought to pervade our lives. Everyday. Robert Caspar Lintner was right when he wrote “Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.” Continue reading →

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November 15, 2021 · 6:50 am

Word of the Week: Loyalty

“True Loyalty is ultimately about a relationship,” wrote Lisa Bradner of Forrester Research. “It’s easier to build a relationship with someone than it is with something.”

Christianity is not about our commitment to an ideal, dedication to a religion, or devotion to a philosophy. It’s about loyalty to a person. The Lord Jesus Christ. Continue reading →

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November 8, 2021 · 7:28 am

Word of the Week: Pity

“Pity” is a word that often carries a negative connotation in our culture.

We speak of someone having a “pity party” when they are feeling sorry for themselves. Self-pity is not a positive trait to be admired.

In the Bible, we read of those who allowed circumstances to lead them into self-pity, like Jonah, Elijah, and even Moses on one occasion.

Pity can also be construed as a condescending attitude toward another person when we look down upon them with an arrogant, self-righteous, and disdainful attitude.

Yet, pity can be a positive trait to be practiced and praised. Continue reading →

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November 1, 2021 · 4:01 am

Word of the Week: Pleasure

Today, Norma Jean and I are returning home to Florida after a very pleasant and pleasurable time spent in the Smoky Mountains.

We have been blessed in the past 53+ years with many enjoyable experiences. Reflecting on some of these reminds me that the word “pleasure” is often regarded in some Christian circles as suspect. Continue reading →

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October 25, 2021 · 7:38 am

Word of the Week: Kindness

Yesterday Norma Jean and I worshiped with the brethren in Cosby, Tennessee, where I preached at the morning service.

Teaching the Bible class was their preacher, 89-year-old Olie Williamson, who’s sharp, quick-witted, and physically active (Olie played golf Thursday and shot an 80).

Olie and his lovely wife Mary are also some of the kindest, sweetest, and most generous people you will ever meet. So, it seemed fitting his Bible class was about the kindness of King David.

“Was David a Rambo or wimp?” Olie asked to begin class. Continue reading →

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October 16, 2021 · 8:57 am

Word of the Week: Examine

I love the 1950’s story that Jimmy Tuten once told about a 13 yr old boy in a small, southern town who walked into the drug store and asked to use the telephone.

The druggist handed him the phone. And he heard the boy say, “Is this you, Dr. Anderson?”

“Well, I was wondering if you would like to hire a boy to mow your lawn and run errands?

“Oh, you already have a boy?”

“Does he do a good job? He does?” Continue reading →

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