William Barclay relates a story from Robert Louis Stevenson in The Master of Ballantrae who writes about the master leaving the ancestral home of Durrisdeer for the last time.
There is a sad scene in which he is talking to the faithful family steward. “Ah! M’Kellar,” he said, “Do you think I have never a regret.”
“I do not think,” said M’Kellar, “that you could be so bad a man unless you had all the machinery for being a good one.” Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
Recently in our adult Bible class at West Main we were studying the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4. Leah Farquhar, who is a school nurse and the wife of one of our Shepherds, offered this insightful analogy.
“When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He answered each temptation with ‘It is written.’ This reminded me of Psalm 119:11, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
During the American Revolution, a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them.
Asked why by the rider, he retorted with great dignity, “Sir, I am a corporal!” The stranger apologized, dismounted, and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers. Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
It was on this day 11 years ago that Steve Jobs stood before the Macworld convention in San Francisco dressed in his customary jeans and black mock turtleneck and introduced the iPhone.
Jobs said the iPhone was “revolutionary” and a “magical product” that was “literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone.” The iPhone and Steve Jobs’ visionary leadership turned Apple into one of the most valuable corporations in the world. Continue reading
Cal Thomas tells a touching story that recently occurred while he was on a vacation crossing the Irish Sea on a Ferry.
While having breakfast in the lounge he noticed a young father playing with son, who he guessed to about 3 years year old. “The child said ‘Daddy’ in tender and loving way that it touched my heart,” Thomas wrote. Then suddenly the child “became ill and started throwing up and crying loudly.” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
Approximately 40% of all children born in the United States now occur out of wedlock, according to a recent Senate report.
“The sharp rise in nonmarital births is a result of a complex mixture of moral, behavioral, and social changes given how the Sexual Revolution overhauled the American landscape,” noted Robert VerBruggen, deputy managing editor of National Review. Continue reading
Filed under Marriage
I recently came across an article from Forbes entitled “Why The World Is Getting Better And Hardly Anyone Notices It” written by Steve Denning.
“Read the news and you can see that the world is going to hell in a hand-basket—and fast!” writes Denning. “Terrorism, nuclear weapons, economic stagnation, social unrest, autocratic leaders, structural unemployment, deskilling, growing hopelessness, the opioid epidemic, increasing inequality, xenophobia, economic migrations, recessions, financial bubbles and crashes, recessions, depressions—the list goes on.” Continue reading
I love this time of year as the Christmas season extends into the new year. Everyone seems happier. More joyful. Everywhere you go “Happy New Year” greetings are exchanged.
“Happy New Year” is more than a trite expression. It has substance. Reality. And meaning. The calendar is new. New plans are made for the coming months ahead. New incentives, goals, and plans are formalized by businesses. The sports world will crown new champions in 2018. And students begin a new academic year with a fresh start. Continue reading
Filed under Great Bible Verses
While on Christmas break we learned of billboards that appeared in the Dallas Metroplex, as well as other major cities around the country with the above message.
Provocative signs like these have been an annual Christmas tradition sponsored by the American Atheists. “Everyone knows that the stories we’re told in church aren’t the truth,” said David Silverman, president of American Atheists. “People ignore that fact because they enjoy the community, the friendship, and the traditions that go along with religion.”
Although it might seem we’re a little late to the party, it’s never too late to open the Bible and separate fact from fiction. What does the Scripture say about Christmas and Jesus’ birth? Continue reading
Happy New Year!
We are back from our 10 day Christmas break, refreshed, renewed, refocused and ready to resume our work for 2018.
Hopefully, most of you have been able to experience some downtime. Relax with family and friends and enjoy some of the festivities of the holiday season.
This is traditionally a time for us to make New Year’s resolutions. This year I’m approaching my resolutions and goals a bit differently. Continue reading
Filed under New Year
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