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Is the Bible Outdated and Unreliable?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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April 1, 2016 · 6:10 am

12 Ways To Be A Fool

Fool. no God

Today has been dubbed as “the most light-hearted day of the year.” It’s April 1st. Better known as “April Fool’s Day.”

While the origins of this day are uncertain, history records that people have been using this day to play pranks on people as far back as the Middle Ages. By 1700 it seems to have been popularized in England.

Newspapers, Television stations, web sites and radio stations will often go to great lengths to report outrageous fictional stories to fool their audiences. In fact, early this morning Google already perpetrated one hoax that backfired.

According to this day in history, there have been some hilarious “April Fool’s” pranks that duped gullible people. Continue reading →

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March 31, 2016 · 6:46 am

3 Reasons Why The Gospel is Great

Gospel

Perry Greene shared this story in one of his sermons. It was early in 1945. As United States forces pushed deep into Okinawa they came across a village unlike any they had ever seen. Here at Shimabuku they were met and welcomed by two old men who invited the troops in as “fellow Christians.” Continue reading →

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March 30, 2016 · 6:04 am

GREAT VERSES OF THE BIBLE: Philippians 2:9-11

Jesus.Names.2

Shakespeare said in Romeo and Juliet “that which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” But the Bard of Avon was wrong! There’s something in a name.

The name Benedict Arnold stands for treason. But Patrick Henry stands for courage.

A name can be a burden or blessing? Remember Johnny Cash’s song “A boy named Sue”? Continue reading →

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March 29, 2016 · 5:12 am

9 Things I Know About Change

 Change Ahead

Every Monday I receive an inspirational quote of the week from Franklin Planner. It’s their way of adding value to their customers, while promoting their products. Yesterday’s quote spoke to me in a special way.

“Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better.” (Richard Hooker) Continue reading →

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