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The Meaning of "Now"

The Meaning of "Now"

A story from Reader's Digest in 1996 told of a dad who often complained about the problems he had getting his son to clean his room. The son would always agree to tidy up, but then wouldn't follow through. After high school the young man joined the Marine Corps. When he came home for leave after basic training, his father asked him what he had learned in the service so far. “Dad,” he said. “I learned what 'now' means.” I believe that most of us have had similar experiences in

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"Tis So Sweet"

"Tis So Sweet"

One day Louisa Stead (1850-1917) with her husband and four-year-old daughter went to enjoy the beach at Long Island, New York. While there, they heard a call for help from a young child in the water. Mr. Stead went to his rescue but instead both he and the child were drowned. Louisa and her daughter were left to experience poverty in their life. One day she found some food and money had been left for her on her doorstep. She was so moved by this that she would later write: 'T

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On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross...

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross...

It was the most tragic event in history... Yet it was the most wonderful thing that ever happened. It was the saddest spectacle mankind ever beheld... Yet by it came the greatest joy. The old rugged cross was Satan’s greatest victory... Yet by the cross Satan suffered his most stunning defeat. The cross was the greatest exhibition of divine justice... Yet is was the most wonderful demonstration of divine mercy. It was through the cross that God condemned sin... Yet it was the

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Life Lessons from Spinning Plates

Life Lessons from Spinning Plates

I was fascinated watching a program many years ago of the man who could “spin the plates.” He had about twenty or so wooden poles that he was going to “spin” the plates on. He started each plate spinning by concentrating only on that one plate. After he had one plate spinning he focused intently to start one after the other. At first the plates looked like they were hardly moving. But as they slowed a little bit they began to wobble. After he had several plates spinning

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To The End...

To The End...

I was looking at a display in a Civil War Museum when I noticed an old letter. A Confederate soldier wrote the letter to his wife in August 1864. He mentioned some interesting things about the war and the times, but what really impressed me was how he closed the letter. I expected to see “Affectionately yours” or “With love” just before his signature. These words are meaningful and they would certainly have been appropriate. But this soldier looked at his marriage in a way th

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Jesus Never Quit

Jesus Never Quit

Jesus did not quit meeting with His disciples because Judas was a thief, nor because Peter was fickle at times. He didn’t quit preaching and living right because some of His brethren were unforgiving and unkind. He did not quit His post of leadership because He had in His presence the adulterous woman, a gang of Pharisees, or narrow-minded demon-worshipers. Jesus did not quit. Have you quit? What is the reason for it? Any reason you might name, Jesus could have given the same

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If going to church was like shopping...

If going to church was like shopping...

My preferred method of shopping is the essence of simplicity. Make a list of the items I want. Take the list to the store of choice (usually a hardware store). From there it’s simple. Look. Find. Pick. Buy. Leave. Smile. That’s the ultimate shopping experience! Aarrgghh! But sometimes I’m not sure exactly what I want. Sometimes I’m engineering something on the fly. I may have a basic design in my mind but I’m not sure exactly what materials I want to use. I may wander

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In Who's Hands

In Who's Hands

In the hands of the average dribbler, a good indoor basketball is worth $30-150. A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands was worth $90 million per year in 2014, even retired. By 2019 that number was up to $145 million per year, still retired (Forbes). A golf ball in our hands is worth $2-3. A golf ball in Tiger Woods’ hands is estimated by Forbes to have brought him $1.6 billion since he went pro in 1996. (Forbes 2020) A rod in our hands will keep away small wild animals. A

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Expensive Junk and Free Treasure

Expensive Junk and Free Treasure

The zeal with which people will pursue the toy that their kid wants most for Christmas is astounding. Every year seems to have a new fad—a new massively hard-to-purchase toy. A few years ago it was “Shopkins” (tiny collectable rubber toys). When stores sold out parents flocked to eBay and spent thousands of dollars to get them. Normal retail price? Four dollars! Anyone who went to a store on Black Friday may very well have experienced the same kind of passion. And for what? I

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Tomorrow

Tomorrow

One of the most surprising statements in the Bible comes from the mouth of Pharaoh. It was during the 10 plagues that God brought upon Egypt. Pharaoh could take no more, so he asked Moses to intercede on his behalf and ask God to remove the plague of frogs. Moses agreed and told Pharaoh to state the time when he wanted him to intercede for him. Then Pharaoh said it... “Tomorrow” Exodus 8: 8-10. Tomorrow? Why tomorrow? Why not now? Why spend another night with the frogs

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The End of an Unexpected Year

The End of an Unexpected Year

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." (James 4:13-15) Those verses are not only familiar, they are in some ways even comforting. There is a marvelous unkno

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To Choose or Not to Choose

To Choose or Not to Choose

In just the first three chapters of the Bible we go from the creation of humanity to the first recorded sin. It doesn’t take long to come face to face with the idea of free will. God put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and gave them the power to choose. Sometimes we describe children as going through the “terrible two’s.” Child psychologists describe this phase of life as the beginning of oppositional behavior. The truth is that little children about this age are just di

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“Why do you....?”

“Why do you....?”

Bro. Joe Barnett wrote a great little booklet on the nature of the churches of Christ titled, “Who are these people?” I had a call from a neighbor many years ago who wanted to know what special program our church was having on Christmas Eve. He was shocked when I told him “none.” He was genuinely curious when he asked, “Why not? Everybody else is!” For those coming from a denomination to begin to understand churches of Christ , they must sooner or later frame this question

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Today

Today

Thursday and Friday of each week are typically designated as “bulletin days.” Other things are done but completing the bulletin is big on the list. The bulletin is a highly coordinated effort that starts with Betty Hall, then it gets sent to me for editing, creative filling, an article or two and then goes back to Betty for printing and folding. This process goes on despite the challenges of holidays. Even Thanksgiving. While sorting through some old papers this week, I f

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What Time Is It?

What Time Is It?

For some of us “old timers” who sing along with the “classic rock” stations, there’s a good chance you still remember the opening lines from a song released in 1970! Even if you’re not a fan you may still remember the chorus: “Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care (about time).” My dependence on an electronic clock (my phone) and an electronic calendar (on my phone) declare I care about time. So do you. Our schedules are crazy complicated. Ou

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Miracles in John (KJV)

Miracles in John (KJV)

(John 2:11) This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee... and his disciples believed on him. (John 2:23) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (John 3:2) ... “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 6:2) And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles whic

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After the Election

After the Election

One of the most divisive and chaotic election campaigns has come to an end. During this time Christians in America have faced many opportunities to exercise patience and let our faith shine. Chances are each of us have experienced some failures and some successes. Politicians and pundits will now judge and discuss the consequences of the election. But whatever those consequences may be, for Christians there are three truths to which we must now turn our attention. Your brothe

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God's Word

God's Word

The phrase “Word of God” or “Word of the LORD” occurs 329 times in the Bible (KJV). The Word is not to be treated with disrespect. I personally recall as a boy going to Athens' Bible School that my Mom had taught me to put the Bible on top of all other books. We were taught early not to scribble or draw pictures in our Bible and certainly never to tear pages out of this precious book. It was not because of the cost or that the book itself was so precious, but the respect wa

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As a Matter of Fact

As a Matter of Fact

Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ”But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was t

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Be A Light

Be A Light

If you have listened to a country radio in the last few months, you have likely heard the song called "Be a Light" (given that they have a rotation of what seems to be like about 10 songs). The premise of the song is rooted in the fact that we live in a world filled with hate and darkness. The plea of the artists is that in a world that is filled with such evil, we need to stand up and be a light. The song has a great message, especially since it was a message first coined

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