An article published in USA Today (Feb. 13, 2007) was titled “Flying creatures may help create aviation of future.” In it, Alan Levin makes interesting observations. He notes: “As the nocturnal owl stalks its prey, a quirk on its wings enables a silent hunt. Fringe-like feathers hang off the bird and muffle the whooshing air. Even a sharp-eared mouse can't hear the owl swoop in. That lesson in aerodynamics provides a valuable guide for aviation experts who are crafting a new

There’s an engineering principle that can be observed in everything around us - - “form follows function.” What that means is that an object is shaped a certain way because of what it is supposed to do. Birds have very light bones and long tapered wings covered with feathers so that they can fly. They were engineered by God for flight. Elephants, by design, are massive, strong, heavy... and do not fly! Because purpose and form are linked, it is usually possible to determi

The Lord’s ways have always been challenging for people to follow. (Ex. 3:11) But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Jer. 11:3-4) “and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant” ... , 'Listen to My voice, and do according to all which I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your God,'” God often provide

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 rescue the young boy but instead both he and the child were drowned. Louisa and her daughter were left alone and came to experience great 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

Let me tell you about Chip Campbell. Chip had an interesting story to tell concerning his conversion. He grew up in Jack's Creek, Tennessee, just seven miles from Henderson - almost in the shadow of Freed-Hardeman College. Yet, he didn't learn the truth from a college professor; he didn't hear a preacher proclaim the gospel; he was not contacted by a Freed-Hardeman student. No, in this college area home of at least 50 faithful gospel preachers, with a Christian college where

One of the great needs of the church today is for us to be more evangelistic. We have more people living in our world and yet fewer people becoming Christians and being involved in the life of the church. There are people all around us who are not Christians. We talk with these people every day, yet when was the last time we had a spiritual conversation with them? Talking about God, Christ, the church, and the Bible can be challenging, even awkward, if we are not in the habit

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

A story from Reader's Digest in 1996 told of someone 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 that had really changed him. “Dad,” he said, “I learned what 'now' means.” I believed that most of us have ha

Imagine yourself being hired for the most important job you can imagine. The job comes with a big pay raise, extra vacation, and everything else you could want from a big-wig job. There is one catch, though. You are following in the foot steps of the most successful person in company history, and you realize you are much less experienced. You know it’s time for you to step up, but you aren’t sure you’ll be able to follow in the footsteps of such a giant. I picture Joshua f

Forty Nine years ago, five men were arrested for breaking into offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel in Washington. Newsweek, the only major magazine to carry the story, almost cut it at press time. “An odd little story,” it gained momentum until it led to the near impeachment of and resignation of the President of the United States. On June 17,1972, five men carrying electronic bugging devices broke into the Watergate. The first man taped the lo

Most of the time, change is good. We all want to grow, get stronger, learn more, see more places, etc. Certainly we are aware of the fact that our methods and tactics must change and adapt when we become ineffective. We must take advantage of opportunities as they are presented. On and on we could go. But not all change is good. “Change” continues to barrel over our country at a rapidly destructive pace. The powers-that-be seem to be dead-set at making it more and more diffic

You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems only yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago now, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all..... And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams… But, here it is, the of my life and it catches me by surprise.…. How did I get here so fast? Wher

You know the Golden Rule in Luke 6:31: "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." In other words, treat people like you want people to treat you. But what should we do? Here are some golden deeds for the golden rule. Give money for a clothing drive Mow a widow's lawn Bake cookies for a shut-in Teach a class in VBS Smile Attend a funeral service Write a note of encouragement Be kind to the mentally ill Baby sit for free Say "thank you" to family mem

Did you ever wish you could physically see God, reach out your hand and touch Him, or have the ability to have a face-to-face conversation with Him? I think those wishes are especially evident when we find ourselves in a faith valley. In our darkest valleys, we wish we could physically see God, because it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that He is here. There is a beautiful worship song called Watching Over Me, which says, “When the valley seems so dark and deep, and the bu

Of all the commands in the Bible, which one is repeated the greatest number of times? I think you may be surprised! Love is the greatest command, but it’s not the one most often repeated. Writers often speak of pride as being at the root of human failures, but warnings against pride or encouragement to be humble are not the most often repeated commands. Neither are the warnings against sexual impurity or the urging to believe or repent. The single command that occurs more

I don't know the solution to the problem of illegal immigration but I want to make an observation. The flow of people out of Mexico is astonishing. Singly and in groups they cross. Mothers and fathers with children cross. Through rivers and deserts they cross. In tunnels and in trucks they cross. Sometimes they have paid lots of money to cross. Always there are challenges to overcome but one fact is so obvious that it is not open to debate; the people crossing from Mexi

There are many qualities that distinguish generations of Americans, one is gardening. I suspect that most people who garden today probably grew up helping their parents garden. Many of them probably did not like doing it at the time. Perhaps they were forced to garden as youngsters and vowed that they would never have a garden when they grew up and left home. My grandparents gardened for survival and all the kids had to help. My mother continued to garden throughout her li

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep,” so says the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:15. Paul’s words seem so simple. We might think that everyone would just naturally respond the way Paul described, but human nature proves otherwise. The response that we have toward the circumstances of others reveals the nature of our own heart and mind. From the time of our youth, we grow up being very familiar with the concepts of both jealousy and sympathy. Two well kn

We are diligent to make memories of important moments in our lives. We take pictures of family vacations, of joining with friends, of our children growing older. We click away at our kids’ school events and extracurricular activities and watch them graduate and succeed on various levels. But while we hold to these memories that we seek not to forget, are we forgetting the one who allows us to make them? When it comes to making memories, David once noted the importance of rem

Each generation is responsible for its own conduct, but certainly we can influence, for good or bad, those who come after us. “Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation” (Joel 1:3). The prophecies of Joel were occasioned by a devastating plague of locust that recently had come upon the land of Canaan. Joel, a Judean prophet under the guidance of God’s Spirit, interpreted the locust plague as a vivid picture of t