I was checking out in a bookstore many years ago and purchasing a wonderful little commentary on the book of Deuteronomy. As a rule, clerks of any store do not comment on the purchases of their customers. I guess the title of the book was just too much for this young lady. Her face scrunched up a bit as she read out loud, "Deuteronomy: The Gospel of God's Love," you're kidding." Many people look back to the 0. T. and see in it a God of anger and wrath who punished Israel. Is

Peter challenges his readers (1 Peter 3:15). "Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." Our belief in God is grounded in faith, because none of us have seen Him. However, true faith is built on undeniable evidence. Let me suggest three of many reasons for our faith in God as the creative higher power. First, and the most impressive, i

There is little wonder to why so many of the world think that "church" is all about money. They hear some preachers begging for money, or they see some churches raising money by having rummage sales or selling raffle tickets. Let's stop and ask what the New Testament Church did not do to receive funds for the Lord's work. (1) You can't find them investing in business ventures to raise the capital needed for their work. (2) You will not read where a specific amount was require

Authority has always been a big deal. The people in charge ave changed nations and the world. They have rallied their citizens to heroic deeds and have sown hatred and murder. They have dominated world history and civilizations around the globe and those in scripture, either for better or worse. When Moses was summoned to be God's leader for Israel he recognized that he lacked any authority to go before the Pharaoh of Egypt and make demands. Moses posed the question, "Who am

One of the rooms we host each year in Nashville at Lads is for folks to come get between meal goodies. There is often a big difference in folks. Some come in with a very specific mission. They know what they're looking for, often by brand name, they grab it up and leave. Others come and stand, carefully looking over everything, and pondering over each item. Sometimes after a considerable time some will ask, "Do you have any¬thing else?" Often, indeed we do! All decisions in l

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a of them that diligently seek Him," (Heb. 11:6 KJV). That profound text gives two reasons why faith is necessary to please God. Number one, no one can come TO God unless they first believe IN God. Paul explained this with his question "how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" (Rom. 10:14). The second part of that faith description casts a bigg

There are some words that paint a vivid picture if examined. Take the word "renewal" for an example. We all know about "new." We love "new" cars and "new" clothes, but that is where the irony of our compound word renewal comes in. The prefix "re" means again. How can some thing be "new" again? Excellent question (in. 3:4!). What if, somehow, it was possible to take something that was old and make it new again? Wouldn't that be exciting? God can make things new - - again! ''..

It's an amazing thing to ponder the first of nearly anything, that whatever is under consideration never existed/happened before! We honor "firsts." Our recent generations have come to see the first air planes, the first cars, the first computers, the first cell phones, the first televisions, etc. Presidential history will always remember the first president to drop an atomic bomb in war; Harry Truman. Also, the first president to sit under an American flag with 50 stars; Dwi

Pliny the Younger was the Roman governor of Pontus/Bithynia from AD 111-113. His letter, here translated, describes the governor's treatment of Christians. Pliny to the Emperor Trajan It is my practice, my lord, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better give guidance to my hesitation or inform my ignorance? I have never been trained for trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate,

A native of a distant mountain village had the opportunity to visit a large modern city. He was utterly amazed by everything he saw. There were so many cars, buses, and other forms of transportation. The roads were wide and smooth. The buildings were enormous. Food, clothing, and other useful items could be bought at almost every store. But out of everything he saw, the one item that amazed him the most was the light bulb. He found it fascinating that he could flip a switch a

I love a good debate! Sadly, good debates are exceedingly rare! Ideally, the concept of a good debate is when two equally prepared, equally competent debaters put forth their best ideas "to compete" against each other. The true debate is between the merits of the ideas them selves and should not be between the persons putting forth the ideas. The perfect example of this is found in 1 Kings 18. Elijah challenges the 450 prophets of Baal to "prove their case." All Israel was ga

In Jerusalem in May of 1971, I walked through a dark tunnel in gently moving loin-deep water coming from "the waters of Gihon" (II Chr. 32:30), a spring at the foot of Mt. Ophel's eastern side. My exit was at the foot of Mt. Ophel's western side, where the waters form the Pool of Siloam. I jogged back wet to my hotel room, but I was thrilled! Hezekiah and the Pool - Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, reigned as king over Judah 29 years, 727-698 B.C. (II Kgs. 18:1-2). The spring calle

The magnitude of changes in our world are impressive. I used to look forward to the thick yellow phone book that AT&T published every year. Now, its a worthless shadow of its former self and I threw mine away in the garbage the same day it came. For those of us who grew up with the legacy stores of Kmart, Sears, JCPenney and such, its hard to believe they exist only in a handful of locations. Will Walmart go the same way someday? Amazon is now the first shopping choice of inc

Some topics are not considered acceptable for "polite" conversation. Consequently, some topics of genuine importance rarely see the light of day. Because of the sensitive nature of both the subject and audiences, sexual immorality is one of those. Paul declared that he had held back no profitable topic from the church and had preached "the whole counsel of God," (Acts 20:20, 27). That's a very wide swath indeed. One of the topics Paul did not shrink from was God's righteousne

It's hard to put into perspective the implications of the new abortion law recently passed in New York State. Senate Bill S2796 is being called the Reproductive Health Act by its promoters. But it's not about reproductive health. It's about abortion. Did they really need to make it easier? One in three babies are already being aborted in New York. The force of the new law is that in the state of New York, any woman has a 'fundamental right" to an abortion, basically without r

I watched him playing 'round my door my neighbor's little boy of four. I wondered why a child would choose To wear his dad's old worn out shoes. I saw him try with all his might To make the laces snug and tight. I smiled to see him walk and then He'd only step right out again. I heard him say, his voice was glad, "I want to be just like my dad." I hoped his dad his steps choose Safe for his son to wear his shoes. And then a shout and cry of joy; A "Hello, Dad!" and a "Hi-ya,

I am grateful... For so many good friends who took the time to call, text or send cards after the loss of my dad. That is a hard time to be alone. I am grateful... For being a part of a loving church family that shares the burden when things are hard to bear and shares the joy when your life is blessed. I am grateful... For our elders being so supportive of our needs and so generous with both time and financial resources required to provide for the necessities of life. I hone