If your child frequently criticizes himself or herself, they might have a problem in their heart. If your child gets mad frequently and pouts, he or she might have a heart problem. Of course, the flip side is true too; if your child is friendly and helpful to others around them, it’s a matter of […]
“Her Labor Not Forgotten”
We cherish photos of loved ones. I have photos of ancestors in various settings, but some of my favorites are of my father working in his garden. Gardening was a passion, and he did it well. Not only was our family fed from his labor, but many friends and neighbors also benefited from it. Maria […]
“Son, Remember”
Communities began days of remembrance shortly after the Civil War to commemorate their fallen soldiers. Some of the first commemorations are said to have been held by former slaves in South Carolina. However, Waterloo, New York, was named the official birthplace of Memorial Day because it hosted an annual, community-wide event where businesses closed and […]
Sanctification
Although we do not often hear the word “sanctification” it is one of the greatest biblical doctrines! Some form of this word appears about 30 times in the New Testament. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon says this about the Greek word hagios, “to set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively his.” That definition itself […]
“The Preaching Game”
Graham Johnston told about a preacher who preached the same sermon three Sundays in a row. After the third time, someone asked him, “When are you going to preach something different?” He answered, “When this church starts practicing this lesson, you can have a new one.” Johnston used that story to set the tone in […]
Should We Be “Tolerant?”
Many people have the opinion that we all should be “tolerant” of the religious views of everyone else. In fact, about the only thing that receives much criticism these days is the ‘intolerance” of some of us who argue against certain religious beliefs. We’re frequently viewed as being “fanatics,” and mean-spirited “bigots.” They tell us […]
Beware Of Normal
An ad for a local termite exterminator warned that one of the first signs of termite infection in your home is that “everything looks perfectly normal.” It is their way of convincing us that a lot of damage can be done before you even notice it. The ad might serve to remind us of problems […]
The Truth Sometimes Hurts
How much do you appreciate the truth? The truth is easy to hear when it is flattering, encouraging and uplifting. However, the truth can sometimes hurt. Do you always desire the truth from those around you, regardless of whether it is favorable or not? Do you always demand the truth from those who preach and […]
Usurping Authority – United Methodist Church
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but […]
We Are the Salt of the Earth
Sometimes the most common items are of the greatest value and contain the most important lessons. One of the traits that made Jesus the greatest teacher was His ability to use common items and turn them into powerful visual lessons. When Jesus finished giving what is called “the beatitudes” in Matthew 5:3-12, which describe the […]