It was during a presidential election more than forty years ago when I overheard two men discussing the upcoming political race. The moral character of one of the candidates was an issue, yet one of these Christian men was adamant about his support. To him the only issue was the support of his political party. I remember his statement and also the…

Any carpenter (even the weekend variety) have probably heard the saying, “Measure twice, cut once.”  From their own experience, many have come to appreciate the sage counsel in that slogan.  Why is that so important?  Why is it better to measure twice and then cut? There are a number of very practical reasons for this, but consider a few.  Because if you…

Sometimes a complex problem can be solved by asking a simple question. My favorite story illustrating this concerns a group of world-reknowned scientists who had gathered to define the molecular structure of a universal solvent. There are compounds which dissolve in water, others in acids, others in gasoline. What would dissolve everything? Near the end of the day, the janitor who was…

I know that the expression has been used for organizations outside of the church (in both an “official title” and a figure of speech), but how often have you heard the Lord’s church described as “a volunteer army”?  The emphasis has usually been on the idea that you cannot make anyone do anything they are not willing to do—they must choose to…

One of the ways I study the Bible is to look at a passage that is so positive in nature and then think about the impact its truth has if the positive conditions in that passage are not met. Such is the nature of part of the letter Paul wrote to Ephesus. Paul described the results of every member being joined to…

We have things all around us every day telling us when to do things.  Your alarm tells you when to get up.  Your computer tells you when you have appointments.  Your dryer’s buzzer tells you when the laundry is ready to be folded.  Your microwave’s ding tells you when the food is ready to eat.  Your phone tells you when it needs…

There are some obscure events in the Bible which have such profound lessons, yet it is easy to overlook them. We often rob ourselves of the treasures which could enrich our lives. These stories give such great insight into our God and how He deals with mankind. One of these stories concerns Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king who conquered and destroyed Jerusalem in…

In a world that is dominated by the material, the sensual and self-gratification, an attentive Christian should ask, “How can I be more spiritual?” Unfortunately, the idea of being “spiritual” is misunderstood. To be spiritual is not some mystical idea that one has; it is not some emotional feeling that comes over a person; it is not some physiological phenomenon that sweeps…