Have you ever been listening to a song on the radio and thought, “There are only five words in this song, and they’re just singing them over and over again”?  Sometimes that may be true, but in reality, most songs have lyrics that are repeated frequently throughout a song, often set apart as the “chorus.”  Look at Psalm 136.  Do you see…

It is so hard for children, teenagers and some young adults to accept it when certain individuals treat them unfairly and show a strong dislike for them and their manner of life.  They want everyone to like them and will, therefore, sometimes change their behavior to get more people to like them.  (Notwithstanding, this is not limited to merely those who are…

The humility of Solomon when he first became king is admirable and refreshing, especially when contemplated in light of his modest request when the Lord God offered the new king anything he requested (1 Kgs. 3:1-15).  At the beginning of his reign, “Solomon loved the Lord” (3:3).  Sadly, his love changed direction during his reign, and toward the end of his life,…

In the early years of the divided kingdom, “there was war between” Judah and Israel (2 Chron. 13:2).  “Jeroboam caused an ambush to go around behind [Judah]; so they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.  And when Judah looked around, to their surprise the battle line was at both front and rear; and they cried out to…

Some folks have better memories than others.  Usually we think of that as being a good thing; however, remembering everything is not necessarily “a good thing.”  When others make mistakes, is it always a good idea for you to remember everything?  When others commit offenses against you, is it always a good idea for you to remember everything?  When others sin, is…

At one time or another, we’ve all pressed onto our chest one of those fancy peal-and-stick nametags that says, “Hello!  My name is ______.”  We’ve worn them at meetings or events where not everyone knew who we were, except maybe a few others.  Thankfully, at those meetings/events, everyone else was also wearing a nametag, because we didn’t know who they were either. …

Sometimes Christians look at their non-Christian, worldly friends and wonder, “Why do they get to do whatever they want…and I don’t?”  That is dangerous territory in which to let the mind wander.  Think about these passages.  “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; for there will be no prospect for the evil man” (Prov. 24:19-20).  “Do not…

It is discouraging how disrespectful our society has become and how these attitudes have invaded the church.  It is obvious (or, maybe I should say, “It should be obvious”) that those who are younger ought to show a healthy amount of respect to those who are older.  But, just in case it’s not obvious, God commanded Christians to do it. In 1…