As we conclude the Christmas season and resume our normal life activity we probably reflect upon how blessed we are. We consider the gifts we recieved, the money spent on us, and the time off work we had and we are thankful. Perhaps you reflected on how being able to spend time with family was a blessing.

When we bring up the idea of being thankful we generally mean we are thankful for being blessed physically. I would venture a guess that most of us are thankful for our physical blessings. And God has truly blessed us! This year was…

A. Peter BEFORE Jesus’ death and resurrection

• Most vocal in promise to die for Jesus (Mt. 26:31-35; Mk. 14:27-31; Lk. 22:33)
• Slept when Jesus is in agony (Mt. 26:36-46; Mk.14:37-42; Lk. 22:45-46)
• Cuts off Malchus’ (the servant of the High Priest) ear with sword (Mt. 26:51; Mk. 14:47; Lk. 22:49-50; Jn. 18:10-11)
• Flees when Jesus is arrested…

In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about an hour. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. 

At about 3 minutes

A middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, then hurried on to meet his schedule.

At 4 minutes

The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At…

I recently headed to the Perry library to study and after a while had to get up and walk around in order to stretch my legs. I stumbled upon a movie which I had heard was very good entitled “Beyond the Mask.” The movie received the Dove Seal of Approval, which means it does not have any inappropriate content. The background of the movie was placed in the colonies right before America declared their independence and centered around a fictional account about how God can change the heart and life of a person.

There are three main characters…

I cannot count the number of times I have been in a Bible class and heard people make the comment that the passage the group is covering shows how others in the religious world are wrong. Others perhaps say, “This is a good passage for (fill in the blank) to show them they are wrong and should change!”

In the New Testament we are called to stand for truth and oppose those who change or misrepresent the truth of God. However, I fear that sometimes our rebukes of other religious groups is a way to make us feel better about…

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

May I have a moment of your time.  I am writing to you from prison. Yes, prison. In a way, I hope to reach out in the way that Paul did while he was in prison — by letters. But I have a much different reason for my letter; yet, it is for the same purpose as Paul’s — to help you live according to the gospel of Christ.

First, stop and think what it is that may cause one of us to end up in prison.  It is the same thing that can cause you…

On September 11, 2001 two planes crashed into the world trade centers, one plane hit the pentagon, and another plane wrecked in a Pennsylvania field. The twin towers were completely toppled, the Pentagon was greatly damaged, and the plane which went down in the field was apparently taken over by passengers who prevented the terrorist from hitting another target. 2,996 people lost their lives that day in that senseless and horrible attack (2,606 in the world trade center, 265 on the planes, and 125 at the Pentagon; this includes 414 first responders) and 6,000 were injured. It is hard to…

Everyone is afraid of something. Fears range from the common, such as fear of flying or heights, to the less common alektorophobia (fear of chickens) and globophobia (fear of balloons).

I know that many peoples’ main phobias are public speaking and death. According to most surveys taken, people fear public speaking more than death! This led one comedian to say, “This means that if you go to a funeral you would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy!” I definitely understand people’s fear of public speaking and it is not fun to get in front of an audience and speak to them…

So, what is your new year’s resolution?  People make resolutions because they want to bring change to their circumstances and improve their quality of life.  The most common are losing weight, exercising more, get out of debt, save for the future and spend more time with family.  The most common resolutions used for the new year are physical in nature. However, the same terms can apply to our spiritual life. So, let’s consider the following resolutions for 2017.

1. I am going to Exercise the spirit. If we want our spiritual body to be in great shape, we must work…

The story of John 4 is an exciting one. A Samaritan woman comes to draw water from a well and interacts with Jesus. Because of the interaction, she receives something far greater than what she hoped she could have obtained by a journey to the well: living water.

This woman was not what we might call ripe for hearing the word of God. There were many barriers which could have prevented Jesus from talking to this woman and from her coming to believe in him.

1. Her race (Jn. 4:9)

She was a Samaritan and she is shocked that Jesus,…

“The Half Tribe of Manasseh” by Kyle Sanders

Upon arrival to the land of Canaan half of the tribe of Manasseh, along with Gad and Reuben, were given their inheritance on the East side of the Jordan River (Josh. 13:8). Interestingly, these three groups of Israelites were given this portion of land upon request in Numbers 32, granted they would not abandon their Israelite brothers on the west side of the Jordan River (where most of Israel would eventually dwell) during the coming conquest of Canaan. “but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people…

“A Faith strengthened by doubt” by Gary Henry

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren'” (Luke 22:31-32).

DOUBT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE ENEMY OF FAITH. When we pass through the wastelands of doubt and our faith falters, or perhaps even fails, it is possible to respond to doubt in such a way that our faith later becomes more vibrant. And a faith that has been invigorated…

The account of the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem is included in every gospel account in the New Testament (Matt. 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12). In each of these accounts, we find Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, with the crowds shouting “Hosanna” and laying down their cloaks and palm branches in the road in front of Him. In short, they spoke and acted as if the “King of Israel” (John 12.13) were entering the city.

One reading the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, and…