Posts from 2023 (Page 4)
SOUND WORDS, JULY 16, 2023
THE CULTURE OF NO CONSEQUENCE In the beginning, the Lord blessed man with a paradise garden to keep, trim, and enjoy. Only one prohibition was mentioned. Adam and Eve were not to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:17). If they ate, they would lose their place in the garden and forfeit their right to the “tree of life.” They would lose their lives and their special relationship with the Lord. This was the…
SOUND WORDS, JULY 9, 2023
GETTING ON AN ELEVATOR I made the mistake before one of my recent surgeries of looking up, the night before the procedure, exactly what was going to happen. It took those vague words “spinal laminectomy and lumbar fusion” and turned them into ones to inspire anxiety if not terror in the one who was facing the procedure. Google even supplied a couple of un-asked-for photos in addition to the text which were particularly unhelpful. Quite understandably, I could not sleep…
SOUND WORDS, JULY 2, 2O23
WITHOUT THE FULL STORY Judas and Peter were two of the twelve men hand-picked by Christ to serve as His apostles. At first glance, when we read about these men and consider how the acted and the ways in which they moved in the Gospel accounts we see that one was seemed to be successful while the other was a failure. There are qualities about the man named Judas that many would look at as good and would even strive…
SOUND WORDS, JUNE 24, 2023
YOU BETTER WATCH OUT, YOU BETTER NOT… The Devil is no fool. How often we underestimate his cunning and crafty nature. The Scriptures warn of his “wiles” (Eph. 6:11) and tell us of his devices (2 Cor. 2:11). “Wiles” have to do with the Devil’s abilities–abilities to concoct methods, plans, strategies for deceiving us. He’s good at it. Real good. “Devices” are the tools he uses to make his plans work, to cause us to move toward evil. He’s good at that,…
SOUND WORDS, JUNE 18, 2023
GOD’S WILL The Bible often speaks of the will of God. Knowing, respecting, and ultimately doing, the will of God is essential to making it to heaven. Matthew 7:21 (ESV) 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Fortunately, we can know and do God’s will. He has revealed it to us through the inspired writings of men found in…
SOUND WORDS, JUNE 11, 2023
WHEN OTHERS ARE OFFENDED I had an interesting interaction with a man not too long ago. The family and I were out eating at a restaurant. Our waiter came to the table, introduced himself and kindly asked for our drink order; usually waters for all and then maybe a strawberry lemonade for Arlene, and a root beer for Robert when we order our food. The waiter gets our drinks and says he will give us some time to look over…
SOUND WORDS, JUNE 4, 2023
THE PRIVILEGE OF PRIVATE PRAYER Prayer is such a privilege, such an exalted advantage. It implies connection to the Almighty, an adjoining to our Creator. What joy to pray and know we will be heard. What unspeakable joy! “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if ye ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” (1 John 5:15). I doubt there could be a better or more blessed assurance than to know that God not…
SOUND WORDS, MAY 28, 2023
ARE YOU COMMITTED TO GOD? D. Elton Trueblood once said, “In our modern world, our real danger comes not from irreligion, but from mild religion.” There is a lot of truth in that statement. Yes, there are people in this world who have no real interest in God. However, what really hurts the cause of Christ today, are those who proclaim a love for Christ without any real commitment to Him. Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His…