'Sound Words' Tagged Posts
SOUND WORDS, MAY 11, 2025
BEARING HIS CROSS Jesus Christ could not carry his cross in this world His body so weakened by beating that he fell beneath the load So they compelled another to take up the burden It was heavy and rough and I imagine he groaned under the weight Thinking, it is not fair why should I have to bear this cross It was not meant for me But in the end he laid the cross down and rested his weary body…
SOUND WORDS, MAY 4, 2025
FIRST THINGS FIRST: SELF EXAMINATION “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5). It is always easier to judge others than to examine oneself. It is easy to see the faults and sins of our neighbor, and we are too ready to point them out. We are not nearly as ready to look ourselves and our own flaws. It is like seeing…
SOUND WORDS, APRIL 27, 2025
AT THE CROSSROADS Scripture warns against those who “walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Paul writes, “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things” (Phil 3:18-19). Elsewhere Paul writes that those who cause divisions “do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive” (Rom 16:18). There can be specific applications of…
SOUND WORDS, APRIL 20, 2025
A FEW THOUGHTS ON EASTER There are some things I like about the modern Easter celebrations. Ham, boiled eggs, and the chocolate peanut butter eggs you can get for half-price the next day certainly make the list. And seeing the young ones dressed up in their spring finery is always a delight. I could add a few more things to the list, but, while I don’t want to seem like a curmudgeon, there are…
SOUND WORDS, APRIL 6, 2025
SHOULD GOD EXPECT LESS? We as a nation have certain expectations of our government. We pay taxes with the expectation that the government will use those funds honestly. We expect our leaders to protect the civilian population from military oppressors and to render assistance to our friends. We respect and comply with civil law, and expect our government to punish those who do not. We require fairness in government, and we want our judges to render consistent verdicts. We…
SOUND WORDS, MARCH 30, 2025
DEFINING THE CONCEPT OF WORSHIP Worship is defined as “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration; devotion” (Oxford English Dictionary). One of the Greek words translated “worship” in the New Testament suggests the idea of “prostrating oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)” (Strongs 1,190). Another Greek word for worship means “to revere, i.e., adore” (Ibid.). Scholars render the Hebrew and Greek words for “worship” variously as “to bow down, do obeisance,” “to be reverential, pious,” and “to kiss…
SOUND WORDS, MARCH 23, 2025
DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). Is it just me or does it seem like, in many ways,…
SOUND WORDS, MARCH 16, 2025
SERVANT OF ALL Recently I was considering the Lord’s teaching regarding those who “desire to be first” (Matt 20:25-28, Mark 9:33-35). The apostles disputed as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus dashes their expectations of greatness with the reality of God’s design. The one who desires to be first must “be last of all and servant of all”. This is one of many ironies demonstrating the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:20, 27; 3:18-20). It is human…