“How did he do it…?” The national media has touted Chesly Sullenberger as a national hero. The internet, newspapers and television have all given him special praise. Even President Bush made a congratulatory call. The accolades are not unwarranted. Mr. Sullenberger, or “Sully” as he’s called by his friends, did something extraordinary. He was piloting US Airways flight 1549 over New York City when his craft collided with a flock of birds. Moments later he somehow managed to land the crippled aircraft in the Hudson River without the loss of life or serious injury. It was an incredible effort. Many have deemed it “miraculous.” Yet, it really wasn’t a miracle. A miracle—in the biblical sense—is not just something highly unusual; it is something that supersedes the laws of nature (Mark 16:17-19). If the Airbus A320 was suddenly suspended in mid-air, that would have been a miracle. Though, don’t misunderstand me; Sullenberger did something worthy of the laurels he’s received. What makes this real-life story so compelling is that he was uniquely qualified for this kind of emergency. He had been preparing virtually all of his life for this very kind of circumstance. He had his pilot’s license by age 14 and was flying a crop duster in Texas by age 15. He has logged more than 19,000 hours of flight time. He was named “best aviator” in his class at the Air Force Academy. He had flown F-4 Phantom II fighter jets. He was a flight leader in Europe and the …

“Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold” (Proverbs 8:10), only “fools hate knowledge” (Proverbs 1:22); however, “Wise men lay up knowledge” (Proverbs 10:14). These verses, among many others, exemplify the fact that God desires knowledge to play a vital role in the lives of His children. We must be “Filled with all knowledge (Romans 15:14; Colossians 1:9), “Abound in knowledge” (2 Corinthians 8:7), “Grow in knowledge” (2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:10). Knowledge is a Christian grace (2 Peter 1:5-11). God desired from Israel “knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). Ignorance Is Cheap (Free, Without Premium) When it comes to a proper knowledge of God’s Word, there is indeed “a famine in the Land” (Amos 8:11). It is said that 80% of the average congregation cannot give the plan of salvation if they must give Book, Chapter and Verse. In 1962, the Harding College Bible Department began testing Bible knowledge. There were 150 items on the test, and 91% of those tested were members of the church. Members of the church fell 8 to 9 points behind the denominational freshmen. Some of the results: 33% did not know that Jonah was a prophet on a ship bound for Tarshish, and that he preached in Nineveh. 17% did not know that Romans was the 6th book of N.T. 31% did not know that Jude follows 3 John. 55% did not know who wrote 2 Timothy. 45% did not know who wrote Revelation. 21% did …

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns; broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). God makes the fountain while man makes the cistern. The fountain is the only sensible choice for man to make. The cistern can leak and can have impure water, while the fountain provided by God is always fresh and plentiful. Yet, God said His people had forsaken His way for their inferior ways. Today, many are still guilty of this. They substitute manmade creeds for the saving Gospel. Many times, the Gospel angers those who are in love with their creeds. These creeds create denominations that they substitute for the church. Sadly, there are those who would rather have their denomination than the Lord’s church, and these are not one and the same. They make a profession of godliness, but in their true character, they prefer their way to the way set forth in God’s Word. Their actions, their worship and their morals are those that are designed to please themselves, not God. Are you drinking from the “cisterns” of men or from the fountain of God? Are you sure?

Those who love animals, of whom I am one, will agree with what Solomon said in Proverbs 12:10. Here he said: “A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” We applaud and appreciate people who give humane treatment to animals. Those of us who have pets in our homes know the love that we can give to them, and the love that they return. There is, however, the need to keep in mind that the animal has no soul. When it dies, that is all there is. We wonder sometimes, though, why it is that some can be so kind to an animal, and so unloving to themselves and to other human beings, those who have an eternal soul. Oh, the ones we have in mind do not do physical harm to the person, but by their teaching, they lead souls on the path to hell (Matthew 15:9). Jesus said such teachers and teaching constituted the blind leading the blind, with both falling into the ditch (Matthew 15:14). If one severely mistreats an animal, he can and should be arrested and punished. On the other hand, if one is a teacher of false doctrine he or she is many times lauded as such a fine “pastor” or “reverend.” This one is not punished by the law, even though he or she is robbing men of their most precious possession – the soul. The law may not punish him or her, …

A commercial for a type of garbage bag caught my attention the other day. On one side of the screen is a muscular young man, and on the other side is a little old man. They are stuffing garbage bags. The muscular young man’s bag busts and everything falls out, but the little old man’s stays strong. They put up a screen that says, “Wimpy, Wimpy, Wimpy” about the young man’s bag. It is cute, but it makes a point that they may not even mean to make. True strength is found in those who make use of the correct tools, who have the inner strength, courage and wisdom to go to the right source for true power. In Ezekiel 22, God laments through the prophet that He cannot find any man to stand in the gap and stop the onslaught of evil in the country of Israel. I truly believe that we need men (and women) today who will stand in the gap for God. We need those who will stand in the gap for our country. No matter what is being said in all the world, the fact is that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” It breaks my heart to hear, even some members of the Lord’s body, spouting the politically correct the nonsense that religion should not be considered when we think about our government. If Christians forget the faith, and stop standing for God, then our nation will be destroyed …

The Bible has often been accused of being contradictory, as sometimes people see passages that seem to be in conflict with one another. This may often come from not understanding the context of these verses, or people who have an agenda in trying to deny the inspiration of the Bible. Two such passages can be found in Romans 13:7 (“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed”) and Matthew 6:1 (“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven”). Of course, these passages are not in conflict with each other. The differences have to do with who is seeking honor, and the motives from which it comes. I remember a person telling me one time, “If you don’t toot your own horn, then who will there be to toot it for you?” This comes from the heart of someone seeking his own glory, the praise of others and manipulating circumstances so that it comes one’s way. If one serves in the kingdom of God, but is seeking the accolades of others in doing so, Jesus indicates that is all the reward one will receive. In the context of Matthew 6, He says those who give, or pray or fast, in such a way that they will …

I guess this idea, that one has the right to do wrong, has been around a long time. The great magician and escape artist, Harry Houdini (1874-1926), may have popularized this idea. He wrote a book entitled, The Right Way to Do Wrong: An Exposé of Successful Criminals. However, there is an even better known quotation from Abraham Lincoln that presents the truth concerning this idea whether one has the right to do wrong. Lincoln said in his debate with Douglas, “When Judge Douglas says that whoever, or whatever community, wants slaves, they have a right to have them, he is perfectly logical if there is nothing wrong in the institution; but if you admit that it is wrong, he cannot logically say that anybody has the right to do wrong” (October 13, 1858 debate at Quincy, Illinois). Yes, Abraham Lincoln was logically and biblically correct; it is never right to do wrong. I believe the misunderstanding concerning this idea is that one has the power to do wrong. As free moral agents, we can choose to do whatever we want to do. With that choice, however, comes the consequence of our actions. One can plot a premeditated murder, but he never has the right to murder. One can steal, but he never has the right to steal. “It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void they law” (Psalm 119:126). Question: Does one have the right to make the law of God void? You see, man …

We all need to realize that our assemblies when we come together as a corporate body of believers to worship God are very sacred gatherings. While we live in the presence of Jehovah God at all times, our periods of worship are the occasions when we come before God in reverence through prescribed avenues of worship coupled with hearts filled with sincerity, praise and love. The apostle Paul, in dealing with such assemblies, gave some regulations regarding the leadership of men and even the dress of women (See 1 timothy 2:8-15). It is the last point I want to discuss in this article. In 1 Timothy 2:9 Paul wrote, “In like manner that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety…” The word modest (kosmios) refers to that apparel which is orderly, well arranged and decent. While the Holy Scriptures do not regulate fashion, the principle of modesty is considered by the inspired writer. A real problem seemed to have been prevalent relative to dress, especially a woman’s dress, when Paul wrote 1 Timothy. He specifically mentioned that women were not to emphasize the outward appearance in the extreme, that is, the wearing of gold or pearls or costly raiment when the most important aspect of a person’s life should be godliness and good works (1 Timothy 2:9-10). In other words, the problem in Paul’s day in the matter of apparel in the assemblies was that of over-dressing. Generally speaking, the problem in our congregations today is the opposite, …

I continue to get bulletins regularly from those who apparently are not opposed to anything except those who are opposed to something. There are many things I do not understand about that position, but one thing is especially puzzling to me that I hope someone will take the time and trouble to explain. For example, I have a bulletin in front of me with an article in it upholding the importance of baptism—immersion. At the same time, the author (editor, who claims membership in the Lord’s family) takes the position that the “pious unimmersed” will also be saved. Why would a person take the time and spend the money (even if most of it is some other person’s money) to write about a thing that makes no difference whether or not you understood it, believed it or did it? Much of his writing leaves the impression that even the “impious unimmersed” are about as well off as any of the rest of us, for we are all sinners, and almost everyone can expect to be saved by the unlimited grace of God. In all probability, according to his thinking, the impious person is not really responsible for his attitude, for he was made that way by some legalist in the “non-instrumental church of Christ” (that apparently is where all the legalists are, according to him), who thought truth was important enough to uphold. It has never been very clear to me why a person who belonged to a denomination whose …

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.“Wisdom” as used in this phrase is saying, “if anyone falls short of wisdom.” James did not say “If any of you lack knowledge…” There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is gained by reading, study, going to school, receiving instruction from a teacher, experiences, etc. Knowledge is knowing the facts. Wisdom is the ability to apply these facts to practical living. A.T. Robertson says it is “a banking figure, to have a shortage of wisdom (not just knowledge gneoseos, but wisdom sophias, the practical usage of knowledge” (Word Studies in the NT vol 4, 13). Why might the readers fall short of wisdom and need to pray for it? In the context, James has raised the specter of “various temptations” such as poverty, persecution and trials that test our faith (3). He is telling his readers they can overcome these tests and temptations of life by the wisdom that only God is able to provide. When the trials of life are sore and long since have ceased to be joy (2), when our endurance has worn thin (3-4), let him ask of God for wisdom (5). If we are going to overcome temptation, and remain steadfast in Christ, we will need wisdom. James says the way to attain this spiritual wisdom is to “ask God.” We are to ask God by prayer (Mark 11:24). James is not instructing us to pray for wisdom in a generic manner, but rather in a specific one. We …

One of the things that modern students of the New Testament have overlooked is the depth and intensity of the struggle that went on between our Lord and His Jewish enemies during His public ministry. If one reads the New Testament without some, at least superficial, knowledge of the prophecies dealing with the coming of Christ and His struggles to bring His kingdom into existence, he is very likely to overlook the stressful relationship that existed between Christ and His countrymen. This is one of the things that Christians need to understand in order to interpret properly the New Testament with regard to the great sacrifice that Christ made on the cross for the redemption of mankind. Glossing over the struggles between Christ and His enemies causes us to fail to stop and consider all the suffering that Christ endured at their hands from the time He was baptized by John in the wilderness of Jordan until He was finally nailed to the cross of Calvary. While it would be greatly beneficial to consider all these struggles, a number of which are dealt with in some detail in the Book of John, in a space as limited as ours, we cannot do that. Therefore, we wish to give a cursory glance to just one instance. In Mark 3:20-30, after Jesus had performed several of His mighty miracles, the scribes who had come from Jerusalem made a serious accusation against our Lord. They did not deny that He performed miracles, but they said, …

God’s Faithful Servant: Daniel, a Man of Prayer In both Testaments, Old and New, prayer has been an important feature in man’s relationship with God. Relationships are not one-sided. God communicates with man, the crowning work of his creation. God provided man with a means of communicating to him through prayer. We can learn meaningful lessons by examining the life of God’s faithful servant – Daniel. First, Daniel was not forgetful to pray. Daniel and his companions had been taken captive and had been taken away to a foreign land. Under his adverse circumstances, he refused to blame God. He would not shout or shake his fist at God. He would not give God the silent treatment and try to punish God in any way. Rather, he continued to recognize God as God. He continued to understand how precious and meaningful his relationship with God truly was. Therefore, three times daily he knelt upon his knees and prayed, giving thanks. Second, Daniel was not too preoccupied to pray. Daniel was taken away from his homeland along with a number of other special young men. According to Babylonian customs, they were treated in a somewhat more preferred way than other captives were treated. These men were to be trained in the language and ways of the new culture in which they were. After the designated time, they were to stand before the king and to be given certain responsibilities. Daniel sought to keep himself pure. His heart continued to be set …

If I were discussing any Bible subject with a person in an effort to determine what is the proper action to take, and should discover that he is not concerned with whether or not God approves of such an action, I would stop that discussion. The reason is simple. If there is no standard by which to measure anything, there is no value in discussing whether it should or should not be anything. If a person indicates that he is concerned about God’s approval, the next step is to discover how he decides if God approves or disapproves of something. If his standard of measurement is how he feels in his heart, we stop the discussion, for not only is there no way for me to determine how he feels in his heart, but there is no way for me to determine if he feels the same way from one moment to the next. If he concludes that the way to decide what God wants in a matter is by an examination of God’s Word, then we ask, “What shall we look for in God’s Word to determine that?” If he admits that God’s specific command that a thing be done is one way we may be assured that God approves of it, we continue talking. If he admits that we do not have to find a specific command provided there is an approved example shown to be approved by the inspired record, we continue talking. If he admits that …