There is a commercial for a type of garbage bag that 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 22:30, God is lamenting 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 nonsense that religion should not be considered when we think about our government. If Christians forget our faith, and stop standing for God, then our nation

My daughter and her family have a little bitty dog named Bogey. Every once in a while, he will act “tough” with a bark full of bravado, attempting to sound menacing. When he does that, whoever is around usually cannot help but laugh at him. Sometimes, he thinks he is so much bigger than he really is. He is a gentle dog, so he does not attack anyone, but if he did, he would not be able to reach anything much higher than a person’s ankle. Though now and then he may think he is strong and powerful, he is actually small and vulnerable. Actually, unlike many dogs, I think that Bogie seems to realize that other dogs are a danger to him if they are a great deal larger than he is. Many of the little dogs that I have seen seem to have no idea that they are not big and powerful, like other dogs that may be around them. Thinking about these things concerning Bogey turned my attention to the 37th Psalm where David pens these words, “The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming” (Psalms 37:12-13 ESV). It is an interesting picture to me to see God laughing at the feebleness of those who oppose Him and His ways. It has to be absolutely hilarious for Him to hear men who have so much confidence in their

There are three events in my lifetime of schooling in which my father was involved, and three important lessons that I learned. The first one occurred when I came home from school, so convinced that my teacher was absolutely wrong about a math problem. I was already one who had no problem arguing with a teacher if I thought she was wrong. I was in the second grade, maybe 7 years old at the time. I remember that we lived on Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Germany. I walked to school from the three story building that we lived in. I remember that there was the little shopping area, and that there was a breezeway that went right beside the base theatre and other stores. I loved to stop and look at the movie posters that hung on the walls outside the theatre. On this day my dad was home; I cannot remember why he was home on this particular day, but he was. I came in complaining about the math concept. I had learned to add and subtract before I was in second grade, but now we were starting multiplication. My teacher said that 6 X 0 was zero. I couldn’t fathom it. It just did not compute for me. My dad listened to my complaint without comment. Then he reached up and got a cup. He said, “Now, bring me the coffee pot.” The coffee pot was empty. He said, “Now, count the number of times I pour.”

Jesus said, to the congregation at Philadelphia, “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8). Some thoughts from this passage follow. 1. The church at Philadelphia had a “little strength.” That is all that it takes if we are on God’s side and willing to work for God. God did not judge them based on what their assets were, financially and numerically. God judged them on their willingness to use those things for Him. We need to realize that it is not our list of abilities, but our use of those abilities that matters. Small congregations and large ones have the same responsibility in the eyes of God–to spend themselves in His service. 2. The church at Philadelphia kept His Word. In a time when many were denying the Word of God, even among some of the other six churches to whom Jesus speaks through John in Revelation 2-3, this congregation stood firmly in the Word of God. There is no strength for God at all, no matter what assets a church may claim, if its members do not stand with the Word of God. There was no doubt where these brethren stood, they stood with God. Too many today are going out from God’s Word, because they think they are “strong” enough to ignore God’s will, and think they are

I am a drop of blood. I feel myself fall onto a face. I slither down into an eye, and tears drive me out to flow on down to the tip of a nose. Then, I begin a seemingly endless fall that seems to speed up as I see the ground approaching. Suddenly, it is as if I slow down into slow motion, and I see a man approach the One from whom I fall. In a moment, it is no longer one drop of blood, but a flood of blood drops mixed with water that pour unbound into a puddle at His feet. I find myself being assimilated into the spilt blood, and know that I will soon be absorbed into the dry ground upon which I have fallen. Yet, I cannot help but wonder, as my fate begins to play itself out: Don’t they know who we are? Why has no one brought a container to catch each precious drop as we have fallen? Don’t they realize the power that is contained in us? If my brothers and I held the cure for some horrible disease, wouldn’t they be trying to save us? If we could make someone wealthy, wouldn’t they be scrambling to try to be that one who collects us? However, instead, they simply ignore our plight in their thirst for His blood. Soon we will be gone. I cannot help but think of how ironic it all is. These other blood drops and I are

We have traveled over many paths in our walk on earth,Since this temporal journey first began at birth;We never know what each new day may have in store,Because we have not passed this way before. We have not passed this way before, O God,We have never seen the paths we are about to trod;We can only follow in the way that’s set by You,And seek Your will in everything we do. You are our Light in the darkness of the night,You are our Defender in the fiercest fight;You are our Hope in the greatest of despair,You are our Comfort, for us you truly care. You are our Guide through raging waters sailed,You are the Answer that has never failed;You are a Shelter from the storms that would do us harm;You are the Strength that lifts us with Your mighty arm. We don’t know what our next step will bring,Whether we will grieve, or with joy will sing,But we can know that You will always be,There to guide into the future that we can’t see. We know we have not passed this way before,Alone we can never find the heavenly shore;But through Your Word you point the way,To that bright home of endless day. We have not passed this way before, O God,We have never seen the paths we are about to trod;We can only follow in the way that’s set by You,And seek Your will in everything we do.

One of the members was talking to me this past Sunday. He said that he was at a church building (not in our county). He did not know anything about it, but he noted the sign said “so-and-so (not the actual name) Church.” As he neared the sign, he noticed down near the ground, mostly covered up by brush, in little-bitty letters, “A Church of Christ.” He said that it seemed to him that they felt that glorifying themselves was more important than glorifying God and His Son Jesus Christ. I told him that I know that, sadly, some churches have indeed thrown Jesus out, not just in their designation of themselves, but in their doctrine and practices. All of that aside, however, this conversation got me to thinking. One of the real problems that we have as individuals is when it becomes big us—little God. That does not mean that we do not recognize God, or that we are not aware of Him, but that sometimes we let our wishes, our thoughts and our desires outgrow God in our lives. Remember this story in the life of Moses? And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took

We do not have a winter wonderland,We almost never see snow, you understand;We won’t be roasting chestnuts by an open fire,Or listening to carols sung by some choir. But we will enjoy the time we spend,Laughing and sharing the love we send;We will enjoy our special family traditions,While experiencing all of life’s transitions. We grow older, and the family changesTime takes things and rearranges,Children grow, and one day they bring back their ownBut with their family, your love has just grown. But each new holiday has its own special place;You stop and you look at each loved one’s face.It is much more than just enjoying presents that day,It is sharing the time in a special way. At my house, we will watch a Muppet movie,(Muppet Christmas Carol – Tradition you see);We’ll rise up early and into gifts dig in,And then we’ll eat so much it’s nearly a sin. There’ll be no snow, no Frosty snowman,But that won’t deter our holiday plan,We will have presents, and plenty to eat,And we will have love, and that is hard to beat! Merry Christmas and Happy New YearTo all of you From the Kellys

[We celebrate Christmas as a family and national holiday at our house, not as a religious holiday. We understand the Scriptures do not sanction the keeping of a religious holiday celebrating Jesus’ birth, but rather a weekly memorial of His death.] I know what I am getting my wife for Christmas. (Sorry, I cannot tell you; she reads these, too!) It is really not much, just a little something. I wonder, if I could give her anything in the world, if there was no limit to my ability to give her whatever I wanted to, what would it be? What about my children and my grandson? If I had unlimited funds and unlimited power to give anything I wanted to my family, what would I give? (These thoughts are probably in reverse order as far as importance is concerned). 1. I imagine I would do everything I could to help all of them not to have to worry about money anymore. That might be a good thing, or a not so good thing. It would take away a lot of worry and stress, but it would also tend to lead to complacency about the blessings we all enjoy. I know I would try to do this: pay off all the cars, houses and medical bills, and present and future college bills, etc. However, I cannot do all that, but I would if I could. 2. I imagine I would do everything I could to help all of them to be

And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (Luke 17:11-19) My leg and hip are hurting today;My shoulder is also aching as well;Gas prices are way too high I say;I wonder if our economy will fail! I cannot afford what I’d like to do;It seems like this day is dragging by;Sometimes pleasures seem far and few;And I can’t help but wonder why. But then I stop and contemplate:I got out of my nice warm bed,I put food on my breakfast plate,I had a secure roof over my head, I said good morning to my loving wife,I climbed

I am including the entire text of a letter to the Editor from Sunday, 4/13/08 on page 3C of the Montgomery Advertiser. I will follow it with my comments. Faiths Offer Varying Routes I don’t understand the conflict between the West and the Muslim world. Why must they be antagonistic? Basically, all three are monotheistic, a simple concept. Each believes in a single Supreme Being. He is over Rome, Jerusalem and Mecca equally. He’s called God here, Jehovah in Jerusalem and Allah in the rest of the Middle East, but that’s just three names for the same entity. It’s like Martin Luther King. He could be called Martin or Luther or Rev. King. The West’s God doesn’t fight with Jehovah or Allah. He isn’t a split personality. The problem is not with the Supreme Being, but with the men who make up the various priesthoods, their egos, their ambitions and their narrow-minded greed. Each church, synagogue and mosque has a different roadmap to the promised land and few, if any, are willing to admit that there are alternate routes, like the different roads from Montgomery to Mobile. ~ Dale Pope, Montgomery Years ago, I was on a train in India talking to a Hindu man as we travelled in a sleeper car. He said to me, “You talk of heaven, we talk of Nirvana, other religions call it other things. We are all simply trying to go to the same place. You go there by following Jehovah God, Moslems by following Allah, and

Life. Yes, I think that is a statement. That one word sends a cascade of images flooding through my mind. There are the things that I cannot remember: being born, childhood, what happened yesterday (no snide remarks!). There are the things that are forever burned in my mind: sitting on the top bunk bed with my feet dangling down as my parents grilled me as to whether I really understood what baptism meant; the day I first joked with my future wife, and noticed her beautiful eyes, as she went through the breakfast line where I was serving in college; the first time I saw my oldest son in his mother’s arms, and saw me reflected in his eyes; I could go on, of course, for an eternity recounting the things that I remember as if they were still happening.. Life. Each moment is another portion of life. Some I have spent to the fullest. Some I have wasted unforgivably. Life sometimes has made me laugh out loud, and sometimes has made me cry uncontrollably. Very seldom has life left me bored. Life is made up of things from several sources. Some of Life has been built based on the choices that I have made. The really good things in Life have occasionally come due to choices I have made. On the other hand, some of the worst things I have experienced have come as a result of my choices. Once in a while I can say, “Wow, I really

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:35-41) We travel through life as if in a tiny boat, And from time to time we wonder if it will stay afloat; The winds of despair will blow us all around, In the waves of life we fear we will be drowned. But in the darkest moments of our days, Or when simple distractions rock our ways, There is one thought that should be underscored: Wheree’er we sail we know that Jesus is onboard. We tend to be overwhelmed by life’s sea, The

Yesterday morning, my wife and I climbed into our car at about 5:00 a.m. and began a journey to Valdosta, GA. I had been asked by an old and dear friend to come and preach the funeral of her sister. It is about a 5½-hour drive from our house. After the funeral and a quick hospital visit, we headed home. We got home about 9:00 p.m. last night. It was a long trip, but it was well worth the time and travel. As we travelled, I would look down at our odometer, and I would see the miles click away behind us. I could not help but think of the journey we were taking, but more so about the journey that we had already taken. In April of 1981, we travelled the same road. It was totally different then. Highway 84 from Dothan to Valdosta was, frankly, not a very good road back then. As we went through one little town, the electric sign on a bank said 93°. We were moving from north Mississippi, and it was not anywhere near that hot up there yet. We had a child that had just turned two the month before. We were moving to a brand new place with no certainty of exactly what to expect. We stayed there for nearly ten years. A daughter and our youngest son were both born while we were in Valdosta. Yesterday, we travelled, just the two of us. It is totally different now. First of

Along with preaching at Highland Home and my adjunct teaching at Faulkner, I also work part-time for the Alabama Sports Festival. Among other things, we put on the Alabama State Games each year, an Olympic-Style sporting event with over 20 different kinds of sports, and athletes from beginners to experts, from ages 4 to 84. One of the unique features of our State Games is the Olympic-like Opening Ceremonies. After an athlete registers to take part in the Games, we send them a response that includes a free tee-shirt ticket. On the ticket, it tells them that they can pick up their Opening Ceremony tee shirt between 12:00 pm and 6:15 pm on the day of the Opening Ceremonies. It clearly states when and where to pick it up, and that the shirt is an Opening Ceremonies tee shirt. We have all kinds of people who come up after the opening ceremonies, or to the temporary command center we set up, or call us wanting to redeem their coupons for their free tee shirt. We tell them that they are $5.00 after the opening ceremonies. They will often argue until they are “blue in the face” that they should get them free. They will say, as one lady told my wife, “That is just not fair. Why shouldn’t my kids get one just because they could not come to the Opening Ceremonies?” The Executive Director looked at me the other day and said, “Don’t people read the instructions anymore?” Sadly,

Recently, my son Chris recorded (or whatever you call it on a DVR) the movie version of Man of LaMancha. One of my favorite Broadway songs is the one with which I have entitled this article. The song is sung by the crazy old man, Don Quixote, who thinks he is a knight when there are knights no longer. However, the gist of the song is to set your sights on high and noble goals, and to never give up, no matter “how weary” or how difficult the goals may seem. I like the way the song sounds, but I also like the message, and I believe that it is an important one. We have individual dreams that come from our hearts and wishes for the future. Sometimes, those dreams come true. Sometimes, those dreams do not come true. However, we are the better for striving to attain those dreams, succeed or fail. Further, our dreams as Christians should be accompanied by an unwavering faith in the One with Whom nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26). We understand that we cannot know the full consequences of our dreams, nor what the future holds, but we can go into the future with our eyes on our dreams knowing that God knows the future and knows what is best, and therefore, we can put our total faith in Him. We have many “impossible dreams” to attain as Christians. We are told in this world that the idea of living a pure Christian life is

Many small congregations, due to a lack of qualified men, do not have elders and deacons. It is not possible to put men in just to say that you have elders, when they are not qualified. I believe, even for those congregations, however, it is important to understand the organization that God intends for the local church. Philippians 1:1 speaks of the only biblical organization for the local church, and this local arrangement is the only biblical organization for the church universal. It speaks of bishops, deacons and members. First Timothy 3:1-4 and Titus 1:5-9 give the spiritual and physical requirements for an elder or bishop. First Timothy 3:8-13 gives the qualifications for deacons. Evangelists or preachers are not listed in this organizational list. There are a few reasons for that. First of all, the evangelist is given the authority to preach the Word, but not to carry authority over a congregation except the responsibility to proclaim the message of God. Secondly, the preacher works under the authority of the elders like other members of the church. Remember that the elders of the church at Antioch laid their hands on Paul and Barnabas as they were about to leave on the first missionary journey. This expression of approval also showed their authority over Paul and Barnabas and the work upon which they were about to embark (Acts 13:3). This article is not about the qualifications of those who fill these positions, though that is, of course, important. Rather, I want

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

Ephesians 4:16 “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” For a congregation to accomplish the various works that are set before it, every member must “supply” his/her part in the work of the Lord. When we are all working together we can be successful. There are some things that should be noted about this. 1. Not everyone does the same thing. We all have our own abilities and interests, and we can help the congregation by using them to the fullest. 2. In every effort of any kind, we should work together in love and with a concern above all for the good of the cause of the Lord. Maintaining a good attitude toward one another is so very important, and one of the things that Satan will make every effort to destroy. 3. There is no unimportant member, and no more important member. We are all coworkers in a mighty body, and we should always know that we are important to the cause of Christ, no matter what our abilities or talents are. 4. We should pray for the local congregation that we may be “fitly joined together” and that we can take full advantage of “that which every joint supplieth.” 5. Paul says that if every part works together in “effectual working” that this working together will

“But I trust in you O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your Hand, rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors” (Psalm 31:14-15 ESV). Life is full of the good times, the bad times; the happy times, the sad times; the times filled with joy, the times filled with pain; the times shared, the times of loneliness. Every one of us goes through the times or seasons that come together to make up life. Maybe it takes the bad times, the difficult times, the painful times to make us realize that as Christians our times are in God’s hand. The old song goes, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” This is, of course, true. However, for His people it is especially true that He has our times in His hand. With this in mind may we: Turn over our hard times into His hands. There are times in our lives that we just cannot handle by ourselves. We face those things in our lives for which we have no answer, and before which we are helpless. These are the times in which we must realize that our hands are not large enough to handle these things. We must depend on the hand of the One Who is over all. Recognize that the good times come from His hands. All good and perfect gifts come down from God above, according to James. We need to raise the voice of

One of the most beautiful sights that I have ever seen occurs in the early morning hours as the sun begins to peek its head above the horizon over a body of water. As the sun begins its daily journey, it at first appears as a bright red ball in the distance. I have seen the reflection of the early morning sun grow upon the water until it fills it with the glowing red that is the herald of a wonderful day to come. That is what I see, and that is what I think as I watch this breathtaking event of the nature that God has created. However, it is interesting to note the reaction to that same phenomenon by some Moabites: And it came to pass in the morning, about the time of offering the oblation, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water. Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border. And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water over against them as red as blood: and they said, This is blood; the kings are surely destroyed, and they have smitten each man his fellow: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil. And when they came to the camp of Israel,

(Note: this title quote is taken from a line of a song by Jacky Jack White titled, “White Picket Fence” from an album entitled Music for the New South, ©Silverwolf Records 2008. I believe that Jack preaches for the Livingston Church of Christ in Livingston, AL) Gas prices, utility bills, house payments, grocery bills, insurance payments, taxes everywhere, paying for bottled water, the money ends but the month goes on: we really do live in a world of dollars and no sense. Problems in our schools—surely throwing more money at them will solve them? The “Gospel” for sale—give your money and you will truly prosper—it’s a “Gospel of prosperity.” Child abuse, wife abuse, rapes and murders, if we just spend more money on them they will get better—surely? Lie, cheat, steal, violate trusts, whatever it takes, as long as I come out ahead—and with the money. A world of dollars and no sense. Love? Only if it profits me. Respect? For the one with the most dollars only. Care? Caring about money and things, that is all that matters. Eternity? Can I buy my way to it? Truth? Whatever has the biggest dollar sign attached. Happiness? A big savings account. Success? A big savings account. A world of dollars and no sense. Realizing that dollars are tools, that they are not the ultimate goal. Seeking truth at all costs. Spirituality that has nothing to do with dollars. Curing our problems with moral principles and not with dollars. Looking to God as the source of all

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: there are values and dangers in all three. Yesterday is a valuable thing. It is valuable if we learn from it and do not let ourselves make the same mistakes as have been made before. The mistakes of history will be repeated if not remembered. Mistakes in relationships will also be repeated. The church particularly needs to learn from the past. There is not really any new error that comes forth, just the rehashing of past errors. When we do not learn from the past, and prepare for those battles that can come, we will fail, as is happening in so many places, just like in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Throughout the past 2 and 1/2 centuries, schools that have begun as solid Christian schools have floated off, and sometimes run off, in the direction of error. The University of Kentucky has partial roots in what was once a Christian school. It behooves Christian schools now to beware and understand what has happened, and continues to happen in some places. It is possible to hold the line, (and we need to pray that those institutions that have held the line will continue to do so), but it is a constant uphill battle. So is every phase of the Christian life. If we can remember yesterday, maybe we can avoid losing those battles, individually, as churches and even in the Christian schools that still remain faithful. Yesterday is a precious thing. The events of yesterday are those that fill our lives and

Of all places, I heard the phrase that I am using as a title on a severe weather broadcast from our local NBC affiliate, WSFA 12. I think that the weatherman was talking about getting to a safe place during a potential tornado. It just struck me what a powerful saying that was. We all have heard of taking the “path of least resistance,” but the “path of least regret” is probably the exact opposite. Let me illustrate. The path of least regret: Sexual Purity: Isn’t it interesting that we so often become involved in treating the symptoms of a problem instead of treating the actual problem. In this realm, this is certainly the case. We hear laments over teenage pregnancies, and the answer that is offered is teaching “safe sex.” Basically, what we are saying is that particularly young people are going to take the path of least resistance, so we need to educate them in how to sin skillfully. What we need to be emphasizing, instead, is the path of least regret. No young lady has ever become pregnant (besides Mary) who has not had relations with a male. Young people, like older people, will sin and be overcome by desires. However, we are doing them no favors when we decide to teach them how to more effectively sin. We need to do everything in our power to teach them that the only true answer is to choose to stay pure until they marry. If they do that, they

A family’s tears flow. All have gathered around a casket in which the earthly remains of a dear loved one rest. A life on earth has ended. There is a feeling of sadness in the air.    I like happy endings. Most of the time, when I watch a movie, TV show or play, I want a happy ending. I want the guy to get the girl (or vice versa). I like the long shot to win. I much prefer it when the bad guy loses, and the wounded, bloodied hero walks wearily away, victorious. I usually want to be entertained and to escape from all the unhappiness and pain that is in the world. I know there is a time for “Romeo and Juliet,” but usually I would prefer a “You’ve Got Mail”; there is a time for “Macbeth,” but I often prefer an “Air Force One.” You get the idea.    Even in the real world, I like happy endings. I love to see a boy and a girl who are allowing love to grow between them. I love to turn a young couple around to face an audience, and to, for the first time, declare them as “Mr. and Mrs.” It thrills me to see a couple in their twilight years that meant it when they said, “I do.” However, there are so many times in real life when there is no happy ending. Often, the boy doesn’t get the girl, the underdog loses, and the bad guys seem

By Dean Kelly I weighed myself one day recently. I weighed a certain amount (nope, I am not going to tell, so don’t even ask!) on one scale. I guess I wanted a second opinion, so I weighed on another one. It showed me 20 pounds heavier than the first one did. (I liked the first one better; it must be doing a better job.) Therefore, just to see if I could get a majority ruling, I found a third one and weighed on it. It showed me 10 pounds heavier than the first scale, and 10 pounds lighter than the second scale. (I still liked the first one better.) To be honest, I do not know which one was right, so I just went with the one that pleased me the most.     Sadly, I believe that many religious people follow this same path. They try one religious organization, church or preacher, and then, they try another, which tells them something different, and maybe another that tells something totally different yet. They get confused, and then they just go to the one that pleases them most.     How can I know how much I truly weigh? I have to find a reliable scale, one that is calibrated properly and that is consistent with the true weight of what it weighs. While all three of the scales I used were different, the fact is that I did actually weigh a certain amount when I used those scales. All of them

Paul wrote to the Roman church and said, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off” (Romans 11:22). The context of this passage is a warning concerning that the brethren in Rome needed to stay faithful or they would be cut off as were the Jews who failed to follow God. We must be balanced in our preaching.     Severity: There is indeed a time and a need for “Hellfire and Brimstone” preaching. There is a time to clearly point out the consequences of disobedience, or simply a failure to obey God. A good portion of the New Testament is dedicated to that. Sadly, many have gone to a “feel-good only” preaching and teaching that ignores this very adamantly scriptural fact: God will punish those who “know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8).     On the other hand, however, we must not become unbalanced to the other side either. Paul calls the Romans to remember the GOODNESS and the severity of God. The first time that I remember singing the little song, “God Is Good” was in India, and I heard it first in Telegu, the language of the state of Andrha Pradesh in South India. It has simple lyrics: God is good, God is good, God is good, He’s so good to me (or sometimes a variety of that). Throughout history the

I recently heard a song by Brooks and Dunn that is entitled God Is Busy. I get behind on what is new or old on the radio, but I do not believe that I had heard this before. It made me think, and I just had to respond (although Brooks and Dunn will never know I did).    Is God busy? I would most certainly think so. Every tiny sparrow that flies in the balmy skies of the south, and leaves behind the frozen wastelands of the north; every sparrow that has built a nest in someone’s garage, or dodged the towers of the Manhattan sky; every baby sparrow that has misstepped and fallen from its mother’s nest, and found its fate sealed in the mouth of a hungry cat: God knows everyone of them, and can give an account of them. I am sure that does keep God busy.     Every time a person combs his hair and pulls out a single strand; every time a child loses all of her hair as part of the ravages of treatment for that dreaded disease that no one so young should have to endure; every time an unborn infant’s little head pops out a brand new hair; every time some man who is growing older begins to develop bald spots because his hair is slowly leaving: God knows every hair on every head. I am sure that does keep God busy.    Every time a baby boy folds his fingers and bows his little

Does it really matter how I live my life, Nobody’s watching me, It can’t matter – the things I do, No one will really see. Does it matter if I mention my faith,Tell someone about my God,It can’t matter what I say to them,They’d just think I’m odd. Does it really matter what path I walk, The direction that I head, It can’t matter – the decisions I make No one hears a word I’ve said.  Excuse me if I kindly disagree with youYou are watched constantlyIn fact, it really matters what you doSo many will definitely see.  Your words of faith could snatch a soulUp from the Devil’s hell,Someone may only listen when it is you he hearsWith the message you must tell. Choose the path you tread with the greatest of care,For the end of the path grows near,You can follow the path that leads to a heavenly home,And others down that path you’ll steer. It matters how I live, and what I teach,My spirit and attitude,What I practice when I serve the Lord,May help many evil to elude. I matter: I can be a servant of Christ the Lord,Faithful, sure, and strong,Fighting the fight, running the race, keeping the faith,Till I’m in heaven where I belong. “Does it really matter how I live my life?”It does, most definitely,“It can’t matter – the things I do!”It matters for eternity.

 I often write about the view from the deck in the back of our house. I love to see it on a clear night when all of the stars can be clearly seen, and constellations identified. That just can’t be done in the city. I also love to see it as the dusk falls over the eastern sky, and the sun sets on the other side of the house. But, probably my favorite time to gaze into the eastern sky is during the dawning of the day. On a clear night, I can see that star I am always talking about. This morning, however, a particular thought struck me.     I opened the door and stepped out on the deck. The view over those South Alabama rolling hills to the east of our home was absolutely breathtaking. I have often written and spoken publicly about the awe-inspiring beauty that is as if God has taken His finger and painted the brightest of colors on the eastern sky. The deep purples and the radiant reds are splashed magnificently against the blues of the sky that grow from the darkest of blues to the bright blue of the daytime sky. I will never get tired of seeing this marvelous example of the heavens declaring the glory of God, and the firmament showing his handiwork.     But, as I enjoyed the ethereal pleasure of the moment this morning, a thought struck me. While the beauty of the sky on a clear morning is still marvelous,

I went to an area Gospel Meeting last night and heard a lesson on the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). As I listened I could not help but think: Sometimes it Takes a Pigpen. You remember that this young Jewish man wound up feeding pigs, and even desiring their food. As the speaker said, I don’t think you could sink any lower as a Jewish man than to have to even be around pigs, much less take care of them. And on top of that, the pigs were being well fed while he starved.     The other day I was listening to the commentators on an Atlanta Braves broadcast. They were talking about interviewing Terry Pendleton, who is the Braves hitting coach. They asked him how he got the players to listen to him about their hitting. After all, most of these men have played baseball as long as they can remember. They have been successful in little league, Babe Ruth, High School and sometimes in college. They have been batting like they do and don’t relish the idea of being told how to bat. His response was, “They have to hit rock bottom before they will listen to me.” Yep, sometimes it takes a pigpen.     The young man had demanded that his father give him his inheritance, and he had gone off and spent it in wild living. We all know the story. It is hard, especially in youth, to look down through the days to come and realize

The problem is that if I am not careful, I forget what is all about me. I think that the world ought to be entertaining me. I think that everything ought to focus on me. When I am driving down the road and someone cuts me off, I get angry. As a matter of fact I often wonder why there is so much traffic on the road, when they are just in my way getting where I want or need to go. I don’t want someone to eat the last biscuit, because I want the last biscuit. I want the remote control so I can watch what I want to watch, and so I am in control. Surely, when I state my opinion, that ought to be the final word on the matter. After all, it is me!     However, watch the change in terminology that sometimes occurs. “Look what my son did” means that he has done something outstanding and good. In that case we might concede a little with, “Look what our son did.” “Look at what your son did” means that he has really blown it, and of course he got that from your part of raising him, not from me! When there is something to complain about the famous “you” and “they” come into play. You know, the words that leave “me” out of the equation. “You folks are always leaving a mess.” “They just aren’t doing anything for the young people.” You know, all the

Do you really believe that God exists, and is the all-knowing, all-powerful Being Who knows the very number of hairs on your head? I will always remember it. I was in the first or second grade. My mother had told me that, because of an offense that I cannot remember (though I do remember that I was guilty of the infraction), I could not read any books, especially not comic books. You have to understand that reading was my entertainment. We lived on a military base in Germany back in the early 60’s, and there was no Armed Forces Television there yet. I would rather read than go outside and play. She did allow me to go outside. We lived on the third floor of the housing apartments. I went to the lowest balcony of a ground floor apartment and went up under it. It was like a cave under there, and I was sure no one could see me. I climbed into the safe cave, and pulled out my comic book, and settled down to read it. It was not long, however, until I heard a voice, and looked up to see my mother’s face (not exactly with a pleased look on it). I had been caught. I was, of course, summarily punished for compounding the offence.  I remember thinking that she must have all-seeing eyes to have known what I was doing, although in later years I concluded that she might have had help with her “all-seeing eyes” from

“Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34). To me one of the most interesting phrases used by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount is found at the end of this verse: “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” What does it mean? To begin to understand it we have to consider the context. 1. Jesus is teaching the fact that God will take care of us, and he uses several examples of that: the flower, the birds, the hair on our heads, etc. 2. Jesus is instructing us not to worry. Anxiety over what we will eat or where we will live or what we will wear is what he is dealing with. The old saying is appropriate: “Don’t Worry. Don’t worry about what you can change, change it. Don’t worry about what you cannot change, for you have no control over it.” Worry causes ulcers, sleepless nights, untold and often unnecessary distress, and can lead to depleted faith as well. 3. Jesus tells us to seek God and his kingdom above all else, and then we truly do not have to worry. So, what does the phrase “sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” mean? I believe that it means: 1. We have enough to deal with today. We have the toils and troubles, as well as joys and blessings, that the day may bring upon

Whenever I take a bite of cotton candy I have several reactions: It tastes good. I enjoy the flavor. It feels good. I’ve always liked the feeling as it melts away in my mouth. It gives a little sugar rush. It has no lasting effect. There is an appropriate time for cotton candy. It cannot replace a meal–nor can it sustain us. I am truly afraid that much of what is done in many pulpits among us today is simply Cotton Candy Preaching. It tastes good. It “scratches” our ears. It is easily palatable. It does not stir up to good works, or demand obedience to God’s will. It is just fluff. It feels good. We leave the sermon (or sermonette) feeling good about ourselves. It is “I’m OK, You’re OK” preaching with no real substance. It gives a little sugar rush. It may excite us for a moment, and get us fired up temporarily. It has no lasting effect. The little stories and lessons really produce no lasting effect in the hearer. There is an appropriate time for cotton candy. Sometimes these short articles are Cotton Candy articles. Sometimes there is a place for Cotton Candy speeches–just not in the pulpit! It cannot replace a meal–it cannot sustain us. Too often congregations are receiving a steady diet of Cotton Candy. This may make crowds gather, like a crowd around a Cotton Candy vendor, but it leaves them spiritually and doctrinally bankrupt. PAUL SAID, “Preach the Word.” PETER SPOKE OF “the sincere milk of the Word.” THE HEBREW

Excuse me English teachers, but I contend that “Christian” is an action noun. I know, normally it is an “action verb,” but I stand by my contention. “Christian” is an action noun because it means I am a believer. “Believing” is an action that I take. It means that I make an active decision to believe. It is a “work of faith” (2 Thessalonians. 1:11). It is a commanded action (Mark 16:16). “Christian” is an action noun because it means I am obedient to God. Hebrews 5:8-9, Matthew 7:21, Romans 6:18 and many other passages show that we must be obedient to God if we are Christians. Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” “Christian” is an action noun because it means I am walking with God. I am walking “in the spirit” (Galatians 6:16), “in faith” (Romans 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:7), “in the light” (1 John 1:7) and “worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12). “Christian” is an action noun because if I am not active I am lost. I am on sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27) if I am not active. I am lost if I do not obey (2 Thessalonians 1:8). I have only a dead faith (James 2:26) that cannot save me. If you don’t believe that and act like “Christian” is an action noun, it will cost you an eternity. When you read or hear the word “Christian” from now on, remember that it is an action noun, and live like you

Satan has a large arsenal of weapons with which he attacks humanity in order to try to bring about its destruction. Which of these weapons, however, is his most powerful and ultimately successful? 1. How about the society around us? There is no doubt that society as a whole is used by Satan to draw us away from God, the church, the Bible and the truth as a whole. Society tends to call the bad good, and the good bad. Society is going to push evils, such as abortion and homosexuality on us at every turn. But society is not Satan’s greatest weapon. 2. How about humanism and organic evolutionary theory? These two philosophies, which tend to go hand-in-hand, are very effective in destroying the faith of many people. They are Godless, evil and patently false. It almost amuses me, if it were not so serious, that these theories combined teach that we are nothing but glorified apes, and yet we are the ultimate of all that exists. A built-in oxymoron. I submit, however that these two extraordinarily dangerous dogmas are not Satan’s greatest weapon. 3. How about our educational system? Sadly, I am convinced that Satan is making the best use for his purposes that he could of our educational system. That is not a condemnation of the good, solid and often Christian teachers in the public schools. It is a fact, however, that many of the major thrusts of education for a long time now have been anti-God,

I heard a song the other day about a daddy and his daughter who is about to get married. It said something like, “Remember that I loved her first.” I have to admit that song made me cry. Someone sent me a patriotic email of a reading by Johnny Cash that he had written about the American Flag. It made tears well up in my eyes as I listened. I have been known to have a tear drip down my cheek when I am watching the sad part of a movie. I know that it does not sound very “macho” and “manly” to admit that, but I am not ashamed of it. I am glad that I have not forgotten how to cry. We need to be able to cry because we have hearts that are touched by a care and concern of others. Our hearts should grieve with those who are suffering and in pain. We should feel compassion when others face disaster, disease and death. Too often it seems that when calamity and struggles come to those around us, we tend to rejoice in seeing the problems of others. It is easy to become smug in our own lack of troubles, and to assume that others’ problems are their own fault. Jesus said that we should mourn with those that mourn (Luke 6:25). I would hope that we will never loose the ability to cry for those around us who are suffering. We need to be able to

I like to be the driver most of the time when I am going somewhere. If I am tired, or not feeling well, or there is some matter of convenience that means that I need to be a passenger, of course, I will willingly do so. But I am not sure I am a good one. My oldest son is 27 and has been driving for 11 years. Still, when I am in the car with him, I find myself telling him how to drive. My wife is older than he is (thought I was going to tell didn’t you), and has been driving longer, also. Yet, sometimes I find myself wanting to give her instructions as we ride along. Speaking of my wife and children, I kid them that they are trying to constantly put on the brakes when I am driving. They are just sure I am going to plow into whoever or whatever is ahead of us. I have thought about it quite often. You know what makes us “bad” passengers? It is the fact that we are not in control. When I am driving I know where I am going to turn, and I know that I have seen the semi in front of us and that I am going to stop. I have the steering wheel in my hand, and I am in control (or at least I think I am). Over the years I have seen a bumper sticker that reads something along the

I have missed only a handful of services in my whole life,Isn’t God lucky that he’s got me!I’ve never smoked, never drank, never cheated on my wifeIsn’t God Lucky that he’s got me! I’ve studied my Bible – many verses I knowIsn’t God lucky that he’s got me!Around the world preaching I’ve been willing to goIsn’t God lucky that he’s got me! No cusswords from me have ever been heard,Isn’t God lucky that he’s got me!I am constantly lifting my prayers heavenward,Isn’t God lucky that he’s got me! No, he is not “lucky,” I’m the one blessed so muchBecause of his grace that through Jesus I find,The blood that was shed to heal my soul with its touch,I am not worthy of his love, I must keep that in mind. Oh, yes, he expects me to obey his commands,To serve him, and worship him with all of my heart,To faithfully overcome all that this life demands,And from his ways to never waver, never depart. I have to live a life before him that is pure and good,Aren’t I blessed by having him in my life!So that when life ends, with him I will have stood,Aren’t I blessed by having him in my life! No matter how good I am, how hard I labor here,I will never deserve the blessings he is offering me,I hope one day he will say, when to his throne I draw near,“Enter in faithful servant, for eternity.”

In America we are a nation that cherishes the concept of freedom. We sing about it, celebrate it and argue over it. But what constitutes true freedom is not understood by most. True freedom is not being without boundaries of behavior and morals. True freedom is not without demands and obligations. We need to seek after true freedom. I submit to you that the only true freedom is that which is found when we submit ourselves to God. Paul puts it this way in his letter to the Romans: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:16-18). True freedom is based on allowing ourselves to be in submission to the God of heaven. Then we are free from the practice, grief and consequences of sin. We are not bound by the things of this earth, and we can foresee a wonderful eternity promised to those who serve God. Brother Robert Waggoner recently sent out an essay on God as a Jealous God (see note at end of article about brother Waggoner’s essays). The following paragraph is from his essay. While he is not emphasizing true freedom, he does

Since we were small children we have sung the famous song, “Jesus Loves Me.” I wish that many more would listen to the simple words,  “because the Bible tells me so.” Many have wasted tremendous time and energy trying to explain, or more appropriately explain away portions of Scripture. Recently someone put out a naturalistic explanation of how Jesus walked on water. It, of course, is designed to deny the miraculous. Even in the church we can be influenced by this ailment. A professor I had in college had a commentary on the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy). When he talked about Lot’s wife he said, (This is, to the best of my memory, what he said. I do remember because I had never actually heard “conflagration” used in a sentence before.) “As she hesitated Lot’s wife was overwhelmed by great salt deposits in the area that were stirred up by the great conflagration that occurred.” Excuse me! Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt. How do I know, “the Bible tells me so.” Why should we try to explain away the acts of God as if we are ashamed of them, or ashamed to admit them? Jesus walked on water, period, no natural explanations needed; Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt by the power of God, the great conflagration not withstanding; Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of a fish that God prepared–we don’t need any more explanation; Jesus died and was raised from the dead by the