Yes, there is an increase in gun violence. The mass killing of innocent people is now called the new normal. The mentally deranged to Islamic terrorists are causing havoc here and abroad. During September 2013, thirteen innocent people were killed in the Naval Shipyard, Washington, D.C. Consider also that Chicago is the murder hub in our nation. Godless rage is in step with utter bloodthirsty evil. Evil is common to those who have rejected God Almighty. The news media via television presses the need for gun control and with the imperative view of taking all guns away from our citizenship. I am certain I have not heard or read all comments concerning gun violence. With that said, I am personally confident I have never heard an explanation like, “Know what the real problem is? We as a nation have removed God from our society. America is becoming a secular, non-religious nation, and that is the real problem.” Of course, there have always been evil, violent, monsters within any society. At this timeframe, we older folks can honestly attest that we have never observed such immoral times. Even during World War II with its horrible brutality, there was a sense of peace and awe, knowing we were doing right. Currently, the masses seem to wink at violence and chaos as normal. Too many fail to recognize or see the real problems within our society. We have forgotten and removed our national heritage as part of the American way. We will not …

People who are acquainted with the Bible, God’s inspired Word, have read how He created the heavens and the earth and formed man from the “dust of the earth” (Genesis 1-2). We also have learned from the same text how God took a part of man (Adam) and made woman. When Adam saw her, he said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Please read very carefully the following: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:23-24). It is reasonable, is it not, that the part of man that God removed from the side of Adam, He made woman and she became his wife. So, the man (male) and the woman (female) were joined together by God. Later “Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). You see, God had given them the command, “Be fruitful and multiply…” (Genesis 1:28). It is not difficult to understand that in order to “Be fruitful and multiply,” that is, to bear children, you have to have a male and a female to propagate the human family. This is God’s design. This is a very strong argument against a man marrying a man or a woman marrying a woman. Such a so-called marriage is in opposition to and against God’s design for an acceptable …

In Ephesians 3:20-21, we read a passage that is so astounding that we even hesitate to write about it. It says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever.” One reason we hesitate to write about it is that when a thing is beyond anything we can ask or think about, it is very difficult to write in any way to do justice to it. Then when it abounds in those qualities, we feel even more difficulty. When it exceedingly abounds in them, then we find it impossible to write without actually feeling a sense of awe and impotence approaching fear and trembling. However, there are a few things in the passage that need our attention, although giving anything resembling a comprehensive exegesis of it is impossible. First, we need to recognize that the blessings available to us in Christ go beyond even the things that the words of the Bible reveal, and even what the Bible reveals are so fantastic that they almost defy the imagination. Just salvation from past sin is a subject about which a book or two could be written and still not touch all aspects of it. The barest discussion of it would need to involve salvation from the guilt of sin, the punishment for sin, the love of …

When a seed is planted in the ground, it is intended to bring forth a plant that will grow into a mature plant. The seed first sprouts a root. Once the root is started, it obtains nutrition from the surrounding ground. It then begins to grow a stem, which will break the surface of the soil. As long as the root is able to get proper water and nutrition, the stem will have leaves and eventually the nut, fruit or vegetable that it has the ability to produce. In Colossians 2:7 Paul wrote, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Paul pictured the Christian as a seed that is planted. The person must first be rooted. However, what is the soil in which the person is to be rooted? It is Jesus Christ. You read that in verse six. It is interesting that Paul put the word “rooted” in the perfect tense in the Greek. That means it is a one-time occurrence with ongoing results. The person is planted in the water of baptism. That is the burial ground. Unless one is baptized, one cannot be in the proper soil (v. 12). The words “built up” are in the present tense in the Greek. This means that being built up is an ongoing process. One is not built up only once. One must continue to receive nutrition and watering through the root to grow into a mature …

When I last checked the US Debt Clock (usdebtclock.org), individual consumer debt for US citizens was over $16 trillion! Let’s break this down. Everyone knows what a second is: 60 seconds is one minute; 1 trillion seconds is 31,546 years; 16 trillion seconds is 507,020 years! Why are Americans in such a mess? The top answer is covetousness. We have got a fight on our hands. As Christians, we must win the fight between covetousness and contentment. For a long time and by many people, covetousness has been called the Mother of all sins; why? Well, because covetousness will lead to adultery, to lying, to stealing and to hoarding. Covetousness starts in the heart. It is the seed from which comes many other sins. It’s a real battle! In this corner, covetousness is condemned by God. Covetousness is not daydreaming about something you want or need; covetousness is a very strong desire for something that you do not have and someone else does have. It is a form of idolatry, which if covetousness is the mother, then, idolatry is the father of sin. From the very beginning, man has wanted something that he cannot have. In Genesis 3, tempted by the serpent, Eve succumbed to the sin of covetousness. The children of Israel were commanded not to covet. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is …

There are a lot of “new” things in the Bible (2 Corinthians 5:17). This in spite of what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 about there being “no new thing under the sun.” Thankfully, I am not the cynic that Solomon was. Today, there is the new birth (John 3:3, 5), the new life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:6, 8, 17), the new hope (Titus 1:2), a new task (Matthew 6:33; Mark 5:1), a new body at the end (1 Corinthians 15) and a new home (John 14:1ff). In addition, following the conclusion of each year, as long as Christ delays His coming, we experience a new year. The old year is done, with its heartaches, disappointments, failures and sin. Whenever a new year commences, it is the time of beginning again, a time for vows, promises and resolutions to be made. God Made Vows and Promises In Genesis 9:9-13, God even announced His vow with a rainbow in the sky. In Deuteronomy 5, the Law was given again, at which time Moses spoke to people about it saying, “God made a covenant with us in Horeb.” The people responded with a vow, “…we will hear it and do it…” (v. 5). In Joshua 24:15-18, Joshua called for the people to choose, and they cried out, “…we will serve the Lord.” What Is the Value of Making Vows? Making a vow tells the world of the stand one has taken. For instance, the foreigner, on naturalization day renounces all allegiance to …

The Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5-7 was addressed to the disciples. “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them saying…” (Matthew 5:1-2). The main divisions of Chapter 6 are: (1) on what the human mind should be set (6:1), (2) almsgiving (6:2-4), (3) how disciples should pray (6:5-8), (4) the model of what prayer should be (6:9-15), (5) fasting (6:16-18), (6) care about riches (6:19-24) and (7) the care about necessities of life (6:25-34). The Lord in this sermon not only taught what was not to be done, but He also taught what was to be done! Prayer is so important that Jesus gave instruction as to how it should be done. Jesus did not use flowery and mysterious language. He used only the simplest of words. He did not teach men to pray so as to impress other men with their learning. Rather, the model prayer is the very essence of simplicity. As part of the model prayer, Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Thy kingdom come.” Before the day of Pentecost, the followers of Jesus prayed, “Thy kingdom come.” Since the kingdom (the church) has been established, Christians are no longer to ask for what is already a reality (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13; Mark 9:1). The preacher in the rural countryside in one of the oldest congregations in the area had the audience repeat all of the model prayer. J.W. McGarvey was correct when …

It is proverbially said that there are two things certain – death and taxes. The Bible certainly affirms the first. “And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die…” (Hebrews 9:27). So, we cannot expect to get out of this world alive. However, this article will examine some exceptions – some who did escape death and some who shall escape death. It should be stated at the outset, that death is essentially a separation. Physical death is the separation of the body from the spirit (James 2:26), and spiritual death is a separation of a soul (by sin) from God (Isaiah 59:2). First let’s consider the past. “Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). This verse leaves us with many questions. Yet thankfully, you and I have the New Testament, which serves as a divine commentary on many Old Testament passages. The Book of Hebrews gives further explanation. “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him…” (11:5). Another unique leaving of this world was provided to Elijah. “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11). Read 2 Kings 2:9-12. Second, we can look to the future. There is a day coming when Jesus shall return. From His own lips, our blessed Savior said that He was going back to His Father and that He would return. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again…” (John 14:3). When Jesus …

Occasionally, I center my attention on what impacts the internal integrity of the church, especially with respect to what impacts the fellowship and unity of a congregation. Accordingly, our attention is now directed to a brief discussion of “listening.” To listen is “to hear with thoughtful attention.” Though simply said, the implications are far-reaching in the context of fellowship and unity within a local congregation. “Hearing” involves actively entertaining an idea for its adoption and promotion. If one were either closed-minded, prejudiced or biased with respect to an idea, then one would not be able to actively entertain the prospect of adopting and promoting the idea. This state of mind qualifies one as not “hearing,” without which one fails to be “listening.” To listen requires the accompaniment of an attendant fact that more specifically defines the manner of action involved in the “hearing” required in the act of “listening.” This is evidenced by the fact that to listen is “to hear with.” The companion idea that more specifically defines “hearing” is “thoughtful attention.” Accordingly, without its presence, one clearly fails to be characterized by the qualities demanded in the definition expressed by Webster. “Attention” involves the application of the mind to an object or thought so that there is a selective narrowing or focusing of receptivity. Simply said, “attention” requires one to practice open-mindedness and to gradually go through a process of selection as one decides what is worthy of his reception. Additionally, the “attention” is to be “thoughtful.” It …

Love will cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). This is partly accomplished through forgiveness. Christians forgive because God sent His Son to die so that we might be forgiven (Colossians 2:12-13; Ephesians 4:32). True love includes a readiness to forgive, like that displayed by Jesus when He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Of course, they still had to repent, but Jesus had already exhibited a willingness to forgive before they acknowledged their sins and turned away from them by putting Him on in baptism (Acts 2:22-23, 36-38). Love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Stephen exhibited the same characteristic as his Lord when he was being stoned to death. Luke reports that while he was being stoned, “he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin’” (Acts 7:54-60). Such a forgiving attitude will cause brothers to go in search of their straying brother in hope of getting him to come home to God in repentance. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). Those who are spiritual will humbly seek to restore them and will …

In Acts 16:25-34, Paul and Silas were in trouble. They were deep in prison in the strange city of Philippi far away, yet they were able to sing in terrible circumstances. How could they do this? They were risking their lives to preach Christ to those people who resented them and gave bitter opposition to the Gospel message. Lies were spread about their work by men with selfish motives. These same men demanded their arrest. The town officials ordered them to be beaten and thrown into prison. The Bible tells us, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25). We also see that the Philippian Jailer and his family obeyed the Gospel during this time in the same hour (Acts 16:30-33). It was under such conditions that Paul and Silas were singing. Can we believe that after all of this they were singing? Why? The answer is simple and clear. They could sing in the dark because they were doing what God wanted them to do. There is a special bird in God’s creation that we call the nightingale. A peculiar thing about this creature is that it continues to sing long after the sun has set. Most other birds have gone silent until the next morning, but not the nightingale. His melodies soar long after sunset. His song is not silenced by darkness and night. Why then does the nightingale sing at night? Well, that is exactly what …

The Garden of Gethsemane is a beautiful place. It is situated across the Kidron Valley from Jerusalem. Ancient olive trees grow there. The word “Gethsemane” means “oil or olive press.” It was there that Jesus came after observing the Passover with His apostles. It was in the Garden that He fervently prayed to the Father. It was there that Judas planted the betrayal kiss. As I stood in the Garden a few years ago, I learned an amazing fact. From the Garden one has a clear view of the general area of the Temple. It was in this area where those who came to arrest Him gathered. It was from here that they made their way down the hill with their lanterns and torches, across the Kidron Valley and then on up to Gethsemane. As they made their way, He could easily have seen them. Think of this! He could have seen them coming, and He could have run and escaped, but He didn’t! He stayed, was arrested, endured a humiliating trial, was beaten, was spat upon and finally nailed to a cross. Why? Because “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” That’s right, friends, it was because of His great love for you and me. This same One said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Do you love Him? Do you really love Him?

“Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay your vows to the most High” (Psalm 50:14). As we are looking ahead to our Thanksgiving Day celebration, these are words by which to live, but notice that the Psalmist didn’t just say to offer thanks. He extended that exhortation to include being faithful to keep our vows (promises) to God. We can’t expect God to continue blessing us when we fail to be honest and true to Him. Thanksgiving must be twofold: we are to be thankful for that with which we’ve been blessed by God, but we must also do what will demonstrate our faithfulness to Him. You can’t just say that you are thankful, but you must also show your thankfulness by what you do. We all know how our country’s national day of Thanksgiving came to be. It was begun by a free people who fled from oppression in the Old World. Sometimes I think that we forget what this day represents and are only interested in the big turkey dinner with all the trimmings, the family get-togethers, etc. Yet, as we prepare to celebrate this Thanksgiving Day, let’s not forget why we are celebrating this day, and let’s be truly thankful for what God has provided for us. Let us show our thankfulness by living godly lives and sharing the message of the Gospel with others. Other than our beautiful country and the freedoms we enjoy, we have so much more for which to be thankful. Paul was thankful …

The Thanksgiving holiday is always one of my favorite times of the year. Besides the obvious (a day of great, home cooked meals), it is a time to spend with family and friends, people that we do not get to see very much. Usually – at least in my case – our minds are on the things of this world when it comes to Thanksgiving. Yet, for a few minutes, look at some of the words of Paul – a man who was completely detached from this world. As we enter this week of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to have the mindset of Paul. Here are some things for which he was thankful. The Faithfulness of the Church “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8). “Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Romans 16:4). “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16). I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good …

Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:12-19) Sometimes we need to stop and listen to ourselves. If we recorded everything that we say during the day and played it back at the end of the day, what would we find about our speech? I am not talking about profanity and foul language. Hopefully faithful Christians would never hear that in their recordings. What I am talking about is what attitude would our speech show us as having? If we are honest with ourselves, way too often the largest percentage of our words are negative – complaining about this or that. We complain about having to get up to go to work or worship. We complain …

Tradition holds that the first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 by the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock. The previous winter had been very hard, and they did not have enough provisions to last them much longer. The hero of the story is a native named Squanto who taught the settlers to fish and helped them grow crops, and they celebrated a good harvest and friendship with the natives. Of all the things for which we should be thankful, the greatest is life. We should be thankful for our physical lives, but more than that, we should be thankful for our spiritual lives. Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18)

Did you hear about the woman who walked into a grocery store a day before Thanksgiving and was very upset with the size of the turkeys that were left? She turned to the stock boy and asked snappishly, “Don’t these turkeys get any bigger?” To which he calmly replied, “No ma’am. They’re dead!” Soon, we will all be celebrating Thanksgiving. What a wonderful holiday it is, but not just because of the food. Thanksgiving is the day when we pause to reflect, remember and respect the abundant blessings that God has bestowed upon us. There are over 550 references to thankfulness in the Bible. One of those passages 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, which states that we are to, “Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” The Bible teaches us that as Christians we should be known for our thankfulness. Notice just a few of these things for which we as Christians are to be thankful. Christians are to be thankful for daily food and needs. Matthew 15:36 records that Jesus gave thanks for the food. In Acts 27:35, Paul blessed the meal before he and others ate it. We are to receive our food and daily necessities with thanksgiving (Romans 14:6; John 6:11, 23; 1 Timothy 4:3). In addition, we are to be thankful for salvation. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57; Romans 6:17; 7:25). We …

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). The holidays are supposed to be a time of family, of good times and of blessings. This Thanksgiving season may not be all of that. There will be tables missing loved ones. Some may have tables less filled than in years past due to financial reversals, unemployment or other issues with which they have to deal. Many may wonder whether they have anything about which to be thankful this Thanksgiving, living an uncertain life in an uncertain world. The above Scripture reminds us, however, that we can always be thankful. The issue is one of perspective. I certainly wouldn’t want to minimize the tragedies that have plagued us, as a nation or as individuals. I wouldn’t want to make light of the pain anyone may feel, but having God to petition and in which to trust is something for which we can always be thankful. Not only is He our Creator, but God is also our Sustainer (Colossians 1:17). Is it even possible to imagine what life would be like without His constant provision and care over the universe? How many of life’s trials come because of humanity’s choice of sin, and yet, God hasn’t abandoned us. He provides for His creation’s needs in general (Matthew 5:45) and specifically for us as His children (2 Peter 1:3). What a wonderful promise He offers in Romans 8. “For …

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we find principles of the inner life! We pray prayers, offer words and think thoughts of thanksgiving! We are truly blessed and thankful for this Scripture! Thank God for the “Attitudes of Gratitude!” Attitude #1  “Rejoice always” (v. 16) means to be glad, joyful or delighted. It is to be continually in a state of happiness and wellbeing (cf., Matthew 5:11; Luke 6:22; Acts 5:41; Philippians 4:4). The action of rejoicing reveals one’s attitude of submission of his or her mind to Christ (cf., Philippians 1:21; 2:5; 3:13-14; 4:7). Attitude #2 “Pray without ceasing” (v. 17). Out of approximately 667 recorded prayers in the Bible, there are about 454 recorded answers. This should encourage and motivate us to pray without ceasing! The action of prayer reveals one’s attitude of submission of his or her heart to God (cf., Romans 9:1-3; 10:1; 15:30-32). Attitude #3 “In everything give thanks” (v. 18). This is a God-aligned attitude of gratitude! The prime Old Testament illustration of this response even in the face of overwhelming troubles is Job who said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). (If you think you’re experiencing trials and afflictions read Job 1:13-20.) The action of thanksgiving reveals one’s attitude of submission of his or her will to God (cf., Luke 17:6; 2 Corinthians 9:15). Someone once said, “Attitude is everything!” Regarding one’s inner life, that is very true!

Halloween is now over. It is time for Christians to take off their costumes. I’m convinced that with most of Christendom, that is mainly what Christianity is—a costume. Often, many Christians dress up in their costumes for Sunday mornings, and as soon as they get home, they take off their costumes and won’t give them another thought until the next Sunday. They are not real Christians, they are only pretending, much like my son was pretending to be Woody this past year, and imitating a pumpkin the year before. Those costumes are not who he really is, nor are most who claim to be Christians really Christians. Most of us are worldly folks in disguise on Sundays—trying to have the best of both worlds. We want the blessings that come with being in Christ, but at the same time, we absolutely refuse to give up our worldly pleasures. This cannot be. As Christians, we have died to the world, and the world to us (Galatians 6:14). When will we understand that there is no such thing as “having the best of both worlds”? James makes it abundantly clear that this is impossible. He warns, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (4:4). [Editor’s Note: Frequently, even the most respected brothers and sisters in Christ reflect more of the material prosperity of the western world and many of the vices …