Random Articles
“They Shall Not Hurt Nor Destroy…”
by Arlan Weight (Bismarck, North Dakota) The words shown above are taken from the text of Isaiah 65:25. It ends the section of scripture that describes a wonderful time in the future when there will be no more trouble or sorrow. There will be no destruction as we have recently seen in New York City. These are the words that came to my mind as I watched the terrible mass destruction taking place September 11, 2001. It was so awful, so unbelievably heinous! How could any human being or group of human beings do what they did to other […]
To Separate or Not to Separate
by Brenda Branson (Hanson, Kentucky) Copyright © 2004 Most pastors and marriage counselors recommend that a couple stay together to work out major conflicts. Their rationale is that issues are best dealt with face-to-face instead of at a distance, with two people working together to come to a mutual understanding. This is true in most safe relationships. However, in an abusive situation, it is sometimes healthy and wise to separate, with the separation having a structure and a goal for the restoration of the relationship, if at all possible. If you are in a 15-round prize fight, there’s nothing wrong […]
Seeing Is Not Believing
(Copyright) by Ryan McClure (Charlotte, North Carolina) Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) We all know the old saying that claims, “Seeing is believing.” It has us trusting that if we can see whatever it is with our own two eyes, we can accept it to be so. For instance, we would probably be skeptical about a snake and a hamster being best friends. Perhaps even more astonishing would be the friendships among three predators: a bear, lion, and tiger (affectionately labeled “BLT”). Yet, these […]
A Day of Lust, Not Love
(Copyright) by Martin G. Collins (Charlotte, North Carolina) Our Savior Jesus Christ tells the woman at the well in Samaria, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:23). As the first great commandment (Matthew 22:37-38) suggests, true worship of God and agape love are entwined. In flagrant contrast, most people in this world celebrate their holidays, not in spirit, truth, and love, but in fleshly practices, lies, and in the case of Saint Valentine’s Day, lust. Sexual immorality has always been the essential ingredient […]
Weather or Not
by James Steinle (Swanville, Minnesota) What is with all the weather, or lack of it? Record heat, drought, crop failures, gardens that we can’t keep up with in watering. It seems like the curses found in Deuteronomy 28 are coming to our nation. Give Deuteronomy 28 a read and see what you think. Are we reaping blessings or curses? Verses 22-24 are especially telling: “The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until […]
Fret Not Because of Evildoers
by James Steinle (Swanville, Minnesota) In this world, which currently is Satan’s world, we see many things that strike a believer as being wrong or evil. We see nation against nation threatening war. We see crime from all walks of life; white collar crime involving millions and billions of dollars. Sexual crimes of all kinds. Violent crimes involving kidnapping, torture, murder, or injury. We see corruption of governing officials all over the world establishing laws to subjugate their peoples. Here in America, it does not seem to matter which particular party is in office; corruption and special interests often seem […]
5 Reasons Genesis 3:16 is Not a Model for Christian Marriage
by Eddie Hyatt (Tulsa, Oklahoma) I was driving along listening to a Christian radio station on the car radio. A well-known pastor came on and announced that he would be speaking about God’s plan for marriage. I was shocked to hear him read Genesis 3:16b as his text. This passage, in our English Bible, reads, Your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you (KJV). I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I found myself exclaiming aloud, “No! No! This passage is not about Christian marriage. This passage is describing the distortion of marriage as a result of […]
Can We Prove that Christ Could or Could Not Sin?
by Rhoda Foust (Lehigh Acres, Florida) To begin with, can we agree that God made statements and promises and swore to those promises? Did these promises include Christ’s sinless sacrifice and resurrection? If we can agree to these things, then the only argument is whether we do or do not believe God’s words one hundred percent. To reach a conclusion we will look at and study some pertinent scriptures, asking the question, “Could God, in the flesh, have sinned? The symbol ^ will indicate my emphasis on a word or words. Acts 15:18 ^Known^ unto God are all his works ^from […]
Division Will Lead to the Nation’s Destruction if not Restrained
(Copyright) by Richard Markland (London, Ohio) The year 2020 will go down in history as a year of deep division. It will be remembered as a time in which Americans turned on one another. The national election for the presidency will be remembered as illegitimate by Trump supporters and conservatives, but fair by Democrats and liberals. Most Americans fail to see long range repercussions for the way they decide to deal with problems. What is taking place will irreversibly harm the country as long as emotions are the driving force behind the stances people are taking. What is developing is a national […]