History’s pages are damp with the tears of the righteous – tears shed for the same, sad reason.  Notice the lament of . . . The Psalmist:  “Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they keep not your law.”  (Psalm 119:136.) Jeremiah:  “Thus says the Lord, Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old

We often hear the complaint that life is not fair; and if focus is directed toward this present life of flesh, we must agree.  God never promised this world to be fair for everyone, all the time. True “equality” and unchallenged “rights” will never be fully realized in this life.  There will always be someone willing to

The tragic, horrific events of September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten. Nor should they. The video and still-life images of the violence and the resulting, staggering loss of human life, graphic and gruesome as they were, will forever be seared upon our nation’s collective memory. As Robert Burns once wrote: Man’s inhumanity to man

I can’t recall when I first heard it. And from years of observation and experience I have discovered that most all of us grew up hearing it – the oft repeated advice, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” The trouble is this. If this rule were applied in our dealings

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1.) —- “Intoxicating drinks have produced evils more deadly than all those caused by mankind by the great historic scourges of war, famine, and pestilence combined.” (William Gladstone) —- Doctor Albert Schweitzer once said beverage alcohol was “commercially

Read carefully the following few words written by Jack English, past preacher for the Center Street congregation in Fayetteville, Arkansas: “A national survey by George Barna conducted among unchurched adults indicated that 25% would attend a church assembly if a friend ever took the time or made the effort to invite them (Marketing the Church,

Like it or not, for the present, we must live in this world. Paul encourages us to “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:12.) Though we are the people, the children, of God, and though our home is in heaven, we still, while in the flesh, must live as “strangers and

The New Testament forbids the forsaking of “the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). The early church in Corinth, though in error on many points, still knew enough of God’s will to come together each week for worship services. Paul reports they “come together” for the purpose of worship (1 Corinthians 11:18). This same apostle

David was happy to hear the words, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” (Psalms 122:1.) The apostle Paul tarried in Troas seven days, until the Lord’s Day, when he could come together with the disciples “to break bread” – to worship. (Acts 20:6,7.) Earlier, in Philippi, Paul and Silas, finding themselves in

A short article entitled, “To Be Happy,” has crossed my desk and reads, “Close your book of complaints and open the book of blessings. Believe that other men are quite as sincere and honest as you, and treat them with respect. Stop looking for friendship and start being friendly. Be content with such things as