On the afternoon of December 19, 2011, workers at the Brown-Foreman plant in Louisville, Kentucky, were transferring liquor from one tank to another. Somebody forgot to close a valve, and 2,500 gallons of 70 proof alcohol poured into the sewer. The top comment on the story posted at a local news website read: “I think…
Jesus was devoted to prayer. The Gospels suggest that he made a habit of getting up long before dawn and finding a solitary place to talk to his Father. The apostle Paul encourages us to commit to prayer, too: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Why, then, do so many Christians fail to schedule daily…
In a typical congregation of the church, the atmosphere varies somewhat from week to week. On one Sunday, the crowd is good, guests are numerous, and the singing is spirited. But on another Lord’s day, many brothers and sisters are traveling, others are sick, and the people present seem reluctant to sing out. These very…
Herman was an elderly member of a congregation in Orlando, Florida. He used a wheelchair, which he either pushed or sat in, depending on his need. This disabled brother had a passion for reaching lost people with the saving grace of Christ. So, he created his own ad for Bible studies. Herman typed the words,…
[Eric is the evangelist of the Hamburg Pike Church of Christ in Jeffersonville, Indiana.] Most Americans love the Christmas season. They look forward to all the sights, sounds and smells it has to offer. Some people go all out. Decorations go up on November 1 and don’t come down until Valentine’s Day. They wear festive…
Have you noticed that the New Testament speaks of Christian worship in terms of old covenant offerings? For instance, the author of Hebrews says, “Through [Jesus] let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Heb. 13:15). When the church sings hymns of…
Every driver relying on GPS technology knows the occasional frustration of getting bad directions. Imperfect satellite signals and outdated maps are common reasons for GPS failure. One time I heard a funny insurance commercial. A car smashes into a building. The sound of falling bricks and shattering glass is followed by a moment of silence.…
We live in a land of exceptional prosperity. Our material riches should give us peace of mind. After all, even if we don’t have a job, a financial safety net will catch us—unemployment benefits, disability income, Social Security, food stamps, subsidized housing. Yes, we should have peace of mind, but we don’t. The more we…
Americans are aware of the health risks posed by unwashed hands. Germy hands can contaminate food during meal preparation or at the table. Dirty hands also make us susceptible to colds, chicken pox, meningitis, the flu, and other viruses. So, most of us make a real effort to keep our hands clean. We wash them…
Christians often complain that there’s nothing on TV worth watching. This complaint is well-founded. But it’s more accurate to say that modern programs aren’t worth watching. The morals encouraged in the 1950’s show “Leave It to Beaver” are often impressive. In one episode, Wally is denied a full scholarship at State, even though he has…