Brethren, if you are planning on buying a new NIV Bible, there is something you need to be aware of. Their first translation came out in 1973, and was followed by a revision in 1997. The '97 version was a "gender inclusive" rendering, and died quickly. A gender inclusive version involves the elimination of masculine pronouns when they were intended to include both sexes. The NIV publisher, Zondervan, has now brought out a newer attempt ...
Read MoreIt is no secret that there are many apostate churches in this world. The apostle Paul warned us that many will depart from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1). Even within Churches of Christ there are many congregations that have departed from the truth. Brethren are quite aware of those churches that no longer seek Biblical authority for all their practices though they still consider themselves a church of Christ. In the course of discussion, I’ll ...
Read MoreNot all churches of Christ are the same. Many churches of Christ do not strictly follow God’s word. Some churches of Christ have been “leavened” by carnal members (1 Cor. 5:6-8). A sure sign of this is a church that condones sin among its members (1 Tim. 5:22). Such was the case in the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 5:1-5). Rather than taking action to remove the sinful member, the church in their arrogance, ignored ...
Read More“A mighty man of valor” (Judges 11:1) by the name of Jephthah made a vow to God. Specifically he said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering” (Judges 11:30b-31; ...
Read MoreThe television weatherman was forecasting a big snow. I happen to like snow. The news of snow was exciting to me. I turned the television station to another network to see what they were forecasting. That station was forecasting a small amount of snow. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I waited for the late night news and that weatherman said it would be a heavy snow. That was great! I took comfort in ...
Read MoreDefinitions of words change over time. For example, the word “gay” has always meant to be happy. However, its definition presently includes the relationship between homosexual people where half a century ago no such reference could be found in any dictionary. Ironically, according to the first edition of the Webster Dictionary that was published in 1828, the word “gay” use to be a term of derision for drunks. The third definition under the word “gay” ...
Read MoreIn August 2005, a survey conducted by Newsweek and Beliefnet asked 1,000 Americans what they believe and how they practice their faith. One of the questions asked was Can a good person who isn't of your religious faith go to heaven or obtain salvation, yes or no? Of those that answered this question, 68 % of evangelical Protestants said yes. 83 % of non-evangelical Protestants said yes, 91 percent of Catholics said yes and 73 ...
Read MoreMuch of the time we recognize when God answers our prayers. Yet, there are times when God answers our prayers in such a subtle way that we overlook the blessing God has granted. An excellent example of this was the answered prayers on behalf of young Caleb Steinback. The 3 year old was ill and tested to have a high platelet count in his blood and a low amount of hemoglobin. The doctors scheduled additional testing the ...
Read MoreMany people contend that the Bible does not condemn the drinking of an alcoholic beverage; rather, it condemns drunkenness. To them the drink is not wrong but the quantity of alcohol consumed. In truth, the Bible does condemn the drinking of fermented beverages. The warnings against the consumption of alcohol are found throughout the Bible. A well-known passage in Proverbs 23:31-32 states “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles ...
Read MoreMany say we’re heading into another Great Depression. Maybe they’re right. I have read in the news about job layoffs. We’ve all seen the stock market crumble along with house prices. Home foreclosures are in every neighborhood. Maybe it’s time for many to consider a second or third job. I found a “help wanted” ad that I wanted to share with you. I actually took the job but they’re still hiring. It’s a great place ...
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