Over The Sea

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Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. (Isa 24:15 NIV)

Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. (Isa 42:10 NIV)

In October my son Joshua and I traveled with Jay Graham to the Philippines to visit brethren, teach from the scriptures, encourage congregations, get acquainted with fellow workers, try to be of help to those who are already serving the Lord, and to learn how to be more helpful. We spent three weeks Continue reading

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Coming and Going

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Everything is in motion, nothing is truly standing still. Every object in the physical universe seems to consist of particles in motion. The world on which we live is hurtling through space, as is the sun whose light we live by. The light itself is speeding waves of photons. Nothing is really standing still. Since we are definitely going somewhere (whether we want to or not), the question to consider is, “where are we going?” Continue reading

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When Duty Calls

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duty n., pl. duties. 1. An act or a course of action that is required of one by position, social custom, law, or religion. 2.a. Moral obligation. b. The compulsion felt to meet such obligation. 3. A service, function, or task assigned to one, especially in the armed forces. 4. Function or work; service.

“The Second Mile”
Stephen Moore
Stern Duty said, “Go walk a mile
And help thy brother bear his load.
I walked reluctant, but meanwhile,
My heart grew soft with help bestowed.
Then Love said, “Go another mile.”
I went, and Duty spoke no more,
But Love arose and with a smile
Took all the burden that I bore.
‘Tis ever thus when Duty calls;
If we spring quickly to obey,
Love comes, and whatsoe’er befalls,
We’re glad to help another day.
The second mile we walk with joy;
Heaven’s peace goes with us on the road,
So let us all our powers employ
To help our brother bear life’s load.”

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Two Scoops of Chocolate

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“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”– and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. (1 Corinthians 6:12-14, RSV)

What’s your favorite flavor? For millions of Americans the answer to that question is “chocolate,” although many of those millions make noises of regret, as though they wish it weren’t true. Continue reading

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According to Tradition

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They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” (Mark 7:7 NIV)
Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (Mark 7:13 NIV)

Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith and salvation (Heb. 2:12, 12:2), condemned the practice of perpetuating traditions in the form of doctrines bound upon men, as though they were God’s commands Continue reading

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Required to Encourage

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Kings and civil leaders must offer encouragement in order to rule effectively and overcome opposition. Discouraged people tend to become disloyal and unproductive, and are set up for defeat. Encouraged people tend to be loyal, confident, and productive. This is true not only in the civil realm, but also in the family, the church, and every human institution. Continue reading

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Eating with the Saints

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What would we do without food? Well, not much, and not for long. It doesn’t take much thinking to realize that food is an essential of life. Eating is a basic human activity, terribly ordinary and utterly necessary. But food and eating are more than basic requirements for survival. Food, and how it is consumed, is invested with great significance both by human society and by God.

Fom the beginning, the first three chapters of Genesis emphasize food and eating over all other human activities. Continue reading

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Was Noah a Success or a Failure?

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Noah is a popular and well known Biblical character. Since Noah is such a popular and well known character there are lots of facts known about him, some of which are true. Because the Noah story has been popularized to such a great extent, it’s no wonder that many assumptions have been tacked onto the story and become commonly accepted. Some of those assumptions can at least be inferred from the Biblical account, others are simply imagination.

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The Whistling Boy

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There is an old story of a boy whose walk home from school took him through the local graveyard, a shadowed, brushy, and forebidding place. Each evening as the boy passed through the graveyard he would whistle. Someone commented to him that they were impressed with his nerve, that he could walk through the spooky graveyard so carefree and even whistle. The boy answered that he was scared every time he went through the graveyard. He didn’t whistle because he was carefree, he whistled because he was afraid of what he might hear if he didn’t.

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The Aliens Among You

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The same law applies to the nativeborn and to the alien living among you. (Exod 12:49 NIV)

Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. (Exod 22:21-23 NIV) Continue reading

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