Posts from September 2017
The Value of Knowledge
Speaking of the political opposition in 1964, Ronald Reagan, (who would later become Governor of California and eventually the 40th President of the United States), said, “The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.”(1) Reagan was likely paraphrasing 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw, who said, “It ain’t ignorance causes so much trouble; it’s folks knowing so much that ain’t so.”(2) And so it is with so…
An Introduction to The Church of Christ
If you aren’t familiar with the Church of Christ, let us introduce ourselves and our practices to you. It is our sincerest desire to emulate the church revealed in the New Testament, particularly as found in the book of Acts. We read in Acts 2:42 that the early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.” Some early churches departed from that doctrine, thus inviting rebuke and correction by the apostles (e.g., the letters to the church at Corinth). Paul told…
Relativism: Scourge of a Nation and Religion
Relativism. What am I talking about? No, not fusses or disputes among one’s in-laws or other family members. Oxford’s Dictionary defines relativism as “the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.” In other words, what is right for me might not be right for you. It depends upon personal experience and current circumstances. In fact, what is right for me and what is right for you may be…
God is Not Interested in Our Excuses
When I played freshman basketball on my high school team, Coach Wade was never interested in hearing excuses. In fact, he had a zero tolerance for the words “I can’t.” I used those words one time and paid dearly. Since then, I’ve had much the same attitude toward “I can’t.” When I was with the Seagoville congregation to speak at the Fishers of Men graduation banquet, I was also privileged to sit in on their final class session. During this…
Genesis: A Book of Great Beginnings
Genesis– from the Hebrew word meaning ORIGIN or SOURCE Authorship: MOSES uniquely qualified Date of writing: 1450-1400 BC during wilderness wanderings ( Coffman’s Commentaries: Genesis, p. 18) 1 Kings 6:1. The book covers approximately 1/3 of human history- 2000 yrs A book of many beginnings. Genesis records the beginning of the UNIVERSE / MATTER – Genesis 1 Ex nihilo – out of NOTHING Hebrews 11:3 PHYSICAL LIFE – PLANTS – Day 3 – Genesis 1:11-12 ANIMALS – BIRDS & SEA…
A Mule Load of Dirt
In 2 Kings 5 is found the account of Naaman the Syrian. Most of us are familiar with the story of his leprosy and his journey to the prophet of God to be healed. We know of his initial anger and refusal t accept God’s conditions of cleansing, and how his servants pled with him to do this ‘small thing’ and “Wash, and be clean.” We know of his obedience and his desire to repay the man of God. We…
A Capella Music: Killing It or Keeping It?
THE GREATEST THREAT TO A CAPPELLA WORSHIP IS NOT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC; IT IS LOUSY WORSHIP. Some church leaders believe they can keep a cappella alive by preaching against instrumental music semi-annually, but the most effective method is to worship the Lord with consistent, spirit-filled praise. When it comes to the perseverance of a cappella Christian hymnody, in some circles, it has become its own worst enemy. Ensuring there is “nothing wrong” with our worship will not make it worth preserving.…