Church Life
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During Covid-19 (and Beyond), Please Stop Posting…
Social media is on fire with traffic. While that is always the case, the fact that many people have more time at home is causing many to consume more social media, interact more on social media, and share more on social media. In a lot of ways, that is good. We can gain some encouragement, teach the Gospel, and simply interact with people in ways that help us be uplifted and to have some level of attachment that we are missing. However, in our flurry to post–especially about the coronavirus–we can begin to share things that not only fail to help, they can be downright dangerous. The thing is, though,…
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People of the Pendulum
I wish I could remember where I heard the expression and who said it, but I remember hearing somebody using the phrase “people of the pendulum.” What I do remember is that statement was not made about any particular group of people. Instead, the phrase was used in a way that was meant to communicate that all of us have a tendency to swing from one extreme to another. I am typing these words as the 2020 political season is heating up. In the opinion of some observers we are more polarized politically than we have been in previous years. It seems to some that we have gotten to the point that to…
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It’s So Easy/Hard to be a Christian
I know this title is confusing, but it is certainly a reality for many people. Being a Christian is one of God’s greatest blessings, and yet along with this great blessing comes many difficulties in life. You see, Satan is still alive and well. He manifests himself in so many different ways that they are hard to enumerate. Sometimes he goes around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) just looking for those he can destroy. Often, he is cunning (Gen. 3:1) and slithers into our lives before we are even able to detect it. Sometimes he seems to leave us alone for a season, but he is never really very far away.…
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Covid-19 and Porn
I keep hearing people say things like, “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” Well, unless you are over 100 years old and lived through the flu epidemic of 1918-1919, then that is certainly true. We are in very different times. But that does not just mean living through a pandemic or being told to stay at home at such a grand scale. The differences of our times are also seen in the realm of technology. The breakneck pace of new, faster, clearer, and more realistic is simply amazing. Much of it is good and is bringing us together. Facebook and Twitter have rarely been used for more positive purposes…
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“Possum” and “The Oracle”
What in the world would George Jones and Warren Buffett have in common? A country singer who some called “Possum” and a wealthy investor looked upon by many as “The Oracle of Omaha” probably appear to be from two very different worlds, but one of the singer’s old songs and recent news about the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway actually do have something in common. In 1985, Jones recorded “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?” The song basically raises the question about where the next generation of country music stars will come from. On February 22nd of this year, Mr. Buffett’s annual letter to the investors of Berkshire Hathaway addressed his age and the…
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A Thief in the Night
That’s what it was. It seemingly came from nowhere. There had been no mention of TORCON ratings, and no frenzied weather people had been on the air for hours. People were sleeping peacefully in their beds when it hit. Of course I am talking about the tornado that hit my beloved town just a couple of weeks ago. People I know personally were impacted either through home damage or losing loved ones. Those of us who live on the other side of town are both grateful and, at the same time, feel almost guilty for the fact that we had no loss. Through all of this, my main prayer has…
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Will The Church Keep Leaving the Building?
If you were on social media for more than about 45 seconds last weekend, you saw a reference to it. The quotes were similar, and the sentiment was universal. Due to dozens–even hundreds–of congregations of the Lord’s people cancelling public worship services and having services online in their homes, people were saying that it was about time the church “got out of the building.” It is a glorious and Biblical sentiment. Certainly, the New Testament demands that we come together (cf. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 14:26) and there is an emphasis on not neglecting these assemblies (Hebrews 10:25). However, as was mentioned so often this past weekend, if we confine…
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A Leader’s Steps
From time to time, we hear about a leader who has decided to no longer serve in that capacity. The decision may be made because of age, health, family, or one of many other reasons. Usually what we hear is that the person has made the decision to “step down.” When I hear a statement like that, I always have a question. That question is not, “Why?” Unless I am personally affected in some way, the decision is probably none of my business. Instead, the question I usually have may look like a question for a teacher of the English language. Here’s my question: “Was the correct adverb used?” I invite you…
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My Two Cents’ Worth
While watching a part of a political debate recently, I saw a commercial for the Freedom From Religion Foundation. I hope that you will notice the preposition in the organization’s name. It is from, not of. What caught my attention was a picture of the top portion of a penny. As you can see, instead of the usual phrase we are used to seeing, this one cent piece had this phrase: IN REASON WE TRUST I suppose that the intended message is that we must make a choice. We can either trust God or we can trust reason. Apparently, according to the organization that hopes to free us from religion, this…
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Are You Wearing a Mask?
Millions have been ordered from various vendors like Amazon. Most of the stores are sold out. If you order them online they “might” be delivered in May. And then there is the whole discussion about which ones will actually protect you from the virus. Some say you should wear a mask when you are out in public for protection, while others say that only those infected with the virus should wear a mask. To wear or not to wear…that is the question. Of course, I’m talking about wearing masks to avoid contracting a virus that could be potentially life-threatening. Please don’t think that I’m taking the subject lightly or trying to…
