Sunday is Father’s Day. Sadly, I don’t get to spend it with my dad in person, but I do get to make a very important phone call. Today at 11:45 I will be teaching via our local radio program. My lesson for today is called, “God Give Us Christian Fathers.” In our society, dads seem to be leaving their responsibilities at a break-neck pace. I just wanted to write a quick post saying that I’m thankful my dad wasn’t like that. I’m thankful for my parents, but on this special day, I’ll be thinking of a dad who was always there. Yes, he was busy (guess that’s where I got…

1. This psalm seems to have one central thought. David seems to be thinking about how the things men say hurt, but, then in the middle (verse 5) he realizes that God’s words are superior; in fact, God’s words heal. 2. In verses 2-4, David is attempting to show just how abusive the talk of sinners is. They not only say hurtful things against other people, verse 4 shows that they are even bold enough to say bad things against God. 3. Verse 6 shows the stark contrast between what sinners say (no matter how powerful it may be) and what God says. His words are totally pure; thus the…

Simply put: buy this book! Brother Baxter originally wrote this book in 1980 and Gospel Advocate has added this great work to it’s reprint collection. The book is not long (169 pages), but covers so many subjects in a powerful way. Personally, my faith was strengthened by reading the 26 brief chapters found in the book. They cover everything from the three works of the church (evangelism, edification and benevolence) to the Holy Spirit. Each chapter is filled with scripture references for your own study. This book would also make a great give-away for those with whom you are studying or to new converts. While there are some archaic references…

Okay, so I have to admit, I can’t stand American Idol. For a long time, I wouldn’t even watch it. When I did, though, I was not impressed. In fact, I feel asleep! This video clip from a British version (Britain’s Got Talent) proves a valuable lesson, though. We always teach our young people to not judge people by looks, profession, etc. The singer in this clip isn’t the best looking guy in the world, and he works at Cellphone Warehouse. But… …well, just watch. Once again, we are reminded not to judge a book by its cover. How often do we not talk with someone about their soul because…

Some teach that this psalm was written when David was running for his life from King Saul. Whether or not that is the case, this psalm was obviously written when David was contemplating running from a difficult situation. 1. In verse 1, people were telling David to run as a bird flees. We have all driven near a huge flock of birds and seen them scatter. That’s what people are telling David to do–just leave. David, though, sees God as his refuge. 2. Verse 2 shows us how difficult things were for David. It was as if everyone was against him. He felt as if people had their bows bent,…

1. Psalm 9 and 10, while similar in many ways, show a great contrast in others. In Psalm 9 the writer is confident, but Psalm 10 seems to be written in a time of despair and a great lack of confidence. Even so, as mentioned, many early Bibles had them together as one psalm because of their similarities. 2. While we know, as the psalmist did, that God is always near, we sometimes ask the same question he asked in verse 1: “Why do you stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Your eyes in times of trouble?” There is nothing wrong with doubt, so long as we…

If you study this psalm and Psalm 10 together, you will notice that they are somewhat similar. They are so similar, in fact, that early Latin versions of the Bible put them together as one longer psalm. While verses were, of course, added later, it is interesting to note that this is the first psalm that is at least 20 verses. Most people have the impression that the psalms are very short, but this one (and several to follow) are the same length as “regular” chapters. 1. The first phrase of the psalm contains the phrase “with all my heart.” It is similar to how Jesus said we should love…

The world of blogs just keeps growing, but, with that growth, there continues to be good material available to help you learn about God’s Word and to help you live for Him each day. I want to mention two new blogs (and I mean “new”–both started last week) that you will want to visit often. The first is Ancient Words. It is kept by my brother-in-law, Jeremiah Tatum. If you have ever seen Jeremiah’s writing, you know that he is a great writer and keeps things in proper perspective. Visit Ancient Words by clicking here. The second blog is for youth ministers. It is kept by Justin Guin, youth minister…

1. This psalm is obviously a psalm of praise (verses 1 and 9), but the praise is done in an unusual way. The majority of the psalm is spent looking at nature. Those who believe in the Bible and creation should praise God by noticing the beauty, design and order of the universe. 2. In verse 1, there are two different words translated “Lord.” The first is YHWH, the same name that was given to Moses in Exodus 3:14. The second is a name that puts the emphasis on God’s sovereignty. 3. From The MacArthur Study Bible: “The introductory irony about infants sets the stage for a contrast between the…

It’s hard to believe that this great speech was given 20 years ago today, but it was. While Ronald Reagan had his flaws, he was a great President. Listen to this portion of the famous speech at Brandenburg Gate.