…you are the light on the hill!

Identity
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

There is a tendency in human beings to identify ourselves in particular groups. "I'm an American." "I'm a woman." "I'm gay." "I'm a Jones." "I'm black." Along a lot of different lines, but we all seem to use this for identity. The most common, I think, is family. It's inherent just in our identification -- the last name (at least in American culture). This recent Christmas that fell on a Sunday, producing the dilemma of "church or family", made me ask the question of identity. Who are we? Oh, sure, we are lots of things.…

Christian Vaccination
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. - Revelation 3:15-16 In the 18th century, smallpox was a killer. Those infected would become covered in horrible pustules and die a painful death. Those who were fortunate enough to recover were left with ugly scars called “poc marks” on their skin. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu had seen people in Turkey deliberately infect themselves with a mild form of smallpox in order to develop immunity…

Justification XVI (3-9-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

“He is a prophet.” Justification was depicted in a real life event during the earthly ministry of Jesus. This series of articles explores John 9 and the events surrounding the gift of sight which was bestowed upon a man who had been blind from birth. At the end of John 9, Jesus likened the granting of sight to spiritual enlightenment and justification so we are making the same application throughout the chapter. “They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also…

At an Hour of Crisis God Calls Jeremiah
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

Turn to Jeremiah Chapter 1 – Jeremiah is one of the prophets raised up by our loving God, in Israel, at that time when the situation was serious and critical. The nation was facing a crisis. The nation was facing the judgement of God. We are presently being confronted with crisis after crisis – nationally……

You Are Not Your Past
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

Paul was a greedy thief. He was Bounty hunter paid to find Christians and take them to prison. Because of his testimony against them, they would be executed.He personally had the Apostle Stephen killed. The scales of injustice weighed heavily against him, yet, after his conversion, he wrote, “THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.” I’m sure Paul was tempted to not write the letters he did because of his…

Trembling in my sandals...
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

...I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this." 2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. (Revelation 4:1-3) Then a voice like a trumpet called out, “Come up here!” I ask you, who…

Resting Under the Burden
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

How can one rest under a burden, and a yoke? When one needs rest, having a "burden" AND a "yoke" seems like a contradiction of reality. At the very most it would seem very temporary. In addition, the longer the burden and yoke remains on you, the less restful it would be. Anything resembling a yoke would, at best, eventually become anything but restful. Yokes and burdens are for pack animals, cattle and such. Certainly a human would consider any kind of yoke and burden to be anything but restful. But Jesus promised rest - rest while ladened with a burden plus…

Walking the Political Highway
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

When I was a kid growing up in the suburbs of Dallas, one of the first moments I ever remember the topic of homosexuality coming up was during an episode of M*A*S*H*, that mega-popular sitcom starring Alan Alda and many other upcoming stars. The scene displayed a soldier afraid of going back to his military unit for fear of ridicule from his fellow officers, conveying his fears to the sympathetic ears of Hawkeye Pierce and Trapper John M.D. Liberalism was starting to come into the fold among television land back then (another example: Archie Bunker), so the writers made sure the…

Bible and Quote - April 12-16
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

The proud ungodly care nothing for what God or the godly think; they blow them off. (The Message - paraphrased) Psalm 10:5 Your response can instantly reveal the Christian values by which you live. James C. Dobson, 1936- (The proud) says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble.’ Psalm 10:6 Only a foolish farmer believes he has mastered of his garden. (The ungodly proud’s) mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. Psalm 10:7 Never underestimate a man who overestimates…

Looking with God's Eyes
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

Looking at World Events As we read our local newspapers, catch the evening news on television, or get our news online, we discover the goings on of the world. Most of it speaks of hardship and tragedy for people. They are at the very least affected, if not injured, by the events. Our Reaction Our first reaction is denial—this can’t be happening in our world, our nation, our state, or our town. Then we are shocked to realize that yes, this incident did transpire. Next, our minds try to rationalize the problem—“If there wasn’t…

Like Jesus
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

In a few hours (it is 5:00 DST here in Georgetown) several ministers from the Stamping Ground, Kentucky area will be walking from the Christian Church in Stamping Ground to the Baptist Church in Stamping Ground. So what, right? Well, it is a big so what. Each of us will be taking a turn carrying a cross. I got to heft the cross yesterday in the workshop of one of our elders at Minorsville and it is heavy. T. Wright makes a cross to last and makes it solid. The distance we will be carrying the cross is roughly an eighth of a mile. Nowhere close to the distance that Jesus had…