…you are the light on the hill!

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…

Seeker-Friendly
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

It isn't hard to find religion in the human race. It seems to be "hard-coded", so to speak. Atheists are few. And it takes very little effort to find stories about people who "went on a search for God" and either found Him or didn't. Funny thing, though. The Bible disagrees. The Bible says, "No one seeks for God." (Romans 3:11) Now, wait a minute! We can objectively see that lots of people seek for God. How can the Bible make such a claim? Well, from a biblical perspective, it makes perfect sense. Scripture says that humans "by their unrighteousness…

"Notionists"
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father – Colossians 1:9-12a (NASB) I cannot tell you how many times I’ve…

Faith vs. Fickleness (3-8-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

The men who saw Jesus perform the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fish said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6.14). They were to be commended for that statement, but the story does not end here. A crowd followed Him to Capernaum where they listened to Him for a while as He spoke of His relationship with the Father. We will note some of what He said as well as the reaction of the multitude. “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never…

The Touch of God Upon Our Life
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

There was a phrase which came to me again and again - "The Touch of God". – as we made our way through the book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk certainly knew the ‘Touch of God’ - which made me turn to some other Bible passages. When you look at the lives of various men of God, we see that they……

The Bride Price
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Luke 15:8 Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and look carefully until she finds it? 9 And finding it, she calls together the friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I lost. The drachmas, in Jesus time, was equivalent to the Roman denarii and was worth about 18 cents, so ten coins was worth about $2 or approximately ten days wages. James Merritt told his congregation back in March of 2002 that these ten coins this woman possessed were her engagement ring and…

Mission
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

John 17:18 The MESSAGE In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.(Jesus) Mission: a. A special assignment given to a person or group b. A combat operation assigned to a person or military unit. It is clear. Jesus has given us an assignment, a mission or a call for our life. If you don't know what it is, it is time to find out. If we do not seek out and follow Gods plan, spiritually we slowly fade away into a slumber always living short of personal internal victories and never completing the will of God.…

Don't Let Your Heart Be Troubled
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

Undoubtedly we live in a time of peril and danger of many kinds and originations. If one watches television news at all, many of these conditions are evident. Some have said that signs of danger are simple the result of better reporting, and are the result of a shrinking world. Everything is done faster and reported faster, which is true. Awareness is also evidence of more rapid change in almost every arena of our reality. Changes are accelerating at in increasing rate. There is greater alarm. There is greater turmoil. This, most thinking people would agree. Important times and…