…He loves you and guides you!

It's Coming
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

You won't see them at first. You won't know that they have arrived until their familiar calls start to fill the air. And fill the air they will. They'll set up a cacaphanous din that will be heard for miles around. One of the most amazing biological wonders of all time is coming; Brood X - the seventeen year cicada. The cicadas are an amazing breed of insect. Most insects reproduce very quickly and easily, live a short life and die. A common housefly will reproduce a thousand times compared to one cycle of life for the cicada. Even the elephant, a mammal, is a marvel of…

God Owes Me
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

It is not very often that I actually hear anyone, especially a Christian, voice the idea that "God owes me" something. It is, conversely, very rare that I find anyone who doesn't believe it's true. They believe that God owes them something or other even if they would never say it. A non-Christian friend asked me the other day about a "theological dilemma" that was nagging at him. "Isn't it true," he asked me, "that the Bible has lots of places where God destroyed lots of people? You know, like Noah's Flood or Sodom and Gomorrah or the killing…

Wanting to Want
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

Even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:3 One of the toughest areas of prayer is introspection – looking deep into my heart and trying to determine what are my motives. Jeremiah 17:9 says “The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” If you are a Christian wife and are praying for your husband’s salvation, why are you praying? Is it really to see him come to know the Lord, or is it because your life…

Justification XI (2-28-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Gander sauce is horrible tasting stuff! That's what we are forced to eat when the unfair rules that we impose on others are forced upon us. The idiom goes something like this: What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Gander sauce, that's what I've been eating a lot of over the past few years. And, to complicate things, it is still a frequent staple in my diet. Gander sauce is closely connected to human ideas of justification, hence today's message. Having been reared, indoctrinated in, and formally educated in the rules of the Churches of Christ, I speak from personal…

In What Ways Is Our Living God Challenging Us Today?
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

When we were reading Habakkuk Chapter 1, we hear Habakkuk challenging God, with many searching questions - how long? - why? And, when God answers - look and see - don't be so limited as to what I am doing in Israel - look around - I am going to raise up the Babylonians. Habakkuk can hardly……

I baptized my phone
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

You know you rock along really well for a long time not doing anything stupid. You don't get all puffed up about it, but you feel really responsible because you haven't locked your keys in the car in years, you haven't locked yourself out of the house in months, and you haven't spilled your dinner on your shirt in days. Then you do something really stupid like wash your cell phone... in the washing machine... with bleach. I never took out the insurance on my phone because I've had one for years and years and I've never dropped it in the sink, or on concrete, or in the…

Whatever Happened To Sin?
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

Its such a small word, this word “sin”, to have such disastrous consequences. A word that has destroyed kingdoms and individuals. It all begins with pernicious thoughts, feelings, and finally escalates to small thoughts, desires, and finally the act that completes the circle of destruction of everything right and valuable. Today it seems to be increasingly the norm. The subject is seldom even mentioned. Immorality has finally been enshrined. The road that was once at least level, has cascaded into a plunge into unspeakable acts. Shame has perished. Now it is Sin City.…

I See Dead People (Updated Version)
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

It's true. I see dead people. It's not a daily occurrence but, on average, every couple of weeks or so. I have to wonder why I am privileged to see them. I didn't ask for this, and I certainly didn't expect it to happen. When it first happened, I was quite shocked and moved emotionally. It took me back to the time when I was a child, and my grandmother died. I wept bitterly. I recalled the last time I held my nineteen-month-old son, who had just been pronounced dead. The pain was so profound; I couldn't cry. I'm at a hospital five days a week. I see these dead people…

Walking Among Dangerous Ground
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

It's sometimes nice getting something for nothing. No matter if it’s hitting the sweepstakes jackpot, being picked for a job you really weren’t qualified for, scoring a free tank of gas with your next fill up at the local 7-Eleven, or a winning hand in Vegas, it’s in our genes from the moment we’re born till the day we die. But realistically, part of being a responsible adult knows what crosses the line between getting something for nothing, morally and legally, or the same abusively, therefore making others pay simply because a structure’s in place…

Bible and Quote - November 17-21
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

I considered my ways And turned my feet to Your testimonies. Psalm 119:59 A turn involves two things: a turning from something and a turning toward something. William Barclay, 1907-78, Church of Scotland minister, Professor of Divinity, author I hastened and did not delay To keep Your commandments. Psalm 119:60 Be expedient to fix and detain the motion of the Spirit now striving in your heart, for it may be the moment of present advantage for victory over difficulties hitherto found insuperable. Charles Bridges, 1794-1869, preacher, theologian Church…

God and Kindness
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

God and Kindness “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. . .” Galatians 5:22 (NIV) Our lives have been hectic lately. We got our living room painted and new carpet installed. In the middle of all this our son called. The moving van was going to be there to gather his belongings and furniture on Friday—not inside a four-day window that began on Saturday. We were in a dither. Our son’s inspection of the apartment he was vacating was scheduled for Wednesday; we had motel reservations…