I love old movies. I love new ones, too, but I have a special affinity for movies made from the 1930s through the 1960s. I recently watched the 1966 movie, “Nevada Smith,” starring Steve McQueen. The parents of the title character, played by McQueen, are brutally tortured and murdered. McQueen becomes consumed with the need…
Read MoreCategory: Bible Study
Lessons and studies from the Bible
Backpacks and Grudges
When we were in middle school, the guys in our church youth group went on a couple of 30-mile hikes on the Appalachian Trail. Our leader, Tad Walton, was an Air Force vet who wanted to show us how to survive in the wild. Oh, there are stories to tell. One night a bear was…
Read MoreThere is a God in Heaven
There is a God, and you’re not him. That may seem fairly obvious, but a lot of people don’t understand that. Let’s face it, lots of people think the world revolves around them. Not you and me, of course, but lots of other folks think that way. You probably have someone in mind. They want…
Read MoreAre the Works of God Being Displayed in Us?
Wildfires and hurricanes and riots and viruses are all in the news cycle today, at least when they can squeeze themselves in among coverage of political races and supreme court nominations. It’s easy to see why people are asking whether or not we are experiencing God’s judgment. Somewhere in that sentiment, there’s an acknowledgment that…
Read MoreIs This the Judgment?
In the middle of a pandemic, and with all of the unrest we have in this country, it’s easy to understand why people would wonder whether or not we’re in the end times. But here’s another question that I’ve heard from several people: Could what we’re going through be God’s judgment? That’s a legitimate question….
Read MoreAre You Ready for the Rapture?
When our daughters were young, they each had a small electric four-wheeler. These things had an accelerator pedal, and the farther down you pressed it, the faster the car would go. You braked by taking your foot off the pedal. Our girls would ride all over our backyard on those things. Little brother, unfortunately, was…
Read MoreAre We in the End Times?
I’ve had several people ask me that question over the last few months, and my answer is that it all depends on what you mean by the term “end times.” If someone is asking, “Do you think we’re getting closer to the Second Coming of Jesus?” then the answer is definitely yes, because that day…
Read MoreEating a Meal in the Presence of Your Enemies
My Great-Uncle George was a pastor in St. Clair County, Alabama, and I was fortunate enough to inherit some of the books in his library. One of them is a neat little book written in 1953 by Charles Allen called “God’s Psychiatry.” In this book, Rev. Allen suggests a prescription for anyone troubled or afraid:…
Read MoreWalking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
One night several years ago, as part of my role as associate pastor, I traveled to a neighboring town to a funeral home. One of our church members had died, and I was there to greet the family. There was a long line winding from the front door to the casket, and the family was…
Read MoreRestoration and Guidance: Receiving the Promise
One of my prized possessions is my grandfather’s RCA Victor console that he bought around 1950 or 1951. It’s a full piece of furniture with an AM/FM radio and 78, 45, and 33 1/3 rpm turntables. One of the cabinets still holds his replacement vacuum tube, still in its box. I even have all of…
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