A focus of some reality television shows is restoring old cars. Investors with deep pockets team up with talented master mechanics to create machines that are the envy of antique car lovers. Old cars ravaged by time and the elements are restored to beautiful machines they once were. Time and circumstances have a way of…
To achieve good health, it may seem wise to follow the advice of “experts.” But most experts overlook the biggest problem-a lack of relationship with God. The Apostle, Paul put it this way, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”…
The heat of summer makes work even harder. Rising temperatures and humidity drain away energy and make us wish for cooler weather and even winter. The Psalmist David used the stress of summer heat to illustrate God’s judgment on sin. “Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like…
The world is full of people who have been beaten down. They don’t believe anyone cares about them anymore. They have been told by teachers of humanism that they are animals and they believe it. They don’t dream much anymore. There is no sparkle to a new day. They don’t look forward to tomorrow. Somewhere…
Several little girls were playing house one day, taking turns playing various family members, when one of them said to another, “Now you be the daddy.” The little girls thought for a minute and then said, “I don’t want to be daddy. I want to talk, and besides, what would I use for a remote…
It is a matter of God’s ownership. I with because it demonstrates my belief that God is the owner of all things and all that I have comes from Him. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the gold and the silver all belong to Him (Psalm 50:10; Haggai 2:8) It is a matter…
Several million members of the church are to be recalled because they are not performing properly. Symptoms include frequent missing, lack of power and poor adaptation to rough roads. Regular maintenance should have prevented most difficulties. Sadly, many only come in for maintenance when a major breakdown has occurred and, therefore, it is difficult for…
After the Israelites were deported by the Assyrians in 722 BC, the Assyrians relocated captives from other countries to the land of Israel. Their descendants became the Samaritans. These people worshipped many gods and eventually attempted to include God among those they worshipped. The Israelites despised the Samaritans. The shortest route from Jerusalem to Galilee…
In 2021 there were more than four hundred thousand children in the United States foster care. Many of those kids were unable to return to their families and were waiting to be adopted. These children spend about three years in foster care before they become eligible for adoption, but they can wait up to ten…
Can you remember when Coke was 5 cents? Hershey bar was 5 cents. A cup of coffee was 5 ents. A first class stamp was 3 cents. A gallon of gas was 29 cents. A new Chevy was $1,200. A teacher earned $2,640 a year. The most basic computer cost $5,000,000. We have come from…
I quote my mother often. She influenced my life in so many ways. A one of a kind lady. One of the many things she tried so hard to teach me, I can almost hear her saying it, “put God first in your life and everything else will work out.” She was teaching me God’s…
When God called Abraham out of Ur, he made a covenant-a promise-that Abraham would be the father of a holy nation. “I will bless those who bless you and I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people of the earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3) How would…
Rev. Gary Harrison, pastor of the First United Methodist Church (FUMC), will preach his last sermon in Warren June 5, the first Sunday in June. He has been assigned to the FUMC in Bingen and Nashville, AR, and will begin as pastor there July 1 of this year. Before coming to Warren in 2014, Rev.…
Just the sound of the word seems frantic. Yet many today try to live their lives in constant motion, dictated by a long daily to-do list or pursuing random activities. At the end of the day, they feel totally exhausted and dread the next morning when they will get up and start their hectic pace…
“My God!” Ignoring the pain, he pushed upward until his shoulders were higher than his nailed hands. “Why have you forsaken me?” As he gave his final breath, he spoke a final time, “It is finished!” Bizarre, isn’t it. The thought of this man’s blood providing redemption for “whosoever” will. The soldiers are busy now…
Jesus, God’s Son came to our world more than 2,000 years ago. He embarked on the greatest “rescue mission” of all time. Jesus came to show us what God was like and how life should be lived. Some gladly welcomed Him, while others rejected His message and pushed Him away. Eventually His jealous critics framed…
