Bootheel Youth Camp

I have been trying to post some pictures of last week's session of camp, but for some reason I keep getting an error message. Maybe I will get it to work soon.

At any rate, we had a wonderful week. There were 74 campers plus counselors and other staff. Of course, we had some rain during the week, but it didn't stop us. All in all, we had a terrific group of campers. Five young men were baptized into Christ and two young ladies were baptized when they got home. Several other young people will spend more time studying with their parents at home.

On the Evolution/Creationism Front

The state of Louisiana has passed a bill allowing teachers to offer evidence that may be critical of politically correct scientific issues.Click here to read more about this new development in Louisiana.

This will include such subjects as Darwinism and Global Warming among others. In the past, public school teachers have been censored and reprimanded for simply stating the fact that the theory of evolution is flawed. Now they have the freedom to give all the facts at least in Louisiana. I hope this proves to be a trend.

However, it does not mean that Biblical truth concerning creationism will be allowed in public schools. Also, it is doubtful that most of the more liberal states will do anything like this. At least it is a small step in the right direction.

"A Christian Nation"

Are we a Christian nation? Barak Obama says "Whatever we were, we are no longer a Christian nation, at least, not just." I don't intend to get into politics here, but I do want everyone to hear what Barak Obama said about this nation. Just click on the You Tube picture below. He is not the only one saying this type of thing today. Obviously, there is a concerted effort on the part of some to discredit Christianity and hopefully relegate it to obscurity in this country.

Contrary to what these folks are saying, this country was founded upon the principles and values of the Bible. The founding fathers were very clear about this. One of the great disappointments of our education system today is the refusal to expose young people to the Federalist Papers which reveal the underlying philosophy of these founders.

The most troubling words in the Obama quote are "no longer." This implies we are not what we once were with regard to Christianity. Friends, we need to get back to these principles. Of course, there are things that have changed for the better (i.e., Civil Rights). Keep in mind that the things that were not good about this country in the past were not supported or condoned by the Bible.

This is not to say that other religions have no place in the U.S.A. One of the founding principles of this great nation is the freedom of religion. I believe this. We all have the power of choice. It is interesting that in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2,3), Adam and Eve had a choice. God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the midst of the garden. Yes, other religious beliefs are welcome here, but they must not be allowed to change these founding principles. Whatever religion one may be, we must all be Americans! We must all remember that they are here because of the very principle of the freedom of religion that some would like to destroy. What do you think? Would there be freedom of religion here if this country were founded on Islamic principles and values?

"Logophobia"

Lionel Ruby defines the word "Logophobia" as being the fear of logic (Logic, An Introduction, viii). "This is a characteristic of those who speak disparagingly about the cruciality of valid reasoning and who are not at all disturbed that their position implies contradiction." In our postmodern age, many people reject logic for relativism and feelings. These become the foundation for the way they see the world around them and religion in particular. This attitude even creeps into the church from time to time. When anyone who rejects evidence or facts in order to hold a preconceived idea, belief, or some desired practice regardless of what the Bible says is suffering from "logophobia".

Lord Halifax once said, "Nothing has an uglier look to us than reason when it is not on our side." Again, David Hume pronounced "No man turns against reason until reason turns against him." There is much truth to these two statements. However, man's rebellion against reason does not change the universal truth of God's Word. This attitude still comes down to simple rebellion against God.

God said, "Come now, and let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18). His desire for us is to reject postmodernism and hold to His Will. He also commands us to do this. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We have the inspired example of how the Bereans were commended for searching the scriptures (Acts 17:11). We are told to contend for the faith, and be ready to give an answer (Jude 3; 1 Peter 3:15). May we never be ashamed of God's Word, and may we always have the courage to face the truth - even when it is not appealing to our finite human sensibilities.

Questions For Bible Study

I once ran across an old bulletin article written by the late Franklin Camp in 1968. It was about personal Bible study using ten questions. These questions are based on private study of a chapter of the Bible. They are designed to promote introspection on your part and to help you handle the things you may face each day. I want to share these questions with you today.

1. What is the principle subject of the chapter?
2. What is the most important lesson? (for you)
3. What is the most impressive verse to me? (memorize it)
4. Who are the main persons in the chapter?
5. Is there anything in the chapter about Christ?
6. Is there any example for me to follow?
7. Is there any error to avoid?
8. Is there any duty to perform?
9. Is there any promise to claim?
10. Is there any prayer with petitions (prayers) that apply to my special needs?

Brother Camp was a brilliant man! Remember, these are designed to help you in your own personal, private Bible study. The more you apply it to your own circumstances and needs, the more it will benefit you. Enjoy!

Mission Trip to Lincoln, MO

Some of the young people (and young at heart) from Doniphan went to Lincoln, MO for our first Mission Trip June 5-8. I will begin a Gospel Meeting with the church in Lincoln tomorrow, and it will continue through Wednesday evening. Charles Rose is the preacher here in Lincoln. He worked hard to have things ready for our arrival and has been a real help in this effort. We appreciate the good work he and the brethren are doing here. Christy Harms (a Doniphan girl!) lives here and has also been a great help to us as well.

Our group has worked diligently door knocking and trying to set up Bible Correspondence Courses in Lincoln and some of the surrounding area. We only had two days, but they covered all of Lincoln in one. Here are some pictures of everyone at work.







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Where Have You Been?

create your own visited countries map

This site allows you to click on the countries you have visited and then display them on your blog or web page. This map shows countries that Courtney or I have visited. You can also make a map of the states you have visited as well. It is a fun thing to do.

Remember, a good translation of the Great Commission is "as you go into all the world, preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

Remember!

Last week when I was in Walmart, an elderly gentleman was driving one of those electric scooters in front of me. When he suddenly made a tight U-turn toward me, I jumped to the side. He had a good laugh at my expense and then we began to talk. He was over 90 years old and said he flew a P-38 in WWII. He was shot down over Borneo and spent over 3 months in a Japanese prison camp before he escaped. My wife was waiting for me and I had to go even though I could have stayed there all day listening to the stories he told. I can't help but think of him on the eve of Memorial Day. People like him helped insure the freedom we enjoy today. I am very grateful to them.

This has made me think of the importance of remembering. It has always played a role in man's relationship to God. God put the rainbow in the sky to remember His promise that He would never destroy the earth again by water (Genesis 9:16). Throughout the Torah (law), God instructed every aspect of building the Tabernacle, the utensils, and the garments for the priests. Several times God says these things were to be made a certain way as a memorial. Even the fourth commandment included the word "Remember" (Exodus 20:8).

Remembering helps us in so many ways.
1. It protects us. That is why Jesus said "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32). It was a warning.
2. It instructs us. The "things that were written afore time were written our learning (Romans 15:4).
3. It enriches us. Paul called Timothy to remember the faith that was in his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:4).
4. It encourages us. One example of this is found in Psalm 112:6, "Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance."
5. It connects us. This is why all Christians come together on the first day of every week. We are there for a memorial (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24,25).

On this Memorial Day, we will remember those who gave themselves for our national freedom. Yet, as important as that is, it pales in comparison to the ultimate sacrifice of love that Jesus made for us on that cruel cross. May we always be faithful to Him by remembering Him and what He did for us.

More On The Global Warming Front

Many scientists are taking a stand against the faulty conclusions of the Global Warming Movement. A petition has been signed by over 30,000 scientists who deny the doom and gloom predictions of the Al Gore crowd. Click here to read more about this. I doubt if you will hear about this in the mainstream media.

As Christians, we must realize that we are stewards of the environment God has provided for us. However, that does not mean we should be gullible. The fact is we must understand that there are people out there with ulterior motives who want to gain more power and control over the masses. May we do all we can to protect the environment. Furthermore, may we intelligently consider all the facts and sides of the issue.

Revealing Questions

One day when my father had "bus duty" at the school where he then served as assistant principal, someone threw some fireworks out a bus window. Dad got on the bus and asked, "Who threw that fire cracker?" To which, one little boy quickly replied, "That wasn't a fire cracker. It was a cherry bomb." Dad then said, "You come with me." The young man who spoke up revealed more than he ever intended.

I think we all do this more than we realize. We will say one thing, but a perceptive listener will glean much more from what we said than we intend. Sometimes people do jump to conclusions, but here I am talking about the fine art of reading between the lines. This can be seen in some of the questions we read in the Bible. For instance...

1. Genesis 4:9 "Am I my brother's keeper?" All God asked Cain was where Able was. This reply by Cain showed a certain amount of defensiveness. Of course, people often become defensive when they are guilty of something. That did turn out to be the case with Cain.

2. John 21:21 "What about this man?" Jesus had just finished confirming Peter's faith by asking him three times if he loved Him. Jesus then signified "by what death he would glorify God" and ended by saying "Follow me" (John 21:19). Peter's response at this point was not a good one. He saw John standing there and asked "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus answered, "... what is that to you..." (21:23). Here Peter wanted off the "hot seat." He may have even revealed a bit of jealousy and selfishness. The main thing is he was minding other people's business when he should have been dealing with his own problems.

3. Matthew 19:18 "Which ones?" When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life, Jesus told him to "keep the commandments" (19:17). To which the young man asked "Which ones?" This question is puzzling to me. Did he hope to get by with only obeying a few? I do believe he was sincere in what he asked. Maybe he was making a distinction between the Bible and the man-made laws of the Jews. I hope so. After Jesus specified what commandments, he acknowledged that he had kept these and inquired, "What lack I yet?" (19:20). Of course, Jesus told him to sell all he had and give it to the poor and follow Him. The young man then went away sorrowful. Apparently, he had a problem with the command about covetousness. He wasn't willing to give up his great possessions to follow Jesus. It all seems to go back to his question, "Which ones?"

I am not suggesting that we go around trying to read something in to every little thing others say. The point is this. We would do well to ponder the words that come out of our own mouths. Maybe we can learn a little more about what is really in our own hearts.

Freed-Hardeman 139th Commencement

Susan Galloway, our daughter, graduated today from FHU. For the first time in six years, we do not have a child attending Freed! Susan and David, her husband, will both attend Memphis State this fall to begin the Master of Fine Arts program in Theater. David will specialize in Set Design, and Susan will focus on Directing. Their dream is to one day own and operate their own theater. From the looks of things, they are going to be well prepared to make that dream a reality.

Another highlight of the day was the commencement speaker. They out did themselves this year by getting the Honorable Janice Rogers Brown. She was on the short list of the latest Supreme Court nomination possibilities, and is now on the U.S. court of Appeals in Washington D.C. since being nominated by President Bush, and finally being confirmed two or three years ago. Her address was outstanding! I was very impressed. We are fortunate not only to have a Christian sitting on the bench in Washington, but to have this Christian in that high position.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Two Proud Parents

David and Susan Galloway

Janice Rogers Brown

Monica and Mallory Collins of Doniphan also graduated with degrees in Social Work. Congratulations girls!

"Mom's Overture"

Mother's Day is Sunday! You have to appreciate godly mothers. Proverbs 31:10-31 tells us about one we often call "the virtuous woman," but much of what she does has to do with being a mother as much as being a wife. Christian mothers are one of the great hopes for the future of the Church on earth. There is no way we can be grateful enough for all they do. Jim Faughn sent me this You Tube clip by Anita Renfroe which shows her performing what she calls the "Mom's Overture." I really enjoyed it, and I hope you do as well.



Thank you, and Happy Mother's Day, Moms!!!

Becoming A Vessel Of Honor

In 2 Timothy 2:15-26, Paul uses the analogy of a vessel. This analogy harkens back to that of Jeremiah 18:1-6. In this passage, the Apostle explains how we can be what God expects us to be. To do this, he first points out the...

I. Material In The Church.
Paul begins by saying, "In a great house" (20). This is a reference to the Church (1 Timothy 3:15). He makes the point that there are different qualities of vessels in the Church. Some of these vessels are of honor and some of dishonor. Those Christians who are typical of the vessels of dishonor do serious harm to the Church. Yet, those who are considered vessels of honor are a credit (Matthew 5:16). Are we stuck in one category or another? No, you can change, but it is a...

II. Matter of Choice.
Notice Paul's choice of words in verse 21. "If anyone cleanses himself from the latter." This indicates that each individual must accept personal responsibility. The word "If" may be a small word, but it has a huge meaning. "If" shows that something is conditional. In this case, it means we have a choice to be either a vessel of honor or of dishonor. Again, notice that Paul speaks of how one "cleanses himself." Obviously, we do play a role in our own salvation. It is not enough to say God saves us. He does, but that does not mean we don't have any responsibility to God as well. When one says "I'm saved by grace, and I don't have to do anything," it is lazy grace. This "lazy grace" is not going to save anyone. Then Paul said, "He will be a vessel of honor." This is a very special kind of vessel. This can be you! The vessel of honor is "Sanctified" (2 Timothy 1:9). It is "Useful for the Master" (2 Timothy 4:11). It is "Prepared for every good work" (Titus 1:16). So then, how can one choose to be a vessel of honor?

III. Moving Toward Christ.
First, one can move toward Christ by being diligent in the study of God's Word (2 Timothy 2:15). Second, becoming a vessel of honor includes shunning profane and idle babblings (16). Third, departing from sin is imperative (19). Fourth, one can be what God wants him to be by fleeing youthful lusts (22). Fifth, one must avoid foolishness (23,24). Finally, we should keep a proper attitude as we do all we can do to correct those who are in sin (25,26). May we all be vessels of honor!

Biblical Values Wins At The Box Office

I just read an interesting article which shows that 9 out of 10 of the top movies of 2007 reflected biblical or traditional values and, pro-American, pro-capitalist themes. Click here to read the full article.

The fact that Hollywood continues to put out so many movies that are not fit to be watched is proof that they have an evil agenda. They would rather corrupt our children and our nation than make money. Their worldly, godless world view is more important to them than profit. This should be a warning to all Christians. The "secular progressives" are willing to fight for their beliefs. What about us? Are we ready to take a stand for God, Jesus, His Church, His Word, and biblical values?

Looking For Loopholes

There are some people who always seem to be looking for a way around God's Word. They will diligently search the scriptures, but only to find out how they can circumvent or avoid the clear teachings of the Bible. They are looking for loopholes. Here are just a few perceived loopholes they may try to use.

1. No one is perfect (Romans 3:23). On the other hand, we are told to go on unto perfection (Hebrews 6:1). When Jesus told the woman caught in adultery "Neither do I condemn you," He also said, "...go and sin no more" (John 8:11).

2. Others are in sin... What about them? They are like Peter when he wanted to get off the "hot seat" by asking Jesus "But Lord, what about this man?" (John 21:21). Yet, Paul warned us not to compare ourselves with others (1 Corinthians 10:12). Actually, this is only an attempt to dodge our own responsibility to deal with sin in our lives by diverting attention to the sin of others. It just does not work.

3. I'm never separated from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). That's right. Furthermore, God even "commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). While God loves His children, he also disciplines them. As the Hebrew writer put it, "For whom the Lord loves He chastens" (Hebrews 12:6). Jesus said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). He still expects us to repent. Even though God loves the lost, they are still just that-- lost!

4. The blood of Christ keeps on cleansing (1 John 1:7). Yes, the word "cleanses" does include a continuous action in the Greek. While the blood of Christ does keep on cleansing us, it is based on the condition that we walk in the light!

5. You can't judge me (Matthew 7:1). This seems to be the "granddaddy" of all so-called loopholes. However, this does not refer to all kinds of judging. Jesus told us to "judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Of course, Psalm 119:172 informs us that "all God's commandments are righteousness." So we can judge based on what the Bible teaches. Paul condemned the Corinthians for not judging when they should have dealt with the sin among them (1 Corinthians 5:1-3). The bottom line is this--we will all be judged by the Word of the Lord (John 12:48).

There is no such thing as a get out of jail free card while we refuse to repent of sin. Looking for loopholes will never benefit us spiritually, nor will it ever help a person go to heaven.

The Dangers of Oprah!

There are a couple of YouTube videos you need to see. Someone sent this to me by e-mail, and I don't always take the time to immediately read things that are forwarded to me. However, I do usually get around to them. That said, I just checked out a a forward that contained a video clip about Oprah's Church and one about her denying Christ. I knew she was getting into the New Age movement, but I did not know she was into it this deeply. You may have seen these already, but if not here they are.




I don't think there is anything said in these clips that you cannot answer for yourself. So, I'm not going to take the time to give "Book, Chapter, and Verse" when you know them as well as I do. Yet, it is good to hear what Oprah is teaching. Due to her huge audience, she is more dangerous than most people think!

New Class Book!

I have just published a new book entitled Fullness of Time: A Brief Historical Background of the New Testament. It is a 13 lesson class book for teens or adults. This book is designed to help Christians have a better understanding of where the Pharisees and Sadducees came from. It has a discussion of the Herodian family, the Emperors, etc., showing how they fit in with the New Testament. There is also a discussion of how we got the Bible and its reliability. The Inter-Testament Period is covered as well.

This material was the result of an adult Bible class I taught in Doniphan a few years ago. Then, Adam Faughn showed me how to self-publish on Lulu.com. So I want to thank him for helping me with this. If you would like to purchase a copy of this book from Lulu just click here.

"American Idol" Edits Out Jesus

I admit it... I enjoy American Idol when I can see it. It is actually a very good and glorified talent show. Although I missed the "Idol Gives Back" special Wednesday evening, I have heard what happened during their finale when they sung "Shout To The Lord." The lyrics "My Jesus, my Savior..." were changed to "My Shepherd, my Savior..." These lyrics are the first words of the song. Actually, it was a little surprising they would even perform this spiritual song. Click here to see an article about the performance. It is a wonderful song of faith in Jesus, but the name Jesus was edited out of the song for this performance.

Some think that even the watered down version of the song was a step in a good direction, but I think it is a step in a very dangerous direction. Why? This leads to a politically correct form of religion. It seeks unity based on consensus rather than what God demands of those who would be His disciples. When Peter addressed the Sanhedrin, the high council of the Jews, he spoke of "Jesus of Nazareth" and then said, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Later, the Sanhedrin commanded them (Peter and John) "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18). The Apostles answer was classic, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20).

The refusal to use Jesus' name in a way such as this reveals that one is either ashamed (Romans 1:16) or does not truly believe in Jesus (John 8:24). Jesus Himself said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).

Doniphan Floods

Here are some pictures of today's flooding in Doniphan. It wasn't a record, but it was bad enough.

Life Is Too Short

I'm back! I bet you wondered where I was. Well, I have been busy trying to get the new year in swing here in Doniphan. Yet, it is good to get back to the blog. I hope some of you have not totally given up on me yet. Today I have some random thoughts about life.

Life is too short...

... to put up with nonsense.
... to be controlled by anger, a bad attitude, or pettiness.
... for holding a grudge.
... to neglect your family.
... to put off doing what needs to be done.
... to mope all the time.
... to not talk to someone about their soul's condition and your Savior.
... to waste time in sin.
... and, of course, to neglect God.

Life goes by so quickly. As most of you know, last year both of our daughters were married. Now we have two fantastic sons-in-law. It is difficult to see how fast time is moving when we are rearing our children, and most people are amazed at how quickly those years are over. We all have so much to look forward to in this life and in the life to come that it would be a shame to needlessly squander it. One of life's great skills is the ability to spend it on the truly important things. Life is too short to not live it abundantly (John 10:10).

I hope you have a wonderful 2008!