Religion and Religiously

How often have we heard someone say something like, "He goes to the gym religiously" or "She checks up on her parents religiously." We know what that means. They do these things faithfully and consistently.
Here's my question. Do you practice your religion religiously? Just because one may "have a religion" does not mean they are faithful or consistent in their practice of it. It does not make it a priority in their lives. Oh how we need more Christians to practice Christianity religiously.
According to James 1:26, it is possible to have a useless religion. However, if we want to practice pure religion, we must strive to meet the needs of others and keep ourselves "unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). Remember, it does not matter how religious you are if you don't practice your religion religiously!

Just a note: I have heard that there are some now referring to our First Amendment right of freedom of religion as "the freedom to worship." We should be careful to point out that worship is a part of our religion and the First Amendment encompasses much more than that. Otherwise, the argument will eventually be made by those who oppose Christianity that certain aspects of our religion may be regulated by the state. May we ever be vigilant about this precious freedom.

Mountain

Lord, I've never moved a mountain and I guess I never will. All the faith that I could muster wouldn't move a small ant hill. Yet I'll tell you, Lord, I'm grateful for the joy of knowing Thee, and for all the mountain moving down through life You've done for me.

When I needed some help you lifted me from the depths of great despair. And when burdens, pain and sorrow have been more than I can bear, you have always been my courage to restore life's troubled sea, and to move these little mountains that have looked so big to me.

Many times when I've had problems and when bills I've had to pay, and the worries and the heartaches just kept mounting every day, Lord, I don't know how you did it. Can't explain the wheres or whys. All I know, I've seen these mountains turn to blessings in disguise.

No, I've never moved a mountain, for my faith is far too small. Yet, I thank you, Lord of Heaven, you have always heard my call. And as long as there are mountains in my life, I'll have no fear, for the mountain-moving Jesus is my strength and always near.

Author Unknown HigherPraise.com

Note from Steve: The key to moving mountains is to recognize the real power behind the process -- God!

Get Out of the Way!

A man was once visiting a farmer and asked, "Does your mule ever kick you?" "No Sir," was the reply, "he hasn't yet, but he frequently kicks the place where I recently was."

Temptation is like that, and we would do well to learn from this farmers wisdom. The best way to avoid being "kicked" by sin is to not be there. That is what David did when Saul tried to kill him. "And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice" (1 Sam. 18:11).

So it is with us. One of the best ways to avoid harm, trouble, or even sin is to get out of the way!

Accordance Bible Software

I recently purchased a new Bible software package called Accordance after looking at several at several others. Previously, I had used QuickVerse and really enjoyed it. The iLumina program was very interesting, but seems to be lacking in serious Bible study tools. Of course, Logos is the best known and has the largest library. It has the largest price to go with it. Yet, that is the way I was leaning until a friend told me about Accordance.

Accordance is made by Mac users for Mac users (but they also have an emulator for PC's), and since I also use a Mac, I thought it was worth checking out. The new Mac version of Logos will not do everything the PC version will do. That coupled with the price helped me make up my mind, but not completely. What really influenced me to choose Accordance was what it will do. This is an amazing program. Unlike Logos, when you buy a package and later upgrade to a larger package, the price of the first package is credited to the purchase of the next. This makes it much more cost effective.

Don't think you have to sacrifice power for savings. Accordance has extremely innovative search commands like the "Fuzzy" search which allows you to search for a phrase even if you don't have the exact words. The "Instant Details" box shows you verses or original language information as you move your cursor over a word in the workspace window. Time and space will not allow me to tell you all the valuable tools and abilities of this program, but you can see them by going to the Accordance website. You can view demos, watch podcasts of how to use the program, or even download a free demo. It will be worth your while to check these out.

Last weekend, I went to an Accordance training seminar in Kansas City to learn more about this powerful study tool. They did this for free (How many software companies do this?). Beside free tech support, they also have training videos and user forums to you help and to get new ideas. Whether you are a Mac user or a PC, you can benefit from Accordance.

G P S

My first real experience with a GPS (Global Positioning System) was on a trip with a friend. It absolutely amazed me to see it work by receiving signals from satellites in space and triangulating our position here on earth. As I watched this device work, I thought of how it is like the Gospel.

The GPS is not like the Gospel in that it is from man, yet the Gospel is from God. It is subject to changes, but the Gospel is not. It can be wrong, but the Gospel is always right. However, there are some ways in which these two are similar.

• Both look up for direction. One looks to satellites, and the other to God.
• Both tell you where you are (whether you like the answer or not). One tells you where you are on the earth, and the other tells where you are spiritually.
• Both tell you how to get where you need to go.
• Both can be ignored or rejected. Anyone who has ever used a GPS has heard the familiar word, "Recalculating" when they deviated from the charted route. When one deviates from God's course, he must repent and get back on course or he will end up being lost.

Are you trying to go to Heaven? Use the right GPS... God's Plan to Save!

It Takes A Preacher!

Today many believe that preaching is outdated and ineffective. The pulpit is being de-emphasized in many churches, while drama and other forms of entertainment are gaining more prominence. There are two points I want to make about this trend and attitude toward preaching.

First, to minimize preaching in our worship services is to minimize God's plan for our worship. Preaching has been practiced in our worship from the very beginning (Acts 20:7). The pulpit is invaluable to the life and growth of a congregation. It sets the tone, encourages, warns, and informs. When the pulpit is de-emphasized, the members of that congregation will certainly suffer from shallow teaching.

Second, the pulpit is not the real answer to church growth. The pulpit is not going to reach the masses. It is simply too limited. It is limited in scope because it is not primarily designed as an evangelistic tool. The main purpose of the pulpit is directed to the church and not specifically to those outside of Christ. If we used the pulpit only for outreach, we would never be able to deal with the meat of God's Word(Hebrews 5:12-14). It is also limited in range. By its very nature, pulpit preaching is limited to the confines of a building. Most of the lost are outside our buildings without any desire to enter.

There is another unfortunate assumption often made today. Namely, the way to reach the lost is to invite them to worship services. This practice is not wrong; using this practice as an approach to personal evangelism is wrong. As we have seen, worship services are really for Christians, not those outside of Christ. If we are going to reach the lost, we must realize it doesn't take a pulpit, it takes a preacher. When Jesus sent Saul to Damascus to wait to learn what he "must do" (Acts 9:6), He also sent Ananias to give Saul that instruction. In the conversion of Saul, it took a preacher! Why didn't Jesus tell him what to do when He had Saul's attention on the road to Damascus? The only answer I have to that question is that Jesus did not want to do it that way. He must have wanted a preacher to talk to Saul. Consider the Ethiopian Eunuch. The Lord sent Philip to "chase him down." When Philip caught him, he "preached to him Jesus" (Acts 8:36). Again, it took a preacher! It is the same with the Philippian Jailor (Acts 16:31-34).

The fact is, all Christians are called to be "preachers." If we are to grow as we ought to be growing, we must all go out and "preach" or talk to others about Christ, His grace, His word, and His Church. While there may be a very few exceptions (those who are self-taught), the general rule is that everyone who becomes a Christian did so because someone cared enough to talk to him or her. It still takes a preacher. Are you preaching today?

Head or Heart?

I loved the old Star Trek TV show when I was growing up. Do you remember the seeming conflict in the approaches of both Spock and Kirk. Spock approached everything with cold logic. Kirk, on the other hand, approached the things with some degree of emotion and passion, and sometimes he went with his gut feelings. They worked well together.

Today, many people struggle with their circumstances in life questioning whether they should go with their head or their heart. More often than not the world says to go with the heart. Of course, the world always counsels us to do what makes us feel good at the moment. I once heard a speaker say there are some people who have a more doctrinal approach to the Bible and Christian living, while others have a more devotional approach. This sounds a little like the "head or heart" approach to life. Which should we follow?

Following the head strikes me as being "an inch wide and a mile deep." It has the depth or substance, but it is somewhat limited in its breadth. I know following the head is important because Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). "Knowing" and "truth" require the head. When Jesus spoke of the scribes and Pharisees, He said, "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do" (Mt. 23:3a). Therefore, we must do what we know to be the right thing to do no matter how we feel about it. However, there is an inherent danger in a purely academic approach to the Bible and Christian living. Jesus went on to say about the Pharisees "but do not do after their works, for they say and do not" (Mt. 23:3b). They ignored the weightier matters of the law such as justice, mercy, and faith (Mt. 23:23). They were sticklers for the law, but their heart was not in it.

Following the heart strikes me as being "a mile wide and and inch deep." It is broad enough, but too shallow. This approach recognizes the "felt needs" of every person. It reaches out to others, it cares, and is compassionate. Such was Jesus. I know this is important because Jesus said, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" (Mt. 15:8 NKJV). Jesus was just as serious in condemning this as He was condemning the problem in Matthew 23 (Cf. Luke 6:46). However, there is a danger of emotionalism. Sometimes people become concerned only with how Christianity makes them feel to the neglect of doing what is right in the sight of God (Gal. 1:6-9; Rom. 6:1; 2 Tim. 4:3,4; 2 Pet. 1:16).

We must find a balanced blend of the head and the heart. This approach is "a mile wide and a mile deep." This is not an "either, or" question. It is a question of "both, and." The head and the heart are not mutually exclusive. Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and all thy mind." We see that loving God requires both the head and the heart. This is also true in our worship (John 4:24). All I am saying is that the Christian must follow his head (what God's Word says) with all his heart (emotion and passion)!

Cleaning Day

Today is the day to clean off my desk. It was way too cluttered. This is something we all have to do from time to time. Here are some thoughts that came to me while I was performing this task:

• It is always better to have a set time to do certain tasks. This is one of those things that need to be done regularly because things tend to "pile up." We too need to have regular times to "straighten up our own lives." This is the concept of examining ourselves that Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 13:5.
• It important to put things in their proper place. During the week, we often use a thing and because we are focused on what we are doing at that moment, we don't put it back in its place. How often do we do this in our personal lives? We tend to get caught up in the daily struggles, influences, and exertion. In the process, our priorities get shuffled around. This is when we need to take the time to put our priorities back in their proper place.
• It is surprising how much needless stuff accumulates. Initially, some of these things seem to have some significance and importance at the moment, but after the week is over, we realize this stuff is not important and simply clutters our desk. There are things in life that seem to be important at first, but eventually we realize they are only cluttering up our lives. This is when it is time to throw these things out! It is more difficult for some than others. I'm one of those who have a tendency to hold on to things I just don't need. Of course, occasionally when I throw things away (bulletins, notes I've jotted down, etc.), it seems I need them a day or two later. While this has happened, it is rare. I can't even remember a specific instance right now. So, in reality, I got by fine without it. Is there something in your life that needs to be discarded right now. Obviously, sin must be discarded (2 Cor. 7:9-10). However, there are times that even benign things in life need to be discarded when they tend to clutter up our lives.

I never cease to be amazed at the life lessons we can find all around us every day. Even the most mundane tasks afford us great opportunities to grow spiritually if we will look for the lessons that are there. I want to challenge you to look for the lessons in the tasks you have to do today!

I'm Back!

I apologize for the "vacation" I have taken from blogging. One thing I'm going to do this time is limit the number of posts. Someone once said, "'The Thought for the Day' doesn't mean we should only have one thought per day." Well, it seems that there are days I can scarcely muster one thought for a blog, let alone several a week! Actually, time is the main reason I have not been posting. It seems that I either go all out with something or I don't do it at all. I am trying to change this and do better. Therefore, I will try to do only one or two posts per week from now on.

It is amazing that so many people have continued to check this blog during "my absence." Thank you for coming back. I hope future post will be a real blessing to each of you.

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!