Satan and the Distracted Mind

Have you noticed how distracted we all are these days? Seems we need to be entertained or occupied every minute of the day or we feel something is missing. Parents run themselves ragged with activities for their children, from soccer practice to chorus to debate club and on and on it goes. And then you have sports venues. When I was growing up you could conduct a conversation with the person you went to the game with because whenever there was down time during the game, there was silence enough for you to hear each other. At most, there may have been an organ that played soft, soothing music. No longer. Now every second is filled with noise. The only silence you have is during the actual action when the loudspeaker is finally given a rest and you actually have to pay attention to the action!

The Church and the Example of Hilkiah

As many of you know, I am currently in an undergraduate program of study in Bible with the Sunset International Bible Institute. This is a college run out of Lubbock affiliated with the Church of Christ. In my latest studies, I’ve come to the book of Jeremiah. Some of you may be unaware, as I was, that Jeremiah is actually the longest prophecy, by number of words, in the Old Testament. (Isaiah has more chapters, but contains less words.)

Do Your Best and Forget the Rest?

One the many fond memories I have of my time growing up, is the fact that my parents were always willing to support me in my many activities. When I played baseball, they were there offering their support and encouragement. And when I began to exercise with weights in my mid-teens, my dad was willing to get out of his nice, warm bed at 5AM to help me with my workouts. To this day I remember going into his bedroom to wake him up so he could assist me. He did so with nary a complaint, a lesson that I should have learned much better than I did in my own parental life.

Traditions and the Word of God

 One of the issues that so preoccupy the church in any era is the role that tradition plays in its life and practice. To some, such a thing as oral tradition is on par with the written Word of God as authoritative and determinant. To others, tradition is a good thing, but not necessarily essential to our understanding of what God expects from His people. But I submit that there is a third way which, in my opinion, is the correct one.