by Tom Wacaster

Returning from a mission trip brings its challenges, not the least of which is the physical adjustment to a time zone that is almost eleven hours behind the place you just left. Sometimes I really struggle with adjusting my biological clock to the clock on the wall, and the reality that, while your body tells you it should be six o'clock in the morning, the sky outside tells you it is nigh unto dusk. When I woke up in Bangaluru Thursday morning it was 6:00 A.M. there, but it was 7:30 P.M. Wednesday night here at home. It would be almost 40 hours before I would be able to lay my body down for a decent rest. Going that far, that fast, does not seem to be a part of what God intended for our physical bodies. Of course, the "slow boat to China" may be easier on the body, but it really chews up a lot of time. So, until my body adjusts to the Central Time Zone, I'll take advantage of those wee hours of the morning when I can't sleep ...

By Charles Box

We are either serving our Mighty Creator or we are serving Satan. Most people never consider that they are actually Satan’s servants instead of servants of God. The majority are, in truth, servants of Satan. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) There are some who openly confess that they are Devil worshippers; the majority of Satan’s servants somehow think that they are following the God of Heaven. There is no middle ground; you are either on God’s side or on the Devil’s side. Satan is often mentioned in our Bible. The term “Satan” is in 49 verses in our King James Bible. “Devil” is in 57 verses. Satan is identified by many other names and expressions in the Bible. Here are a few: (1) Abaddon (Revelation 9:11), ...

By Charles Box

Just before giving in to the pressure of the crowd to crucify our Lord Jesus Christ, Pilate asked one of the most tragic questions of the Bible. In a very cynical way he asked, “What is truth?” In John 18:37-38 we read, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”
...

Compiled by David Barton ---

When one observes President Obama’s unwillingness to accommodateAmerica’s four-century long religious conscience protection through his attempts to require Catholics to go against their own doctrines and beliefs, one is tempted to say that he is anti-Catholic. But that characterization would not be correct. Although he has recently singled out Catholics, he has equally targeted traditional Protestant beliefs over the past four years.. So since he has attacked Catholics and Protestants, one is tempted to say that he is anti-Christian. But that, too, would be inaccurate. He has been equally disrespectful in his appalling treatment of religious Jews in general and Israel in particular. ...

By Ernest Underwood

During this election year there is an intense effort by some who presently hold high offices in our country to try to convince their audiences of the many lies that they are telling are in actuality the truth. It almost makes one want to throw a shoe through the television, as though such a thing would punish the liars. I personally do not wish to or desire to violate any law or principle that is set forth in the word of God. This being the case with many others also, how are we to vent our frustrations at these persons? I believe the answer lies in a passage in the one-chapter book of Jude. This passage reads: "Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 9 - Emphasis added.) There it is! We as children of God need not "lose our cool" and blurt out some things that would ...

by Tom Wacaster

For slightly more than one year the Handley church of Christ has placed an article in the Meadowbrook News advertizing our services, location, and focusing on a wide variety of subject matter. Attempting to develop a lengthy discussion on any particular subject is futile in what limited space we were allotted. So, I would occasionally write two or more articles on one particular topic and run these in a series. The Meadowbrook News is not the only paper in which I have used had opportunity to place a weekly or bi-weekly article. Almost every place I have done local work we have used the power of the printed page to encourage the community to think and reason with us. Such articles, though short in nature, provide an opportunity to keep the church out before the public while teaching the truth on a wide variety of topics that are important to society in general, and to individuals in particular.

I have learned over the years that ...

By David Sain

To help you set and keep your priorities straight, take the following personal inventory.

1. Which is more important to you? Making sure your dog (or cat) gets fed every day or making sure that your child gets daily spiritual nourishment?
2. Which is more important to you? Watching television or taking time for prayer and Bible study every day?
3. Which is more important to you? Speaking out on current political issues or speaking out to help someone understand Bible truth?
4. Which is more important to you? The time you spend playing sports, hunting, or fishing or the time you spend with your children?
5. Which is more important to you? The time you spend adorning your body or the time you spend improving the inner man?
6. Which is more important to you? What you think of last Sunday’s sermon or what God thinks of your response to the sermon?
7. Which is more important to you? The condition and appearance of your ...

A great number of women wonder if the perfect man exists. They have scanned the horizon and often come back thinking they must train a man to make him perfect. That leads them to the question, “Can a man learn to be perfect?” Certainly, a great number of women attempt to find out! In the long run, the realization of perfection depends upon the standard used and whether or not a man adheres to it. Many women believe their man reaches near perfection when they can get him to stop leaving his underwear on the floor and he begins putting the dishes in the dishwasher. Seeking the perfect man is no joke! A higher standard of perfection exists. A perfect man can be had!

In the pages of the Bible, Jesus stands as a sinless model of perfection. However, the Bible lists two other men as being perfect. Genesis 6:9 notes, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God.” Job 1:1, 1:8, and 2:3 declare Job “perfect and upright, one that ...

Jesus, the messiah of mankind, lived a life in the flesh like no other man. His words and his actions perfectly fit the pattern prescribed by God the Father (John 5:30, John 12:49-50). That all men save Jesus fall short of the Glory of God is factual (Romans 3:23). Yet, many who declare themselves prepared for faithful commitment to God soon find themselves transgressing against their vows to serve him. Their declaration of service comes before considering the cost – their life (Galatians 2:20). Jesus spoke about this in the parable of the sower.
How many souls have walked the path of those words? Hearts praise God every time a sinner comes to Him and humbly calls upon ...

By Charles Box

Good water to drink and use is a great blessing from God. Many in our world still depend on a well dug in the ground, near their house for water. “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” (Proverbs 25:25) The only cold of cool water that some will ever have is that water right from the well. Some of you grew up with a well in the yard and a dipper there at the well where people could draw and drink fresh, cool water directly from the well. In the Bible we read such great expressions as “the fountain of living waters.” O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.” (Jeremiah 17:13) The Bible even has the expression, “the wells of salvation.” “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3) Underground water is often found by Dowsing. ...

Early in our life, my wife and I lived in Springfield, Oregon. When my wife and I lived there, we lived in an undesirable location. We were young, in college, and couldn’t afford any better. The apartments we lived in certainly did not house the upper echelon of society. Drugs, foul language, fights, crime, and yes, even shootings were characteristic of the area. Despite the chaos surrounding us, we created two little 5x8 strips of lawn next to our back patio. We tried to make lemonade out of lemons. Years after having moved, we would drive by where we once lived. Amazingly enough, things became filthier, rougher, and more run down. The return trips we made each time served as memorial stones to us. They were reminders of how God had blessed us and delivered us away from those former times. Man observes many memorials, even marking their own graves with memorial stones. The practice of memorializing an event or entity does not correspond only to modern day observances. The ...

"Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord" (Acts 9:10). Luke records the beginning of a sequence of events that would eventually lead to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Many sermons have been preached on Paul the apostle; perhaps more than any other single New Testament character. And while we readily admit the almost super human accomplishments of this great apostle for Christ, we would do well to consider the man who played a vital role in the conversion of Saul. That man's name is Ananias. For some reason Ananias seems to have been forgotten when it comes to sermons and lessons about good and godly men. Acts 9:10 tells us that he was a "certain disciple." So far as we know he was not an elder in the church, and there is no indication that he served as a deacon, or even a preacher or evangelist for that matter. He ...

By Charles Box

Those who become Christians must believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) Christians must also understand the Two Covenants. The Bible is divided into two parts: (1) the Old Testament, and (2) the New Testament. The Old Testament contains the Law of Moses. It is also called the First Covenant. “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” (Hebrews 8:7) The New Testament contains the Law of Christ. “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24) So we today live under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. We are to ...

To say that I like cowboy boots would not be the revelation of some long kept secret. The look and feel of boots is great! The sound of them on a wooden floor brings comfort to my heart. The cowboy boot stands as a staple of western wear. They all have a unique design and function. Some boots get duded up pretty nice and only see special nights on the town. Other cowboy boots are designed to get worn throughout a day’s work. Like the boots, Christians also have a special design and function. Christians are purchased to glorify God (I Corinthians 6:20, Ephesians 1:9-12) and serve by doing good works (Ephesians 2:10). However, this is not the only area that there are parallels. Consider the other areas boots and Christianity share similarities.

Have you ever warn a pair of shoes into a barnyard or area with muddy ground. Likely, your shoes and socks ended up soaked and full of mud. Cowboy boots don’t allow that to happen. The leather keeps the moisture and muck ...

Watching the election year primaries unfold, it is clear disgust surrounds the individual in the White House and the top two challengers for the office of President of the United States. The man in the White House characterized his last three years with deception, poor stewardship, and immoral decision making. One of his challengers has a past characterized by philandering and broken trust while the other has demonstrated immoral choices involving support of homosexuality, abortion, and stem cell research. This speaks completely to their moral fiber; it does not address their failures of ideology or misdirected spirituality. Presently and historically, America stands as a land of many moral people with sound ideologies; however, the current abomination presented before the nation represents their choice to accept something less than great. America could do better. ...

Prayer stands as a key component of a Christian’s life. When a Christian prays they share their gratefulness, reverence, thoughts, concerns, and needs with the Eternal Father. Even non-Christians talk to God at times in their lives. However, prayer represents only one side of communication with God. Men need to let God talk. Unfortunately, the wide majority of the world refuses to give God the opportunity. If they would let Him talk, they would be much better equipped for the lives that they have been given.

Those who give God the chance to talk to them learn:

• God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

• God does not listen to the prayer of the sinner (Isaiah 59:1-2).

• There exists only one way to heaven, not many (John 14:6).

• Few people find their way into eternal life, the majority find only destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

• Faith only does not save (James 2:17).

...

Baptisms and burials, over a lifetime the preacher performed a great number of these. From Genesis to Revelation, his words carefully uttered the precepts of God. His hair was once full and his face youthfully smooth. Now the hair sports only grey and wrinkles outline his face. God called him through the gospel and the preacher answered. He knows spiritual peace as every day brings him closer to his Heavenly Father. Yet, the preacher seeks answers. How long will he be able to continue preaching? He feels strong now, but for how much longer? His wife believes in him, but she moves slower these days. How will he provide for her when he can no longer preach? Still, God watched over them all of these years and the preacher knows He will continue to do so. He grabs his Bible and begins a new day. ...

“Seeking a preacher” appears to be a one sided affair. A congregation shuffles through some resumes, does a few interviews, allows a preacher to bring a few messages, and then they take their pick of who they want in the pulpit. But reality begs to differ. While a preacher may not put out ads “Seeking a congregation”, he does choose where he will preach. A great number of preachers receive interest from congregations, only to tell them, “No thank you”. Some preachers take proactive steps to find a congregation by posting their resumes in various publications with a message of interest for congregations to contact them if they need a preacher. However, the ads approach the situation in a manner that says, “choose me if you find me acceptable.” What if preachers decided to take out “Seeking a Congregation” advertisements that put the congregation on the side of demonstrating their worth? Contemplate four potential areas preachers might examine: leadership, assembly, ...

The preacher shares his final words, steps down from the pulpit for the last time, and after gathering his things leaves the building for good. Preachers come and go, often more frequently than they should. The Church moves forward with or without a regular preacher, because the ability to worship God does not rely upon the presence of any particular man. Yet, this does not dismiss the wisdom of having a local preacher. A sound preacher blesses a congregation in many ways a typical member does not. When the preacher leaves, how should the Church replace him?

In the interim, congregations who can fill the pulpit with the membership do well. In fact, congregations should give members ample opportunity to present lessons during the tenure of a preacher. As a word of caution, assigning topics to these men would be wise. When assigning topics an eldership shepherds in a manner which meets the needs of a congregation. Simultaneously, by assigning topics elderships protect ...

As a boy, the opportunity existed for me to learn how to preach. The congregation I attended held classes specifically for men and boys to develop themselves and prepare to share the Word of God with the world. I can remember providing a short lesson at one point and more than likely I gave more, though I do not recall them. After that time, preaching sort of left my mind. It was not until the age of thirty-two that I sought out the opportunity to preach again. My family and I attended a congregation in Upper Sandusky, Ohio at the time. I requested to speak on occasional Sunday evenings. Following my first lesson, the minister of the congregation left never to return. Preaching immediately became a major focus of my life. Did anything take me by surprise? Yes. Would I do anything different? Yes. Most families do not prepare their boys to preach. Many men come to the decision to preach later in their lives. They seek to make a difference in the lives of men. Their own life ...

Every mother and father dreams of the future for their son or daughter. Of course, the son or daughter also does some dreaming of their own. As they grow their visions evolve. Even as adults, we understand about a change of passion. However, a love of God should always remain through every age. Yes, there is a difference between boys and girls and the expectation God established for them. Boys growing to fulfill their purpose turn into leaders. They lead their families. They lead in the Church. What a blessing if each boy became a man qualified to be an elder in the Church. Every family should guide their young men toward this objective. The central theme of an elder is a love for God. The elder shepherds the flock of God loving their very souls which God created. Another role which boys should be directed toward is that of a preacher. Jesus directed all mankind to share the Word of God; however, the male’s authority extends beyond that of a female. In the assembly of all ...

Matthew 13:44 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

Gold! Treasure! History records a great number of “gold rushes” throughout the world. Americans experienced gold rushes in no less than Nevada, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, South Dakota, Wyoming, North Carolina, Georgia, Idaho, and California. A number of people consider the gold rush to be something of the past. However, a recent report on the Madre de Dios region of Peru shows gold rushes are modern too (1). Whether in past or present, gold rushes not only exist as fascinating phenomena to study, but also good parallels to the life of a Christian.

All gold rushes begin with the same catalyst: “Discovery!” Multi-millions of individuals have dug holes in the dirt, a great number even hoping to find buried treasure. For the great majority ...

“Plead for the widow”! Isaiah directs the people of Judah to vigorously defend these women. As with the orphan or fatherless, the leader of their family no longer exists. However, their defense differs. Unlike the fatherless, the widow typically does not need to be trained and guided to know how to follow the laws of God. Without dismissing the need for the spiritual, the more immediate concern for widows centers on provision of their material needs and protection from those would take advantage of them (Isaiah 10:1-3). Sadly, neglected widows existed before the time of Isaiah and continue to exist today.

The country a widow lives in can greatly affect her treatment. In the country of India, tens of millions of widows exist. Socially and economically, the widows endure rejection. They experience neglect and suffer hardship. (1) In Mali, a woman widow often loses her right to the land upon which she lived. ...

Defend! When this word is yelled out, the defense mechanism of every male should flash to consciousness. What female does not feel their emotions rise when they feel their child must be defended? Defense is needed because there is or will be an attack. Without a proper defense, the resulting effect is destruction, ruin, and devastation. The word “defend” should create a tremor within the soul that creates action directing self and others toward deliverance from the foe. Defense at its core, is a wise realization that despite having strengths, advantages, or any number of assets at hand, there is weakness which could put that which has value in jeopardy.

Humans are of great value to God, but they are not impervious to harm. Heat, cold, a minor blow, a fall, a lack of oxygen, any number of things can bring an end to their life. A man is typically built so that his frame, muscles, and skin can endure more than a woman, but by way of lifestyle, he is often ...