Posts by Beltline Church of Christ (Page 2)

A few weeks ago, a dear old friend asked if I would make him a walking stick. I went to the barn and found a maple stick that I’ve had drying for several years. Taking it to the workshop, I peeled the bark away, sawed off the knots, and sanded it down smooth. Several coats of finish were then added along with a paracord wrap for a handle. I eventook the wood burner and put his initials near the top.…

A couple of weeks ago, I looked out the front door and saw a small mound of dirt toward the front of the yard. I thought it was a new ant mound and said to myself, “I’ll put some ant killer on that thing tomorrow.” Well, as it would be, I forgot about it for a couple of days and the next time I looked it was now three mounds of dirt. “That’s a gopher run and he’s heading straight…

The title of this week’s article comes from a 1970 song by the late Janis Joplin. The song is a parody prayer in which the singer asks God to give her a luxury car. Well, we know she ain’t going to get that car, at least not from the Lord. The reason being, it is a prayer of selfishness and greed. The Bible says it best in James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that…

As autumn approaches, we welcome the cooler temperatures and the changing of the seasons. We remember the promise of God to Noah, “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22) Along with the change in the weather comes the beautiful splendor of fall colors. We enjoy the reds, oranges, yellows, and all hues in between as the Lord’s nature gets ready for the coming winter. However,…

The apostle Paul wrote to two young preachers. Both were encouraged to set good examples. Timothy was admonished: “Let no man despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Titus was challenged: “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may…

Heard From God Lately? According to a survey, 25% of Americans believe that they have received personal messages from God. This statistic raises several questions: What is God saying to all of these people anyway? The Bible says that it contains “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1: 3). What more do they need to know? Why is additional revelation necessary? Why does God show such special favoritism to this select group? Does He love this…

“An overwhelming majority of Americans continue to believe there is life after death and that heaven and hell exist, according to a new study. What’s more, most think they are heavenbound.” So begins a recent article in the Nashville Tennessean. What is heaven? Where is it that so many people believe they are bound? “46% described it as a ‘state of eternal existence in God’s presence,’ and… 30% said heaven is ‘an actual place of rest and reward where souls…

In school you learned about the three main verb tenses in English: past, present and future. These tenses describe three very different timeframes. One could say that a boy “threw” the ball (past tense), or a boy “is throwing” the ball (present tense) or a boy “will throw” the ball (future tense). Those same tenses can be used to describe a Christian’s life. The New Testament talks definitively about a Christian’s PAST life, with a great emphasis on leaving it…

And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to [Josiah], and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the LORD.”…

It seems like it was yesterday when you could hear the last school bell ring letting you know that summer had officially begun. You trade in your backpacks full of books for suitcases full of swimsuits and sunglasses. The sun’s been out and the weather has been hot, even if it was for a short while. VBS and summer vacations have come and gone. But we’ve reached the time of year where it starts getting darker earlier, the leaves will…

At a recent funeral, I sat and listened to the memories that were being shared and sang the words to the familiar hymns of hope and praise, my faith was strengthened. I gave thanks to God for the hope that we have in Christ. As is usually the case in services of this nature, it was a very encouraging experience. I later thought about those who do not attend memorial services or funerals. I thought about how much they miss…

“Happiness is not the absence of problems; it’s the ability to deal with them.” ~Unknown Recently, at the beginning of a meeting, one of the supervisors I work with at my “day job” was battling “allergy season.” As he was apologizing for coughing, etc. He said aloud, “I’m tired of losing this battle.” As soon as he made that statement, I immediately thought of how this response is typical of all of us who are dealing with so many challenges.…