What Satan Meant for Evil God Turned to Good
THE POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA Karina wrote the following words in her social media post a few weeks ago: “In the same place we lost my sweet brother Rafael Ramirez only days ago my dad made the amazing choice to be baptized and join our Beltline Church of Christ Family ❤ we are beyond blessed to have such a big family here supporting and loving us through it all.” Karina wrote this after her father was baptized for the remission…
If You Never Open the Box…
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.”…
This is Just Like 2,000 Years Ago
Last Saturday, August 5, 2023, we had our annual north Alabama Hispanic lectureships. Several Hispanic congregations came from the State of Alabama and other states. Those who attended were from: Colombia, México, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Bolivia, Honduras, Haití, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the United States. There were about twenty nations from Latin America singing praises to God and learning together the word of God. All these people…
Back to School
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…
It is like Thanksgiving Day!
One of my favorite holidays in this amazing country is Thanksgiving. I love how families travel from all over to be with their loved ones and of course I love the delicious food! It is wonderful to see parents, grandparents, uncles and grandchildren all together enjoying that special day. OUR THANKSGIVING IN AUGUST On Saturday, August 5, 2023 we will have our annual “North Alabama Lectureships”. This event is every year and we do it at Beltline. We have been…
The House of Mourning
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…
“I’m tired of losing this battle…”
“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.…
He Missed One Service
Several years ago, Paul Harvey reported on his noon news of a 73-year-old man who was pinned beneath his farm tractor for four days and nights in driving rain and a terrible storm. Concerned friends went to see about him just in time. He survived his ordeal, but did lose a leg below the knee. Several newspapers picked up on this little story and centered upon the amazing fact that a 73-year-old man could live after being pinned beneath a…
Independence Day
The date July 4th holds special significance to our nation. It marks the date, in 1776, on which the founding fathers signed the Declaration Of Independence, declaring our independence from England and our determination to be a free and sovereign nation. Accordingly, we celebrate July 4th as Independence Day. The United States of America have stood as a symbol of freedom to oppressed peoples around the globe for well over two hundred years. We have repeatedly defended our freedom and…
Counterfeit Doctrines
A local business owner told me he received a bogus $20 bill from a customer and did not realize it. It was discovered by a bank teller when he was making his daily deposit. When the bank showed him the fake bill next to a real one, he could not believe how little difference there was between the two. The color, shape, detail, and even fiber looked identical. The only difference was in texture, which the teller noticed right away…
The Kind of Father We Should Be
There is a great need in our day for fathers to live up to their God-given tasks. One of the reasons that the church is as weak as it is in many places is because fathers are not fulfilling their spiritual duties. One of the reasons that so many of the youth of our day are involved in drugs, premarital sex, gangs activity, and a host of other sinful things is because fathers are not fulfilling their responsibilities. It is…
The Dangers of Being Edgy
Several years ago Michael Hyatt posted a blog titled “How much business is your profanity costing you?” In the blog Hyatt explains that many are using offensive language because it creates an edge. It seems this attempt to be edgy may answer the age-old “Why?’ that is often asked. Why do people dress provocatively? To be more edgy. Why do people use unacceptable language and tell inappropriate stories and jokes? To be more edgy. Why do people actively support and…