The old comic of a century ago started a saying that has continued even until today—“Keeping up with the Joneses.” In the comic strip, “the Joneses” were not based on any one particular family, but it was a generic expression to capture any neighbor’s social or economic status. If someone else was getting ahead in life and prospering, the average person tried…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 283)
When Paul met with the elders from Ephesus in Acts 20, he not only prepared and warned them for those things that were shortly to happen, but he also reminded them of his work among them for three years. In the 400 words that he spoke to them on this occasion, twice he assured them that he did “not shun (shrink, NASB)…
I know that the expression has been used for organizations outside of the church (in both an “official title” and a figure of speech), but how often have you heard the Lord’s church described as “a volunteer army”? The emphasis has usually been on the idea that you cannot make anyone do anything they are not willing to do—they must choose to…
We hear a lot of talk today about “Wall Street and Main Street.” Especially in the political world, we hear about the emphasis that many “politicians” put on “Wall Street” and the impact that has on “Main Street.” Then, we hear of politicians who say they are focused on “Main Street” and say that “Wall Street” will follow the successes of “Main…
How much do you KNOW about the love of Christ? “Jesus loves me, this I KNOW, for the Bible tells me so!” If you know He loves you, how much do you KNOW about that love? “Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Eph. 5:2). If you know His love prompted Him to give Himself for you and me,…
On more than one occasion, the scribes and Pharisees complained that Jesus was “a friend of… sinners” (Luke 7:34), had “gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7), and “receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). Jesus approached their complaint head-on, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32). …
We have things all around us every day telling us when to do things. Your alarm tells you when to get up. Your computer tells you when you have appointments. Your dryer’s buzzer tells you when the laundry is ready to be folded. Your microwave’s ding tells you when the food is ready to eat. Your phone tells you when it needs…
Look around our nation today. How much actual parenting is happening? Moms and dads are relying on schools to do all the “important” teaching and letting the schools decide what is taught and how it is taught. Moms and dads are letting the television, computer and video games serve as the babysitters and total entertainment services. Moms and dads have permitted our…