We really have a good time with our Little Hands Preschool on Thursdays. The children are so fun to be around. They love being here! They are always so excited to learn new things and do so many activities. Former students have come back to visit from time to time and talk about our school. One child was talking about Kindergarten and comparing it to what he enjoyed here. “My school does not have kitchen time or craft time! And, they don’t ever have Bible time and singing!” They just love these things.

I listen to talk radio when I am driving. I love political, news, and sports talk radio. Often the following scenario will happen involving someone on hold trying to get on the air to talk. At some point, the host will acknowledge the next caller by saying his name. Maybe that name is “Mike”. However, the caller quickly objects saying that his name is “Mark”.

Every year we celebrate Independence Day with our hearts, minds, and bodies. We fly flags. We listen to patriotic music. We remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we now enjoy. And we should because people all over the world would be willing to pay a hefty sum to have some of those freedoms for themselves.

In Galatians 5, Paul provides two lists to the churches in Galatia. The first list (Galatians 5:19-21) lists the works of the flesh—“sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” The second list (most commonly known as the Fruits of the Spirit) includes nine fruits:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

One of the favorite games of most children is hide and seek.  It is not just small children who love that game.  The high school students in the camps I have conducted through the years have played some form of that game.  Probably most, if not all, parents have played that game with their children.

The end of a great conflict brings joy. You have seen the videos of the allied forces entering cities and towns after driving out the Germans and their Nazi regime. The people are cheering and dancing! They are waving American flags and trying to hug their liberators…

The story of the tortoise and the hare is a classic illustration of a very common scenario. The hare’s attitude grew out of his ability to run very fast. He was a sprinter. He could go very fast for short bursts of time. The tortoise, on the other hand, was slow and plodding. He was constant and persistent, though he was not fast…

Involvement in the work of a local congregation is necessary. It is necessary because God expects that His children will be active participants and partners in the work of the Church that His Son built. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” (Ephesians 2:19…

NIL has been the hot sports topic of the year. It is hard to imagine that anyone would not know what it is about. However, since some may not know what it is, let me make sure you are informed. NIL is an acrostic for name, image, and likeness. It means that athletes can now be paid to have their names, images, and likenesses used for advertising purposes. Obviously, the more well-known or better athletes will receive more in NIL money than those who are lesser athletes. But, all of them are free to market themselves and make money…

We all know the following is true. Put a diamond in one hand and a piece of candy in the other. Now, present both of them to a small child and ask which one he would like to have. You know that he will choose the piece of candy. To him that is the most valuable thing at that moment. A diamond means nothing to him…

We will soon be experiencing another change of seasons. At the same time, many of us are experiencing changes in other phases of our lives. Some are experiencing change in their careers. Others are experiencing changes in their families as they look forward to an addition while others have lost a member of their family…

“The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-12). We know the story. We are the story. Every human has proven the truth of the story. We are all sinners. There was and is nothing that we could ever do on our own to fix that situation. And, the situation was dire!…

Everywhere we look, we see statements like “Our children are leaving the church” and “Our congregations are shrinking.” In fact, relatively recent research (2019) suggests that, in fact, 2 out of 3 young adults who attended church services for at least a year as a teenager also dropped out for at least a year as a young adult…

People are so different from one another. We have different likes and dislikes. We look different from each other. We act differently from each other. We think and respond in different ways. We are different because of gender, race, and religion. We choose different occupations, hobbies, and friendships. It’s just a simple fact; we are different!…