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Joseph of Arimathea was a Good Man

01/22/2012 Mike Pittman

People use the adjective "good" in describing a person rather loosely. The "good" person might be the fellow who brings the beer, or "good ole Mr. Jones" next door.

God's Book uses the word very sparingly. There are only two men in the New Testament that God referred to as "good": Barnabas and Jose....


The Proper Role of Emotion

01/15/2012 Mike Pittman

Hebrews 11:7 demonstrates for us the role that emotion should play in religion. “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household…” This says that Noah received a divine warning (revelation) – which produced fear (emotion) –....


For Our Good

07/04/2010 Mike Pittman

While Moses was addressing Israel, he used an opportunity to instruct them that the commandments of the Lord were for their "good" or benefit. Listen to him: "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your....


The Summer Months

06/27/2010 Harold Turner

1.   "Why pick on poor ole summer?" Simply because it provides many with excuses (and I mean excuses) for roiling over the teachings of Christ as though they do not exist.

2.   "Well, we went through this last year and the same ones are still planning vacations in disregard to God (responsibilities), st....


Do You Have Biblical Faith?

06/20/2010 Mike Pittman

John Gibbons said: "Ask devout Christians whether they believe that Christ died and rose again, and they will say that of course they do. Ask them for evidence, and they will be baffled by the question, it is not a matter of evidence, but of belief."

Many have a misunderstanding of Biblical faith. In their minds there is no evi....


Invitation Etiquette

06/13/2010 Ken Yocum

A crucial time in our worship periods is that in which the preacher extends the invitation of Christ. The proper atmosphere is very important. During the invitation we are trying to get those whose lives are out of harmony with the gospel to make the emotional and intellectual response that is necessary to save their souls. We must do all that w....


Things That Make No Sense

05/30/2010 Mike Pittman

As I am writing this article Tracy, Cara, and myself are preparing to watch the season finale of a show that we have recorded for the past three years. Every Tuesday night we sit down and watch "The Biggest Loser." This, of itself, is not too quirky. This is a show that is supposed to inspire America to eat healthy and exercise, But, t....


Repentance

05/23/2010 Mike Pittman

"Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).


Things That Bring Joy to Christians

05/16/2010 Mike Pittman

If the apostle Paul could write a letter of joy (Philippians) from a prison cell, and if he could sing praises to God after being beaten and thrown into jail at Philippi, then we should learn to have joy in the midst of suffering.

SALVATION SHOULD BE A SOURCE OF JOY. "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyfu....


Attitudes Toward Attendance

05/09/2010 Mike Pittman

Following are some of the attitudes which brethren have expressed toward attendance:

1. "You can't prove to me that I have to go to church on Sunday night and Wednesday night."

2. "I don't have to participate in this (Wednesday evening Bible study) because we  got this from denominationalism."

3. ....


Day of Silence

05/02/2010 Mike Pittman

A number of high schools across the land are participating in what is called "A day of silence." I know of one school in Northwest Arkansas which has been taking part in this activity for years. On a specified day out of every school year many students, and some teachers, refuse to say a word for the entire day.

Followin....


Are You Good Without God?

04/18/2010 Mike Pittman

A billboard on Interstate 540 in Springdale poses the above question. The answer is then posted: "Millions are."

Thanks to an organized group of atheists, these billboards are popping up all over the country. Their stated purpose is to show nonbelievers that "they are not alone" in their unbelief.

....


Overcoming Adversity

04/11/2010 Bob Spurlin

Overcoming adversity is part of the human predicament. Thus, to confront adversity and/or trials of any description is a spiritual exercise that will separate the weak from the strong.

Following the death of my beloved mother, this writer was struck with a debilitating disease called multiple sclerosis. Normalcy of life as I knew ....


Why is it?

04/04/2010 Dee Bowman

Following are some questions formulated to stir us up about our various duties and privileges:

WHY IS IT people can work all week with sinus difficulties, a nagging backache, a hammer-tripping headache, a virus of some sort, denture sores, the pain of neuritis, neuralgia, or arthritic discomfort, even a common col....


They Don't Believe It

03/21/2010 Mike Pittman

My observation has been that people, sometimes unknowingly, say things that they don't really believe. When we hear a popular cliche repeated we may find ourselves repeating it. The problem is that we might repeat the saying without really questioning the truthfulness of it. Consider with me some things people say that they don't believe.
....


Keeping Church Members Interested

03/07/2010 Mike Pittman

Quite often, the complaint is made that new members are not given work to do to keep them interested in the church, Is this really accurate? Is that what the church is to do - assign jobs and keep interest at a peak?

I have baptized people who were young and some who were aged. Among them, there have been all kinds of people. Some....


Impressed by the Majority?

02/28/2010 Mike Pittman

The "majority" sometimes impresses us too much. TV commercials point out that "Nine out of ten doctors recommend our brand over brand X." Advertising agencies understand that we pay attention to such statistics.

Satan knows it too. He convinces young people that most of their peers are partying and drinking so ....


Pride

02/21/2010 Mike Pittman

The pride condemned in the Bible is not to be confused with self-respect and dignity. The Bible clearly shows that we must love and respect ourselves (Matt. 22:39; Eph. 5:28).

Arrogance and too high of an opinion of oneself is a sin (Rom. 12:3). Proverbs 21:4 says, "A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked....


Are You Growing Up?

02/14/2010 Mike Pittman

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).

"...but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head - Christ" (Eph....


6 Arguments For 24 Hour Days In Genesis

02/07/2010 Bobby Graham

The seven days involved in creation in Genesis one are sometimes explained to be long periods of time, even eons. Is this reasonable? The following six arguments are set forth as reasons for accepting "day" to mean what it normally means.

1. "Yom" (the word for day) is usually literal, though not always.
....


Needed: Good Communication in Marriage

04/05/2009 Mike Pittman

There are going to be some rough spots in every marriage. This being so, every married person should learn the attitudes and methods that are necessary to carry us through those stormy times so we can have stronger, happier marriages.

One of the keys to successful marriage is good communication. In Ephesians 4:25ff. we s....


Be Thou Faithful Unto Death

04/12/2009 Roy Foutz

In Revelation 2:10, the Lord promised, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Although we are to be faithful until death, this passage emphasizes that we are to be faithful, even though it might cost us our physical life.

An outstanding example of being faithful unto death was in the life, and deat....