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Words of Wisdom Mini Articles, Part 1 of 5 - 2021:

3-22-2021                     Perils of Paul    NEW
“Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my owncountrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, inperils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness”                                   (2 Corinthians 11:25-27). 

(1) Jesus never said it would be easy to “preach the word.” 

(2) Life is a “risk” or ”peril,” but that’s no excuse for avoiding the market-place or going to church (Acts 17:17; 20:7)! 

(3) Where was Paul’s “guardian angel” to keep these things from happening? Take a chance on life.

More of my mini articles on Covid & other current events are located in Words of Wisdom Articles.

Words of Wisdom Mini Articles, Part 2 of 5 - August, 2020:

August 24, 2020 Tampering With Evidence

“Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus” (John 12:9- 11). Living Lazarus was proof Jesus had the power of God over death. One day, when He calls for everyone, “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28-29). “Religious leaders” sought to tamper with the evidence, that is, “put Lazarus to death.” Those who refuse to accept truth may try destroying the evidence, censorship, or propaganda, none of which changes the truth but simply exposes those who serve Satan.

August 17, 2020  We Are Not In Despair (text not printed August 3, 2020)

"But as a mountain falls and crumbles away, And as a rock is moved from its place; As water wears away stones, And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth; So You destroy the hope of man” (Job 14:18-19). Job voiced the danger of being surrounded by downers! By the time we read the headlines, see network TV News, watch destructive TV shows or dismal movies, or listen to our dreary “friends,” it’s no wonder that “depression” has enveloped our land. But if we listen to God, in Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” Christians learn to speak like Paul, “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8).

August 10, 2020 Street Crime

David prayed, “Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men” (Psalm 140:1). Solomon gave a reason for that, “A violent man entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good” (Proverbs 16:29). Destructive violence in a land of laws is not the way of “Justice.” “The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice” (Proverbs 21:7). The people who call for “justice” but preach violence are against “justice.” “Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking” (Proverbs 24:1-2). Whether it comes from a neighborhood gang, or from city, county, state, or country, advocates of violence and plundering are nothing but lawless criminals! “Sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).

More of my mini articles on Covid & other current events are located in Words of Wisdom Articles.

Words of Wisdom Mini Articles, Part 5 of 5 - April/ May 2020:

May 25, 2020 A Memorial

Before His cross, “a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head” to anoint His body for burial beforehand (Mark 14:3-9). Jesus said: "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her" (Mark 14:9). Statues, headstones, monuments, buildings oftentimes obscure the meaning of what they are for. It’s the telling with words what people or events they represent, the history to be heard and learned. Wisdom says, “Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28). This is another way of saying “don’t rewrite history—read it and learn.”

May 18, 2020 “Sticks & Stones”

A childhood chant was, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Really? Maybe that is true with physical pain, but words intended to hurt, do indeed, hurt. Otherwise, why would some people hurl so many hateful, hurtful, obscene, filthy, or vile words at a fellow human being? Sometimes these come from parents, children, friends, associates, or relatives. God knows how words can hurt, and He has tried to help the situation by telling His children: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). “Corrupt” literally means “rotten, putrid, like fruit.” Slinging “corrupt” speech splatters even the slinger! God’s way is best for all concerned; don’t you think?

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May-11-2020    Confining the Righteous

“When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves” (Proverbs 28:12). “The righteous” today are those who obey Christ: “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29). “The wicked” disregard God’s Word: “A good man obtains favor from the LORD, But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn” (Proverbs 12:2). Those who obey God are free to move about and “do good” (Galatians 6:10), unless “the wicked arise” and confine them. Peter said, kings or governors are sent by God “for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good” (1 Peter 2:14). Only “the wicked” would prevent “the righteous” from “doing good.”

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May-4-2020 Maintaining “Social Distance”

The suggested “safe distance” from each other, to avoid viral contamination, is “six feet.” This may, or may not work, since viruses have other ways of spreading. However, “spiritual separation” is a rule a Christian must follow to avoid being drawn back into sin. “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light“ (Ephesians 5:5-8). A Christian must: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). Don’t be “re-infected.”

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4-27-2020 Wash Your Hands

We’ve heard this repeated thousands of times in the past weeks. Soap, water, and thorough application removes contaminants and makes our hands safe to use. This illustrates a spiritual application: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8). Obviously, this hand-washing represents the repentant heart choosing righteous actions for the hands in resisting the Devil. Surely this cannot mean the rest of a sinner’s body should still be used for sinning! The “hands” will do what the heart demands, so if a heart is right before God, the hands will be, also. Jesus authors eternal salvation “to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). This time, really, “wash your hands.”

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4-20-2020 Salvation And Bible Faith

No one has received a revelation from God since the New Testament was finished. God’s last word to Israel was: “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments”  (Malachi 4:4). 400 years of silence from God followed. Since Jesus came, God has similar statements for the New Testament: “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3); “remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 17); “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37).  The written Scriptures are God’s last words to the world. Whoever claims more is sadly mistaken!

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4-13-2020 Is Your Life Real?

An angel of the Lord led Peter out of prison, “So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.” After leaving the prison without incident, “they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, ‘Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people’" (Acts 12:9-11). What showed Peter this was not a “vision?” The reality of where he actually was, out of prison! A video game, movie, TV program, “reality show,” or social media are not reality. Peter came to himself when reality set in. How “real” is your “reality?”

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4-6-2020      Wuhan Woe

Despite the extreme efforts to contain and stop the Wuhan Virus, there is an even more devastating virus that is being overlooked. A fear of the Wuhan Virus is of those who may have it and not know it, but be spreading it to others. Wuhan only affects the body; the Virus of Sin affects souls forever. John said, “He who sins is of the Devil” (1 John 3:8). Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Jesus also said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man"               (Mark 7:21- 23). The cure “is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith” (1 John 5:4).

More of my mini articles on Covid & other current events are located in Words of Wisdom Articles.