Sermons and Biblical Studies

Stolen Copper Nails “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long” (Psa. 32:3). There is nothing that so takes the joy out of life like unconfessed sin on the conscience. I once heard the late Dr. F. E. Marsh tell that on one occasion he was preaching on … Continue reading “Restitution”

Christ’s Offer of Rest In the Philippines I heard a local pastor use the following parable to illustrate Christ’s offer of rest (Matt. ll:28) and the response of people who won’t trust Him completely: The driver of a caribou wagon was on his way to market when he overtook an old man carrying a heavy … Continue reading “Resting in Christ”

We Will Go Fishing Philip Melancthon, the great Reformation theologian, once said to his friend Martin Luther, “This day you and I will discuss the governance of the universe.” What Luther said in response was unexpected: “This day you and I will go fishing and leave the governance of the universe to God.” Our Daily … Continue reading “Rest”

When you do the things you have to do when you have to do them, the day will come when you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.Proverbs 10:4 God’s Little … Continue reading “Responsibility”

His Magnificence Clark Clifford shares this reminiscence of his former boss, Harry S. Truman: Every morning at 8:30 the President would have a staff meeting. One day the mail clerk brought in a lavender envelope with a regal wax seal and flowing purple ribbons. Opening it, the President found a letter from King Ibn Saud … Continue reading “Respect”

Wealthy but Lived in Poverty It was 1916, and Hattie Green was dead. Hattie’s life is a sad demonstration of what it is like to be among the living dead. When Hattie died, her estate was valued at over $100 million; yet Hattie lived in poverty. She ate cold oatmeal because it cost money to … Continue reading “Resources”

Emancipation Proclamation The final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation was taken to Abraham Lincoln at noon on January 1, 1863. Twice the president picked up his pen to sign it, and twice he laid it down. Turning to Secretary of State William Seward, he said, “I have been shaking hands since 9:00 this morning, and … Continue reading “Resolve”

Good •      Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. •      Resolved, to do whatever I think to … Continue reading “Resolutions”

Ben Franklin’s Resolutions Still, as failures go, we’re in good company. Take Benjamin Franklin. As a young man, Ben composed a master list of 12 resolutions, later tacking on a killer 13th (“Imitate Jesus and Socrates”). He had particular difficulty, he notes in his Autobiography, with Resolution No. 2 (“Silence—Avoid trifling conversation”), No. 3 (“Order—Let … Continue reading “Resolution”

Camels Camels may build up a pressure cooker of resentment toward human beings until the lid suddenly blows off and they go berserk. In Asia, when a camel driver senses trouble, he gives his coat to the animal. Rather like Japanese workers who are reported to work off frustrations by beating up models of their … Continue reading “Resentment”