General

Another school year is upon us. Teachers have made preparations. parents have completed back-to school shopping. The school board can relax because teacher needs have been filled. But is this what makes a good school year?

School and its success depend on many persons. If anyone is deficient in their roles of responsibility, it complicates and frustrates others who could feel they need to do more than their duty. The following is a reminder for each of us to do what is expected so this school year is a good one.

The purpose of auditing church funds differs from the auditing of business funds. Whereas specially trained auditors are required by the world’s organizations to detect fraud and mismanagement of funds, brethren of our congregations can adequately perform the work if given a few guidelines and have a basic understanding of standard bookkeeping practices.

The Judicial System of the United States and its method of trial by jury is a vital asset for the protection of justice and freedom to its citizenry. While Christians look on this system and conclude that it is both good and biblical, we need to evaluate our involvement. First, we conclude this system is good because our freedoms are protected when others invest interest in protecting their own freedom and when court decisions are thus influenced. Second, we conclude that this system is good because the state is following the biblical command to punish evil.

Every day, millions of well-fed individuals sit down to enjoy another hearty meal. How many of them consider the retailer, distributor, packer, processor, or shipper back through the food chain links that connect the plate to the farmer's field? Beyond the farmer do they consider the One who gave the increase?

"I am not worthy..." What a humiliating thought! This little phrase is degrading to self-esteem, the element so necessary for success to the natural man. Move on, self urges, you don't need that to stifle your potential.

Does God repent? According to some Scriptures (such as num.23:19; 1Sam.15:29), the answer is, "no, God does not repent." Other Scriptures (such as Gen.6:6; 1Sam.15:11,35) tell us, "Yes, God does repent."

How shall we reconcile these seemingly opposite answers? Also, how can an unchanging, immutable God repent?

This question some times may seem hard to answer, but the bible has clear direction for us on this issue. Let's look at the first ordination recorded in the New Testament in Acts 1.

"And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the Church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things, He might have the preeminence" (Col 1:18). So what is meant by preeminence? Strong's Greek dictionary says the Greek word for preeminence means "to be first (in rank or influence)." We as Christians certainly would agree that Christ needs to be first and foremost in our lives. Since Christ "is the head of the body, The church," He has perfect right to that place of honor. Is Christ first in our lives?

Sir William Ladybug sailed through Staten Christian Day School classroom window one bright April morning. With difficulty he extracted himself from the fish tank before the whales and other denizens of that deep consumed him. Launching on a discovery voyage of his new world, he returned to a point near his place of entry. On a plateau there, he was immediately rewarded with a discovery, which took away his breath. Numerous mummified ladybugs lay in a ladybug graveyard there. They lay with dignity on their backs, their legs ceremonially arranged to point straight upward.

An already successful business owner in his mid sixties informed his sales people one morning that he had just discovered a business principle, that no doubt would have been the catalyst to greater financial returns had he discovered it much earlier in life. He explained that customers declining a purchase and asked why seldom give the true reason first.