e-Literature

There was a great deal of excitement in the local area when the first Resurrection Sheaf, which was to be followed by many other like sheaves (Lev 23:10,11), was waved over and around Jerusalem.

Jesus of Nazareth, the sinless...

"But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them." Luke 24:29
The disciples on the Emmaus road had many doubts and questions about the recent...

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal 5:22–23). Do we understand what a Christian's temperance looks like in the heart and actions in today's world? How would...

A renowned US President has said, “You can have anything you want if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose.” Our society...

The Shema has truth yet for you and me.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee...

Recently Facebook announced their corporate name change from Facebook to Meta. Meta comes from their vision of the future, a Metaverse. What is this Metaverse they are referring to? It is the current Facebook on steroids. Currently,...

December is here and our culture’s “Christmas Season” is in full swing. There will be decorations, gift buying, work parties, family gatherings, and the obligatory Christmas music piped through the speakers into every public space. It’...

A certain doctor did a study on how many words a person speaks in a day. Men and women alike average around 16,000 words per day. One person who spoke the least, spoke 795 words in one day, while another spoke 47,000 words in one day....

The story has been told of an aging emperor who needed to find someone to replace him. Since he had no near kin, he decided to find a young person from within his kingdom. Many children gathered in. The test was simple. To each, he gave...

The book of Judges speaks of a time in the story of the Old Testament nation of Israel that every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Jud 17:6). This verse comes in the middle of a story that reflects the sorry state of...

(And our calling to do the same)
Enchantment: Webster's #4. something that charms or delights greatly.
God’s great delight in humanity is evident, strong, deep, and nearly incomprehensible. Paul’s sincere prayer for us is...

I stood in line at the grocery store and surveyed the man ahead of me. He was unmistakably a member of the US Armed Forces. Everything from the hat covering his crew cut to the boots he was walking in, exhibited his identity. As the...

When we think of a Christian’s devotional life, we likely think of the time that a Christian spends reading the Bible, meditating, and praying. This worship time may include journaling, singing, and fasting. New Christians are...

Take a close look at the little boy in this picture. Cute isn’t he? Nestled there in the “parent’s” arms, he looks secure and content.

What do we know about...

In Psalm 133 we have two beautiful word pictures of unity in the brotherhood. It is true, however, that the word pictures written here are somewhat obscure to us. None of us were present when Aaron was anointed to initiate his...

What is a conviction?
Some will say it is no more than a personal opinion. Others define it as something for which you will be willing to die; any other position is simply a preference. Some teach that convictions are based on...

God is our loving Father Who created us and made the whole universe. When man sinned, He made a way for us to come back to Him. He loved us so much He sent Jesus His son to die for our sins. His son rose on His own power and offers us...

Do we have a vision for helping the lost to find Jesus? Then we should continue in active pursuit of souls. We should do all we can to win them to the Lord. There are many opportunities and ways to reach out to the lost.
Our...

Psalm 97:1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. We read it and easily move on without much consideration. But a moment’s thought raises all sorts of difficulties.
Does the Lord...

Understanding the three days and three nights of Matthew 12:40
We know He rose on Sunday, the first day of the week. Glorious resurrection! What a manifestation of God’s power! All the hopes of mankind were dependent on that...

The section of our Decrees entitled “Christian Virtues” has a history of its own. There is value in understanding how our current version arrived to where it is now.

Christian Virtues first appeared as a part of an official...

But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and...

Before the recent election transpired, I happened across a newspaper article reporting the predictions of several well-known present-day evangelists. Each evangelist had a special “word from the Lord” that the former president would...

The current Covid-19 pandemic has provoked the world to respond in ways unprecedented in this generation. State governments are shutting down schools and churches, forcing businesses to close, and asking citizens not to leave their...

2020 will be etched in our minds for years. It felt like things were forced on us in a way we never previously experienced. We were forced to wear masks. Forced to stay at home. Forced to have church at home. In numerous cities across...

What do you believe about child evangelism? How do you answer the person who is thrilled about their son or daughter receiving the Lord at a very young age? What do we believe? It is very important what we believe because it will play...

“Oh, he reads everything he can get hold of—novels, story papers, sea voyages, robber exploits, pirate yarns, and everything to make him discontented with his home, sick of his work, and ready for any sort of crazy adventure.”
...

Covid-19 has brought a new term, unheard of even one year ago – social distancing. But the concept was not new. All through the ages, people at times distanced themselves from others for a variety of reasons. But distance can have some...

“The media doesn’t have the authority to call the election.”
“Trump is asking all Christians to pray as the Supreme Court deliberates over election results.”
“Did you know that Siri will say that Kamala Harris is President...

The theme of a high priest is found in various places in the Scriptures. In both the Testaments, we can see references to a high priest, and yet in the book of Hebrews, we read of the Ultimate High Priest; Jesus Christ. After He came on...

A good conversation is one of the few things that is universally enjoyed. It is the cornerstone that forms the foundation of our friendships. While the subjects discussed vary from person to person, we will spend and enjoy hours in deep...

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house,...

The title could give the impression that a Christian could be different in an election year than other off-election years. That is not the intent. Instead, in the time of national elections, Christians face extra pressure to become...

The term nonconformity is a Biblical term derived from the Scripture be not conformed to this world, as found in Romans 12:2. The word conformed comes from the same Greek word that is translated “fashioning” in I Peter 1:14, where Peter...

Our lives are built-on relationships. We have them in school, at church, during our work, and with God. The list could keep going. We all will keep learning more and more about what it takes to have better relationships as long as the...

July has been an exciting month for stargazers. The comet NEOWISE was first discovered on March 27, 2020 by an earth-orbiting space telescope. By July 2020, this ball of ice, rock and dust was near enough to earth and bright enough to...

On July 4th, our nation will celebrate two-hundred and forty-four years of declaring freedom from the King of England. Early patriots felt the king was oppressive and taxed the colonist too much. They wanted to be a free nation. So, in...

Former Vice President Al Gore wrote a book titled “An Inconvenient Truth.” The book’s theme was the urgent crisis of climate change. He urged the world to act on the inconvenient truth that we must take the difficult steps to correct...

There is a tremendous need for warnings against the accumulation of wealth in the affluent society in which we live. During Jesus’ day, wealth and riches were very prevalent as well, although perhaps on a different scale. Jesus was...

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the...

Why all the doubleness in the world? Why has hypocrisy been a perennial human problem? Why do human beings settle for less than genuine? Why is the Church especially sensitive to charges of hypocrisy? Why do individuals wear masks? Why...

We are in the upheaval of what many are calling a global pandemic. COVID-19 is claiming lives. Anxiety, dread, and fear are present in the hearts of many. Financial markets are teetering. This global pandemic dominates the news...

As I look back on my school teaching experiences, many memories run through my mind. Teaching school was probably one of the most difficult jobs I’ve ever had; but it was also one of the most rewarding. There are rewards that a...

Twenty years ago on February 7, 2000, a teary-eyed group was gathered in Florida around a big yellow school bus. The time had come for the Philip Ebersole family to leave for Honduras, and the church family had come to see them off. I—...

From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. So begins Matthew’s account of Jesus’ public ministry.
“We believe and confess that, since the imagination of man’s heart is evil...

I have a few special memories of past groups of students performing exceptionally well at a Christmas or spring program. Something is inspiring about young children and high school students throwing their hearts into carefully rehearsed...

It had begun to snow again overnight, which wasn’t too surprising since it was mid-November in Alberta. It made conversation, though, and so when I handed the room key to the clerk, I mentioned how it was beginning to get white outside...

I talk to many people that are very worried the earth may be dying. There are major groups that devote themselves to proving the idea that the earth is doomed to perish. Scientists warn us daily on extreme weather patterns and melting...

We have just taken a step over the threshold of a new year, from 2019 to 2020. What will it be like to step over the threshold from time to eternity?
We serve an eternal God. This simply means that God always was: He was before...

I received a phone call today from our local Chamber of Commerce, asking whether our congregation would consider spending some time around Christmas singing carols on the street corners among the hustle and bustle of festive shoppers....

In our society, there is a lot of emphasis on change. People want to change their past, their identity, and their gender. They sometimes go through extreme measures to accomplish it. As Christians, we also face a life-altering change...

The rise of technology has created a new problem. People are so distracted that it is placing them in physical danger, possibly even bringing death. In a distracted condition, one does not see the danger until it is too late.
Why...

Every Wednesday, I go past a veteran’s memorial and underneath the flag is a piece of granite with these words. “A veteran: Someone who at one point in their life wrote a blank check for an amount up to and including their life, made...

The drinking of wine has been a problem for thousands of years. We read that Noah was drunk with wine in Genesis 9, and Lot was drunk in Genesis 19.
The Proverb writer declares in his final chapter that wine is not for kings or...

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works (Rev 2:1-2a).
The Apostle John,...

We avoid thinking about death in our culture. We’re uncomfortable talking about it. We would rather just brush it aside with a nervous laugh and change the subject. But we can’t brush it aside for too long, because we and everyone we...

I recall a number of years ago the story of a young family who had joined an Anabaptist church from a non-Christian background. They were so happy to be part of God’s family and the Christian brotherhood. Soon they realized this group...

Baring-Gould/Barnby

Lyrics: Every child deserves a comforting bedtime ritual: bedtime stories, bedtime prayers, bedtime snacks. By a thousand peaceful night falls, little sleepy heads grow up into emotionally secure adults....

Some of the most well-received words of our Lord are found in Matthew 11:28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
This is an invitation from our Savior. Yet, as He walked among men, He...

“Things are different than they used to be,” Uncle Jon told his sister. “They just have to get used to it.” Uncle Jon had gotten used to various changes in his Mennonite church life. As a young man, he got used to the idea of discarding...

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. These words of Moses from Numbers 32:23 were spoken to the children of Gad and Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh. What did...

We were just having a friendly conversation. The local bike shop owner and I were discussing a range of topics from current events to the weather. He suddenly changed the subject: “You know,” he said, “It is tax time, and it is a...

Americans are somewhat obsessed with physical exercise and fitness. People of all ages exert themselves to extreme measures in pursuit of greater physical health. Folks go to significant measures to “workout.” Ironically, while people...

Church Hymnal #426
Words: Benjamin Schmolk (1672-1737) was born to a Lutheran pastor in Silesia, Germany, a region now contained in modern Poland. As a young man, he once filled in for his father and preached a sermon so...

“None of us are getting out of this game alive” declared the hardware store owner, “We are all going to die!”
“That is why I take Christianity very seriously,” I replied, “because after life there is Eternity. We will live...

Time of The "Empty Nest"
Greetings in Jesus name, the One who has our timeline in His hand. He is the One that can fill our every need, regardless what stage of life we are in. We view our lives as a change of seasons, each...

Lois Rosenberry
The Power of Women's Words

Words
Words are mighty, words are strong,
Words can soothe, or words can wrong.
A reputation shred in two-
Words can say what isn't true.

...

In the world in which we live, we are being challenged to conform to its controlling principles. We are in this world, but we are not to be a part of it. What does this mean for the Christian? The Bible gives us clear direction in...

Spiritual Preparation For Motherhood
What is motherhood?
"A partnership with God is Motherhood,
What strength, what purity, what self-control,
What love, what wisdom would belong to her
Who...

Passing on the Pearl of Contentment

October 2013 Ruth Nisly

Introduction:
It seems like every time the Lord asks me to speak, it strikes a need or struggle that I´m facing in my own life.

Passing on the...

March 28, 2007 Homebuilders

FINDING JOY AND CONTENTMENT IN HOME LIFE
The title of our discussion today is Finding Joy and Contentment in Home Life. As a way of introduction, we would like to consider our subject in two...

March 18, 2015 Home Builder’s Essay Faith Weaver
Walking Softly in Her Moccasins

Learning to know another’s heart- Walking softly beside her.

This new for me but I trust God to help me speak His words. It’s a...

Distress – Which Way Out?
What was your most distressing experience in life? Was it some terrifying experience lasting a short time, or a long drawn out problem testing your patience day after day or year after year? Did you feel...

Things happen. People make choices. Sometimes the choices are really, really, bad (or good). Events come together and accumulate. Current events turn into history. Someone has to tell the story.
What happens on the part of...

The gift of life in the form of a little baby never ceases to bring a sense of awe and wonder. We wait, we imagine, we hope, we anticipate, but one day it becomes a reality. The birth of Jesus was no exception. And His birth should...

The practices of Halloween as we know them originated with the Celts who lived in what is now Great Britain, Ireland, and Northern France. Their new year began on November 1. The Celtic Festival of “Samhain” began the previous evening,...

To some of you, this title may look as bewildering as it did to me when I was assigned this article. A change in the second letter from (o) to (u) could possibly look like a heading with a more probable slot in our English vocabulary,...

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36). We in America are constantly rubbing shoulders with men and women who are passionately seeing what they can gain at the cost of their...

Jesus in His High Priestly prayer in John 17:17 prayed this to His Father about us, Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth. Those of us who have been Christians for some time can begin to understand a little what this means...

Is Jesus still a man? Does it matter? Yes. Did Jesus return to Heaven and take on the same form as before the Incarnation? No.
No honest Christian will deny that Jesus, as the only begotten Son of God indeed became a man in the...

Procrastination is a great thief of our time. Its controlling grip on the hearts of men and women continues to be one of the reasons why relationships turn sour, tests are failed, businesses go bankrupt, healthy bodies are ruined, and...

This phrase is found three times in the Scriptures (ITi 3:2,12, Tit 1:6) and each time it is a qualification for an ordained man. What does this phrase mean? Does it mean ordained men could not practice polygamy but others could? Or...

Often, we hear comments made about baptism that would make the listener believe that the mode of baptism matters little, and further would lead you to believe the Bible has little direction to give.
I will not keep you wondering...

For the disciples in the upper room, feet washing was not new. They knew the old custom of welcoming travelers by providing water to wash their feet. They had read the Bible stories of Abraham, Lot, Laban, Joseph’s steward, and the old...

Communion is an ordinance that Jesus Christ instituted and commanded. Jesus and His disciples were gathered to observe the Passover. We can look in on this scene through the writings of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. At some point during the...

Sometimes a popular song (e.g., “Old Rugged Cross”) is born in a single flash of creativity by one inspired mind. But the Easter classic, “The Strife Is O’er,” developed in bits and pieces over three centuries, in three different...

Ordinances are foundational to our Christian faith and practices. Understanding the spiritual meanings and principles in each ordinance is essential to keep spiritual life and vitality in the church today. This article begins a series...

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Matt 4:19). “Follow me. Not eloquent, not articulate; but a simple two-word phrase that propelled the fisherman to become fishers of men and an invitation to be a...

Some believe one’s own performance is key to salvation. Others contend that works will not save us; salvation is by faith alone. Some will maintain we can lose our salvation. Others advocate eternal security emphasizing that all we need...

Twenty-five years ago this past October, a man lay deathly ill in a hospital, dying from a ten year battle with cancer. A few days before, he had been told that pneumonia had set in and he was not likely to recover from it; the family...

If you find yourself in a gathered assembly of worshipers during the closing hours of December 31, you will have the perfect hymn for the occasion.
James Hamilton (1819-1896), a Scottish-born clergyman in the Anglican church,...

Do Our Children Need Manners?
Homebuilders' Essay by Karen Kreider
October 16, 2002
I am sure we would all give a hearty "Yes" to this title. I was inspired by this study and
became aware of areas I can help my...

GODLY LIBERATED WOMANHOOD
September 29, 1981
Godly Liberated Womanhood--I am glad the word "godly" is in the title. That makes a big
difference, doesn't it? If it only said "Liberated Womanhood" we would probably think...

The subject of gifts is on many people’s minds today. Much money is spent on gifts this month. Many people hardly know what gift will be appreciated and needed by the people for whom they are buying gifts. Some will receive a gift they...

The last few months have been disruptive to tens of thousands of Americans. Hurricanes in the Southern States and Puerto Rico plus destructive wildfires in Oregon and California have caused massive losses. Homes, businesses, and...

In Acts 15, the church leaders were having an assembly to discuss and dispose of a matter which was causing stress in the brotherhood. First Peter, then Paul had taken the Gospel to the Gentiles. In general, there was much rejoicing and...

Many people are asking what the purpose of life is. Many cannot seem to find answers to it and commit suicide, etc. This happens among the old and young alike. A number of years ago, I became acquainted with an older man. He seemed to...

Can My Family Tell I Have Been With Jesus?
Homebuilders March 29, 2006 - Martha Burkholder

The title assumes the fact that I am spending time with Jesus. It will be evident if this is not happening. When things run...

BONDING IN LOVE BY CARING AND SHARING
Rachael Martin April 9, 2003

I would like to start with the Golden Rule. It reads like this, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." To bring this even closer to today's...

Leaven is a substance that causes fermentation and spoilage, “Figuratively, an influence that, spreading silently and strongly, changes conditions and opinions” (World Book Dictionary). Literally, when leaven is added to a wholesome...

After months of planning and anticipation, the day had finally arrived. We were planning to take a nine-day trip to Alberta, Canada, to visit family. The excitement was running high. Preparations had been made. Food and clothing were...

March 26, 2002
...in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength..."
Isaiah 30:15

Isn't it humbling to think that the Supreme Being Who created the heavens and earth, our great, infinite God, made us finite...

It is shortly after midnight on Feb. 26, 1852, off the coast of Africa. The troopship HMS Birkenhead has struck a rock and has begun to settle into the ocean. On its decks, 124 women and children are rushed into lifeboats while 454...

April 1, 1975
My Place in God’s Kingdom
They asked me to direct this to mothers tonight and also to witnessing in the community. Descriptors given to be used are Psalms 118:5 and Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. Psalm 118:5 is “I...

A Homemaker’s Devotional Life
What, really, is our devotional life? Is it only the private time we spend in Bible reading and prayer each day? Or is it more than that? Webster's dictionary defines devotion as religious worship,...

From Jewish chants in the early church, to praise choruses in our day, the sound of singing in Christian assemblies has changed significantly. The changes have seldom gone smoothly. In some ways, Anabaptist groups have been less...

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your...

One day I was appalled to find that one of my students had been using curse words in school. When I took him aside to deal with the issue, his response was, “There is nothing wrong with those words; everyone uses them.” While it is...

In our local science center, that we enjoy visiting from time to time, are several mirror displays. These mirrors are all different from the normal mirror we look into at home to get an understanding of our appearance. These mirrors all...

What is the mind of Christ? Or how can we know what His mind was and is? "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind...

Destroy complaints before they destroy you. You have plenty of things to complain about, but none of them are valid; so stop.
Ok, I’m talking to myself, but you can keep listening if you like.
I have plenty of...

“I wonder what informs their decisions.”
The question hung between us in the cool autumn air as my friend, and I sat around a gas lantern while visiting in his second-story apartment in downtown Nashville. Choices, decisions, and...

Do we have a vision for helping the lost to find Jesus? Then we should continue in an active pursuit of souls. We should do all we can to win them to the Lord. There are many opportunities and ways to reach out to the lost.
Our...

It is a common practice of the world today to clap for someone who performs as a way of cheering for them. When our chorus sings at rehabs and elderly care facilities, the people often clap after each song. The better the performance is...

We all know the convenience of making a call anytime, anywhere. From the beginning of time, long before the day of cell phone technology, God gave a special connection to his people. God gave to us this blessing called prayer. He...

Problems are a normal part of life. They vary significantly in intensity. Problems may be as minor as a sore toe or as painful as a dying parent. It could be lost van keys on a school morning or an interpersonal relationship problem....

Editor’s Note: As part 1 of a 2 part article this is focused on man’s view of sin. Look for teaching on a Biblical viewpoint in the next article.

“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask,...

July 16, 1969 was an extremely special day for mankind. The excitement ran high as millions of people watched with interest as Apollo 11 left the earth. Its Saturn V rocket with an excess of 150 million horsepower was hurtling it to...

What does the Bible teach about sin? What should our doctrine and practice be?
First, let us always remember, “All unrighteousness is sin” (1Jn 5:17). We dare not treat disobedience to God in a light manner. Jesus did not die on...

I hadn’t thought much about my seat mate as we buckled up to take off. She was frazzled and middle-aged and certainly didn’t look like the talkative type. “It’ll probably be a very quiet ride,” I mused to myself. However, when the...

His work on earth was done. The time had come for Him to return to His Heavenly home. Shortly He would take His place by the side of His Father upon the throne of light and glory.
Accompanied by the eleven, He made His way to the...

What if a homeless man was offered a home and rejected it? What if you were that homeless man? As you read this fictional story, place yourself in the homeless man’s shoes. Examine your spiritual life in the context of this allegory....

What is a father? The dictionary definition is “a male parent” along with several other definitions in the realm of science and religion and society. The verb forms are more interesting – “to beget; to be the creator, founder, or author...

In Judges 17:6 we have recorded, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” This sad commentary is again given as a summary in the last verse of Judges. As we read Judges and...

Why are so many churches struggling to have a healthy church life? This is a question I have often asked myself. As I look at the conservative churches across the country it concerns me. The purpose of this article is to look at this...

Revival movements in history have been catalysts of movement and change in the church. What lessons can we learn from the most recent one in North America?
In 1951 an unusual phenomenon burst “like a meteorite” 1 across the...

Human hearts have always been fascinated with and drawn to the edge. The edge lies between the known and the unknown, the safe and the unsafe, the good and the bad, the right and the wrong, the possible and the impossible, the legal...

First, let’s take a look at the national scene at the beginning of the Brunk revivals. They began in 1951, 6 years after the end of WWII. It was also 2 years after the nationally publicized Billy Graham campaign in Los Angeles....

Recently I read an article in a well-known archery magazine entitled, “The Art of Selling.” The writer had interviewed two local people from our area in preparation for his article. One of the people he interviewed was a local salesman...

First Kings 21 records the story of two men whose choices and characters stand in stark contrast to each other. The one man said, in essence, “What I have is not for sale.” The other is described as having “sold himself to work...

I surveyed the young man who had just entered the garage I was working in. He was a typical figure on any construction site with scuffed work boots, faded jeans, a muscle T-shirt, and baseball cap. As he neared the ladder I was working...

A couple is searching for a house to buy. They finally find the right one after many disappointments. They write an offer sure to secure the house they feel is the one God has provided for them. Alas, another offer is written and...

Today, the believer is living in a world that is connected as never before. The World Wide Web, social media in the hands of the masses, and agenda driven news cycles have honed information flow to a fever pitch.

Regardless...

What shall I do? We all find ourselves either asking that question or at least pondering it at times. Recently as I was driving down the interstate I saw a sign that read, “West bound lanes closed ahead. All traffic must exit.” I was...

We believe the Bible teaches that righteousness and peace in church life must be a working reality, not merely a distant, unattainable goal. The Bible also calls the Church to be a healthy, properly functioning body, not a sick or...

Editor’s note: This article is reprinted from the September 1995 issue of The Pilgrim Witness.

Where is everybody going? This seems a timely question in these days of increased running. Everybody is hurrying somewhere. The...

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2Th 2:11-12).

The question has often been...

Editor’s note: This article is reprinted from the December 1993 issue of The Pilgrim Witness.

“Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Oh, if only we could have clutched the gunwale of...

What attracts people to the variety of churches that are in the world today? It seems that churches in the past attracted people with their elegant buildings—at least by the looks of them—and maybe that still applies to some. But now it...

Control is a delicate subject that requires balance. So many things around us seem to be out of control. As parents we must control our children and help them learn self-control. As a church we need some control to keep us on the narrow...

Our Christian forefathers were dubbed Anabaptist during the Great Reformation. The name was full of reproach and mockery for those who refused to baptize infants and who requested adult baptism. “Ana” was a Latin term meaning “over...

There are signs upon the earth that God is warming it once more according to His promise of seedtime and harvest, cold and heat. Wild geese flying north and other warm weather birds are responding in like manner. Flowers are pushing the...

Many years ago, a certain fisherman was caught in a sudden storm. As he desperately made toward shore, the sea grew rougher and wilder. Alas, before he could reach safety, a huge wave capsized his boat, plunging him into the roaring sea...

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” (Col 2:2).

What...

Godly marriages that last a lifetime are becoming scarce in the world. As a godly people we are concerned that the youth growing up in our homes find godly life companions and establish homes on the solid foundation of the Word of God....

God’s will is that all His created humans would choose to be part of His heavenly kingdom on earth. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should...

Editor’s note: This article is reprinted from the March 1992 issue of The Pilgrim Witness.

Fasting generally means to refrain from taking nourishment from food or food drinks. Matthew 4:2 states that Jesus “fasted forty days...

The young man’s expression was confident as he approached. Tucked under his arm were the folders and books he needed for his next lecture at the university where he was attending. It was also where a number of us had gathered for street...

How recently have we heard a sermon on the dangers of strong drink? How often do we study a Sunday school lesson on temperance? How many of us are even tempted to drink alcoholic beverages?

We can hardly imagine an era like...

Revelation 3:8, “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”

We are pleased to live in the...

Sleep is a God-given natural resource for the survival of the human body. We all are familiar with the feeling of a good night’s rest. Most people will use two or three thousand hours per year to close their eyes and sleep. A godly life...

James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Inscribed in stone above the courthouse entrance in a...

As we stand at the hardware store counter, the cashier offers the little boy by our side a candy fish. We watch to see if he remembers what he should say. A smiling boy saying a soft “thank you” is a welcome sight. It is encouraging to...

Part 1 of 2
As I sit down to pen the meditations of my heart, it is with much prayer, emotional wrestling, and mental discipline that I sift and sort out a topic of this sort. For you see, when examining the church of today and...

One of the greatest mysteries in all of history is the Incarnation—the Son of God becoming the Son of man. Many facets of this miraculous event are beyond our comprehension. Yet we accept it because we take God at His Word. And as we...

As we move about in our world, we do not have to go far to find someone who is not a Christian, who does not know Jesus as Savior and Lord of his life. It is God’s will that His people continue with the mission He left us—to seek the...

School is out and we are coming to the time of year that many Americans know as “summer vacation.” Summer vacation means several things. To the school children, it is approximately three months away from school. Most of us recall the...

The word conviction is defined as “(a) a strong persuasion or belief; (b) the state of being convinced.” Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” We would say that...

Perhaps as a reader you have never considered whether Jesus is still a man. Does it matter? What does the Bible teach? Is Jesus a man now, or did He go back to heaven and become the son of God in the same form as before the Incarnation...

“For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” (1Co 4:15,16). June is the month of Father...

Picture with me a group of young people standing in the hallway of a large shopping complex. The singing is wonderful. The look on their faces shows an inner joy that cannot be hid. The Christmas hymns they are singing say nothing about...

George R. Brunk, in Sword and Trumpet article, “Regulate or Relegate?” January 1931: “The radio is a live issue at the present time; many honest souls are wondering and questioning about it. “If Conference forbids their use the matter...

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col 3:1).

The resurrection account of Jesus has been a controversial issue from the very first day. Matthew...

The Christian’s understanding of debt is often distorted by the fact that debt has become culturally acceptable at every level in society. The United States government has borrowed over 16 trillion dollars to date. Each year it spends...

There is a teaching which states that a believer once called and chosen unto salvation and eternal life is no longer in a position to lose it. It teaches he is secure and can never fall from the grace of God. This is false.

...

Baptism is one Christian ordinance that nearly all denominations accept as scriptural and applicable to today. It has survived when feet washing, the prayer veiling, the holy kiss, and others are explained away. Not all who practice...

Tradition has a grasp on everyone. No one can escape the impact of the tradition in which he was raised. Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” It would therefore seem...

Building altars is probably not a task we would choose, but the Bible gives many accounts where God commanded the building of altars, or where men voluntarily built them.

The first occasion is found in Genesis 8:20, after Noah...

At first glance, one could suggest that these two terms might be synonymous. In fact, one hundred years ago they sometimes were used interchangeably.1 but as the English language continues its evolutionary process, it becomes necessary...

Years ago, a Mennonite preacher was flying on a mission trip. Around him the passengers were joking and laughing, when suddenly the jet encountered a violent storm. The plane bucked wildly. Lightning cracked against the wings. Terrified...

Editor’s Note: This is the concluding article in a series of three. In the first one we looked at the King James Bible, and in the second we examined the textual theory behind modern Bible translations. Now we will consider two other...

The Halloween holiday and season represent an ancient European variant, All-Hallows’-Even (“evening”), that is, the night before All Hallows’ Day.

All-Hallows’-Even probably dates to ancient Celtic festivals celebrating the...

We as an older generation are passing off the scene. We sense that we have been blessed above measure. We have been given a priceless heritage of seeing the New Testament as a book to be lived out in everyday life because of our love...

The education of our children can not be stopped; it takes place every moment in every situation. This continual flow of education influences and shapes their character. Much of this education takes place in the home under the...

Editor’s Note: In this article, the first in a series of three, we focus on the King James Version of the Bible. In the next article we will examine modern Bible versions.

The King James Version of the Bible
In 2011 the...

After Absalom’s death, Ahimaaz asked Joab’s permission to carry to King David what he thought was good news, “how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies” (2Sa 18:19). Apparently Ahimaaz was recognized as a good-news messenger, as...

Delmarva is the name of a peninsula shared by Delaware, Maryland, and northern Virginia. It juts into the Chesapeake Bay, forming the boundary between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the waters of the bay itself. This past summer our...

What are some foundational principles for healthy emotional well-being?

1. It is not only acceptable but also necessary to express emotion in sanctified ways.
Spirituality is not the absence of feelings, or denying...

Mark 4:3-20 contains an extensive account on agriculture to teach an important spiritual lesson. Four types of soil and their production abilities are considered. The parable and ag teacher is Jesus Himself, using the soil for an...

Sally stuffs her hands deeper into her sweater pockets as she kicks a stone ahead of her on the way to the mail box... “Why?” she says to herself, “Why can’t dad show an interest in my life—I need someone to talk to! This youth social...

The powerful aroma of spikenard must have filled the room and mingled with the smell of food. Mary had taken ointment and had poured it on Jesus’ head as well as His feet as Jesus was eating a meal at Simon the Leper’s house.1 The value...

The internet is another part of the technological advances that are pressing upon us. In many ways it seems an unavoidable part of our day and the future. More and more businesses are finding it necessary to go online or be left behind...

In 1980, a construction crew accidently uncovered an ancient tomb as they excavated a site in a neighborhood south of old Jerusalem. Entombed were 10 ossuaries containing bones. On one of the ossuaries, an inscription read, “Jesus the...

Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a series that examines the subtle effects that the use of technology brings to bear in our daily lives. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (...

Psalms are poems. Poems are elegies of thought. Poems, often written by artistic personalities, vent emotion, thought, feeling or motive. Word pictures and couplet phrases deep in the soul spring out expressed as ideas, prayers or truth...

In 1 Corinthians 3:9, we read, “We are laborers together with God.” We are commanded by God to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

But where are we called to be witnesses? One of the apostle Paul’s areas of ministry was “house to...

The word “absolute” means “free from all imperfection, fixed and unchangeable qualities, concepts or standards, and unquestionable finality.” The word “obsolete” means “out of date” or “fallen into disuse.”

The Bible has...

October 1st represents the beginning of the new church and Sunday school year in many of our congregations. Generally, congregational elections are held to fill various church offices such as song leader, trustee, janitor, usher, Sunday...

The Question
Recently a brother, whom we’ll call Andrew, decided to have a new well drilled, as his old one was repeatedly running dry. When the drilling rig arrived, the driver (“George”) jumped out, holding two wires in his...

Another popular sedan rolls off the assembly line. Its shiny paint and gleaming chrome invite you to take a closer look at its many details and qualities. The sedan not only looks sharp but is equipped with every feature you need to...

“The Power of Pride.” So proclaimed the bumper stickers that popped up around the United States after the September 11 attacks and stuck around for years since. Adorned with an American flag, they appealed to the patriotic fervor that...

Physical wars have dominated history’s attention from the time Cain killed his brother Abel, right down to the present day. This really should be no surprise to us. Jesus told us in Matthew 24:6, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours...

One of the most wonderful revelations of the Bible is that God is our Father. When we think of a father, we think of protection, provision, warmth, and tenderness. Or does the word father paint a different picture for some? God reveals...

There is an account of a marathon swimmer that swam across part of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. Even though she swam inside a cage to ward off large fish, the crew on the accompanying boat were constantly on the lookout...

Parts 1 and 2

What is singing all about? Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 to be “filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving...

Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” is a question that has echoed through the corridors of time from the Garden of Eden to the present day. Although perhaps not verbalized, certainly that question was in Eve’s mind when the Serpent said...

Maybe we think times are not so prosperous. But if we open our eyes a little and see our standard of living, and if we look around at other countries, we will see that we are living in prosperous times. God is very interested that we...

Recently I saw a sign that boldly proclaimed that America is a Christian nation. I was not able to figure out the thinking behind that statement. I felt more kinship with Isaiah in chapter 1 verse 4, where he said, “Ah sinful nation, a...

Where is everybody going? This seems a timely question in these days of increased running. Everybody is hurrying somewhere. The surge of headlights approaching and the stream of taillights leaving a traffic light remind us of Daniel 12:...

In the Scripture, we have some of the most remarkable events of all history. The things we want to notice are happenings of Noah’s day before the time of universal deluge. There are some things the Lord speaks of in the society of Noah’...

I recently remarked, after a particularly beautiful rain, that it was just what my raspberries needed. One individual who heard my comment asked me a simple question, “Do your raspberries have seeds?” I assume that his question meant...

The Israelite nation was in great distress. God had allowed the Midianites to dominate Israel for seven years. But now they had come upon them at the time of sowing with numbers like those of a swarm of grasshoppers and the Israelites...

It was an interesting message for a Sunday evening. The title of the sermon was “Communicating a Burden for the Lost.” The visiting minister had provided a solid scriptural basis for his admonition and had shared a number of interesting...

They were called the Halbtaeufer or Halfway-Anabaptists. These people sympathized with the Swiss Anabaptists but never left the state churches to join Anabaptist brotherhoods. Some sympathized because they recoiled at the horrific...

“Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions...

More than twenty years ago, I received an unsettling phone call. The caller was a Mennonite minister that I had met earlier during some church meetings. He shared that he had just concluded a conversation with a group of church brethren...

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous” (1Pe 3:8). This exhortation to us all is the only place in Scripture where the adjective courteous is used. The origin of the...

Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” This truth is often applied to human relationships. It certainly applies on the human level, but should we not consider this truth in light of our walk with God? Recently...

Robert is angry. One of the causes for his anger is because he has not learned to accept a “no” from his parents when he was young. His parents were easy going. Robert could pretty well have his way in whatever he set out to do. Now...

Only two passages in the KJV Bible (Php 1:1; 1Tim 3:8-13) contain the word deacon or deacons. However, the Greek word so translated, diakonos, occurs more than thirty times, and is also translated minister and servant. It can mean “an...

The weather is cooler, the days are shorter and the garden is dormant. All signs of creation herald the onset of fall and remind us that winter is soon to follow. The sign in front of the store was nestled in some straw bales with...

From day to day, our lives revolve around the future. We live moment by moment in anticipation of what the morrow may hold. Many of the anticipated events are quite mundane such as meal and work schedules; however, others we may look...

What is the one most needed thing from a minister of the Gospel?

Many church members and even some ministers believe that one of the noblest qualities in a minister is that he is an effective preacher/speaker. I think we all...

The presence of color in the universe truly is a testimony of the greatness of the Creator. God created the light that we receive from the sun to be a mixture of all the primary colors. The prismatic effect of water droplets separates...

For most of us, the three-office ministry has been the normal, accepted, and traditional practice of church government. In our congregations, bishop, ministers and deacons, work together in their distinctive roles to lead and guide the...

A relatively new phenomenon is sweeping across the political landscape of the united States. It is called the Tea Party Movement. This populist movement emerged to protest the bailouts and the stimulus package that the federal...

Multiple titles could fit this piece; “The Chain maker With Long ears” or for more orthodoxy, “The Sin of Unrighteous Judgment.”

Jesus came preaching Messianic Kingdom rules. He preached that holiness and authentic Kingdom...

The benefits of revival meetings are realized now, and will extend into eternity. Some of the special benefits that are derived from such meetings are due to the concentration of group efforts, such as special prayer times, invitations...

Obedience is a Scriptural concept that has been questioned by Satan and carnal men. From the time of our first parents in the Garden of Eden, obedience to God is weighed with other options. “Yea, hath God said?” If God said it, did He...

Does it really matter what my neighbors think of me? If I have a right relationship with God and the church, should I be concerned with the perceptions of someone who I hardly know. What is my responsibility? Christ admonished his...

“For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told” (Ps
90:9).
As I reflect on my pilgrimage of 74 years, this verse becomes more and more real to me. Life is
like a story that is...

Self-denial is not restricted to the religious realms of living. Many people will deny themselves of opportunities and activities for the sake of natural and carnal interests.

The athlete will deny himself of foods which are...

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints...” (Eph 1:18).

The statement that “we live in changing...

Forgiveness is a product of Calvary that restores man’s relationship with God and his fellow men. Those who do not experience forgiveness from God live with guilt. Those who do not extend forgiveness to others develop a bitterness that...

Children grow up developing various interests and appetites in life. Not all appetites are good appetites. Every Christian parent is concerned that his children will develop spiritual appetites as they grow older. Sad it is when as...

One of the characteristics of our day is the lack of contentment. It is more than our American culture that influences us to be discontented. Our carnal nature is restless and discontented. We desire to be someone we are not and seek to...

Many questions are raised in relation to the subject of authority, such as, who has the final authority? How much of church life do leaders decide? Does the membership have anything to say? How binding are the Decrees for to Keep? Is...

The Martyr’s Mirror as we have it is a history book first published in the Dutch language. The book contains chronicles, memorials and testimonies of Christians persecuted for their faith in Jesus. The aim of the book was to preserve in...

No other story of Anabaptist martyrs seems to capture more notice in Mennonite minds than the account of Dirk Willems. Dirk was born at Asperen, Rotterdam, (The Netherlands). Historians record that Dirk was re-baptized upon confession...

The Church of Jesus is a living organism with many parts contributing to the whole body. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also...

Michael Sattler was an early Anabaptist martyr. He was born in Stauffen, Germany about 1490. Michael entered the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter’s near Freiberg, Germany where he probably became its prior. During the 1520’s, Michael...

As we reflect on the birth of christ, we are touched by the fact that there was no room for Jesus in the inn. “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no...

In Psalm 19, we see God in three ways. We see Him in creation, in His Word, and His work in our everyday life.

In God’s creation, we see fantastic displays of His greatness and power. We have the sun, moon, and stars that set...

Thanksgiving Day as known to North America is a harvest festival. As celebrated in the United States and Canada, it is traditionally a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude.

The date and location of the...

Criticism and compliment are opposite. Criticism is disfavor toward. Compliment is favor toward. Neither is innately amoral. Both potentially stem from attitudes of love or hate. Both can bless or curse—the implications heavily...

The following is correspondence by a brother from the Pensacola, FL congregation to his uncle who believes in unconditional eternal security. It depicts the deceptive consequences of unsound doctrine afloat in today’s religious world....

In the first book of the Bible we read in Gen 1:31-2:1, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and be-hold it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all...

In the above verse that serves as the title, God is addressing Job. His question, along with more than three score like it, includes speaking of the Behemoth, a herbivore with a tail like a cedar. He also mentions a sea creature, the...

The doctrine of sanctification is often misunderstood and neglected in our day. If we want to be called children of God, we must be sanctified and have the process of sanctification continuing in our lives. Without sanctification, no...

In recent years, I repeatedly hear a common confession expressed in our conservative churches. Sometimes it is acknowledged in a council meeting, revival meeting, a public testimony, or in personal interviews. In a few occasions, having...

Nature shows us clearly that living things reproduce themselves. This process generally produces a baby that is feeble and needs nurture from its parent. The “Living Christian Faith” will also reproduce itself and this will result in “...

Five pillars of reformation era theology influenced our forefathers. 1) sola scriptura (Scripture alone), 2) sola fide (faith alone), 3) sola gratia (grace alone), 4) solus Christus (Christ alone), and 5) sola Deo Gloria (glory to God...

Psalm 23 may well be the best-known Psalm today and yet it may hold many deeper concepts that are missed by people who have not been a shepherd or never owned sheep. I first came to recognize the deeper meaning in Psalm 23 when asked to...

Tools are such an integral part of life that we would be incapacitated without them. How would you brush your teeth without a toothbrush? (use a twig, huh?) A mechanic can’t loosen a tight nut with bare hands. It would be impossible to...

Psalm 23 may well be the best-known Psalm today and yet it may hold many deeper concepts that are missed by people who have not been a shepherd or never owned sheep. I first came to recognize the deeper meaning in Psalm 23 when asked to...

Oppositional defiant disorder. This is a newly diagnosed disorder, defined by experts in psychology as existing among children. It is characterized by negative, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward adults and authority...

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...

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...

Noah was in his 600th year, when torrential precipitation burst from the skies and erupting waters from deep in the earth began purging the rampant, contiguous, human corruption of the day. Sinners had been sinning blatantly, evidently...

Wisdom is knowledge and good judgment based on experience. James tells us in Chapter 3 of his epistle that there are two different kinds of wisdom earthly and heavenly. Earthly wisdom is judgment based solely on the immediate and...

"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.

But...