Topic(s): Faith, Humor, Prayer

In a small conservative town, a tavern owner started building a bar. A local church started a campaign to block its opening with petitions and prayers.

Work progressed right up till the week before opening, when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.

The church folks were pleased until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect means.

In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all responsibility to the building’s demise.

As the case made its way through the legal system, the judge looked over the paperwork and observed, “I don’t know how I’m going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner that believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that doesn’t!”

“A merry heart doeth good . . .” —Proverbs 17:22

(Serious question: How much faith to you have in the God who answers prayer? See James 5:16.)

Saved by the Bible

Topic(s): Bible Study, Salvation

Ten days ago, Pfc. Brendon Schweigart, 22, was on a mission to recover a tank that had broken down in Baghdad, Iraq. Upon reaching the tank, he was struck in the chest by a sniper’s bullet. Fortunately for Schweigart, the bullet became embedded in a Bible he carried in his shirt pocket. The Word of God had quite literally saved his life!

Mr. Schweigart’s experience reminds me of a passage in the Bible. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

Pfc. Brendon Schweigart learned that keeping a Bible near your heart can literally save your life. But more important than that, by keeping a Bible near your heart you will also be able to stop the attacks of the devil and will save your soul. —Steve Higginbotham

Don’t Give Up

Topic(s): Christian Life

Babe Ruth struck out 1333 times. But we remember him for his 714 home runs. Cy Young won 511 games. But the number he lost is forgotten.

Abraham Lincoln was badly beaten when he ran for the legislature. He failed in business and spent seventeen years paying out of debt. He failed to get an appointment to the U.S. Land Office. He was defeated in his race for the Senate, and in his effort to be vice-president. Again Lincoln was defeated by Douglas. But he eventually became the president of the United States.

Many believe for a while but “in time of temptation fall away” (Luke 8:13). Like Israel we have a tendency to forget God (Jeremiah 2:32). In most communities, there are those who once were more faithful than they are now. They do not attend Bible classes, night services, or other meetings as they once did. They have ceased to participate in church activities. Their light has gone out. They have virtually quit.

Everyday religion is the antidote to failure. Practice these safeguards:

• Every day let God say something to you. Keep the line of communication open between you and God by reading His Word.
• Every day say something to God. Stay in contact with the source of strength by prayer. We cannot walk alone. Prayer avails.
• Every day say something for God. Share the good news. Tell a friend. Speak a kind word.
• Every day do something for God. Look for opportunities to serve. Opportunities are abundant; only a blind man could not see them. Give a helping hand. Encourage the downtrodden. Exhort the wayward. Comfort the sorrowful. Support the weak.

My dear brethren, let’s be doers—not quitters!—Clarence DeLoach