I was about 20 years old, a junior in college at MO State University (then SW MO State).  I was taking a sociology class and one assignment was to attend a showing of a documentary about Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich.  It was in a large theater, and I sat toward the back in the dark auditorium.  As they played the black and white film, which showed scenes of the rallies Hitler held in Nurember...  Read More

You can see some interesting things on the internet.  Not all of it is good, in fact much of it is borderline at best.  Yet occasionally there are things worthwhile.  Recently I saw a post that listed “questions that atheists ask.”   As all of us who are Christian seek to, “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, always ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is i...  Read More

“Behold, water was coming from below the threshold of the temple toward the east.  The water was flowing down from the south end of the temple, trickling out on the south side. Going eastward at a thousand cubits, I was led through water that was ankle-deep. Another thousand and it was knee-deep.  Again, a thousand and it was waist deep.  Measured at another thousand and it was a river that I coul...  Read More

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  Falling on the ground, he heard a voice...  Read More

I’ll admit, it has always kind of confused me.  I’m talking about the imagery used in the Passover Meal and for Christians today in the Lord’s Supper (communion), of leaven representing evil.  They used unleavened bread for both to say something significant and bad has been removed.  For Israel it was being physically removed from Egypt, and for Christians it is having our sins removed through Chr...  Read More

What is the appropriate venue for worship?  What is taking place that creates worship?  For the Christian, how do we define true worship?  We use the word a lot, but really, what is worship?The word “worship” gets used most often to describe the musical portion of a Sunday service.  It’s not hard to understand why.  That’s when, for many, they “feel” the most, during the song service.  It’s the at...  Read More

If I asked you, “What is the key to salvation?”, you might have any of several responses. You might say, “I think it is grace, because we cannot earn it” (Eph. 2:8).  True.  You might say, “I think it is faith in Christ, because we are told that ‘without faith it is impossible to please God’” (Heb. 11:6). True again.  You might say, “Repentance and baptism are key, because we gain forgiveness and ...  Read More

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin, and the slave does not remain in the house forever, but the Son does; so if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34, 36).Picture this scenario.  You don’t own a car and can’t afford one, not even close.  But you highly desire a trip driving across the country to Los Angeles.  That is your ultimate goal, w...  Read More

I enjoy Christmas with all the tinsel and lights, the shops full of people looking for a loved-one’s gift, the church and family gatherings as we feast on whatever food delights us, enjoying the company of other people.  Christmas trees and small-town decorations, candlelight services, with nativity scenes in the churchyard.  It’s all part of an environment that in truth, is more European and Amer...  Read More

In the previous Cross Point we painted a picture of how important it is to stay tuned-in to God’s Word, the teaching of God’s commandments, especially as communicated by Jesus and his apostles.  Without the intentional effort to study and learn from scriptural teaching, we always drift away.  The Apostle Peter will say, “For this reason (the need to escape the corruption of the world), make every ...  Read More

I can remember being impressed early in my knowledge of the Restoration Movement (independent Christian churches, churches of Christ) with the emphasis on the term “Thus Saith the Lord.”  You will find that phrase used in the Bible over 400 times!  It represents God’s direct commands.  The thought expressed by early Restoration Movement leaders was that nothing should be required of the Christian ...  Read More

Creating habits can be a good thing.  The habit of exercise is good for our health, as we routinely go for a walk, ride our bike, head to the gym, play pickleball, or do whatever activity helps us stay involved in physical movement that maintains or improves our condition.  The habit of putting our kids to sleep at night, reading them a book, saying prayers with them, all set an example and provid...  Read More