There are many places in scripture where we learn things that perplex us.  “What does that mean?” we may ask, as we scratch our head.  One of those places where scripture confuses is found in the book of Exodus as Moses is sent by God to free the Israelites.  We find these words in Exodus 7, “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh….  You shall speak all that I comman...  Read More

As I browsed through the art gallery I was taken by the contrast of styles. From a more traditional painter, the Realist, there were beautiful scenes of landscape and images of buildings and people. Sometimes hidden within the picture were items of symbolism, put there by the artist to make you think, to provide more than a scene, to also provide a message beyond the obvious one. I moved on to an ...  Read More

Alfred Lansing  authored a book in 1959 called Endurance, named after a ship that took 27 men on an unbelievable adventure. The intent was to deliver a team led by Sir Ernest Shackleton to the shores of Antarctica below South America. Once there, the plan was for his team to go by dog sled across the continent. It is December 1914 when their ship enters an ice field. It traps them on all sides. Th...  Read More

Martin Luther was one of the primary reformers during the 16th century, issuing his 95 theses in 1517 on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Rexanne and I have been there. While on a trip to one of the libraries we work with, this one in Berlin (Open Door Libraries), we took a side trip to Wittenberg and visited the city of Luther. We have a picture we took of the Castle Church i...  Read More

It had been a prayer of ours for some time. Thinking of retirement years: what if we could become involved with a mission organization to help in some small way? But what? I wasn’t a preacher; neither of us had mission experience outside a few short-term mission trips. While browsing through the booths at an International Conference on Missions we came to one called Open Door Libraries. We discove...  Read More

We live in an odd age. Many who call themselves “Christian” have little or no desire to attend and be active in church. I’m not sure you can find another age in history where this is so true. Why has this happened? There are probably dozens of contributing factors to this dynamic. In generic terms, we are independent Americans and tend to go our individual way. But this tendency goes beyond being ...  Read More

It’s the mantra of our modern society. “I just want to be happy!” And, I mean, it is even written into our countries Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among them are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”  Is happiness a self-evident truth?The pur...  Read More

I had a turnaround experience as a senior in college, finally becoming serious about being a disciple of Jesus.  I returned home without a job, and it took several months to land one. During that time, I read the Bible every day while working three part-time jobs, and I prayed.  I prayed that God would allow me to end up where I could take Bible college classes and become more effective working in...  Read More

This week and next I’ll write my two last articles, thanking you for our 25 years as members at SHCC, ending this weekly installment of Cross Points.  First, let me talk about the mission involvement we’ve had.  Our first mission trip came in 2002 with Scott Springer ministries, heading south to Juarez, Mexico with 11 total from SHCC.  The group consisted of: Bill & Frances Adams, Ken & Judy Vest,...  Read More

I attend an independent Christian Church, part of what is called The Restoration Movement. If you are at Southern Heights Christian Church, so do you.   A “back to the Bible” movement dating to the early 1800’s.  We are only “independent” in terms of not relying on a denominational headquarters, with each congregation overseen by a group of local elders, no governing authority beyond the local chu...  Read More

Simon Weil (French Philosopher) has said, “All sins are attempts to fill voids.”  Yes, it may involve doing things God has forbidden, but it can also be doing good things that take the place of God.  It is more than bad behavior, it is allowing lifestyle to become our idol, violating the first of the ten commandments (you shall have no other gods before me).  And this can take place as we form our...  Read More

She was born in 1883 (Chester Arthur was President).  At 92 years of age in 1975 she had seen a lot in her lifetime.   At 5’ 8” I was able to tower over her petite 4’ 11” frame.  She lived in one of the older, stately two-story houses on S. Williams Street in Moberly, MO.  My acquaintance with Josie began as I looked for a place to live, preparing for my first job out of college, which took me to ...  Read More