Month: July 2009

Balderdash – NONSENSE (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary).

A popular board game around our house is called Balderdash. In the game, you anonymously submit a nonsensical definition of some obscure word, hoping that others are convinced that your “made up” definition is the correct one. In effect, you make the definition plausible enough to bluff someone into believing it is authentic. You can imagine the laughter when the definitions are read aloud. Of course, the cards used in the game have the real definition of the word, and are the final authority.

False teachers have done the very same thing from the beginning of time. They attempt to bluff the ignorant into accepting their doctrines as truth. The sophistry of these ungodly individuals has an appeal to it that is unmistakable. It’s appeal serves to deceive the credulous, and they are led away into the apostasy.

In the end, remember that there is only one real authority in religion. It is God’s Word. Despite the appeal and seeming plausibility of the sophist’s claims, all he really has to offer is balderdash.

I recently came across the following letter to Dear Abby. It initially appeared in the paper in May of 1994. So, while certainly not recent news, it still appeared in a newspaper, and so technically fits the parameters of this column. It certainly gives an opportunity to teach.

DEAR ABBY: I am 45 years old, financially comfortable and would like to get married.

I would like to meet a man about my age who enjoys going to church.

I belong to the First Methodist Church, Blessed Angels Catholic Church and the Mount Zion Jewish Temple.

I also attend the Christian Science Church regularly, but I do take aspirin occasionally.

Can you please help me find a man of good character who is interested in marriage, and belongs to any of the above-mentioned places of worship?

A moderate cigarette smoker is O.K., but please, no beer drinkers. – VICTORIA

DEAR VICTORIA: You seem to have all the bases covered. I cannot understand how you can be a member of all the above-mentioned churches.

To find a good churchgoing gentleman, have a talk with any of your clergypersons and be up-front about your interest in finding a man. I am a firm believer that there’s somebody for everybody. Good luck.

Analysis:

You will note that Abby, in her response to the advice seeker, says, “I cannot understand how you can be a member of all the above-mentioned churches.” I daresay that just about all who read the article thought the same thing, wondering if the lady were a tad imbalanced – perhaps criticizing her lack of conviction.

Continue reading “In The News: Multiple Memberships” →

We should not set just one day aside for thanksgiving to God. Rather, we should always, every day be and express our thanks to God. Thanksgiving improves:

• Our perspective about Ourselves
• Our perspective about our Things
• Our perspective about our God

Thanksgiving helps to keep us from arrogance, greed and worry.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The Sermon uses the text of Isaiah 65:1-7 as a warning against Self-Righteousness. We must not trust in ourselves, do our work to be seen of men, or be guilty of hypocrisy, which often accompanies Self-Righteousness. Having said that, Self-Righteousness is NOT:

• Obeying God’s Law
• Zeal and Dedication
• Reproving and Rebuking Sin
• Believing God’s Word to be Authoritative and Absolute

Rather than being Self-Righteous, we must submit to the righteousness of God.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

This lesson begins with a mention of Peter’s confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, recorded in Matthew 16:13-16. How do we know that Jesus is the Son of God?

• Fulfilled Prophecy
• Testimony of John the Baptist
• The Miracles He Performed
• Testimony of the Father
• The Resurrection

–
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

(Note: Audio is not available for this lesson).

In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle admonished the Corinthians who did not believe in the resurrection, indicating they should be ashamed. It is the purpose of preaching and admonition to shame individuals who are in sin. We all should be ashamed when we:

• Participate in Ungodliness
• Lack Knowledge
• Uphold Those Who Teach Error

–
Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

(Many of you know that I write a weekly sports article for the River Oaks News. In the summer they let me write other kinds of articles. This one is to appear in the paper next week. They don’t let me write on religious topics, but sometimes I sneak in a spiritual value or two. I have a few other comments at the end of the article).

The news shows, magazines and internet have been humming recently with the news of the deaths of three well known entertainers.

Ed McMahon, sidekick to Johnny Carson, and host of Star Search lived to the age of 86. He died after a long battle with bone cancer, and a recent bout with pneumonia. His death, therefore, was not unexpected.

Farrah Fawcett, pinup girl and television star, died at the age of 62 after a long battle with cancer. Her death was long anticipated as well.

Continue reading “A True Tragedy” →

Social critic Russell Kirk has defined decadence as the loss of an aim or object in life. “Men and women become decadent when they forget or deny the objects of life, and so fritter away their years in trifles or debauchery.”

Against the Night, Charles Colson, p.56

The Bible reveals the truth to the above definition. This is especially so if the “object in life” forgotten is God!

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.”

Romans 1:20-25