Month: July 2004

A recent edition of the River Oaks News revealed that a Christian living in the River Oaks area had received an award for his work in the Masonic Lodge. It used to be rather common to hear of Christian men who held membership in the Masonic Lodge, and who would, when confronted with the sinfulness of such membership, chose the Lodge over the Lord’s church. Continue reading “Masonry in the Church” →

The third in Peter’s list of attributes to be added to our faith, (cf. 2 Peter 1:5-11), is “self-control.”

The term self-control (translated as “temperance” in the KJV), comes from the Greek (egkrateia). This term has as its root the Greek (kratos), denoting strength or power. The term is literally rendered and easily understood as power or strength in regard to self. A person who has self-control has the ability to limit his urges and desires in order to conform to God’s will.

Continue reading “Self-Control” →

In yesterday’s (8/14/99) Life section of the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, an article appeared entitled Neglecting the Good Book. Several quotes follow, which are revealing as to society’s present day attitude toward the inspired scriptures.
“According to one religious research firm, two-thirds of Americans don’t regularly read the Bible or know the names of the Four Gospels. More than half of Americans surveyed can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments. And the majority say they find the Good Book irrelevant.” Continue reading “Present Attitudes Toward the Bible” →

(Modesty, Dancing & Behavior)

Dress

When I read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving, as a high school assignment, I was struck by a short passage which I have remembered since as the “ankle passage.” At the time, I was struck with how times had changed, regarding the morals of the day. Recently, I read the short story again, and came across the passage. It is a description of a young woman, (a bit of a flirt), who was the object of Ichabod Crane’s attention. Here is an excerpt: Continue reading “A Little of a Coquette” →

Homosexual Promiscuity. Studies indicate that the average male homosexual has hundreds of sex partners in his lifetime, a lifestyle that–is difficult for even “committed” homosexuals to break free of and which is not conducive to a healthy and wholesome atmosphere for the raising of children.

A. P. Bell and M. S. Weinberg, in their classic study of male and female homosexuality, found that 43 percent of white male homosexuals had sex with five hundred or more partners, with 28 percent having 1,000 or more sex partners.(A. P. Bell and M. S. Weinberg, Homosexualities: A Study of Diversity Among Men and Women (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978), pp. 308, 309; See also A. P. Bell, M. S. Weinberg, and S. K. Hammersmith, Sexual Preference (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1981).

In their study of the sexual profiles of 2,583 older homosexuals published in Journal of Sex Research, Paul Van de Ven et al. found that “the modal range for number of sexual partners ever [of homosexuals] was 101-500.” In addition, 10.2 percent to 15.7 percent had between 501 and 1000 partners. A further 10.2 percent to 15.7 percent reported having had more than 1000 lifetime sexual partners.(Paul Van de Ven et al., “A Comparative Demographic and Sexual Profile of Older Homosexually Active Men,” Journal of Sex Research 34 (1997): 354.)

Timothy J. Dailey, Ph.D.
via Family Research Council

Analysis:

As a part of the current efforts to legalize Gay and Lesbian marriages, homosexual advocates have sought to portray such relationships as “normal.” The reason for this is obvious. If such relationships are characterized as similar to heterosexual marriages, the obvious concerns that most Americans have regarding the welfare of children and the moral fiber of our society will be assuaged.

Continue reading “Harmful Effects of Homosexuality” →

A teacher was trying to teach his twelve male students the importance of respecting women. To illustrate his point, he brought 13 roses to class, took one out of the bunch and gave it to the boys to handle each in turn. He asked them to touch it and feel the softness, and admire the beauty of the rose. After all had handled the flower, he returned it to the bunch, and told the boys they each could have one flower. Each in turn came forward, and took a single rose. They each took a rose which had not been handled. No one wanted the rose all had touched, handled, and admired. It had been soiled, and was no longer the pristine, beautiful blossom it had been. The lesson was obvious, and forceful. Continue reading “Young Ladies, Keep Yourself Pure” →

(Matthew 12)

In this article I intend to explain, in its context, Jesus’ defense of his disciples in Matthew 12. The Pharisees had accused them of unlawful activity on the Sabbath. This is a difficult passage, and in misusing it, some are led to dangerous conclusions regarding what God allows in our response to His laws. I trust you will open your Bible, and read the entire passage, and the immediate context, in conjuction with this writer’s explanation of the text. Continue reading “Did Jesus Authorize Situation Ethics?” →

In response to a comment about a 2 year old who hits others, and runs into the street, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, in his nationally syndicated column, disagreed with a grandmother who asserted that the child should be spanked as a means of discipline. Brazelton comes from the “Dr. Spock” school of discipline, and consistently discourages any form of corporal punishment. Here, in part, is what he wrote in response:

“Hitting and pushing are common behaviors at this age. It’s a young child’s way of reaching out to another before he has more language and social skills. Of course a child must be stopped and clearly told that this is not acceptable.

“Spanking will not teach him these skills. Instead, it’s likely to make him angry, and he may start hitting others out of anger.

“Of course spanking will get a child to stop what he’s doing – because it hurts. But pain used to stop a behavior does not teach a child. Instead, it confuses him.

“If time-outs don’t work-and they often don’t at this age-sit down with him to hold him, to keep him safe.

“You may also need to discipline with consequences: “I can’t let you go outside until you can learn to stop running in the street.”

Column appeared in the July 6, 2004 Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Analysis:

Brazelton’s assertions can be shown to be false through simple observation. Though anecdotal, our own experiences, as we were raised by our parents, show that spanking is an effective form of discipline.

Continue reading “Spanking Children” →

(A Secular Approach to the Problems of the Lottery)

The following article originally appeared in Christianity Today, July 10, 1987. The article was written by a man by the name of Charles Colson. It addresses the problems with the Illinois lottery from a secular point of view. I thought this article would be a good addition to the other two at this site examining the sinful nature of the lottery. If you have read the other two articles, you know that participating in the lottery is sin, no disputing it, it is fact. Now, read on, and see some reasons why the lottery is dangerous both to your pocketbook, and your soul…

Continue reading “The Myth of the Money Tree” →

Author’s Note: I wrote this article around the time that the lottery was established in Texas. The article serves to show the ridiculous nature of such an activity.

The signs are popping up all over town, and presumably, all over the state. TEXAS LOTTERY…Play the Texas Lottery Here! It’s quite a phenomenon. I was in a 7-11 just a few days ago, waiting in a much longer line than usual, to purchase a few groceries. The reason for the long line was the lottery. Almost to a man, the people in front of me bought 1,2,5,6 lottery tickets, all hoping for the possible lucky ticket. It struck me at the time that the behavior of the people could be summed up in one word…GREED! Or to use a biblical term, COVETOUSNESS! Continue reading “Sobering Thoughts About the Lottery” →

The state of Texas is one of many states that run a lottery. This rapidly growing phenomenon brings to the forefront questions concerning the morality of gambling. Is gambling a sin? This article will attempt to answer honestly that question by an appeal to scripture.

A quick point as we begin. The amount you gamble is irrelevant. The principles we are about to address show gambling to be wrong. On principle. With no regard to amount. Just gambling a little can no more be justified than telling a “little white lie” or saying a cuss word “only every once in a while”. If it is wrong, IT IS WRONG! Continue reading “Is It A Sin to Play the Lottery?” →

A California man who killed another man in a gunfight is looking to repent of his evil deed and be baptized. There’s only one problem – the local jail housing him is denying his request…

“I would like to do it before I go to prison,” Ramzee Johnson told the Bakersfield Californian, saying he’s getting daily death threats from gang members associated with his victim. “I might not make it to prison.”

Johnson has been studying the Bible recently with David Garner, a minister at the Oildale Church of Christ who thinks the Lerdo Jail’s refusal to allow the baptism is denying Johnson the ability to be saved.

Continue reading “Ramzee Johnson Seeks Baptism” →