Petting a Porcupine                                          May 17, 2026

            Far too many people, and not a few brethren, feel rejected and lonely simply because they have spent a lifetime building walls instead of bridges.  And is it any wonder why they find themselves so disconnected from everyone surrounding them?

            When was the last time you tried petting a porcupine?

            Any healthy relationship will thrive in an atmosphere of understanding and mutual forbearance, but continual carping criticism does nothing but destroy.  Pettiness and selfishness too often drive deadly spikes into the very heart of what would otherwise be a healthy and thriving union.

            The Bible instructs, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

            And again Scripture admonishes, “Finally, all of you be of the same mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tender-hearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you might inherit a blessing” (I Peter 3:8-9).

            And still again, “With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).

            In short, we are expected to get along with one another; to be kind and forgiving toward one another; to have genuine compassion for one another; to forbear with one another “in love.”

            We get along best when we’re less selfish and more selfless; less critical and more understanding; less like the world and more like Christ.

            And what is this but the “golden rule” in practice?  (Matthew 7:12).  We would have others show kindness to us.  We would have others minimize our weaknesses and instead emphasize and encourage our strengths.  Should we not then treat others as we would have them treat us?

            It is always the right time to be kind!                       Dalton Key (Tulsa, OK) via Old Paths

Mother’s Day                                                               May 10, 2026

Proverbs 23:22-25

Vs 22 “Listen to your father who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Vs 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

Vs 24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Vs 25 Let your father and mother be glad;

let her who bore you rejoice.”

Many years ago, I loved and played the game of baseball.  This love was inherited from my father and followed me from T – ball to high school.  On game day, our mothers would often wear a pin-on button made from their player’s photo which included a ribbon underneath that said: “That’s My Boy!”  I was a little embarrassed by this maternal practice, but I understood the sentiment.  Not much has changed since then.  Today parents find all sorts of creative ways to say how proud they are of their little athletes.

As the children of God, we are tasked with living lives that honor our parents.  A mother is not only to be honored, but her children are called to live a life that makes her “glad” to the point that she can “rejoice.”  The gifts Solomon says will gain that rejoicing and gladness of a mother are … truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding (Vs 23).  This doesn’t mean that you buy them and put them in a drawer somewhere.  Nor should you try to fit them in a card or wrap them in a box.  It simply means that you should gain these things and live life by them.  God’s truth and wisdom create a life that not only honors mother and father, but produces something that Mom can with much joy declare, “That’s My Kid!”

What are you giving your Mom for Mother’s Day?  Cards, flowers, and gifts are all good, but a life lead by God’s truth and wisdom is even better.  It is sure to bring her joy!

Happy Mother’s Day!!                                                     By Ryan Parsons

Only Three Temptations                                           May 3, 2026

If we were asked, “how many different ways does Satan tempt us?” the answer might be hundreds or even a thousand ways.  After all, we are all individuals with different strengths and weaknesses and what might not tempt one person will be a huge challenge for another.  So, how can God possibly warn us about temptation when there are countless ways the devil entices us to go down the sinful road?  Well, in His infinite and amazing wisdom, God has admonished us through the scriptures by using only three temptations.  More correctly stated, He uses three broad categories that every conceivable temptation will fall into.  The passage is found in I John 2:15-16:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.”

These three categories of temptation are the very methods Satan used against Jesus as he tempted the Lord for forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-12).

1. The “lust of the flesh” is any and every physical desire, passion, or pleasure that is contrary to God’s moral laws.  Even things within themselves that are not sinful, become so when our desire for them is not controlled and kept in proper perspective and priority.  Our “love” or loyalty is not to be for the physical things of earth but for the spiritual things of heaven (Matthew 6:19-21; 16:26).
2. The “lust of the eyes” centers around what Jesus called “the lamp of the body.”  It is with our eyes that our minds consume either light or darkness (Luke 11:34-36).  The Lord also taught us that with the eyes we can commit sin just as if we’d done the physical act itself (Matthew 5:27-30).
3. Finally, the “pride of life” pertains to the basic impulse we have for boastful status and self-centered desire.  Pride and arrogance are characteristics despised by God and are to be absent from the Christian life (Proverbs 6:17; 21:4; James 4:6).

By Jay Launius

Maud church of Christ, Maud, Texas

“Say You’re Sorry!”                                            April 26, 2026

How often have you been told to “say you’re sorry,” or told your child to “say you’re sorry?”  It is important in training a child to teach humility, kindness, empathy, honesty, forgiveness, and many other principles involved in Christian living.

Have you ever considered that using the phrase, “say you’re sorry” could be the wrong way to teach that lesson?  Simply saying that you care, that you’re honest, or saying that you forgive someone is not actually doing or being that thing.

Instead, try saying, “Jimmy (or Jessica), you need to BE sorry about that and tell Bobby (or Betsy) that you ARE sorry.

Similarly, our hearts are very important as we live the life of a Christian.  We are not to say we are honest, or humble, or forgiving.  We are to be honest, humble, forgiving, kind and empathetic.

In Mark 12:28-34, when a scribe asks Jesus which commandment is foremost of all, Jesus does not respond with, “Say the Lord our God is one Lord and say you love Him with all your soul, mind and strength.”  Instead, He says, “you shall love Him in this way.”  It is an action, not just merely words.  The same applies to the second commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  It must be actual and real, not just something we say.  Mark notes that Jesus was pleased with the scribe’s statement that to love in this way was “much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Just like many Jews who offered their sacrifices and burnt offerings without their hearts engaged, we too can sacrifice and worship, etc. And not have our hearts into it.  We can go through the motions of doing the right things and saying the right words, but God desires our hearts to be fully committed.  He wants us to be who we are, to be real, authentic, and sincere … not merely an act or something superficial.

Let’s examine ourselves and determine to actually BE who and what God wants us to be.                                                                                    By Gary Woodall

Show Mercy like Joseph Did                                   April 19, 2026

Recently I have had the opportunity to reflect on the life of Joseph, particularly his tremendous demonstration of mercy.  According to Bible Hub’s Topical Encyclopedia “Mercy, in the biblical context, refers to the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it is within one’s power to punish or harm. The term is derived from the Latin “misericordia,” which means “pity” or “compassion,” and is closely related to the Hebrew word “chesed” and the Greek word “eleos,” both of which convey a sense of loving-kindness, steadfast love, and compassion.”

Joseph was despised by his brothers.  Originally they planned to murder him, but instead sold him into slavery.  Joseph then spent several years in prison, but eventually God allowed him to become the second most powerful man in Egypt.  Joseph was later tasked with protecting the Egyptian people from a time of famine that they would face.  This famine spread beyond Egypt and drove his brothers to come to Egypt to purchase grain; where unbeknown to them they encountered Joseph.  Being the second most powerful man in the country Joseph had the power to imprison or execute his brothers.  He could have sought revenge but instead he chose a different path.  When Joseph encountered his brothers in a vulnerable position he demonstrated extreme mercy.  At first he didn’t reveal his identity to them but ensured his brothers were fed while he tested their character, provided them with grain and secretly returned their money.  When Joseph receives his brothers on their second visit he reveals himself to them and wept openly before them, demonstrating his desire for a restored relationship and not retribution.  He drew them close, demonstrating that he didn’t want to be their ruler, but wanted them to be a family.  Joseph relieved his brother’s physiological burden of guilt by explaining what appeared to be a tragic situation was simply a part of God’s plan, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20).  Joseph demonstrates that showing mercy enables us to look beyond the personal pain or injury we may have faced and instead heal broken relationships and preserve life.

Like Joseph, God expects us to show mercy in our daily lives.  We should treat mercy as a proactive approach to alleviate the suffering of others or withholding punishment for those who have caused us offense.  God has provided us with the greatest possible example of mercy in Jesus who taught us in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  Our Heavenly Father has forgiven our greatest debt, that of our sin and has restored our broken relationship with Him. Thus we need to show similar mercy to others in our lives.

In the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Jesus teaches that demonstrating mercy through forgiveness should be a limitless habit, not a one-time transaction (Matthew 18:21-35).  When Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone for sinning against him, Jesus replies, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Mercy requires us to show care and compassion to the vulnerable.  In the Parable of the Good Samaritan,the Samaritan provides physical care and financial support for a stranger who had been severely injured by others (Luke 10:25-37).  We are also challenged to show mercy to our enemies. Paul instructs us, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (Romans 12:20).

Jesus spoke of mercy in the beatitudes, where He states, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).  Our Heavenly Father has been very merciful to us.  Today, we have an opportunity and obligation to make mercy a daily habit in our lives.  Showing mercy will allow the love of God to be demonstrated through our lives.

Kevin Pickles

One Generation Away From Ruin                          April 12, 2026

How many generations does it take for a faithful group of people to fall away from the LORD?  For Israel, it only took one.  We might think that after God delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, gave them a land to dwell in, and drove out their enemies, the people of Israel would remain faithful.  For a time, around the life of Joshua, they did (Judges 2:7).  However, soon after, the generations that followed did not know the LORD or the work He had done for Israel.

Why did the generation closest to direct contact with God not know or serve the LORD?  Judges reveal that Israel failed to eliminate Canaanite influences and gods from their lands (Judges 2:1-2), which led them to abandon the LORD and pursue other gods (Judges 2:12).  They allowed external worldly influences to corrupt them.  Instead of removing these people and their teachings, they coexisted with them and intermarried (Judges 3:6). 

As a church, we face the challenge of living “in the world but not of the world.”  We cannot completely avoid contact with sinners (I Corinthians 5:9-10), but we must not allow ourselves to be influenced by them as the Israelites were.  I believe we sometimes underestimate the world’s influence on us, thinking it is not inherently harmful.  This mindset is precisely what led Israel into trouble, as tolerating the world resulted in their spiritual decline and abandonment of God.

We should also be alarmed at how quickly the offspring of a faithful generation abandoned God.  It can be easy to assume that the children of faithful people will also be faithful, but in this case, that was not true.  While we cannot force people to obey God, we all have a crucial responsibility to train the younger generations (Deuteronomy 6:7), something Israel perhaps failed to do.  Instead of blaming one generation for its unique failures, we should focus on fulfilling the intergenerational instructions found in I Timothy 5:1-2 and Titus 2:1-6.  This way, with God’s help, we can avoid becoming one generation from ruin.

By Spencer Clark

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ                                 April 5, 2026

The resurrection of Jesus Christ shatters expectations.  The women who arrived at the tomb anticipated finding His lifeless body.  Even His closest followers, the apostles, initially dismissed the reports of His resurrection as utter nonsense (Luke 24:11).  No one seemed prepared for the very event Jesus had foretold.  He had explicitly told His disciples, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22).  He spoke of completing His work within three days (Luke 13:32) and informed the twelve that He would be killed, only to rise again on the third day (Luke 18:33).  Why then were His disciples so perplexed and frightened by an event Jesus Himself had predicted?

The answer unfolds on the road to Emmaus.  Two disciples, grappling with the day’s earth-shattering events, were walking towards the village of Emmaus.  Jesus Himself joined their walk, yet they were prevented from recognizing Him.  He inquired about their conversation, and they recounted the confusing events of the early morning.  They were troubled and confused about what had taken place.  Jesus rebuked them, saying, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25).  The disciples struggled with belief.  Later, as Jesus stood among all the disciples, He questioned them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts” (Luke 24:38)?  Luke notes that they still “disbelieved” (Luke24:41).  It was this crucial moment that Jesus strengthened their faith, reminding them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled…thus it is written, that the Christ must suffer and on the third day rise from the dead” (Luke 24:44-46).  What was their reaction?  More fear?  More doubt?  More disbelief?  No.  Luke records that they “worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God” (Luke 24:52-53).  They finally understood.

What about us?  Do we grasp the profound significance of the first day of the week, so long ago?  Jesus spoke of more than just His own resurrection.  “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).  Jesus poses the same question to us as He did to Martha:  “Do you believe this?”  What is our response?  Doubt?  Fear?  Unbelief?  Or are we filled with the same great joy, continually blessing God?  Our answer reveals the depth of our understanding and the transformation His resurrection brings to our lives.  May we respond with unwavering faith and overflowing joy.

By Jay Taylor

Your Identity in Jesus Christ                                         March 29, 2026

            Do not forget these words:  You are not who people say you are and not even who you feel you are!  You are who God says you are!

            Fewer things in life shape a person like the words used to describe them.  I will never forget the first time someone called me a preacher.  I almost panicked and was visibly shaken by those words.  I will always remember being told that I was a loser and would never amount to anything.  Words have a way of changing the way we see ourselves that is both good and bad.

            To make matters worse, we cannot unheard the things that people have said about us, but we can choose to replace those words with what God says about us.  As soon as you can, take some time and meditate on these passages.  Each one speaks powerfully to your identity in Jesus Christ.

            You are royalty (I John 3:1-2).  In this passage, we see our new standing given to us in Jesus Christ.  You are a Child of God, who has been lavished with all of His love and blessings.  Do not ever accept that you are anything less than royalty, meant to rule this life as conquerors (Romans 8:37).

            You are righteous (II Corinthians 5:21).  Maybe people do not see you as special, as this great, holy Christian.  Perhaps you don’t see yourself as some great Christian.  Perhaps you’ve had a long history of being less than Christ-like (join the crowd), but God looks at you and says that you have become His Righteousness.  He sees you as special, righteous, and holy.

            You are wonderfully made (Psalms 139:13-16).  When God looks at you, He sees you as beautiful and perfect in every way.  You do not need to impress anyone with your looks or accomplishments.  You are His creation, and that makes you the most important person in this world.  Do not let anything take that away from you.

            You are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).  Heirs to God’s Kingdom (James 2:5), and have been given every Spiritual Blessing in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).  You have been gifted and empowered by God (I Peter 4:10-11) so that you lack nothing in this life.  You have everything needed to be a great Child of God (II Peter 1:3-4).

            You are invaluable in Christ, not because of what you have done but because of what Jesus did for you.  When it comes to understanding and owning your identity in Christ, the biggest roadblock will be your own feelings.  Just remember …You are not who people say you are!  You are not who you feel you are!  You are who He says you are!

By Jeff Arnette

Are You Concerned About the Future?            March 22, 2026

It was Jesus who described the final judgment and discussed the right hand and left hand of the Judge of all mankind.  It is truly the most sobering thought that you and I will be there and hear the judgment given as to where we shall be forever and ever.

Every person who has ever lived will be there, for the graves will have been opened.  The Judge said, “The hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth” (John 5:28-29).  Paul described it, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body” (II Corinthians 5:10).

The universe, the heavens and the earth will have ceased.  Their time of existence will terminate on that Day of Judgment (II Peter 3:7).  This is the day “…in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (II Peter 3:10).

The judgment will take place, and like a shepherd in ancient days separated the sheep from the goats in his flock, so the Shepherd will separate the righteous from the ungodly.  You and I will be placed with the righteous “sheep” on His right hand or the unrighteous “goats” on His left hand.  The final judgment will happen in this way.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (Matthew 25:34).  His final message to those on His left hand will be, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).  You and I will hear one or the other of two sentences – “Come, you blessed of My Father,” or “Depart from Me, you cursed.”

The reality of this time should impact every decision we make and the basis on which we make them.  Nothing in this material world will matter, for none of it will exist when time ends.  Most people you know think about their future, and they only focus on and value these temporal things.  Many have elevated their judgment about how to live each day, but the only truth about the future is the truth from God.

You and I have a view of the future, but we must realize the truth about the future is found in the God of truth.  One truth cannot be changed.  You and I will without any doubt experience it.  “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal” (Matthew 25:46).  Think soberly about the closing words of Peter’s second epistle, “Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness!” (II Peter 3:11).

Think soberly about these words!                               By Dan Jenkins

A Bad Bargain                                                                              March 15, 2026

          A Sunday school teacher asked her class if they could give Bible examples of anyone making a bad bargain.  The first said, “Esau made a bad bargain when he sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.”  Another said, “Judas made a bad bargain when he sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.”  A third said, “Ananias and Sapphira made a bad bargain when they lied about the price of their land.”  A fourth said, “Jesus said it is a bad bargain when a man gains the whole world and loses his own soul.”

          We might add another to the above list by observing that it is a bad bargain for you and me to trade our hope of heaven for the pleasures, riches, power and glory of this world.  Jesus was shown all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and told he could have all these if He bowed down to Satan.  Jesus knew that would be a bad bargain.

          What kinds of bargains do we make?  Do we trade the worship time for a few hours of sleep?  Do we trade Christian service for idle pleasures?  Let us not trade Heaven for anything!        John Wright                                                                                          

A Congregation of Addicts

          There was a family in Corinth that is mentioned in First Corinthians that is of particular note.  It is the household of Stephanas.  Paul taught and baptized this great family.  What a blessing they became!  They were wonderful helpers to the apostle.  Stephanas supplied a service when it was needed most (I Corinthians 1:16; 16:17).

          This man and his family were so zealous for the Lord and so close to the Master that it was said of them that they addicted themselves to the ministry (I Corinthians 16:15).  Addicted?  What a wonderful term to describe their love and service to Christ.

          As I considered this statement, I thought about the great work being done by Christians who are addicted to the work of the church.  Let us get into the work of the church where we are with all our hearts, so that folks, seeing our good works, can say that we are a congregation of addicts addicted to the Word and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.        John Wright

A Difficult Life?

          Life seems hard at times.  Things don’t seem to go as we want.  Problems arise that become mountains looming before us.  At such a time, we know God is with us to strengthen and support us.  Talking to Him helps us carry our burdens.

          John, the Baptizer went to live in the wilderness of Judea, an inhospitable terrain inhabited by wild beasts.  His clothing was made from animal skins, and his food was locusts and honey gathered in the wild (Matthew 3:4).

          The Word of the Lord came to him there; not telling him of a softer life ahead, but telling him of a great work that had been prophesied by Isaiah (40:3), Malachi (4:5-6) and others.  The work was to be very demanding, going against the religious thinking of the day.  He would have enemies and would finally be killed for his message (Matthew 14:10).

          Knowing how hard his life would be, he put his whole heart and strength into the task.  His was a work nobody else could do.  Your work and mine is a work nobody else can do – that of trying to convert our family members and friends.         John Wright