The understanding of certain subjects is imperative to being a Christian – who God is, the nature of sin and death, the sacrifice of Christ, repentance, baptism, heaven, hell, and many more. Most of the time we feel comfortable with our level of knowledge concerning these topics; especially our concepts of God the Father and Jesus the Son. But what about the Holy Spirit? Do we need to understand the person and work of the Holy Spirit just as we understand the person and work of Jesus Christ? Or is our understanding and study of the Holy Spirit purely…

Many preachers keep a notebook of random thoughts on a variety of subjects that they intend to use in a sermon or article sometime.  Many of those tidbits never see the light of day.  Others write articles like this one and present those unrelated reflections.  Here are a few from one preachers notes.

Prayer:  Do you really realize the benefits of prayer?  When you pray to God you never get a busy signal.  He never puts you on hold.  You are never interrupted by call waiting.  You can talk as long as you want.  And the call is toll free.  What…

Mensa is an organization for people with an IQ of 140 or higher that provides a forum for intellectual exchange among members. Its activities include the exchange of ideas by lectures, discussions, journals, special-interest groups, and local, regional, national, and international gatherings; the investigations of members opinions and attitudes; and assistance to researchers, inside and outside Mensa, in projects dealing with intelligence or Mensa. (Mensa Constitution)  <http://www.mensa.org/>

A few years ago, there was a Mensa convention in San Francisco, and several members lunched at a local cafe.While dining, they discovered that…

he fled from the rising waters of the tsunami. Visions of her family, a husband and five children, flashed through her mind. She had to livenot just for her, for them. As she climbed a tree, she was bitten by a snake. Then came the fire ants. They stung her legs, arms, face, even her eyes. Still, she climbed. This woman had one goal, survival; it was her only option. The reunion with her family would be worth it.

Setting goals is a part of life. Achieving them, however, is not quite as common. And many times, the difference between…