Making Life Work

By: Ronald L. Dart

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from you own steadfastness."

By: Ronald L. Dart

Was it Jesus’ intent to create a hierarchy of human government over the individual Christian? Does the Christian ministry sit in Moses’ seat for the church? This article explains what you always wanted to know about church government but were afraid to ask!

    Paul stood on the beach staring out to sea. This would be his last time in this place. It would have been good to have visited Ephesus once more, but it was not to be. It was just as well. He would not have been in Ephesus one hour before a coalition of Jews and silversmiths would have been plotting murder. There was no point in putting temptation in their way.

By: Ronald L. Dart

 

    What do you do when you have already done all you can? You are in trouble and there is no way out. You are sick and the doctors have done all they can. You are persecuted and there is no relief. You have made every effort, tried every option, and still see no way out. The matter is out of your hands. What do you do now?

By: Ronald L. Dart

    Is there really an ever–burning hell where sinners are tormented with fire and brimstone throughout all eternity? Is it only for the very wicked? What about the “unsaved”? The Bible tells us there is only one name given in heaven and earth whereby we must be saved–the name of Jesus. What about all those who have never heard that name? Do they go immediately to the torments of a fiery hell at death? What about babies and little children? Surely they don’t go to hell? Churches have an astonishing variety of answers to these questions, but what does the Bible say? How can we really know the truth?

By: Ronald L. Dart

    It was the last night of the revival. The congregation was softly singing: "Just as I am," and the preacher was standing in front of the pulpit with both arms raised in invitation. He knew there were people present who needed to make a decision for Christ. "Jesus Christ could come tonight," he urged. "Will you be ready for Him?"

By: Ronald L. Dart

    When we are young, we are a little unsure about funerals. We don't like to think about death and we are uncomfortable being around people who are grieving. We don't know how to feel, and we don't know what to say. As we grow older and mature a little, we come to realize that a funeral is a response to death and that grief is an exactly the right response. And we learn that we really don't have to say very much to a person who is bereaved. Just "I am so sorry," and "I love you." That, along with being there is usually quite enough.

By: Ronald L. Dart 

    In the aftermath of the World Trade Center bombing, there was one question raised that no one really stopped to answer. Is it wrong for the United States to seek vengeance for the murder of the 5000 innocent people who died on September 11? Should we, as a country, turn the other cheek? There were those who thought the criminals who did this act should be brought to justice, but that it was wrong to merely seek revenge on Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaeda organization.

By: Lenny Cacchio  

    In this column some time ago I quoted one of the great political minds of the 20th Century and what he had to say about political campaigns and propaganda.  The man was a genius for his time, understanding how to manipulate crowds and win support without revealing one’s true agenda.  I call him a genius – and he was – but  in many ways he was an evil genius, for he used his understanding of human nature to manipulate the electorate and mold the culture in his own image.

    In this election cycle it would do us well to revisit the man’s writings in which he revealed early in his political career how he would gain support for his movement.  He put it this way:  

    "The receptive powers of the masses are very...

By: Lenny Cacchio  

    No, I don’t accept it all on faith.  The God of the Bible does not expect you to chuck your reasoning powers at the sanctuary door.  Rather, we read of Paul’s admonition to the Thessalonians to "test all things; hold fast what is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21 NKJV), or as the old King James has it, "Prove all things."

    "Prove" can mean lots of different things.  Writers such as Lee Strobel offer proof of God through rules of evidence which he presents admirably in his "Case For" books – The Case of Christ, The Case for Faith, and The Case for a Creator.

    Geniuses such as Isaac Newton saw the laws of physics as proof of an ordered universe and thus the need for a supreme lawgiver.

    Apologists such...

By: Lenny Cacchio

    My friend hadn’t been to church for quite some time, so I invited him out for a cup of coffee.“I can get more out of just staying home and studying my Bible than I can from the sermon.”Sadly, I had to agree.The sermons we had back then were models of disorganization and pabulum.What passed for fellowship was an exercise in inanities.Conversation was gossip warmed over, and cliques were formed, dissolved, and reformed almost as if by schedule.

    Dysfunctional churches are a part of the national landscape, and more often than not such dysfunction can be traced to leadership or, better said, the lack thereof.Reading Paul’s letters to the churches reveals that this is not just a 21st Century phenomenon.The church at Corinth...

By: Cynthia Saladin  

    Sometimes raising children seems like an uphill struggle - a constant testing of limits, rules, and authority. “I don’t want to go to bed right now.” “Why do I have to wear my hat?” “I don’t like green beans.” “I don’t want to share with Christopher.” “Why, Mommy, why?” “Please can I do it one more time? Please.” And sometimes I get very weary and worn down. Sometimes I give in to the entreaties because I’m so tired of the battle. I make a deal; I hear myself saying, “O.K., one more time, and then it’s time for bed.” Sometimes it works; sometimes it just prolongs the battle. Later, as I am thinking about the struggle, whichever of the many daily contests of wills, I start second-guessing myself. Should I have given in? Was...