What is the Gospel?
Just what is “the gospel”? Etymologically speaking, the word “gospel” came from contracting the words “good spell.” In centuries long past, a “good spell” was a positive, exciting epic story. It was something to tell…
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Three Stories of Grace
Three typical American “Christians.” Three happily-married people with families they love. Then, three very shocking moments of truth: “I am living in adultery!” It takes grace to obey, to align ourselves to the teaching…
Offcasts or Firstfruits?
Part 1 My story starts out as any normal teenager. I was a young girl full of desires and ambitions. One of them was to someday be swept off my feet by “Prince Charming.” I envisioned myself with a row of healthy, active…
Handmaid of the Lord
1. Though our names and ages vary, yet no title’s necessary, Old maid, young maid, single ladies—no such titles in God’s Word. Yet there is a title given when a maiden walks with God, The exalted high position of a…
Modesty for Men
As news reports from Iran leak stories concerning their growing political unrest, pictures of protests, demonstrations, and riots reveal a sad condition. Among the complaints—one that has caught a lot of the American…
Free Indeed
You say you are free; Yet you are bound To pleasure, To hate, To the opinions of your peers. I say I am bound; Yet I am free For service, For love, For submission to the will of my God. And in this my bound liberty, I am…
Mothers, Sing with Your Children!
It’s the end of the day, and you have five things to do before supper is on the table. The preschoolers are tired and grumpy, and your husband is late getting home again. What do you do? Sing! It is morning and raining ……
Sober Minded
It is appalling to me the amount of empty, silly foolishness that characterizes the western world, and nowhere is this drivel so prevalent than on blogs, websites, and other means of communications. Our culture, as a…
Ah, That Motley Crew!
Ah, that Crew! The Crew that mans That awesome Ship whose voyage spans From earth to heaven, the sea of time, A chosen Crew, a Ship sublime. A Crew unlike all crews, aboard A Ship unlike all ships; the Lord And Captain,…
The Birth, Life, and Death of the Bohemian Revival
In the scientific world, mankind has learned ingenious ways to prevent making the same mistakes over and over again. You know what I mean—it’s not like scientists are still trying to flap their arms and fly off a cliff…
Letter from John Esh
On March 26, 2010, John Esh and seven other members of his immediate family went to be with the Lord they loved. Also privileged to go with them was Joel Gingrich. He had just become engaged to Rachel, John’s beautiful…
Trust in God
Life's troubles round you seem to rise. And many foes mount to the skies The temptor comes at you with lies, Trust in God, trust in God! When battle rages long and sore. And faithful friends are found no more, The world…
From the Editor
I don’t like it when Christtianity makes the news. When it does, it’s usually embarrassing. This month was no different. Major news network CNN recently ran a story showcasing a dispute between two professing Christians.…
Afraid to Tell Eli
To refresh your memory of the story of the child Samuel and Eli (which is not printed here for the sake of space), please read 1 Samuel 3:1-19. In our text, young Samuel had every right to be afraid to tell Eli about the…
Untitled article
Celsus urges us “to help the king with all our might, and to work with him in the preservation of justice, to fight for him; and if he requires it, to fight under him, or lead an army along with him.” We reply to this…
Of Wading Ducks and Emotional Women
So what do wading ducks and emotional women have in common? Unfortunately, often very little! We’ve all heard the phrase “Like water off a duck’s back.” We’ve all seen how ducks can merrily wade through puddles or go for…
The Spiritual Resurrection
Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Ep. 5:14 Introduction to Part 2 The previous issue carried a sermon by Menno Simons on the new birth. Originally, the plan was to use a…
The Parable of the Pig and the Puddle
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a farmer’s son who was raising a pig for a 4-H project. Fair time was approaching fast, and Pete (the boy) was having a hard time keeping his pet clean. As all pigs are wont to do, it…
To Christian Young Ladies
What should the relationship between a young lady and a young man be like? What are the boundaries, and what can they talk about? Can they talk about emotional, personal, or spiritual things and questions; or should they…
Ambrosius Spittelmayr
“Does the priest of this town preach the gospel?” Ambrosius Spittelmayr asked the man next to him. They were both seated on the hearth of the large fireplace of a 16th-century tavern—we might call it a “Bed and…
Seeds of the Kingdom
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. Matthew 13:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Hebrews 10:24 In this series, we intend to highlight…
From the Editor
I heard at work last month that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Many people were shocked by the news; especially when they found out that the nominations for…
A Blessing or a Curse?
Looking for ... our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:13-14 The Christian life is not just…
Tool? Or Toy?
I trust you would rebuke me. I mean, if I let my son Daniel use that humongous chainsaw for a toy, you would rebuke me wouldn’t you? 660 Stihl chainsaws are a very efficient tool for milling logs like the one Daniel is…
