by Curtis Going In 1629 while grieving the death of his wife, the Indian ruler Shah Jahan, ordered an impressive tomb to be built as a monument to her memory. A wooden casket containing her body was placed in the middle of a piece of land that Shah Jahan had selected for the building site, and construction began around the casket. Several years passed as the magnificent structure began to take shape, and after some time the Shah’s excitement about the new building overshadowed the grief that...

by Curtis Going I recently read the story of a handbell choir that was presenting a concert of beautiful music when a drunk man staggered into the auditorium, grabbed the tablecloth where the handbells were neatly arranged, and pulled it off the table. Handbells and musicians scattered everywhere, but to the amazement of the onlookers, the handbell music continued without interruption. The antics of the drunk man revealed that while the crowd had thought they were enjoying a live...

by Dale Yocum There can be no debate among regenerated souls as to whether or not it would be desirable to be delivered from all sin—in act and in nature. One who has genuinely repented has turned his will away from all sin—known and unknown. When anything, including the inner evil nature is shown to be sin, the individual who has truly repented stands in opposition to it. He craves abundance of life. There is nothing more universally desired than life, and this in abundance. Men are not...

by Paul Pierpoint What role does the power of the Spirit play in the life of a Christian?  1. Let us examine the SOURCE of this power. This power was not of human origin. It came from God through the person of the Holy Spirit. As we face the trials and battles of life, we constantly need the help of the Holy Spirit. He was their source of power in those apostolic days, He is our source of power today. It is He who quickens and empowers the believer.  2. Let us examine the STRENGTH of...

G.D. Watson “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more …” —Philippians 1:9 In this prayer of Paul for the Philippians, we have one of those panoramic views of the elements of a complete Christian. This word “love” is emphatically the love of God. The word agape is invariably used to express a divine affection imparted to the soul by the Holy Ghost; this is the love referred to in the text.  Previous to regeneration the soul may have various feelings toward God and Christ—of...

Eric Himelick In a recent survey, 42,000 people were asked who or what was responsible for their coming to faith in Christ. While Church programs represented 2-3% and a pastor of a church 5–6%, the majority (75–90% of those responding) said that a friend or relative was God’s agent of change in their life. A lot of time, effort, and money goes into Christian programs, but how much time is spent developing friendships? A few years ago, my friend Bob Lupton who has worked in inner-city Atlanta...