God Authorizes Accurate Translations of His Word

by David Fanning I [Note: David has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Biblical languages with an emphasis on New Testament Greek.] Prior to God preserving the New Testament in the first century A.D., He empowered the apostles to preach the first gospel sermon in each person’s own language (Acts 2:8-11); thus making it [...]

Whiter than snow

  By Don Ruhl   For centuries the weather has had a dramatic affect on people, such as whether they could farm, travel, or even survive, and if shelter was not available, they had to migrate according to weather patterns. Their lives were contingent upon the weather. Even today in many other parts of the [...]

Who is a Christian?

By Don Ruhl   The name “Christian” should paint a picture of goodness in our minds. Yet, it has been used loosely. The name “Christian” is used to describe anyone who has a religious inclination or was born in America or into a “Christian family.” This has complicated Christianity and softened its message. Christianity in [...]

Have you swallowed a spiritual placebo

A Spiritual Placebo   By Don Ruhl   What is the placebo effect? Let us assume some researchers want to discover whether caffeine increases intelligence. They gather a group of fifty people from all walks of life and to them they administer caffeine. They also assemble a control group of fifty people from all walks [...]

Understanding Biblical Poetry

Understanding Biblical Poetry   By Don Ruhl   Why do we use poetry? It prevents a quick reading, causing us to pause and think about what is being said as we try to interpret the images. This reflection happens by seeing images rather than words. Poetry helps us to understand a more complex subject by [...]

What has the greatest influence on the world?

The Church Versus The World   By Don Ruhl   What has the greatest influence on the world? Our economy? Our military? Our culture? The weather? None of those things has the influence that the salt of the earth and the light of the world have. The church is the most significant thing on the [...]

Popular Mechanics and the Bible

Popular Mechanics and the Bible   By Don Ruhl   Popular Mechanics Magazine is an exciting and useful publication. I remember going to my grandpa’s house as a boy and reading Popular Mechanics and Popular Science Magazines. They told of useful things for now and of exciting things coming in the future, futuristic ideas such [...]

Reading the crucifixion casually

“And They Crucified Him”   By Don Ruhl   Have you been in the church a good amount of time? Do you read the crucifixion thoughtlessly? I believe that there is a danger associated with hearing it many times, and I want to address that concern. The implication is not that you are flippant in [...]

Spiritual law

  By Don Ruhl The Lawful Use of Law If there is no law, there is no sin, and if there is no sin, there is no need for a Savior. This truth alone ought to show us that law itself is a holy concept. In First Timothy 1:8–11 Paul wrote, But we know that [...]

Are you tripping up?

By Don Ruhl “We all stumble in many things” (Jam 3.2). Often stumbling is ignored or excused by Christians because they do not see how it can lead to anything permanent, or it is written off as just being a part of who they are. Still others will see it as just being human and [...]