Fidelity
How Will You Go When You Go?
By Mike Benson (September 25, 2008)
Observing the Lord's Supper on Sunday only (Acts 20:7) isn't that challenging. Keeping mechanical instruments of music out of the worship assembly isn't too arduous (Colossians 3:17) either. But going to an offending brother who has hurt me deeply, now that's hard. Head-theology is easy; life-theology and doctrine (2 Peter 1:3) is brutal.
The Godhead
By Mike Benson (July 24, 2008)
The doctrine of the Godhead can be difficult to understand (cf. Job 11:7). According to the Scriptures, there are three, distinct divine persons in the "Godhead" (cf. Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; John 14:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2). One God and Father, one Lord, and one Spirit (cf. Ephesians 4:4-6).
The Parable of the Lost Billfold
By Mike Benson (July 17, 2008)
Dad and I got up early Thanksgiving morning to go to the woods. We saw a few whitetails, but no "shooters." After the day's hunt, we stopped by a local gas station for a cup of coffee to warm us up from the chill.
The Dry Years 2
By Mike Benson (July 10, 2008)
The "dry years" can be a time of internal growth and maturity. The Psalmist observed, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word" (Psalm 119:67).
The Dry Years 1
By Mike Benson (July 3, 2008)
In their book, WHY ME?, Pesach Krauss and Morrie Goldfisher tell a story about two men who cut down an aged hardwood. The woodcutter's observations about the inner rings within the old tree are compelling:
Who Nailed Jesus to the Cross?
By Mike Benson (June 26, 2008)
Back in 2004, Mel Gibson produced The Passion of the Christ. Ironically, he didn't star in the film. He did, however, have a small, yet significant, cameo in the actual movie. Don't recall seeing him? Watch it carefully again.
A Cup of Rice
By Mike Benson (June 19, 2008)
You're lazily flipping through the channels on your new flat screen TV. Despite the vast array of viewing options, there's nothing worth watching, at least for the moment. Your thumb stops on a random station.
Materialism 2
By Mike Benson (June 12, 2008)
The story is told of a prosperous, young investment banker who was driving his new BMW on a mountain road during a snow storm. As he made his way around one particularly sharp curve, he lost control of his car and began sliding off the road toward a steep precipice.
21st Century Idolatry
By Mike Benson (June 5, 2008)
Materialism. Webster says it is, "the tendency to be more concerned with material than with spiritual values." Simply put, materialism sets up another object of worship besides God. It replaces God on the throne of one's heart with the desire for and the pursuit of money and possessions.
The Prodigal
By Mike Benson (May 22, 2008)
When I was a young teenager, a neighbor kept several cattle in a large pasture behind our house. Perhaps it be would more accurate to say, "...A neighbor TRIED to keep several cattle in a pasture behind our house."
A Trip to Moonlite
By Mike Benson (May 1, 2008)
Larry and Jane Hudson are dear friends from the Main Street church. They recently invited me to Sunday dinner following the AM worship assembly.
"Who's Going To Be First?"
By Mike Benson (April 17, 2008)
It's Wednesday, August 10, 1994. You are a passenger aboard flight 2033 from Seoul, South Korea to the resort island of Cheju. You and 151 fellow-vacationers are looking forward to a much-needed rest.
Please Pass the Salt
By Mike Benson (March 27, 2008)
My wife asked me recently what I wanted for supper. I told her I'd enjoy a big pot of home-cooked pinto beans. She quickly reminded me that we were under strict orders to cut back on our sodium intake. "The...
The Cup of Love
By Mike Benson (March 20, 2008)
"Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ...Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer;...
Give Me Zeal
By Mike Benson (March 13, 2008)
It was Saturday morning, January 11. The temperature outside was absolutely frigid. The Weather Channel had just announced that it was eleven degrees in our part of southwest Indiana, not including the wind chill. The bright sunshine filtering through the...
Jesus, Philip, and Joe
By Mike Benson (January 31, 2008)
He sat alone in the right hand corner of the front pew -- just left of the pulpit. As I recall, he was a relatively short man in terms of physical stature. He wore thick, black-framed glasses and had a...
How Much Does Conviction Cost? (Part 2)
By Mike Benson (January 24, 2008)
"The man after God's own heart" had followed the crooked path of self-destruction. One sin inevitably led to another, then another, then another. It all started with a small, perhaps even innocent, distraction from his palace rooftop (2 Samuel 11:2)....
How Much Does Conviction Cost?
By Mike Benson (January 10, 2008)
The story reads like a transcript from a recently aired edition of The Jerry Springer Show. Both had been married before. Both had found other "more desirable" partners. Both divorced their first mates and subsequently married each other. His new...
What Goes Before and What Comes After?
By Mike Benson (January 3, 2008)
In his work, Living By The Book, Howard Hendricks relates the following story: "I was visiting one day at (the Dallas Cowboy's) old training site in Thousand Oaks, California. Quarterback Roger Staubach had agreed to an interview with Sports Illustrated,...
Evolutionary Dating Flaws
By Mike Benson (November 8, 2007)
Evolutionary dating methods are inherently flawed. Even those who espouse the ancient earth philosophy are forced to admit that their dating methods are often wildly inaccurate and that they produce anomalous results. Consider: "Several years ago some scientists discovered human...
"Thank you, have a good day and come back."
By Mike Benson (October 4, 2007)
To say that I like a good taco is something of an understatement. I typically go by the local "Bell" about three times a week for a late lunch. I tend to order the same thing. Why? Well, because I...
There Must Be Water
By Mike Benson (September 6, 2007)
Weather seems to be the predominate theme in our news lately. Parts of our nation have been floundering under a veritable deluge of rain, while simultaneously a great portion of the US has been sweltering under an oppressive heat wave....
Vick's Punishment?
By Mike Benson (August 30, 2007)
The name, Michael Vick, evokes strong emotion. Until recently his name was associated with athletic excellence and the Atlanta Falcons. Today his name is synonymous with the so-called "sport" of dog fighting. One of the National Football Leagues' most talented...
Hold My Mule
By Mike Benson (August 2, 2007)
"The old man couldn't carry a tune in a syrup bucket, but he loved to sing--even if it was off-key. Besides, he was bad about 'amening' the preacher. Services had degenerated into an undignified 'assembly' because of the old man....
Are You Scared?
By Mike Benson (July 26, 2007)
Contrary to today's popular philosophy, fear has a legitimate place in our lives. "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of...
When Jesus Went to a Party
By Mike Benson (July 19, 2007)
Non-canonical myth would have us believe that Jesus as a boy performed various miraculous feats. The inspired John tells us otherwise. This was His very first “sign” (John 2:11). We don’t know the identity of the bride and groom. It...
Have You Put Up Your Fence Yet?
By Mike Benson (July 5, 2007)
A recent piece on the TV news caught my attention. It seems a small boy wondered from his father's watchful eye one morning while the two were visiting an uncle. The uncle kept an exotic cat--a 400-pound Bengal tiger--in his...
God's Library
By Mike Benson (March 29, 2007)
"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God and books were opened..." (Revelation 20:12). This may sound a bit difficult to believe at first, but God is a reader. Although he knows all things (Colossians 2:3; 2...
It was Either Jump or Fry
By Mike Benson (February 8, 2007)
Growing (2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:14,15; Luke 22:31,32) as a Christian is hard (2 Timothy 2:6). Getting from "where I am," to "where I need to be" often means venturing into uncertain and unfamiliar territory (Hebrews 11:8; 1 Peter 1:6)....
Is Immersion Necessary?
By Mike Benson (February 1, 2007)
A denominational friend of mine recently authored a devotional piece on the action of baptism. In one excerpt he observed: "... Immersion is commanded and while it should be a pool of flowing water sometimes it is not possible. If...
Can We Know?
By Mike Benson (January 18, 2007)
QUESTION: "Do you believe it's possible for a person to really know the truth? There are so many opinions about what the Bible teaches, I sometimes wonder if truth is attainable ..." ANSWER: You have asked an extremely important question....
Do Works Have Any Role in Salvation?
By Mike Benson (September 14, 2006)
It is frequently suggested that man cannot do anything -- other than believe, in terms of his salvation;/1 that "works" are the natural consequence of salvation, but they do not have any role in securing or receiving salvation. Is this...
Murder in the church
By Mike Benson (August 17, 2006)
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause...
Just A Toe Problem
By Mike Benson (June 29, 2006)
Coy Watson was a dear friend and brother in the Lord. We worshiped and served together some years ago during my local work in West Tennessee. Coy was a solid "Bible man." He liked to read and study the Word....
Boundaries
By Mike Benson (May 18, 2006)
Several years ago, I spray-painted a white stripe across the lower end of my driveway. I was prompted to such action out of concern for my two daughters -- Bethany and Katie. I did not want the girls to ride...
Do You Feel Like Quitting?
By Mike Benson (May 11, 2006)
QUESTION: "...Is it wrong to want to quit? Sometimes I just want to quit being a wife; I want to quit being a mother. Do you think God is displeased with me for feeling this way? Is it a sin...
How Does the Lord Open the Heart?
By Mike Benson (May 4, 2006)
QUESTION: "Please explain Acts 16:14. What does the Bible mean when it says, '...The Lord opened her [Lydia's] heart...?' By what means did He accomplish this? Does He open our hearts in the same way today?" ANSWER: The passage reads,...
Eat Catfish
By Mike Benson (April 27, 2006)
QUESTION: "A friend of mine recently told me that it was wrong to eat certain meats (like catfish) because God considers them unclean. Some passages in the Bible seem to say this, and yet others appear to teach differently. Which...
Did Jesus Ever Condemn Homosexuality?
By Mike Benson (April 13, 2006)
Question: "Is there any place in the New Testament where Jesus actually condemned homosexuality? If so, I have not been able to find it. ... It seems to me that if the Savior didn't say it was wrong, then neither...
Cutting Okra and Killing Wasps
By Mike Benson (April 6, 2006)
Joe Neal Pinion is a retired friend who lives in White, Georgia. Our relationship began during my first pulpit work in Adairsville. He and his wife would often invite me into their home for a meal, or just a friendly...
Check the Cuff
By Mike Benson (March 30, 2006)
As a young boy, Dennis absolutely hated green English peas. His mother knew that but insisted that he eat some in the interest of his health and growth. At the end of each meal, Dennis's plate was always empty. His...
Counting Widgets
By Mike Benson (March 23, 2006)
It's difficult not to get discouraged at times about teaching a Bible class, isn't it ...? Teaching is one of those spiritual tasks that rarely provides tangible results. Years ago I had a close friend in Georgia who was a...
Treating Combat Fatigue
By Mike Benson (March 16, 2006)
Christians are soldiers (2 Timothy 2:4); they fight ongoing battles (Ephesians 6:12; 1 Timothy 1:19; 6:11,12; 2 Timothy 4:7; 2 Corinthians 10:4) in a spiritual war (Revelation 12:17). Battles inevitably produce casualties -- lots of them, and casualties require medical...
Educated Love
By Mike Benson (March 9, 2006)
From our twenty-first century perspective, Christian love is a sensate quality ... It is something experiential; it is something that we feel internally. Love is a warm, affectionate, reciprocal bond that is shared by brethren. When the apostle Paul petitioned...
The Remedy For Sin
By Mike Benson (March 2, 2006)
If anything positive came out of that "sinful period" (2 Samuel 11) in David's life, it was Psalm 51. The king had separated himself from God, he was lonely, guilt-ridden, tormented by conscience and filled with fear. And with good...
Have You Thought Enough About Sinning?
By Mike Benson (February 23, 2006)
I listened to her sob over the phone, "This isn't supposed to be happening to me - I'm a Christian wife and mother...!" The very sound of her voice made my heart feel like lead. For months she had been...
Advantage
By Mike Benson (February 2, 2006)
A Moslem once suggested to a Christian that the Islamic religion enjoyed a certain advantage over the Christian religion. He said that while Moslems could go to the very spot and point to the tomb of their founding prophet, Christians,...
Humility
By Mike Benson (January 26, 2006)
James B. Longley, who would one day become the governor of Maine, was selected by his peers as one of the outstanding members of his college class. At the conclusion of his graduation ceremony, Longley's mother took him aside and...
A Person
By Mike Benson (January 19, 2006)
Is the Holy Spirit a force, a power, an energy, an effluence, an experience, or what? Actually, the answer is none of these. 1. The Spirit is a PERSON. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will...
The "S" Word
By Mike Benson (January 12, 2006)
Some years ago, Dalton Key made an observation about sin that needs to be repeated today. Consider what he said: "... Most people wouldn't use the word 'sin.' That word is too staid, too old-fashioned, too judgmental. Sin isn't talked...
Rescue the Perishing
By Mike Benson (January 5, 2006)
I was on my way to Oak Hill Junior High to pick up my daughter, Bethany, after school. It was windy and cold outside, and I didn't want her to have to stand and wait for me in the frigid...
Bush Hates...?
By Mike Benson (September 22, 2005)
Hurricane Katrina had ripped a devastating swath through the Southeastern US. Hundreds of thousands of American citizens were desperate for any kind of relief. In an effort to aid the hurting masses, media spokesmen appeared on national television urging us...
Eternity
By Mike Benson (April 21, 2005)
Yesterday I stood at the bedside of a dear brother in Christ. His doctor recently diagnosed him with brain cancer and has given him only a few weeks to live. I watched as he wept in sadness as he thought...
Conscience
By Mike Benson (April 14, 2005)
Back in the mid 1980's, an Avianca Airlines jet crashed in the mountains of Spain. Investigators reviewing the incident made a startling discovery. Recordings from the black box revealed that several minutes prior to impact, a computer-synthesized voice from the...
Sacrifice
By Mike Benson (April 7, 2005)
In Old Testament times, God required His people to offer animal sacrifices. What exactly was involved in this religious rite? First, the worshiper, according to God's dictates, selected an appropriate animal to be sacrificed. Second, the worshiper brought the animal...
Communication
By Mike Benson (March 31, 2005)
When my daughter Bethany was an infant she communicated a problem to me. She said, "Daddy, I am very, very hungry and I think a nice bottle of warm milk would really taste good and feel good to my stomach....
Satan's Tackle Box
By Mike Benson (March 24, 2005)
There's a creek that runs through Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. It's deep and cold and clear, and it serves as habitat for a fairly good size school of rainbow trout. I know that, you see, because I've fished there -- several...
Grace Through Faith
By Mike Benson (March 17, 2005)
A man was drowning in a river. His situation was hopeless. Another man on shore saw the drowning man. He called out to his two friends to get a boat, two oars, and a rope. The trio rowed out, threw...
A Million
By Mike Benson (March 10, 2005)
Mrs. Brown always resented having to arrange her own hair and sew her own clothes, especially while her more "well-to-do" friends boasted of patronizing the finest shops in town. So when the Brown's financial ship finally came in, Mrs. Brown...
Hire a Translator
By Mike Benson (March 3, 2005)
Back a few years ago I went to see good friends in Eastern Europe. The purpose of my visit was to support this Christian family in their missionary endeavors. On more than one occasion I had the opportunity to speak...
Be Sensitive
By Mike Benson (February 24, 2005)
Let's face it guys, we know our own bodies pretty well, don't we? We know how much we weigh. We know how many cups of coffee it takes to keep us awake at night. We know how long we can...
Leave It to the Devil
By Mike Benson (February 17, 2005)
I read about a French atheist who died and willed his house and farm to, of all people, the Devil. The courts deliberated on the curious case for quite some time. Finally it was determined that the best way to...
When Was the Last Time?
By Mike Benson (February 10, 2005)
When was the last time... . You went to visit someone in the community who lives alone? . You wrote a letter to say "thank you" to a person who has helped you along life's way? . You dropped by...
Empty the Refrigerator
By Mike Benson (February 3, 2005)
Have you ever opened your refrigerator only to discover that something in there has ... well ... spoiled? You may not be able to identify the source of the odor (at least at first), but it's all too apparent that...
Ask
By Mike Benson (January 27, 2005)
A little seven-year-old boy prayed one night before bed for God to give him a baby sister. When he awakened the next morning, the little boy found that there was no baby. Undaunted, he prayed a second time for the...
$22.50
By Mike Benson (January 13, 2005)
Some time ago I attended an auction near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Among the many items up for bidding was a beautiful antique china cabinet. It was ornately crafted and it had a graceful glass door. Simply speaking, it was a magnificent...
Safe Sex
By Mike Benson (January 6, 2005)
According to a report published by the University of Texas, the typical means used to prevent the transmission of the HIV virus has an average failure rate of thirty-one percent! Think about that! Thirty-one percent! If you got on a...
Success
By Mike Benson (December 30, 2004)
Has it ever occurred to you that if we wanted to judge our Lord's success as a TEACHER, we probably wouldn't want to look at his disciples around the time of his crucifixion? Why not? Well, because one of his...
Cauterized
By Mike Benson (December 16, 2004)
The news media announced the jury's verdict this week: Scott Peterson should receive the death penalty for the brutal murder of his wife and unborn son. More than one juror said Peterson's lack of emotion during the trial was a...
A Pitch Pipe
By Mike Benson (December 9, 2004)
I attended a funeral recently to pay respects to a departed brother in Christ. When I looked into his casket, I noticed that one of his daughters had placed in his hands a little chrome pitch pipe. Her daddy...
The Whole World Stinks
By Mike Benson (December 2, 2004)
Each afternoon while the grandkids were in school Grandpa would lie down for a nap. One day, the kids came home early and found him fast asleep on the couch, and so they decided to have a little fun with...
A Handbreadth
By Mike Benson (November 4, 2004)
Stretch out your palm. Separate your fingers to their widest; hold them as far apart as you can. Study what you see and then consider: Scripture says that's a picture of human longevity. David wrote, "LORD, make me to know...
Jesus Is Standing
By Mike Benson (October 27, 2004)
This would be his very last sermon. In a short time, Stephen's preaching career would come to an abrupt end -- as would his life. The Sanhedrin had heard all that it could stand. Its members found Stephen's message so...
Healing a Fracture
By Mike Benson (October 21, 2004)
It was obvious that she (i.e., Christ's bride at Philippi) wasn't feeling her "normal" self. Typically, she was a hardworking, energetic, and active (Philippians 1:5,6) lady, but in recent days she was uncharacteristically weak and uncoordinated. A family member suggested...
Overwork
By Mike Benson (October 14, 2004)
Whether or not I am willing to admit it, my identity as a male is linked not only to my vocation -- but also to THE AMOUNT OF TIME I devote to it. Strip away my work and those long...
Angels
By Mike Benson (October 7, 2004)
QUESTION: "Where did the angels come from? Are they eternal like God, or were they made some time during the creation week?" ANSWER: The Bible has a great deal to say about angels. Please study the following passages: 1. Angels...
Where Are the Atheists?
By Mike Benson (September 30, 2004)
For the better part of the past month and a half, our collective conscience has been focused on Florida. The state has been devastated by a series of powerful hurricanes. The cumulative effects of Charles, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne have...
How Many?
By Mike Benson (September 23, 2004)
QUESTION: "Does God have one church or many?" ANSWER: We must go to the Scriptures in order to address your question. Please read the following passages carefully and then answer the questions which follow: 1. "And He put all things...
Abraham's Bosom
By Mike Benson (September 16, 2004)
QUESTION: "The Bible says that when Lazarus died he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom (cf. Luke 16:22). What does this mean?" ANSWER: This is an interesting Bible question; thank you for submitting it. Note: 1. A good...
Charles, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne
By Mike Benson (September 9, 2004)
Folks in deep south probably think that the Weather Channel has something against them. It appears as though the gulf states are facing yet another violent hurricane. First it was Charles, then it was Frances, then it was Ivan (a...
Teri's Find
By Mike Benson (September 2, 2004)
Teri Horton stopped in Dot's Thrift Shop to browse around. During her junket she stumbled across a bright abstract painting and decided that it might make a good gag gift for a disheartened friend. Teri shelled out $5.00 for the...
Last Days
By Mike Benson (August 26, 2004)
QUESTION: "Are we living in the last days?" ANSWER: Carefully study the following passages: 1. The Old Testament prophets said, "the mountain of the Lord's house (i.e., the church) would be 'established' (i.e., built) in the LAST DAYS." "And it...
Our Spirit
By Mike Benson (August 19, 2004)
QUESTION: "Where does a person's spirit come from? When exactly does a person's spirit leave his body, and when does he receive it? Please explain." ANSWER: Since the immortal (Revelation 6:9) soul (Matthew 10:28) or spirit (Ecclesiastes 12:7) is a...
Teach, Baptize, Teach
By Mike Benson (August 12, 2004)
Not everybody in the first century wanted to hear what the apostle Paul had to say. Many, in fact, were in such opposition to the gospel that they went out of their way to hinder its proclamation. Persecution, in its...
Raise My Children?
By Mike Benson (August 5, 2004)
QUESTION: "I am concerned about raising my two children in today's permissive society. ...What can I do to guide them in the right way?" ANSWER: I appreciate your question, as well as your concern for your family. The Psalmist wrote,...
Understand
By Mike Benson (July 29, 2004)
My fellow students and I learned the multiplication tables back in the fourth grade. When different answers arose as we studied the same math problem, the teacher did not say, "You all understand -- you just understand in different ways."...
Heart
By Mike Benson (July 22, 2004)
Richard C. Halverson once wrote, "You're going to meet an old man some day. He may be a seasoned, soft, gracious fellow, a gentleman that has grown old gracefully, surrounded by a host of friends. He may be a bitter,...
Every Sunday
By Mike Benson (July 15, 2004)
Question: "Why do members of the church of Christ eat the Lord's Supper every Sunday?" Answer: Thank you for this important question. Let's go to the Scriptures for an answer: 1. The apostles of Christ were guided into ALL truth....
Three Minutes
By Mike Benson (July 8, 2004)
In his commentary on the book of James, Warren Wiersbe relates the following incident, "Whenever I ride a bus or elevated train in the city, I often think of the man in Boston who was entertaining a famous Chinese scholar....
Big Boy Tomatoes
By Mike Benson (July 1, 2004)
Question: "I am concerned about religious division. Surely the Lord isn't pleased with so many religious groups teaching different doctrines, wearing different names, and worshipping in different ways. What can we all do to become one in Christ?" Answer: You...
Life Is Lumpy
By Mike Benson (June 24, 2004)
Robert Fulghum, in one of his more recent books wrote, "One of life's best coping mechanisms is to know the difference between an inconvenience and a problem. If you break your neck, if you having nothing to eat, if your...
The Baptism of Fire
By Mike Benson (June 17, 2004)
Question: "What is the baptism of fire? Do you think Christians should pray for it?" Answer: Let's go to the Bible for an answer. Please study the following: John the Baptist promised that Jesus would administer two baptisms -- Holy...
007 in Dothan
By Mike Benson (June 10, 2004)
A frustrated sovereign Scripture describes it as attempted guerilla warfare. Ben-hadad tried to carry out a series of assaults against the citizens of Israel (2 Kings 6:8). "Tried" is the operative word, because every time the king of Syria sent...
Obey the Gospel
By Mike Benson (June 3, 2004)
QUESTION: "I've heard you say that a person must 'obey the gospel' in order to be saved. Could you please explain what you mean by this? How does a person go about obeying the Gospel?" ANSWER: I appreciate this thoughtful,...
Building Homes
By Mike Benson (May 27, 2004)
The place was Palmer, Alaska and the date was July 21, 1988. There were 288 construction workers waiting for the signal to begin work. It was a contest to see how quickly a house could be built. They were encouraged...
Glory
By Mike Benson (May 20, 2004)
TD: Dreams in Motion is an autobiography about Terrell Davis, running back for the Denver Broncos. According to the book, Davis has faced his share of difficulties: "His father, Pops, tortured Davis and his five brothers with his alcoholism, drug...
Evangelism: A Fish Story
By Mike Benson (May 13, 2004)
A past issue of Action caught my attention. It carried an article about a gentleman from the Philippines by the name of Leopoldo Ducany. One afternoon, Leopoldo's wife had brought him a fish which she had purchased at the local...
Who Gets Maple?
By Mike Benson (May 6, 2004)
Somehow I can't quite imagine it coming down to this level, but it did. Harold and Frances Mountain stood, well...actually "sat", on the floor of a Las Vegas courtroom and delved up what was left of their belongings - a...
Trust Lead
By Mike Benson (April 29, 2004)
Confession time (James 5:16). There have been periods during my forty-three-year sojourn that I have experienced a certain apprehension about the future (Mark 9:24). As much as I hate to admit it, I've not always taken the "Christian perspective" in...
Gentleness
By Mike Benson (April 22, 2004)
Speaking from personal experience, I know firsthand that preachers sometimes get discouraged when church members habitually miss the worship assembly. Recently, I read a story about one particular preacher who had become so disheartened that he asked his secretary to...
Recipe
By Mike Benson (April 15, 2004)
. Take one harmless event. . Add one ugly motive. . Stir in your own opinion. . Add one suspicious tone. . Put in a measure of "they say". . Add imaginary details to increase the taste. . Sprinkle well...
The Thermostat
By Mike Benson (April 8, 2004)
Diana Ross McCain wrote an insightful article entitled, "The Hardships of Worship." In it she described what it was like to worship in a Connecticut church meetinghouse some two-hundred plus years ago. She observed: "There was no fireplace, no stove,...
Mutual Funds
By Mike Benson (April 1, 2004)
I have a close friend who loves his children very much. It's obvious by his words and actions that he cares deeply for his girls. He's especially good at encouraging and rewarding them when they do well. Some time ago,...
Feed Him
By Mike Benson (March 25, 2004)
Bob Lewis relates the story of a Christian woman who owned two prize-winning chickens. One afternoon, the chickens worked their way out of her yard and into her neighbor's garden. The neighbor, known for his hot temper, captured both birds,...
What Denomination Do You Follow?
By Mike Benson (March 11, 2004)
Question: "I am incarcerated. A lot of times I am asked the question, 'What denomination do you follow?' I always say, 'I am just a Christian a member of the church of Christ.' Then after that it's hard for...
Integrity
By Mike Benson (March 4, 2004)
Rudolf was the product of a very religious home. As an adult, he was a quiet, mild-mannered family man. History records that he was also an adept farmer. Much of his success in agriculture was due to a strict emphasis...
First-Century Worship
By Mike Benson (February 26, 2004)
Edward T. Dalhbert, minister for the Delmar Baptist Church in St. Louis, Mo., visited the Central church of Christ in that same city. In his regular radio broadcast, "The Protestant Hour" on station KFS, Mr. Dalhbert gave some impressions of...
Can You See?
By Mike Benson (February 19, 2004)
How can anyone not believe in Jesus? There is so much evidence that proves Him to be the Son of God. Consider but one piece of testimony from John 9. Jesus encountered a man who had been blind since birth...
Holy Ground
By Mike Benson (February 12, 2004)
Hearing is but one element of listening - it is not the same thing as listening. Hearing implies that sound waves have been received; listening implies that understanding and comprehension have taken place. Ironically, listening is often the neglected realm...
Consideration
By Mike Benson (February 5, 2004)
Mary Brunson was driving the new family SUV and inadvertently made a wrong turn. To make matters worse, she then sideswiped another oncoming vehicle. In tears she began fumbling through the glove compartment in an effort to locate the appropriate...
Encourage
By Mike Benson (January 29, 2004)
In his epistle to the church at Philippi Paul wrote, "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state" (Phil. 2:19 - emphasis mine, mb)....
Inspection
By Mike Benson (January 22, 2004)
When we go over the produce section of the local grocery, we carefully inspect the fruit, don't we? We thump the watermelons. We smell the canteloupes. We gently squeeze the tomatoes. We visually examine the grapes. Surely none of us...
How Much Is the Soup of the Day?
By Mike Benson (January 15, 2004)
Esau returned home exhausted from his hunting excursion in the field. Driven by hunger, his first thoughts turned to the all-you-can-eat buffet at "the Tent Dweller's Restaurant" (Gen. 25:27). The Record says, "And Esau said to Jacob, 'Please feed me...
Fund-Raising?
By Mike Benson (January 8, 2004)
Question: "I receive a weekly copy of a local church bulletin. One recent issue announced, 'The youth group would like to extend a big thank you to all those who have been so supportive of the youth group's fund raisers...
They Forsook All
By Mike Benson (January 1, 2001)
Fishing was their livelihood. It put food on their table and a roof over their heads (Mark 1:29). 1/ Fishing paid the bills. But these two brothers quit their boats and nets and immediately followed Jesus (Mark 1:18). Remember also...