Reality Check
A Secure Throne
By Stan Mitchell (July 29, 2010)
If a ruler is righteous, if his laws and his actions are godly, his people will have no legitimate reason to resent him. Why would they wish to change a rule that was civil, free and prosperous?
Circus Juggler
By Stan Mitchell (July 22, 2010)
You'll never catch up with all life's demands at once. Why don't you just master the most important one?
Being Unrealistic
By Stan Mitchell (July 15, 2010)
Humans are so proud, so hard headed, so unrealistic that we won't listen. The problem in our society is neither a lack of education, nor an excess of "homophobia," but a lack of humility.
Self-Deception
By Stan Mitchell (July 8, 2010)
In the end, the saddest, and most effective form of deception is self-deception!
Exalted Nation
By Stan Mitchell (June 24, 2010)
We did not rise to power, we were raised. We did not become powerful, we were given power.
Think Before You Speak
By Stan Mitchell (June 17, 2010)
Can you see their black statements splattering indiscriminately on whomever was below? Such a man is contrasted with the one who "ponders," or "weighs" his answers, thinking about the benefit they will bring, the healing they will cause.
A Really Good Lawyer
By Stan Mitchell (June 10, 2010)
Because you can do something does not mean that you should do it.
Change Worship, Or Change the One Who Worships?
By Stan Mitchell (June 3, 2010)
What would you think if I told you that basically, our evaluation of worship is irrelevant?
A Tree of Life
By Stan Mitchell (May 27, 2010)
In most African languages, the word for "tree" is the same word for "medicine." So much of their lives surround the benefits of a tree.
Harsh Words
By Stan Mitchell (May 20, 2010)
In a marriage, or a discussion with friends, with a church problem, the emotions rise, the disagreement heats up, emotions are raw, and someone rises in anger, a bitter denunciation on his lips, on the cusp of being delivered.
Stressed?
By Stan Mitchell (May 13, 2010)
We have all remarked on pictures of a president as he enters office, and as he prepares to leave. They invariably age a great deal. Though the pressures of being chief executive of the nation are unavoidable,
Earthquake Ready
By Stan Mitchell (May 6, 2010)
We think we're so smart! The best technology, the brightest minds, and a rather minor earthquake beat the best we could do!
Nobody Knows
By Stan Mitchell (April 29, 2010)
The inner chambers of the FBI and CIA are not as secretive and private as the human heart!
Forward Planning
By Stan Mitchell (April 22, 2010)
In a day of easy credit and instant gratification, it's as well to remember that planning, management and living within one's means is still the best way to provide for your loved ones. An "abundant harvest" comes from attentive planning.
Dare to Discipline
By Stan Mitchell (April 15, 2010)
Worse things can happen to our kids than to be disciplined. One of those worse things is for them to not be disciplined!
Legacy
By Stan Mitchell (April 8, 2010)
We all come to a point in our lives when we begin to think of the legacy we leave to our children. What will it be? Great wealth? Sin and failure? A Christian lifestyle?
Hide and Seek
By Stan Mitchell (April 1, 2010)
At a Christian College you will generally find what you're looking for."
Ambush
By Stan Mitchell (March 25, 2010)
Words have a life of their own. They lie in ambush, waiting to insult a person of color, to break the heart of a child with glasses, to betray a supposedly best friend.
Bless You, Too!
By Stan Mitchell (March 18, 2010)
Some people's temperament is tinder dry, ready to ignite indignantly at everything that happens. Like an anti personnel mine, they are ready to blow up at the mere touch of a toe on the trigger.
Beautiful Miss Piggy!
By Stan Mitchell (March 4, 2010)
You know why Miss Piggy's brave efforts to appear glamorous are so funny, right?
Sticks and Stones
By Stan Mitchell (February 25, 2010)
The wise man of Proverbs knew better. He understood the power of words.
Buyers Beware!
By Stan Mitchell (February 18, 2010)
The Christian businessman does not offer a defective product; he does not charge an extortionate price; he does not take advantage of either competitors or his customers. Not if the "Christian" part of "Christian businessman" is genuine
The Cover-up
By Stan Mitchell (February 10, 2010)
On the one hand we find alibis, extenuating circumstances for our "mere" moment of weakness. On the other hand, we like to expose wrongdoing - other people's wrongdoing.
Business Ethics
By Stan Mitchell (February 4, 2010)
For God's person, the term "business ethics" is not a contradiction in terms! It's a way of life.
The Admirable Ox?
By Stan Mitchell (January 28, 2010)
Cheating on loved ones is not "cool." It's tawdry and selfish, and it renders the participants the very opposite of what they imagine themselves to be.
Don't Commit It!
By Stan Mitchell (January 21, 2010)
When adults commit adultery, everyone gets hurt.
Torn Apart
By Stan Mitchell (January 14, 2010)
The Lord is not merely "bothered" or "annoyed" with these actions. He "hates" them.
It's Not My Job!
By Stan Mitchell (January 7, 2010)
"Something must be done" becomes "I must do something."
The One Who Sees the Unseen
By Stan Mitchell (December 31, 2009)
God is the one who sees the sin done in secret. He sees what no one else sees.
Love and Marriage
By Stan Mitchell (December 23, 2009)
It is not enjoyment of this gift that God condemns; it is our penchant to abuse the gift, to use it in a relationship for which it was not designed!
Derailed!
By Stan Mitchell (December 17, 2009)
Runaway trains don't stop on a dime, and runaway passions will break several barriers before they come to a halt.
Guard the Heart
By Stan Mitchell (December 10, 2009)
Jesus urged us not to "hate our brother." If we deal with the hate, we will be very unlikely to take his life.
What Do We Communicate?
By Stan Mitchell (December 2, 2009)
Society as God would have it has been turned on its head!
Violence
By Stan Mitchell (November 26, 2009)
"Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways."
Learning From the Hard Times
By Stan Mitchell (November 12, 2009)
When hard times come, don't automatically assume that God has abandoned you, human as that conclusion might be. Ask yourself if it's not a sign of his love, and begin to look for the lessons you can learn from the situation!
Lean on Me!
By Stan Mitchell (November 11, 2009)
Decisions, motives and priorities must all be given to the Lord for this to work. We will have to let go, and let him drive the events of our lives.
Seeking Wisdom
By Stan Mitchell (November 4, 2009)
Wisdom does not simply fall into our laps. Age and experience do not automatically guarantee wisdom. Wisdom must be appreciated, if it is to be sought, and sought if it is to be found.
Getting in the Wrong Crowd
By Stan Mitchell (October 29, 2009)
Can you imagine the ancient Israelite parent asking the same questions modern parents ask? "Where are you going? How late will you be? Who will you be with?"
The Wise Get Wiser
By Stan Mitchell (October 22, 2009)
Wisdom from God is far more than tearing open the message of a fortune cookie or concluding that there is some kind of guidance in the position of the stars. It is a way of life that takes into account God's will in everything we do.
Are You Receiving Me?
By Stan Mitchell (October 14, 2009)
Sometimes the reason we don't learn is because we aren't listening.
Set on a Hill
By Stan Mitchell (October 7, 2009)
A city set on a hill does not come from one house with the porch light on. A city on a hill comes from all of us, pulling together, shining our lights, and making a difference.
Who Influences Whom?
By Stan Mitchell (September 30, 2009)
The real question regarding the Christian and society is this: who influences whom?
Peace Makers
By Stan Mitchell (September 16, 2009)
What is the opposite of a peacemaker? It was the whisperer, the constant critic, the busybody, the meddler.
Toxic Clean-Up
By Stan Mitchell (September 9, 2009)
The one thing worse than a vacant mind is one filled with filthy thoughts.
Mercy for the Merciful
By Stan Mitchell (September 2, 2009)
David Evans knew he was in trouble when he saw the big cottonwood in the back yard toppled over after the storm. It had fallen on the neighbor's yard, breaking part of the wall that separated the two properties.
Keep the Customer Satisfied
By Stan Mitchell (August 26, 2009)
Why was it that the word "needs" always came out sounding like "wants"?
Singing Solo Means Singing Alone
By Stan Mitchell (August 19, 2009)
When a man sings his own praises, he usually pitches the tune too high!
Will Work for Food
By Stan Mitchell (August 12, 2009)
He pictured himself on skid row with a cardboard sign: "Will work for food."
A Different Kind of Kingdom
By Stan Mitchell (August 5, 2009)
It was always a different kingdom, with a different army, for their commander was the Prince of Peace!
Spiritual Nutrition
By Stan Mitchell (July 29, 2009)
So many people eat nothing but spiritual Hostess Cupcakes and twinkies, junkfood that is undoubtedly sweet and a momentary delight, but hardly nutritious.
Fishing
By Stan Mitchell (July 22, 2009)
Fishing is a delicate art, not at all like throwing dynamite into the water. It takes time and patience, skill and care. And every human being is worth it.
A Calling
By Stan Mitchell (July 15, 2009)
The fact is that the Carpenter from Nazareth walks by all of us, observing our efforts on the job, in our communities, and he calls us.
Anyone Can Quote Scripture
By Stan Mitchell (July 1, 2009)
Anyone can quote scripture. Even Satan did. Scripture can be twisted, or used in isolation from the rest of the Bible.
A Dog's-Eye View of Life
By Stan Mitchell (June 24, 2009)
It's OK for dogs to live on a purely physical level; it's a pity when human beings never live at a deeper level than satisfying their bellies!
Setbacks or Opportunities?
By Stan Mitchell (June 17, 2009)
Tough times can come to everybody,and both Satan and God are involved. Satan's agenda is to destroy us; he doesn't care who we are, or whether we deserve setbacks. With him it's not personal. He just wants to hurt us!
The Players Coach Likes
By Stan Mitchell (June 10, 2009)
The teams he chose reflected his personality - hard working, energetic and unselfish.
It Was a Good Show, Wasn't It?
By Stan Mitchell (June 3, 2009)
As they filed out, John whispered to Beth: "It was a good show, wasn't it?" It struck her as a funny way to describe a worship service.
Tune Up
By Stan Mitchell (May 27, 2009)
We paste on cosmetics, we buff up the muscle tone, we shine and scrub our faces, acting as if we're completely unaware of the fact that people have insides, too.
He Was No Diplomat
By Stan Mitchell (May 13, 2009)
He spoke with the conviction of one who represented God himself, the certainty of one who understood the urgency of saying what was right and true.
I Demand an Explanation!
By Stan Mitchell (May 6, 2009)
Had God promised them explanations, or his love and comfort?
What Did You Get Out of Worship?
By Stan Mitchell (April 22, 2009)
They had not come to "get" but to "give."
Look at the Hypocrites!
By Stan Mitchell (April 15, 2009)
"All right," Jill thought, "I'll go to church today, but I won't like it!" Church was a drag! Then it hit her. She knew what to do! She would sit in church and watch all the hypocrites.
Checking In
By Stan Mitchell (April 8, 2009)
What right does God have to look over our shoulders, to check in with the way we run our lives from time to time?
Wise Men Still Seek Him
By Stan Mitchell (April 1, 2009)
How do you find somebody in the Roman Empire during the first century? There are no phone books, no ancient Babylonian Google, and no automated voice on the information number. Instead, the "Wise Men" of the Jesus' birth story had to search for him.
The Secret to Fulfillment
By Stan Mitchell (March 25, 2009)
George changed jobs five times in five years. In that period of time, he also attended college - twice! He began and ended three romances, and affiliated himself with a church in town ... then a second ... then a third.
A Real Reason for Humbug!
By Stan Mitchell (March 18, 2009)
Everyone loves a baby, but the birth of Jesus Christ was less about sentiment, and more about sin.
Being Both Righteous and Kind
By Stan Mitchell (March 11, 2009)
Now you've got to see the story from Joseph's perspective. There his fiancée Mary was, great with child, and Joseph knew that his relations with her had been absolutely correct. So what had happened?
What We Want and What We Need
By Stan Mitchell (March 4, 2009)
Black smoke poured out the upstairs bedroom window, and Sam could smell the acrid combination of a home burning - melting plastic, carpeting, electrical wiring, all being consumed in the hungry flames of his home, literally going up in smoke.
The Gift That Endured
By Stan Mitchell (February 25, 2009)
I have always thought of those five dollar bills, slipped so secretly to me. She thought that no one saw her action.
Winning From the Bench
By Stan Mitchell (February 18, 2009)
The greatest moment in the season was also the hardest for Greg. He suffered exquisite satisfaction, raw, cutting-to-the-heart hurt when it happened. They had just won the state championship. And they had done it by benching him.
Who Are You?
By Stan Mitchell (February 11, 2009)
When I was a kid, I had one perfect day. All day I rode my bike with my two best friends, round and round the neighborhood. No interference from pesky sisters, no chores demanded by interfering parents, just the hum of wheels and bicycle chains, and the laughter of little boys.
You Are What You Think About
By Stan Mitchell (February 4, 2009)
He had fed his mind with whatever was ugly, whatever was impure, whatever was smutty. And it had affected his actions.
Don't Worry, Be Happy
By Stan Mitchell (January 14, 2009)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).
Are You the Sum of What Happens to You?
By Stan Mitchell (January 7, 2009)
Yet again Tom's kids were late for school. He spilled coffee on his shirt at breakfast, and though he put another shirt on, he could still smell the stale aroma on himself. A fancy sports car driven by a youth in a baseball cap turned backwards with rap music blaring ,cut him off in traffic.
Agree to ... Agree
By Stan Mitchell (December 31, 2008)
The following is a rather stunning description of a president elect. "He was a barbarian, Scythian, yahoo, a gorilla in respect of outward polish..." (George Templeton Strong).
What Would be the Highlight of Your Day?
By Stan Mitchell (December 17, 2008)
Do we take the time to feed our emotional and spiritual selves? This week, do more than fill your belly; fill your soul!
Knowing Christ
By Stan Mitchell (December 10, 2008)
"After fifteen years of marriage, you still don't know me, do you?" Claire had said. Tom wasn't the first husband, of course, to fail to anticipate his wife's desires. Husbands are as adept at reading a woman's mind as a heavyweight wrestler is in a gymnastics competition.
His One Big Mistake
By Stan Mitchell (December 3, 2008)
Ron made only one mistake, but it was fatal. He had trained, running before dawn every day that season. He had eaten right, declining the doughnuts and Hostess Cup Cakes he so craved. At the starting line he felt good - strong, ready.
I've Learned it All Already!
By Stan Mitchell (November 26, 2008)
It wasn't a case of being unable to learn so much as being unwilling to be taught! You can't teach a man who knows it all already!
Build Your Hopes on Things That Are Eternal
By Stan Mitchell (November 19, 2008)
These days we have abs of steel and brains of silly putty.
Citizens of Heaven
By Stan Mitchell (November 19, 2008)
Every empire since the dawn of time had aspirations for eternity ... and ended in dust and rubble.
It Was Amazing
By Stan Mitchell (November 12, 2008)
He did not come to God lightly, for he knew the staggering debt he owed.
The Lion and the Boy
By Stan Mitchell (November 5, 2008)
When we face life with its problems, we don't have to face it alone.
It Was Worth It!
By Stan Mitchell (October 29, 2008)
In a day when so many would surrender conviction for cash, love for loot, it's something to remember. There are some things that are not for sale at any price!
Is Church About Me?
By Stan Mitchell (October 15, 2008)
Lost in the translation of selfish desires is this question: What does Jesus Christ want in a church?
Who Owns You?
By Stan Mitchell (October 8, 2008)
I am frequently astounded at the way people so readily, uncritically make a deal with the Devil when making a deal with Christ would be so much more profitable.
Dead Serious, but Dead Wrong
By Stan Mitchell (October 1, 2008)
Saul, rising star of his people, a man who loved his nation, loved his God, was utterly sincere in his actions. He was zealous, enthusiastic ... and dead wrong.
The Best Church?
By Stan Mitchell (September 24, 2008)
We don't have the "best" savior. We have the only one. We don't worship the "best" God. We worship the only God. To honor anyone less would be to honor Him less!
Wine Poured Out
By Stan Mitchell (September 17, 2008)
God gave your mother to me to care for; what if she had married a man who cared about her less? Besides, that's the way God pours himself out to care for us.
Respect
By Stan Mitchell (September 10, 2008)
We respect people because they are worth that respect, not because they're bigger than us and can enforce it.
Every Knee
By Stan Mitchell (September 3, 2008)
To his left were a dozen or so SS troops from Hitler's army, confessing Jesus as Lord.
The Most Human Trait of All
By Stan Mitchell (August 27, 2008)
Jesus' is a death that ought to be spoken of often, for if it is his death that makes him human, his resurrection is what makes us divine.
Hanging on to Privilege
By Stan Mitchell (August 20, 2008)
In truth, it is we who should be humble, for we have much to be humble about!
Service Reflex
By Stan Mitchell (August 13, 2008)
Christians are people whose very reflexes become like those of Christ, where the instincts are selfless, sudden, and sacrificial, and where they find themselves in a serving posture before they even realize that’s what they’re doing.
The Smoking Gun
By Stan Mitchell (August 6, 2008)
“I thought the point of our marriage was for him to make me happy.â€
The Secret to Winning
By Stan Mitchell (July 30, 2008)
They actually wanted to pass to team mates. And the amazing thing was that the team game was not only the way to win championships, but it was fun! It was fun to watch, and fun to play.
Losing Something and Gaining More
By Stan Mitchell (July 23, 2008)
But I had never suffered for my Christianity, not really. And in the first days of his walk with God, Antonio was suffering deeply. He was hurt. Who wouldn’t be?
Everything to Gain
By Stan Mitchell (July 16, 2008)
What happens when you die? Does existence cease? Is the result of death annihilation? Does consciousness end abruptly? Does the clock stop ticking? Are you completely gone?
The Right Thing For the Wrong Reason
By Stan Mitchell (July 9, 2008)
Is it possible to do the right thing … for the wrong reason? Paul begins his magnificent description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 by declaring that if he “had the gift of prophecy,†had a “faith that could move mountains†and “gave his body to the flames†without love, he was nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2,3).
The Preacher and the Praetorian Guard
By Stan Mitchell (July 2, 2008)
The captive made them a captive audience.“As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ†(Philippians 1:13).
So Who Are You?
By Stan Mitchell (June 25, 2008)
Our attitude comes, not from what happens to us, but from who we are. “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel†(Philippians 1:12).
Share Your Toys
By Stan Mitchell (June 18, 2008)
The gospel is mine, and yours, and everyone else’s. So share! “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains, or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me†(Philippians 1:7).
Growing Older or More Mature?
By Stan Mitchell (June 11, 2008)
“Be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet.†“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus†(Philippians 1:6).
Preaching Partners
By Stan Mitchell (June 11, 2008)
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel, from the first day until now, being confident that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion†(Philippians 1:4-6).
Another Forty Two Years!
By Stan Mitchell (June 4, 2008)
Rather than making provision for this life, perhaps we should be making preparations for the next!
For What it's Worth
By Stan Mitchell (May 28, 2008)
Jerry McDade and his wife were out walking one Sunday morning when they heard singing so beautiful that they just had to stop and listen. Both were from the Church of England, and had heard beautiful choirs sing. What made this so startling was that it was congregational singing.
For of Such is the Kingdom
By Stan Mitchell (May 21, 2008)
A friend of mine tells of the day he went with a group of people to an old age home, to the ward that cares for those suffering from Alzheimer’s. Most of the residents were, to put it as kindly as possible, no longer there. Their stares were vacant, their memory as empty as a Montana prairie.
The Finish Line
By Stan Mitchell (May 14, 2008)
by Stan Mitchell Service to God is not an Olympic sprint, a burst of nerves and adrenaline; it is a long distance run, characterized by planning, dedication, and determination.
Empire
By Stan Mitchell (April 23, 2008)
"Before the mountains were born, or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God" (Psalm 90:2).
Education
By Stan Mitchell (April 23, 2008)
It takes time to develop character. A child takes twenty years (at the very least!) to become a responsible adult.
Are You Sure?
By Stan Mitchell (April 23, 2008)
It's amazing how the things people say do not always match up with reality. Consider the person who begins a statement with the words, "I may be wrong, but..." Usually he really means, "There's no way that I could be...
Upstaging the Boss
By Stan Mitchell (April 16, 2008)
Worship is conducted on His terms alone, or it is not worship.
There's Something About Mary's Son
By Stan Mitchell (April 9, 2008)
Somehow the carpenter’s shop did not seem to be the destiny of Mary's son!
Not Yet
By Stan Mitchell (April 2, 2008)
Delay is not denial. Waiting for the proper time is not idle waiting, nor is it empty.
Weather Forecasting
By Stan Mitchell (March 26, 2008)
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Journal from Jail
By Stan Mitchell (March 22, 2008)
Is Philippians really the “Vanna White†of Paul’s epistles? Is it merely the lightweight amongst heavyweights such as Romans and Galatians?
What Happens in Tough Times?
By Stan Mitchell (March 19, 2008)
Healing takes time. Whatever you suffer from - whether it is physical illness, loneliness or the effect of your own mistakes, know this; rebuilding takes place in nature as in life, one twig at a time.
Honest Pay for Honest Work
By Stan Mitchell (March 12, 2008)
There should there be a difference between the way a Christian and a non-Christian employer treats his workers.
You Can Smash the Barometer, But You Can't Stop the Storm
By Stan Mitchell (March 5, 2008)
Rather than heed the message, he had grown angry with the messenger. Destroying the barometer, however, did nothing to halt the storm.
Spiritual CPR
By Stan Mitchell (February 27, 2008)
There is nothing more humbling than to realize that we cannot help either ourselves or our families. But it is in those times that we are reminded of the power of God.
Aiding and Abetting
By Stan Mitchell (February 20, 2008)
When there is a war going on, it is hard to remain friends with both sides.
He's the Exception to the Rule
By Stan Mitchell (February 13, 2008)
If everybody on the freeway considered himself the exception to the rule, there would be mayhem and slaughter. I wonder what life would be like if everyone thought he was the exception when it came to the words that he used?
Dear James
By Stan Mitchell (February 6, 2008)
Who wins when friendships are broken? Who is better off when a marriage breaks down? What is gained by a church breaking apart?
Wise Guys and Wise Persons
By Stan Mitchell (January 30, 2008)
The Bible does not mean to be insulting when it calls someone a "fool." Such a person is not a buffoon, or a moron. He is simply not wise by God's definition.
Words Gone Wild!
By Stan Mitchell (January 23, 2008)
He is suggesting that vile and venomous words are the product … of a vile and venomous heart.
Can Someone Get the Key?
By Stan Mitchell (January 16, 2008)
Unkind words, gossip, or angry, caustic accusations have the momentum of a mountain of runaway mine truck.
Justification by Faith Alone
By Stan Mitchell (January 9, 2008)
Scripture, not theologians, should shape our theology.
Only the Talented and Rich Need Apply
By Stan Mitchell (January 2, 2008)
They will see what extraordinary things I can do with such ordinary people.
Well, Suppose
By Stan Mitchell (December 26, 2007)
The wonder is that the Prince of all the earth invites us to sit with Him!
Disqualified!
By Stan Mitchell (December 12, 2007)
If you think that this verse does not apply to you, that may be the very sign that it does!
Taking Another Look
By Stan Mitchell (December 5, 2007)
So how would you characterize your study of God's word? Do you "look intently" into it?
If Mirrors Could Talk
By Stan Mitchell (November 28, 2007)
Mirrors don't finesse their message; they are undiplomatic, merely reflecting reality. That's what mirrors do.
Wisdom
By Stan Mitchell (November 21, 2007)
When you last begged God for something, what was it? Wisdom? Or something a little more physical, and earthly? Solomon prayed for wisdom to govern God's people. One suspects that his request was something of a surprise to the Lord. ...
The Seduction
By Stan Mitchell (November 14, 2007)
It all began with the desire, the deep-seated longing for something that he knew was wrong. But he could not help it, he allowed himself to be enticed and allured by the seduction. It wasn't long before the seduction had...
When a Blessing Doesn't Look Like a Blessing
By Stan Mitchell (November 7, 2007)
Some are deceived into thinking that temporary gratification of sin is a "good and perfect gift." The pleasures of adultery are undeniable. Revenge can bring quick and cheap gratification. Crushing another's feelings by cruel words and gossip can bring a warped kind of pleasure. ...
The Christian's View of Trial
By Stan Mitchell (October 24, 2007)
The Africans have a saying: "After the rain, come the flowers."
Take Me to Your Leader
By Stan Mitchell (October 17, 2007)
The glory lies, not in the first part ("servant"), but in the second (“of the Lordâ€).
Counter Cultural
By Stan Mitchell (October 9, 2007)
The Biblical writers were not shallow-minded fashion followers, they were countercultural. To speak for God was to run counter to the thinking of their own day and age.
Could There be a Connection?
By Stan Mitchell (October 3, 2007)
Children are given a Bible to read, and their behavior improves. This is about as shocking as hearing expletives in rap music!
Charmed, I'm Sure
By Stan Mitchell (September 26, 2007)
“I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight.â€
Good For the Soul
By Stan Mitchell (September 19, 2007)
Confession is good for many reasons, but perhaps the most important is the reminder to ourselves that we are flawed and in need of God’s mercy
Covenant Breaker
By Stan Mitchell (September 12, 2007)
If we were more conscious of the presence of God in our sexual and marital commitments, we would be more faithful to each other.
He Couldn't Hear, but He Could See
By Stan Mitchell (September 5, 2007)
"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears, because they hear" (Matthew 13:16). We stood outside the door of the apartment, and I was puzzled. "What?" I wondered, "would a deaf man be doing with a door...
Common Suffering
By Stan Mitchell (August 29, 2007)
From Satan’s point of view, that makes Jesus the most dangerous man in history!
Come, Let Us Reason Together
By Stan Mitchell (August 22, 2007)
It is said that the early Christians out-thought their contemporaries.
Come Again?
By Stan Mitchell (August 15, 2007)
As certain as the surf rises in California, or the snow falls in Lincoln, so is his second coming!
Churches That Grow
By Stan Mitchell (August 8, 2007)
The Gospel is too valuable a comodity to be left on the warehouse shelf.
Cheap Grace
By Stan Mitchell (August 1, 2007)
“Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace.†So said Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German preacher in the late 1930’s. “Cheap grace means grace sold in the market ... the consolations of religion...
A Chasm Wide
By Stan Mitchell (July 25, 2007)
The most dangerous thing in the world is to try to leap a chasm in two jumps.
Comrades in Arms
By Stan Mitchell (July 19, 2007)
And one day, as the song says, we will see our comrades again.
Changing Places
By Stan Mitchell (July 11, 2007)
If we are not Christian in our homes, then we are not Christians anywhere
But is it For Me?
By Stan Mitchell (July 4, 2007)
He was a righteous man, and a priest. He had no doubt read many times the story of the aged Abraham, and God’s promise of a son. He must have thrilled at the angel’s question, “Is anything too hard for...
Starry, Starry Night
By Stan Mitchell (July 1, 2007)
Only man can appreciate how small he is. Only man needs to appreciate how small he is.
Cafeteria Church?
By Stan Mitchell (July 1, 2007)
Churches may attract these kinds of people, but they cannot depend on them to provide the backbone of a growing, serving, preaching community of God's people.
But is it For Me?
By Stan Mitchell (July 1, 2007)
Zechariah believed that God had answered Abraham’s prayer, and Hannah’s, too. He just could not believe that God wished to bless him with a child. Were God’s blessings for him, too?
But I'm Entitled to It!
By Stan Mitchell (June 27, 2007)
“If some people got all their rights, they would begin to complain about being deprived of their wrongs.†--Oliver Herford Last week a 20-year-old man broke into 85-year-old Grace Newton’s home in southern California. He hit her over the head...
Burning in Our Hearts
By Stan Mitchell (June 20, 2007)
The boisterous crowd fell silent. They had gathered in the summer of 1536 to witness an execution, a man burned at the stake. He was just a little over forty years old, an Oxford scholar, and a felon facing the...
Father's Day
By Stan Mitchell (June 13, 2007)
It was the peppery Erma Bombeck who once said of her father, "I never knew what to do with the daddy doll, so I had him say, 'I'm going off to work now'; and I put him under the bed."...
Bought at a Price
By Stan Mitchell (June 6, 2007)
We don’t make demands on churches and on Jesus; he makes demands on us! We don’t negotiate our terms of entrance into the church; he dictates them!
Slip Slidin' Away ...
By Stan Mitchell (May 30, 2007)
Do you remember being deeply embarrassed by an explicit "love scene" in a movie? Do you remember when someone would say, “Hey, guys, none of that language please, there’s a lady with us� Of course these scenes are commonplace now.
Birds in a Cage
By Stan Mitchell (May 23, 2007)
One day a boy was walking down the road when he saw a man with a large birdcage full of birds. Intrigued, the boy asked: “Where did you get all those birds?†“Oh, all over the place,†the man said....
Belonging
By Stan Mitchell (May 16, 2007)
“Children who have strong perceptions of closeness and trust with significant adults are very resistant to peer pressure.†So says Stephen Glenn, author of “Raising Children for Success.†Inner city gang members, researchers tell us, join a gang in order...
Being Right
By Stan Mitchell (May 9, 2007)
The two hardest words to pronounce in the English languare are, "I'm sorry."
Being Brief
By Stan Mitchell (May 2, 2007)
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11) President Calvin Coolidge was renowned for being a man of few words. One evening he was at a dinner party when a lady approached him:...
Smart and Beautiful Too!
By Stan Mitchell (April 25, 2007)
A man turned to his wife and said, "How can you be so incredibly beautiful and as unbelievably stupid at the same time?" "Well," his little darling replied, "It's God's will. He made me incredibly beautiful so that you could be attracted to me, and unbelievably stupid so I would be attracted to you!"
Beauty is
By Stan Mitchell (April 25, 2007)
Did you hear the Fairy Tale about the ugly duckling … who grew up to be an ugly duck? What about the beautiful princess who slept for a hundred years until she was awoken by the kiss of a …...
Change: The Secret
By Stan Mitchell (April 20, 2007)
We must understand that Christianity is not a moonlight, and it is not an occupation; it is our preoccupation,
Be Thou Faithful
By Stan Mitchell (April 18, 2007)
"Be faithful, even to the point of death and I will give you a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). Becoming a Christian means making a commitment. I know that sounds like a statement of the obvious, but it needs to be said. Think how the early Christians suffered, how the flames seared their flesh, how the lions tore them limb by limb, how the rats ran over their feet while they shivered in damp dungeons for their faith. ...
This is the Day
By Stan Mitchell (April 11, 2007)
"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). You might remember the children's classic where the little boy was having a "mean no good bad terrible day." How do you...
Gratitude and Altitude
By Stan Mitchell (April 4, 2007)
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth"...
As Beauty Does
By Stan Mitchell (March 28, 2007)
Did you know that January is "Beautiful Woman" month? Between Father's day, Environment week and Children's month, I'm surprised there's any days left in the calendar for someone else to honor! Did you know that if Barbie was a real...
Therapy, Theology, and the Teacher
By Stan Mitchell (March 21, 2007)
Whenever a congregation gathers together, you have a great collection of hurts and sorrows. Gathered in God's presence are those who sorrow for a loved one who has passed on, or who have been hit with divorce proceedings. One person...
Are You Receiving Me?
By Stan Mitchell (March 14, 2007)
"If any one speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God" (1 Peter 4:11). One Sunday morning during the sermon, a little fellow misbehaved sufficiently to warrant being taken out. Justice, administered to the "seat"...
I've Got It All Together
By Stan Mitchell (March 7, 2007)
"Oh, my anguish, my anguish, I writhe in pain. Oh the agony of my heart!" "I have been very zealous for the Lord God almighty. The Israelites have rejected the covenant, broken down the altars, and put your prophets to...
Well, Think About It!
By Stan Mitchell (February 28, 2007)
“Imagine for a moment,” Jim Baird asks, “what theories alien sociologists would form about our culture if they were judging us simply by the television programming we have been sending them at the speed of light over the last thirty...
Her Name Was Alice
By Stan Mitchell (February 21, 2007)
"She was a lovely, faithful wife, who loved her family, and her Lord very, very much" (Dow Merritt). Several months earlier, Alice Merritt had woken up in discomfort and felt a lump in her breast. For any woman, anywhere, this...
A Funny Thing
By Stan Mitchell (February 14, 2007)
A funny thing happened on the way to Secular Humanism. The philosophy that began with man as the center of the universe, a self-aggrandizing, god-like individual who didn't need God, has now become nothing more than just another of the...
A Danger to Democracy
By Stan Mitchell (February 7, 2007)
I ran across a survey recently that polled American leaders in business, politics, and the media. They were asked what groups constituted the "greatest danger to democracy" today. Fourteen percent fretted about the dangers posed by racist groups such as...
Tell Me The Story ...
By Stan Mitchell (January 31, 2007)
A missionary in the South Sea islands was invited to a king’s palace. There the king sat, resplendent in his royal clothing, surrounded by his wives, and drinking coconut wine. “Why have you come to our islands,” he demanded angrily....
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Worship
By Stan Mitchell (January 24, 2007)
"Through Jesus Christ therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise -– the fruit of lips that confess his name" (Hebrews 13:15). The Israelites in the Old Testament didn't "go to church." They didn't go "to hear...
Speak Up, Honey
By Stan Mitchell (January 17, 2007)
A concerned husband spoke to the doctor. "I think my wife is deaf, because she never hears me the first time; she always asks me to repeat things." "OK," the doctor responded. "Go home, stand fifteen feet away from her,...
Singing in Harmony
By Stan Mitchell (January 10, 2007)
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). Listen to a conversation I overheard several years ago. One young man declared: "In five year's time (this...
The Dew Breakers
By Stan Mitchell (January 3, 2007)
"... and a little child shall lead them" (Isaiah 11:6). Dow Merritt could always tell a story. As a little boy I can remember sitting at his feet and listening, entranced, as he told stories of the old days in...
Rag Doll
By Stan Mitchell (December 27, 2006)
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and our righteous acts are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). A missionary to Australia recalls the long trip, and how exhausted his three-year-old daughter Rosemary was. Upon arriving at Melbourne,...
Hanukkah and Herald Angels
By Stan Mitchell (December 20, 2006)
"O hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing." (Edmund Sears) Mark the day. It was October 20 this year when I saw the first Christmas advertisement on television. "Christmas," someone has said, "is the time...
Not Yet
By Stan Mitchell (December 13, 2006)
"All by itself the soil produces grain -- first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head" (Mark 4:28). Most parents have experienced this. As the communion tray passes by, a little voice, shockingly loud, says,...
Your Preacher - More Thoughts
By Stan Mitchell (December 6, 2006)
"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent, day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest" (Isaiah 62:6). "Do you recall some talented young preachers who have 'dropped out'?...
Is There Mercy?
By Stan Mitchell (November 29, 2006)
I have just reread Alan Paton's classic, "Cry the Beloved Country." In his lovely, heartbreaking tale of South Africa, Paton tells of a young black man named Absolom who breaks into a house in white, suburban Johannesburg. He and his...
Making a Pitch
By Stan Mitchell (November 22, 2006)
Bob and Earl, two buddies, were great baseball fans. They watched about 60 games a year. One day, while discussing their favorite subject, they wondered if there was baseball in heaven. "I'll tell you what," Bob declared, "If I die...
Gimme a Break
By Stan Mitchell (November 15, 2006)
Danny Simmons tells of an incident in a children's Bible class where his wife was teaching. She asked the kids to name their favorite hymn, and four-year-old Victoria raised her hand. "Gimme a Break," she declared. The teacher was puzzled....
Leadership and Coercion
By Stan Mitchell (November 8, 2006)
In order to lead, you have to have been there yourself. When I was twenty one, I thought I should lead the country, the church, everyone I saw. Why, I wondered, did others not see how compelling my leadership capabilities...
Eats, Shoots and Leaves
By Stan Mitchell (November 1, 2006)
"But about the resurrection of the dead -- have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead...
What a Waste!
By Stan Mitchell (October 25, 2006)
I remember years ago when a brilliant young man on his way to medical school changed his mind, and returned to college to get a Bible degree and preach. Someone, said: "What a waste to use a young man of...
The "Right Age"
By Stan Mitchell (October 18, 2006)
"I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes" (1 Timothy 2:9). We took our daughter to the mall the other day to get a "special" dress...
The Burden of Being Right
By Stan Mitchell (October 11, 2006)
"So if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Some of you who are more, well, mature, will recall the grating voice of sports commentator Howard Cosell. Pompous, arrogant, know-it-all were...
Something Greater
By Stan Mitchell (October 4, 2006)
Have you ever wondered how America's democracy went from the responsibility of good citizenship to "I have my rights, you know!" Immigrants quickly learn the lesson of America -- If it's there to be grabbed, grab it! If you don't...
Power in the Pew
By Stan Mitchell (September 27, 2006)
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to say" (2...
Not An Invitation
By Stan Mitchell (September 20, 2006)
"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find'" (Matthew 22:8,9). When Queen Elizabeth II was...
Let's Start at the Very Beginning
By Stan Mitchell (September 13, 2006)
"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). Bruce Shelly tells of a Peanuts cartoon that has Charlie Brown's little sister Sally writing a...
Friends in High Places
By Stan Mitchell (September 6, 2006)
Often we hear that "prayer changes things." I have only one question. It deals not with what prayer changes, but whom. Perhaps we are under the illusion that it is the role of prayer to change God's mind. The astounding...
Documentation
By Stan Mitchell (August 30, 2006)
Don't you just love it when you pick up a basketball in the store and the label says: "Accredited size and weight?" Accredited by whom? The sales department? And what about those degree diplomas some people hang up in their...
Consensus
By Stan Mitchell (August 23, 2006)
I was told last week by an acquaintance that we needed to study the "church growth principles" of the mega churches in certain cities that he specified. The "old" (whatever that means) church of Christ "will never grow," he warned,...
Can You Hear Me Now?
By Stan Mitchell (August 16, 2006)
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:2,3). Sometimes as God's creatures, we have deplorably poor radar. God tries in various ways...
Bending the Tree
By Stan Mitchell (August 9, 2006)
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). One parent recalls making a mistake as a parent that plagued him for decades. Finally he picked...
Appeasement
By Stan Mitchell (August 2, 2006)
I am concerned about the move many members of the church are making away from the scriptures. I know many of you who read this are, too. You become part of a fellowship precisely because they search the scriptures for...
Alternatives
By Stan Mitchell (July 26, 2006)
These days it's popular to speak admiringly of just about every religious group around, and disparagingly of the churches of Christ. I am not suggesting that our religious friends have nothing to commend themselves, nor that we are beyond criticism,...
A Word Aptly Spoken
By Stan Mitchell (July 19, 2006)
"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (Proverbs 25:11). The tall man stepped to the platform of the train, and looked at the crowd arrayed before him. His angular features reflected the gravity of...
Your Preacher
By Stan Mitchell (July 12, 2006)
One of the best books on preaching is "Your Preacher" by Charles Hodge. Hodge preached for the church in Ducanville, Texas, for a quarter of a century. He is funny, blunt, and wise. "The primary work of a preacher is...
Looking Beneath the Surface
By Stan Mitchell (July 5, 2006)
Just a few more words to our graduates. When you go to another city and start college, or a new career, you will (I hope) look up a nearby congregation with which to worship and serve. You may or may not find it to be similar to your congregation. Some churches will be bigger than yours, with thousands of worshipers, a "big name" preacher, and knock-your-socks-off technology. Look beyond the outward exhibition of emotion (clapping? eyes closed in apparent ecstasy? powerful praise team?) and ask yourself if this is a time dedicated to exalting God or exalting ourselves. This is a danger warned of by Jesus himself (Matthew 6:1-18).
Do two things for me, please: ...
Building a Future
By Stan Mitchell (June 28, 2006)
"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king" (1 Peter 2:17). These days our graduates take notes on laptops; my graduation was so long ago we took notes with a hammer and chisel!...
When the Church Fell Silent
By Stan Mitchell (June 21, 2006)
"I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me, there is no God" (Isaiah 45:5). US General William Boykin said this of his experience fighting Moslem soldiers in Somalia: "I knew that my God was bigger than...
War and Peace
By Stan Mitchell (June 14, 2006)
Peace and harmony are wonderful things, and I respect those who demonstrate for it. I don't doubt that many of the world's conflicts are unnecessary. I recall former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher pointing out that history has never seen...
Think About These Things
By Stan Mitchell (June 7, 2006)
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). It's human to dwell on the negative....
The Reason Why
By Stan Mitchell (May 31, 2006)
"Cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them Cannon in front of them, Volley'd and thunder'd Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die." (Tennyson, "Charge of the Light Brigade") Tennyson's memorable words...
The One Book
By Stan Mitchell (May 24, 2006)
"I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33). Quickly, now. Your house is burning. You see the flames rising into the...
The Lifeline
By Stan Mitchell (May 17, 2006)
"The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:11). Recently some divers were searching for treasure in a Spanish...
That Old Sinking Feeling
By Stan Mitchell (May 10, 2006)
"Woe! Woe! O great city, Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!" (Revelation 18:10). When the White Star Line's centerpiece was built, it was heralded as the ultimate ship. Its designers used every technique to make...
Subliminal
By Stan Mitchell (May 3, 2006)
One hundred thousand fans filled the stadium. Many payed scalper's prices that would buy an Audi. Millions more watched on television. In Brazil, business halted when their team practiced. This was bigger than the NBA finals, bigger than the Super...
"Something Must Be Done!"
By Stan Mitchell (April 26, 2006)
"Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). It fascinates me to hear church members cry out indignantly: "Why doesn't the church do something about (the education program,...
"Progress"
By Stan Mitchell (April 19, 2006)
"The church is under the Word, not the world" (Charles Hodge, Gospel Advocate, January 2004). The discussion I was having was about the role of women in the church, though the specific subject hardly matters. I offered some scriptures on...
Pet Peeves
By Stan Mitchell (April 12, 2006)
"There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him" (Proverbs 6:16). "Pet Peeve -- somebody's constant issue, or complaint" (Webster's). Often the phrase refers to relatively minor irritations that get on people's nerves. My pet peeves...
"Only" A Mom
By Stan Mitchell (April 5, 2006)
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant" (Robert Louis Stevenson). She was "only" a mom, and "all" she did was look after kids. Of course anyone who would repeat the previous sentence...
Lessons From History
By Stan Mitchell (March 29, 2006)
"A nation that forgets its past has no future," (Winston Churchill). I recently spoke to a cleric in another state who says his denomination is being "torn apart" over the question of whether they should worship with an organ, or...
Not the Sharpest Knife in the Drawer
By Stan Mitchell (March 22, 2006)
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29). Police in Los Angeles put a robbery...
Do Something Great
By Stan Mitchell (March 15, 2006)
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4:1). One day as Abraham Lincoln was leaving church, he was asked what he thought of the minister's...
Modesty
By Stan Mitchell (March 8, 2006)
The Lord described one church this way: "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked'" (Revelation 3:17). Now any...
Ours To Fix, Not Ours To Curse
By Stan Mitchell (March 1, 2006)
"... Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy ... to present her to himself as a radiant church, without strain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:25-27). You probably...
It Makes A Difference
By Stan Mitchell (February 22, 2006)
"I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of cold water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward" (Mark 9:41). It's a startling scene. During the New York marathon, as...
"I Was Wrong"
By Stan Mitchell (February 15, 2006)
He wrote these words with a fountain pen before the greatest invasion in history began. The attempt to take the beaches at Normandy against Germany's entrenched defenses was a fearful risk. The effort would be massive, and if the attempt...
Expectations
By Stan Mitchell (February 8, 2006)
Father: "Son, when Abraham Lincoln was your age, he walked seven miles to school." Son: "Dad, when Abraham Lincoln was your age, he was president!" We are usually pretty quick to see how others should behave; we have high expectations...
Good Grief
By Stan Mitchell (February 1, 2006)
"When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his robes ... 'Go inquire of the Lord for me and for the people, and for all Judah about what is written in this book that...
Dying on a Molehill
By Stan Mitchell (January 25, 2006)
"I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord" (Philippians 4:2). Sometimes in a relationship it's a good idea to ask if this is an issue that really matters. There was once...
Compassion
By Stan Mitchell (January 18, 2006)
"Compassion -- A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering" (Webster's Dictionary). Compassion is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and see...
"Christian" PR
By Stan Mitchell (January 11, 2006)
It finally happened the other day. Some fellow phoned and told me he was beginning a "Christian" Public Relations firm and offered his expertise as a PR man. "Are you maximizing (is this a word?) your church programs?" he inquired,...
Blame the Church First
By Stan Mitchell (January 4, 2006)
In her recent book "Useful Idiots," Mona Charen speaks of the impulse some people have to "blame America first." In her view, there are those who will, as a reflex, blame America every time something goes wrong in the world....
An Oak, or a Squash?
By Stan Mitchell (December 28, 2005)
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock" (Matthew 7:24). I confess I don't know what to say when someone compliments me by...
All Right So Far
By Stan Mitchell (December 21, 2005)
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). Barbara Bush, wife of "Forty-one," mother of "Forty-three," likes to offer this prayer: "Dear Lord, So far today I am doing all...
A Christian Family
By Stan Mitchell (December 14, 2005)
"We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, the power, and wonders he has done" (Psalm 78:4). On the way home the little boy sat quietly in the...
Truth and Consequences
By Stan Mitchell (December 7, 2005)
"I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6). We live in a time when truth should be up with the whales and bald eagles on the Sierra Club calendar –- listed as an endangered species. Politicians parse...
The Ground Rules
By Stan Mitchell (November 30, 2005)
John Wooden, who coached UCLA basketball teams to eleven national championships, was more than just a coach. He developed the character of the young men in his charge. At the beginning of a new season his big, red-headed center Bill...
The Church of Tomorrow
By Stan Mitchell (November 23, 2005)
I was about eight years old when I heard the "proverb" for the first time: "Young people are not the church of tomorrow," this speaker declared, "they are the church of today!" I guess I was glad to be included....
Perspective
By Stan Mitchell (November 16, 2005)
Winston Churchill had a knack for spotting things that no one else saw. While other politicians tried to treat Adolph Hitler like a normal, reasonable man, Churchill's keen eye spotted the despot in the NAZI leader. While others were trying...
Why the Church of Christ?
By Stan Mitchell (November 9, 2005)
You have moved into a new community, and are looking for a church home. You may or may not have been a member of the church of Christ in your previous hometown. Why should you join the local church of...
"If Only The Church ..."
By Stan Mitchell (November 2, 2005)
The conversation usually starts out with a concern for the church's growth, or at least it seems so: "The church will never grow," they will begin, "unless we change ..." It's the usual list -- expanded roles for women in...
"Those That Honor Me, I Will Honor"
By Stan Mitchell (October 26, 2005)
An anonymous writer slipped Eric a note. It was a Biblical quotation, from 1 Samuel 2:30. It said, "Those that honor me, I will honor." It must have given him great encouragement, for Eric had just turned his back on...
Politically Correct
By Stan Mitchell (October 19, 2005)
"Deep in a forested bio region stood a small, humble chalet, and in that chalet lived a small, humble family. The father was a tree butcher by trade, and he did his best to raise his two pre-adults named Hansel...
Lest We Forget
By Stan Mitchell (October 12, 2005)
It was 1897, and the most powerful man on the face of the earth ... was a woman. Her name was Victoria, and her power extended from the tea plantations of Darjeeling to the razor-backed Drakensburg Mountains, from snowy Baffin...
What Are You Saying?
By Stan Mitchell (October 5, 2005)
"For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). I was a somewhat average rugby player in school, playing with more ambition than athleticism. I developed a reputation...
"They Were So Sincere!"
By Stan Mitchell (September 28, 2005)
Her eyes shone with the memory as she spoke to me: "I went to this church in the city last weekend, and it was such a wonderful experience! There was drama, and a 'praise team,' and the preacher had all...
Something New
By Stan Mitchell (September 21, 2005)
"Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the chords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons, or lead out the bear with its cubs? Do you know the law of the heavens? Can you...
Mall Church
By Stan Mitchell (September 14, 2005)
"Therefore come out from them, and be separate," says the Lord, "touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17). When the Mall of America opened up in Minneapolis in 1992, it was the largest fully enclosed...
"Good Night, John Boy"
By Stan Mitchell (September 7, 2005)
"Life's golden age is when the children are too old to need baby sitters and too young to borrow the family car" (Anonymous). Remember the Waltons and their late night ritual? "Good night, John Boy," "Good night, Mary Ellen ..."...
Giving Pause for Thought
By Stan Mitchell (August 31, 2005)
“When you come together, everybody has a hymn, or a word of instruction ... all of these must be done for the strengthening of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:26). Let me relate two incidents dealing with the organizing of church...
The Appointment
By Stan Mitchell (August 25, 2005)
There was once a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to the market on an errand. It wasn't long before the servant returned in great agitation. "O master," he cried, "down in the market I was jostled by a...
Gone Fishing
By Stan Mitchell (August 17, 2005)
The new minister confronted Jake Bratwurst and declared: "I'm told you went to the ball game instead of church this morning." "That's a lie," Jake declared, "and I've got the string of fish to prove it!" Two other men went...
Give Them Your Heart
By Stan Mitchell (August 10, 2005)
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15). Charles Swindoll in his book "Killing Giants, Pulling Thorns," tells of a little child who lost a playmate in death. One day she announced to her family that...
Flammable
By Stan Mitchell (August 3, 2005)
"You sympathized with those in prison, and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions" (Hebrews 10:34). As I write these words, the sweet, yellow ranch grass of southwestern Zimbabwe...
Dissonance
By Stan Mitchell (July 27, 2005)
The most precious thing on earth must be the church, for Jesus bought it at an historically high cost, his blood. We wear his name, bear his likeness, and live to honor him alone. Which is why division in the...
Consumer Climate
By Stan Mitchell (July 20, 2005)
"What you have heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:13). We have heard of "user-friendly" technology. Should we develop "user friendly" sermons? There are those who would...
Cut the Cheese
By Stan Mitchell (July 13, 2005)
I was listening to a father the other day at a restaurant (OK, it was McDonalds!). His kids and wife were ranged around him, and he was having a good time. "I'll have the cheese burger," he declared. "Cut the...
Children's Check List
By Stan Mitchell (July 6, 2005)
"The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother" (Proverbs 29:15). My sister's pretty smart. This characteristic runs in the family. She and her husband have raised three good, Christian children. Recently she wrote...
Real Men Love Jesus
By Stan Mitchell (June 29, 2005)
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). His name was Bill, and he was a rancher, tending a herd of several hundred cattle in the breaks around...
Challenges of Being A Missionary
By Stan Mitchell (June 25, 2005)
“The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Donna Mitchell, in her book “Among the People of the Sun,” recalls the day her...
The Difference Between Growing Apricots and Tomatoes
By Stan Mitchell (June 25, 2005)
When spring comes to California, the green grass covers the valleys, yellow California poppies cover the hills, and snow caps the mountains. And in the rich San Joaquin Valley, the apricots bloom. I was with an eighty-year-old friend one spring...
Predictions
By Stan Mitchell (June 22, 2005)
When Las Vegas had the Miami Heat as favorites to beat the Detroit Pistons the other day, the question was asked in our paper: "Do the Pistons have a prayer against the Heat?" When I saw that, I had two...
Paying the Price
By Stan Mitchell (June 15, 2005)
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it" (Matthew 7:13). Jerry Vines has written that "Many people in America today ... are building crowds...
In Spirit and in Truth (5)
By Stan Mitchell (June 8, 2005)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16). Alton Howard once...
Surprise Some People
By Stan Mitchell (June 1, 2005)
According to Christian Apologist C. S. Lewis, there will be three surprises in heaven. "Who's there, who's not there, and that you're there!" Which makes me think of Jesus' statement in Matthew 7:22: "Many will say to me on that...
In Spirit and in Truth (III)
By Stan Mitchell (May 25, 2005)
There once was a little girl who would memorize and say long, complicated prayers with big words. One day someone asked her: "Sally, what does 'Bountiful goodness' mean?" "It means," she declared proudly, "that I am half way through my...
In Spirit and in Truth (II)
By Stan Mitchell (May 19, 2005)
"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Do you ever smile at the things we say during the Lord's Supper? "We gather around the table of the Lord," we will declare, while every child in the building...
In Spirit and in Truth (I)
By Stan Mitchell (May 11, 2005)
It is no secret that worship styles are the big issue in churches of Christ. It seems that agendas abound. On the one hand, there is a selfish desire to do what is right in our own eyes; on the...
High Maintenance Membership
By Stan Mitchell (May 4, 2005)
"(Love) ... is not rude, it is not self seeking; is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:5). The first time I heard the expression "high maintenance," it was regarding a friendship that had been recently...
Growing Up
By Stan Mitchell (April 27, 2005)
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If any one would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me'" (Matthew 16:24). When I was a little boy, my mom cooked meals on a wood stove,...
Early in April
By Stan Mitchell (April 20, 2005)
An atheist complained to a Christian friend: "Christians have their holidays such as Christmas and Easter, Jews have their holidays such as Passover and Yom Kippur, and Muslims have their holidays. Every religion has its holiday, but atheists don't have...
Expendable Parts
By Stan Mitchell (April 13, 2005)
"There are different kinds of daddies," one children's book explains. "Sometimes a daddy goes away like yours did. He may not see his children at all. Some kids know both their moms and their dads, and some kids don't." There...
Connect or Convert?
By Stan Mitchell (April 6, 2005)
If the pressing, eternal problem of man was boredom, then the church's answer would be entertainment. If man's deepest need was to win friends and influence people, we could offer Dale Carnegie courses. If the void in our hearts came...
The Pulpit and the Pew
By Stan Mitchell (March 30, 2005)
"It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). "What does this babbler want to say?" (Acts 17:18). Preaching gets a bad rap, but evidently not for the first time in...
Terms of Surrender
By Stan Mitchell (March 23, 2005)
"When or where did God ever ask sinners how they would like to be saved?" (Charles Hodge, Gospel Advocate, December 2002). That's an excellent question. Who are we, after all? Aren't we sinners, hobbled with a colossal debt to the...
The Gift
By Stan Mitchell (March 16, 2005)
Let's talk about the Holy Spirit for a moment. If my mention of that subject makes you nervous, I understand. When some brethren talk about this subject, they like to either mock Church of Christ sensibilities, thus giving brethren who...
Name Calling
By Stan Mitchell (March 9, 2005)
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" (Romeo and Juliet, Act II, scene ii, line 43). Remember the country song about a "Boy Named Sue"? Names matter! If you...
The Self-Help Section
By Stan Mitchell (March 2, 2005)
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government, and I'm here to help'" (Ronald Reagan, August 1986). There is an old African joke where the Tanzanians, who are socialist, accuse Kenyans, who are capitalists,...
Uncle Jimmy
By Stan Mitchell (February 23, 2005)
Queen's Park was a pretentious name for a working class suburb of Bulawayo. Hundreds of Railway employees lived in hastily thrown up homes covered in adobe under corrugated metal roofs. Every Sunday morning in the 1950's and 60's, when the...
Accountability
By Stan Mitchell (February 16, 2005)
One of the buzz words heard around religious circles these days is "accountability." Apparently the idea is that a group of Christians get together, and "hold each other accountable" for their actions. They urge each other to study the Bible,...
"Say it ain't so, Sammy!"
By Stan Mitchell (February 9, 2005)
When Chicago Cub superstar Sammy Sosa's bat shattered into pieces of wood and, well, cork, the baseball universe tilted south. Sosa, who is not only a great home run hitter, but a perennial good guy, had cheated! How many home...
Tamper Resistant
By Stan Mitchell (February 4, 2005)
"A man who commits adultery lacks judgement; whoever does so destroys himself" (Proverbs 6:32). A mother and her young son returned from the grocery store and began putting the groceries up. The boy took the packet of Animal Crackers, opened...
Be All That You Can Be
By Stan Mitchell (January 4, 2005)
"Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter)" (John 1:42). Gary Smalley in "The Blessing" recounts the following Jewish fable about a woman named Sidel who...
Let's Make a Deal
By Stan Mitchell (December 8, 2004)
A businessman died suddenly and arrived at the pearly gates and was told the glad news that he could enter in. But being a good businessman, he wanted to make one last deal. "Could I," he asked, "go back to...
Having a Bad Day
By Stan Mitchell (December 1, 2004)
You know it's going to be a bad day when you call suicide prevention, and they put you on hold ... when you see a 60 Minutes News Team waiting in your office ... when your birthday cake collapses under...
Bought at a Price
By Stan Mitchell (October 6, 2004)
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your...
Starry, Starry Night
By Stan Mitchell (September 29, 2004)
How many stars did God need to make? The sun -- which is our solar system's star -- we need that one! It provides life, energy and warmth. It keeps us in place, preventing us from spinning aimlessly through a...
Bless You!
By Stan Mitchell (September 22, 2004)
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth, and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so...
Asleep in Jesus?
By Stan Mitchell (September 15, 2004)
"Seated in the window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story, and was picked...
Comrades in Arms
By Stan Mitchell (September 8, 2004)
by Stan Mitchell "Sing to me of heaven as I walk alone Dreaming of the comrades that so long have gone In a fairer region, 'mong the angel throng they are happy as they sing that old, sweet song" (Ada...