Ecclesiastes 12:10

  Towards the end of the nineteenth century, men of learning argued whether or not some diseases were caused by the microscopically small creatures known as “bacteria.” The champion of the bacteriologists was Robert Koch, and that of the skeptics was Max Joseph von Pettenkofer.   To prove his point, Koch sent Petternkofer a tube that swarmed with virulent microbes that were said to be the cause of cholera.  Pettenkofer—to the great alarm of microbe hunters—swallowed the entire contents of the tube. Then he said, “Now let us see if I get cholera!”  Now there were supposedly enough cholera germs in this tube to infect a regiment but Max Joseph never got sick. Thus, he proved forever the mistaken notion that bacteria could cause infection.     Expect he was completely wrong. The failure of the Pettenkofer to come down with cholera remains to this day an enigma, maybe the vial was not tainted as thought, maybe he just got lucky but one thing is for sure he was not right.  Just becaus

 In 1937, a natural gas leak at the local school in New London, Texas caused a massive explosion that killed upward of 295 students and teachers, the deadliest school disaster in US history. As you can imagine people were heartbroken for the community. Condolences and sympathy poured in from all over including foreign nations. Once such letter read: “For the terrible New London catastrophe costing so many young lives, I convey to Your Excellency my sincere condolence as well as that of the German people”. – Adolf Hitler  It is because of this tragedy that natural gas now smells. In its natural state, it is odorless as well as colorless so the pungent smell is added so a leak can be sensed. Some things may seem harmless but can be very, very dangerous.  If you were only to read Hitler’s letter you might think him a decent sort of guy. Yet the reality was very different. Jesus warned us about those who cloak themselves as innocent yet in reality as on the attack (Matthew 7:15). T

    I do not know if anyone likes to be wrong. Now some are better at it than others but for many of us admitting we are wrong is like swallowing a handful of gravel. It going to take some time and effort and we probably won’t get it all. We might have to do it but we don’t have to like it.   But maybe we should.   In Acts 3, Peter is preaching yet another gospel sermon. After a miracle of healing, he is telling the crowd about the plan of God fulfilled in Jesus and the evil that had been done to him. Peter tells them that even though they “ had acted in ignorance ” (17), they still needed to “ repent and turn to God” (19). He warned them failure to heed the message would end in destruction (23). Yet consider what he proclaims in the last verse of the chapter: " For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways ."   How were they blessed here? By God sending Jesus. How had that blessed them? By turn

    In the 1920s, everyone wanted to play Salem Trade School.   They were a lay-up on your schedule having not one a game for several years. Back in that day, the schools did not organize play but the teams were clubs unto themselves responsible for their activities. Each team would find other schools to play and split the ticket sales, which went to pay for equipment and travel. Since the Salem Trade school would always play at your field, thus giving you the higher share, and were not very good, they were a popular pick.   There was a reason they never played a home game, however. There was no Salem Trade School. The players were not students. It was a ruse cooked up by a man named Harold Burges to make money. He got some adults to pose as students and told them to keep it respectable but to let the other team win. The way the scheme was discovered is they accidentally scored late and the other team couldn’t thus giving them their first win. Reporters eager to write about the sad s

  Consider a man that most would consider the epitome of a good man. He serves at his church, he gives of his means, he prays daily, never misses Bible class, and has no vices to be seen. He has the “pure and faultless” religion James tells us about, he helps widows and is concerned for the kids. Yet this man, on certain occasions when he is mad or challenged when he is tired or frustrated, will say sometimes he shouldn’t. Just a slip of the tongue. He didn’t mean much by it.  An angry outburst, a half-truth, a bit of gossip, a hint of slander, an insult, a dig, not much of anything. Just some words.  Now what does that make of his religion?  The Bible says it is worthless. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. James 1:26  Wait, he is a good man! What about all the things he does?  It's just some loose talk!  Consider what Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:36-37:  " Bu

  In the story of the prodigal son, we see a young man who leaves home to go into the far country. There he falls into a life of sin and excess. His funds from the inheritance run out but then something tragic happens, a famine. This famine means there isn’t enough for the people of that land much less this young outsider. They let him watch the pigs but won’t even let him eat their slop.  It’s only then that the boy realizes the foolishness of his choices and the need to go home. He thinks he will only be accepted as a hired man, not a son but the hunger has burned away his pride. He does not care anymore. Yet his father accepts him back, it even seems he has been watching the road longing for his return. A celebration ensues, rejoicing over the lost one that has come home.  Have we considered however what got him to come home?  If not for the famine the young man may never have had the epiphany that he needed to come back. Famines are terrible things and they don’t just affect one p