AND LAST IN THE HEARTS OF SECULARISTS
October 13
You shall not bear false witness… Exodus 20:16
Seeking to undermine the Judeo-Christian basis of our Republic, secular revisionists fashionably disparage the Christian orthodoxy of George Washington and maintain that he was a Deist, rather than a Bible-believing Christian. Deism is an infidel theology that denies God’s participation in the affairs of men and thus rejects the realities of Christ’s Incarnation and Atonement. Was Washington a Christian, affirming the activity of God Almighty amongst men? Did he place his trust in Christ’s redemptive sufferings? Content to allow the reader to draw his own conclusions, I submit Washington’s handwritten testimony of faith recorded in his prayer journal when he was twenty:
“O, blessed Father, let thy Son's blood wash me from all impurities, and cleanse me from the stains of sin that are upon me. Give me grace to lay hold upon His merits; that they may be my reconciliation and atonement unto Thee—That I may know my sins are forgiven by His death and passion…”
“…I have sinned against heaven and before Thee in thought, word, and deed. I have condemned Thy majesty and holy laws. I have likewise sinned by omitting what I ought to have done and committing what I ought not... My iniquities are multiplied and my sins are very great. I confess them, O Lord, with shame and sorrow, detestation and loathing and desire to be vile in my own eyes as I have rendered myself vile in Thine. I humbly beseech Thee to be merciful to me in the free pardon of my sins for the sake of Thy dear Son and only Savior Jesus Christ, who came to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me.”
Terry L. Reese
THAT’S MY PASTOR
October 12
And he was well spoken of by the brothers who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him… Acts 16:2-3
My wife and I just celebrated our 50th anniversary, and I can say that we still go out together as much as we ever have, except now it is usually to a doctor’s office. It was in just such a place recently that we saw someone from church. After a quick conversation, the nurse called my wife and I to come back to the exam room. As we walked out of the reception area, I heard the lady from our church tell another nurse, “That’s my pastor and his wife.”
I could not have been more blessed if I had been elected president. For that lady to call me her pastor in a room full of people like that could not have been a bigger honor. It said that she trusted me to preach the truth. She sacrificed her time in life to hear me speak each Sunday. And she saw nothing in my wife or me that made her embarrassed to tell the world about it. I could not have wanted a better compliment, and I have to pray that it never goes to my head.
James says a lot about the power of the tongue, and it mostly comes across negatively. But the power can be just as strong in a positive way as well. We should be as quick to use words to God’s glory as we are to criticize or complain. If our tongue can be a forest fire (James 3:5), it can also be a refreshing oasis in this very dry land. Perhaps the greatest aspect of this was that our sister in the Lord has no idea of the joy she brought me!
Davy L. Troxel
WHAT TIME IS IT?
October 11
Knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. Romans 13:11
This verse talks about our “salvation” being “nearer to us than when we believed.” Actually, you were saved when you believed. So, this “nearer salvation” refers to something else. It refers to being saved from the problems, trials and sufferings of this life. This salvation will occur when one of two things happen. When we pass on from this world and open our eyes in the presence of Jesus, we, the now saved, will then be finally saved. When the rapture happens, we, the now saved, will be suddenly changed and transported into the presence of Jesus finally saved forever more. I believed over 50 years ago. I am now 50 years closer to my final salvation than I was. This was written about 2000 years ago. We are now 2000 years closer to the time of the rapture than we were. It certainly is high time that we awake out of sleep and know that it is about time for the Lord to come for us. And, many of us are sleeping. Not literally, but many live as if the things of God make little or no difference. The challenge of this passage is to live and look like a Christian should because it is high time for the Lord to come.
Obviously, Paul is saying that it is going to matter when we see the Lord if we lived like a Christian should or if we lived like the world. It is certainly time to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Christ, because it may be time today to be with Christ.
Tom Johnson
GOD IS ABSOLUTELY GOOD
October 10
You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:68
In 1808, Allen Gardiner entered the British Royal Navy. It was while he was in the Navy that he got saved. When he was in China and saw the idolatry of the people, God moved his heart to become a missionary. He eventually went to South America to give the Gospel to the unreached tribes there in 1838. In 1851, at the age of 57, he died of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America. When his body was found, his diary lay nearby. It bore the record of hunger, thirst, wounds and loneliness. The last entry in his little book showed the struggle of his shaking hand as he tried to write legibly. It read, "I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God."
Allen Gardiner understood that we are not deserving or worthy of anything; that God owes us nothing. We, on the other hand, owe all we are and have to God.
1 John 1:5 says that “God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all.” This is another way of saying that God is absolutely good/pure. As a result, all that He does is good as Psalm 119:68 says. Psalm 107:1 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”
How has God been good to you this past week? Did you thank Him for the liquid in your eyeballs so your eyes are not itchy? Did you praise Him for the air that you breathe? I praise God that one day last week the pick-up coming right at us did not hit us. God causes His rain to fall on the just and unjust alike. Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to all.” Fundamental to the person of God is His goodness. Our English word “good” comes from “God.” Goodness is the essence of God. There is no evil in Him whatsoever (1 John 1:5).
Ike Graham
EYES TO SEE
October 9
Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” John 6:52
My children have learned the inconvenience of getting a nail or screw in a car tire. The other day, after backing the car into a parking spot, I opened my door to make sure I was parallel to the line. In my excitement that I had successfully performed the maneuver, I exclaimed, “I nailed it!” To which one of my children responded with concern, “Did you hit a nail?”
Figures of speech can be hard to understand at times. Sometimes, they are impossible, as John 6 describes. Jesus wanted the Jews to understand that He had come to this earth, not just to provide them physical bread that will only satisfy their hunger for a couple of hours, but Himself, the bread of life that will satisfy their hunger forever (John 6:35). But the vast majority of the crowd did not understand. They completely missed what Jesus was communicating to them. Why? Because the Spirit had not given them life (John 6:63). They were still blind in their sin (2 Cor. 4:4). They had not been given eyes to see, ears to hear, or hearts to understand and believe (cf. Isaiah 6:10 and Luke 10:23).
Praise the Lord that He has granted you the opportunity to come to Jesus (John 6:65). Praise the Lord that He has given you eyes to see and believe the glorious salvation He has provided for us (1 Peter 1:3-12). May we continue to pray with the Psalmist, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).
Joshua Steiner
GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT DEFINITIONS
October 8
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
I have a little book called Laughter Never Gets Old. It is loaded with jokes, cartoons and humorous writings compiled by Bob Phillips. My favorite section of the book is the seven pages entitled “Daffy Dictionary.” While you may think that you know the true definitions of these words, open your mind to some new ones!
“Archive: Where Noah kept his bees; Benign: What you be after you be eight; Cistern: The opposite of brethren; Dilate: To live long; Fibula: A small lie; Hernia: Pertaining to the female knee; Milk Dud: A cow that won’t produce; Octopus: An eight-legged cat; Polygon: A dead parrot; Sonogram: A telegram from your son; Warehouse: What you ask when you are lost.” Have no fear; Webster’s Dictionary is still correct! However, here are a few definitions that we cannot afford to be confused about as taken from John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world” – Agape love, to give sacrificially to us all
“that He gave His only begotten Son” – Jesus Christ, God’s perfect eternal Son who died and rose again
“that whoever believes in Him” – Faith in Christ alone for forgiveness of sins and eternity in heaven
“shall not perish” – Be lost, separated from God in hell forever
“but have eternal life” – A personal relationship with God Himself now and for eternity
In humility and repentance call to Him in prayer asserting that He is your only hope of forgiveness and eternal life. You will never be sorry that you did, and you’ll want to spend the rest of your life now and in eternity thanking, praising and serving Him! That’s no joke!
Bob Kulp
EVIL AND A GOOD GOD
October 6
The One forming light and creating darkness, producing peace and creating calamity; I am Yahweh who does all these. Isaiah 45:7
One of the questions that almost everyone has asked is, “How can God be good when there is so much evil and suffering around?” Maybe you have asked that question yourself. There are a number of truths that we must keep in mind as we seek to answer this important question. Let’s just look at three.
First, God cannot sin, or even tempt someone to sin. James 1:13 declares, “…God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” Second, man is completely responsible for his sinful thoughts and actions. James goes on to describe the process, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully matured, it brings forth death” (1:14-15). And finally, God is in control of every single detail, He is sovereign. Psalm 135: 6 declares, “Whatever Yahweh pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all deeps.” Taking all of these truths together we arrive at the understanding that God, who is merciful and gracious, has designed a plan that may include suffering and pain, for our good and His glory. Many times we will not be able to understand why He does what He does. But we can rest assured that He has a good reason, and if we had the opportunity to see what He sees, we would acknowledge that His plan is best, even when He sends calamity into our lives. Meditate on the verses surrounding Isaiah 45:7, as you ask God for strength to trust Him.
Joshua Steiner
DOOR
October 5
Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the Lord closed it behind him. Gen. 7:16
I've had the fortune to go many times to see the life-sized Ark near Cincinnati. I was impressed with the large ramp up to the one and only large door. Once God closed it no one could get in. Later Jesus said He was the door of the sheep (John 10:1). Using any other entry method made you illegitimate.
Coming home after a fishing trip, it suddenly dawned on me, my wife was at the store, and I had forgotten to take my key. I remembered that a window in the back, if wiggled just right, would open. I got a lawn chair and boosted myself up. As I put my first leg through, the chair tipped away and left me straddling the window sill, quite uncomfortably I might add! With some difficulty I bent my torso and got my head inside. There was still a drop of 3 1/2 feet to the floor. My wife had placed the cat food and water bowls there so I had to pitch myself forward with a thud. When I recounted my experience to Joanne, she calmly said, "I left the door open for you!"
I now say to you with all the zeal I can muster, "USE THE DOOR!" God has it wide open for you now.
Russ Simpson
GOD IS NOT FEMALE
October 4
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24
In 1972, Helen Reddy accepted the Grammy Award for her song, "I am Strong, I am Invincible, I am Woman." She said, "I'd like to thank God, because she made everything possible." In our day, some even refuse to define male and female. Jesus made it clear that God is neither male nor female. He declared: “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Why then does God refer to Himself as male? Here are 5 reasons:
1) Because He is a Person. As a person, God designates Himself as a male for communication purposes to us.
2) Because, as a person, God emphasizes His Position as king. In God’s plan, males are stronger than females. As the most powerful male, God is king.
3) Because, as male, God is Provider. He is the originator of all good things. He holds all the resources of heaven. And He is a good Father (cf. James 1:18).
4) Because, as male, God is Protector. He is our protector. If an earthly father will spare no effort to help and protect his children, how much more will the heavenly Father love, protect, and help His children? See Matthew 10:29-31.
5) Because, as our Father, God’s Parenthood is emphasized. He is “Our Father.” We are His children (1 John 3:1-2).
Have you expressed to your heavenly Father how much you love Him? Tell Him your gratefulness for His communication, power, provision, protection and close personal relationship. Worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Ike Graham
PRAY FOR THE PERSECUTED
October 3
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
November 2, 2025 is promoted by Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian organization which informs its readers about persecution around the world as well as helping, supporting and encouraging persecuted believers worldwide, as the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. While persecution to us here in the USA is limited, it is a way of life to millions of committed Christ followers on our planet in over 50 countries.
How do we pray for them? The Voice of the Martyrs suggests ten requests. 1) That they will sense God’s presence daily (Hebrews 13:5); 2) That they will know others are praying for them (2 Timothy 1:3); 3) That they will experience God’s comfort (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17); 4) That they will see God opening doors of evangelism (Colossians 4:3); 5) That they will boldly share the Gospel (Acts 4:20); 6) That they will mature in their faith (Colossians 1:28-29); 7) That they will be granted wisdom and protection in their covert ministry work (Acts 9:23-25); 8) That they will remain joyful amid suffering (Acts 5:41); 9) That they will be able to forgive and love their persecutors (Matthew 5:44) and 10) That they will be deeply rooted in God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
How much has your faith in Christ cost you? These persecuted believers around the world are our examples and “veterans of spiritual wars” that we should honor and pray for fervently. “Finally, brothers, pray for us … that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful who will strengthen and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:1a, 2-3). Pray for the persecuted!
Bob Kulp
LOVE LOST
October 2
But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4
This is a letter written by the Apostle John under the instruction of the one in control of the church, Jesus Christ, to a real church that existed around 100 AD. This is a hard working church that doesn’t tolerate evil, and one that correctly discerns those who are false Apostles according to verse 2. And, verse 3 adds that they have not fainted over the years. This sounds like a perfect church. But, the Lord notices a motive problem. It is not what they do, but why they do it. They have left their first love. What does that mean? Well, it means that what they do is not done out of love for Christ. Maybe they do these things out of tradition, maybe habit or maybe because they enjoy what they are doing. It could be that they do these works to please the pastor. But, it also could be simply to add new people to the church so they can boast about their attendance or increased offerings. If these kind of things are our motivations, we have also grown cold in our relationship with Christ. We should do these things because we love the Lord, and it pleases Him to see us doing these things. We are obeying His revealed will for us because His great love for us obligates us to obey Him in all things. That is why we did things when we were first saved. We were excited about Jesus and wanted to serve Him and tell others about Him. Verse 5 tells us to remember that, repent from our laid back apathy and do what we did at the first when we were in love with Christ.
Tom Johnson
THREE!!!
October 1
…baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
D.W. Miller (Understanding Baptism) offers an illustration clarifying the language of Matthew 28:19 by employing an apple, a child, and a pail. On every occasion, when commanded to dip the apple in the name of Billy, and of Sally, and of Mary, the child ALWAYS triply immerses the apple! Try it!
Dr. James Boyer (Brethren Baptism Notes) offered a similar illustration employing silver dollars. Observing the grammatical construction of the passage, he asks: “How many dollars will you need if you are asked to put a dollar ‘into the hand of Peter, and of James, and of John’?” The answer, of course, is THREE; three hands, three dollars! Try it on someone!
C.F. Yoder (God’s Means of Grace) offers an analogy involving the distribution of handbills. If asked to deliver a notice to the house of Mark, and of Luke, and of John, understanding that each have their own house, how many will you deliver? THREE, of course!
Another pair of helpful analogies come to us from D. Vaniman, referenced by T.M. Hodge (Could it be Three?):
“If I should tell [a] boy to dip my pencil into the water, and into the milk, and into the wine, he could not possibly obey the command short of dipping the pencil three times—once into each substance. Again, if I command the boy to write his name into the book of Matthew, and of Mark, and of Luke, he will at once see that he must write his name three times to do as commanded—once in each book.”
Jesus issued a clear and simple command that was universally understood by God’s people for centuries. Why all the confusion today?
Terry L. Reese
GOD IS TRUE
September 30
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me” John 14:6
The Japanese have a proverb: 嘘も方便. One translation is “lying is also a dialect.” I have noticed that this is widely practiced in the U.S. For me, this is quite a change from my earlier years when my dad, as an unbeliever, used to say: “A man’s word is his bond.” And people would seal deals with a handshake. Now, when I watch the news or even read an article, I’m not sure if they are being honest or not. I’m not sure if the facts are being twisted or completely distorted. In such a world, what a great blessing it is to know Jesus Christ, the source and embodiment of truth!
A common definition of truth is: that which conforms to reality. There is no such thing as “your truth” and “my truth.” Truth must conform to objective facts. How can a person be “fact checked” if there is no objective truth? Truth is not limited to the material world of what I can see, taste or touch. There are metaphysical realities as well. This is why we need the Bible. In the Bible, God reveals truth to us that we cannot know or find on our own.
To know the God of truth, therefore, is a great, great blessing! He always speaks the truth and does not lie (Titus 1:2). The sum of all His words are true (Psalm 119:160). The fact that He alone possesses absolute truth gives us the grid which we need to evaluate all statements and propositions which come our way. In other words, the Bible gives us discernment. How are you faring in this world of chaos and lies? Are you able to discern the truth?
Ike Graham
EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU JESUS?
September 29
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us. Ephesians 5:1-2
The story is told of some salesmen rushing through an airport to barely catch their plane. In the process, one accidentally knocked over a table loaded with apples. All kept going except one compassionate man who ended up missing his flight when he returned to help retrieve the apples. He found a blind 16 year old girl crying, groping for the apples while uncaring crowds passed by. The salesman kindly knelt down to pick up the errant and bruised fruit and rearranged it on her table. He gave her $ 40 to make up for her losses and said, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly!” As he walked away, she cried out, “Mister, are you Jesus?” Wow! Has anyone ever mistaken you for Jesus?
As born again Christians in Jesus Christ, we bear His name. Furthermore the Father’s purpose in saving us is that we might be conformed into Jesus’ image and likeness (Romans 8:28-29). Just how will we and others know that we are actually making progress on this goal?
We will love others like Jesus (John 13:34-35). We will live holy lives (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15; Psalm 97:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:22). We will humbly serve God and others (Matthew 20:25-28). We will exhibit Christ-like character (Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 12:19). We will seek out the lost (Luke 19:10).
Don’t ever quit or get discouraged as you seek to be like Jesus! If He has begun His good work of salvation in your life, He WILL complete it when we get to glory (Philippians 1:6). That’s His promise! Maybe even today someone will say to you, “Mister/Madam, are you Jesus?”
Bob Kulp
SECURITY
September 28
I have set Yahweh continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8
Almost everyone today has a smart phone that is constantly before them. We keep our phones at our right hand, ready to be used whenever we have a need. We can buy an app that enables us to keep track of the location of every family member. Some of us even have the security system in our homes connected to our phones. I’m thankful for the many different tools that God has blessed us with in this day and age.
But with great tools, it can be easy to forget, or at least overlook the fact that Yahweh is always with us. He truly is at our right hand at all times. His battery never runs out. He never gets lost or broken. And He is the only constant source of true security we can have. Sometimes He orchestrates for us to go through trials and difficulties when it seems as if He has abandoned us. There are times when our physical security is compromised and trouble comes our way. But even in the midst of the adversity, He has promised to continue to be with us; strengthening us each step of the way. When we set Him before us, while we are going through the crisis, He promises to provide us a peace and comfort that only He can give, so that we are not shaken.
May Yahweh continue to strength us to trust in Him, as we receive the stamina we desperately need to walk the path He has prepared for us. May you experience the security of not being shaken today, as you continue to set Yahweh before you.
Joshua Steiner
BELIEVE GOD’S MESSAGE
September 27
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
Christians of every generation are surrounded by the culture in which they are living. With this comes a temptation to conform to doing things the world’s way. But when it comes to the work of God and the sharing of His message, we must resist the influence of the thinking around us. There is only one message that saves and it is that which is presented in the Bible.
We all want to see more people saved. Certainly, we love our family and friends enough to desire that they, too, would receive Christ. How can we see that they have every opportunity? Perhaps we have common interests with them. Or maybe we know they are going through some trial which God may be using to draw them to Himself in His providence.
We each have a testimony where we remember the circumstances in which God saved us. We know where we were and what we were doing. Maybe we even know the day. But do we know what it was that actually saved us? Do we realize the message which we accepted and came to believe? And do we trust that that same message God can use to save others?
Salvation comes “by grace...through faith” (Eph. 2:8). God works in us as He calls us to Himself such that we come to believe upon Jesus. We know the essential Gospel about what Jesus did for us from the Word of God. At some point a person must hear that message in order to know and believe it.
Remember that when you were saved. It was made possible because someone shared the Gospel with you. Nothing else is able to bring us to God. Share that message with others as God gives opportunity.
Matt Foreman
JESUS AND MUHAMMAD
September 26
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
In 1998 when I worked for Smith Dairy, we had a customer in Beirut, Lebanon. That customer sent his plant manager to Orrville, Ohio for training. His name was Hassan. On one occasion, I took Hassan to the UHT plant in Richmond, IN. During that 3-hour ride, we discussed Islam and the Bible. I was quite surprised when Hassan told me that he also is looking forward to Jesus’ return and His reign on the earth!
However, unlike Jesus, Muhammed never claimed divine status and actually disagreed with the writings of the New Testament. "Christ the son of Mary was no more than a messenger: many were the messengers that passed away before him ..." (The Quran, Sura 5:75). What a contrast to the Bible! Many times, Jesus proclaimed that He is God the Son. He said, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). He declared that He was with the Father from eternity past before anything was created in John 17:5. And the apostle John, one eyewitness, declared in 1 John 4:14 that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
Contrast this to Muhammed who wrote: “God sent me.” One said: “What did He send you with?” He said: “I have been sent to join ties of relationship, to break the idols, and to proclaim the unity of God so nothing is associated with Him (in worship).” When Muhammad heard from God (supposedly through an angel) he cowered, was uncertain, and wanted to commit suicide (Quran 74:1-5). Muhammad saved his own life many times and had others killed.
But Jesus, think about it, laid down His life to save sinners. He proved it by rising from death, ascending back to heaven and is coming again! Are you ready to meet Him?
Ike Graham
GET RICH QUICK … COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!
September 25
Bless Yahweh, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1
We are so blessed to live in a nation that has recognized the need to be thankful to Almighty God and has designated a whole day for such! However, the Bible constantly reminds us that thanksgiving to God is much more than a DAY but rather a DAILY lifestyle, practice, habit and attitude of gratitude. “Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Ephesians 5:20).
As believers we are exhorted to “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name” (Hebrews 13:15). Being thankful for our family, friends, provisions and the ways we see God answering our prayers is very important. But there is nothing greater to be thankful for than to have assurance that one’s sins are forgiven, that he is born again and headed for heaven! This gift is given to all those who humbly pray like the tax collector in Jesus’ parable, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” He was justified in God’s sight unlike the self righteous Pharisee who prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:9-14). How do you pray? Are you thankful for eternal life today?
I encourage us all to sit down and just jot down everything you are thankful to God for. We have prayer lists; let’s also have thank lists! As D.L. Moody said, “We can’t remember them all, but don’t forget them all either!” God bless you as you get rich quick counting your blessings!
Bob Kulp
GIVE ME THAT ONE BACK
September 24
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world,
and death through sin, and so death spread to all men,
because all sinned. Romans 5:12
The only sport I ever got into was archery, and I really took it seriously. By the time I was in college, I had the best of equipment, and I could pop a balloon from 50 yards. I joined an archery league, and we would travel to schools promoting the sport, shooting out candles and breaking poker chips. Once, we even took on the Fort Wayne police pistol team in a target shoot!
I can’t forget that moment when I won my first tournament. The rule was that you had to shoot a 275 out of 300 before you could wear the black outfit that we used as our uniform. One arrow after another I loaded onto the bow: load, raise, draw, aim, hold your breath, release. Then that awful moment of silence as you wait for the arrow to snap the paper target as it hit. Sometimes I could tell right away that it was not going to be a bullseye, and I thought, “Oh, no, I want that one back, quickly before it hits!” Sure enough, it missed the mark. You do that, too. You and I do it every day.
Romans 5:12 uses the word “sin” or “sinned” three times, and the word in Greek is hamartia, which means “to miss the mark”. Like you say the wrong thing, you let a chance to witness slip by, you get too busy to pray, you get the scripture reference wrong, you ignore a saint who needs a boost, etc., and the minute it’s out, you feel it: “Oh, no, I want that one back, quickly.” But like with the arrow, it’s too late: it’s already on the record. You’ve missed the mark. God’s target will tell the score someday.
Don’t quit. Just knock the next arrow and try again. And try to improve. You won’t hit 300 in this world, but you can always do better than last week.
Davy L. Troxel
YOU SAVONAROLA, YOU!!!
September 23
Blessed are you when people insult you… Matt. 5:11
Back in the early 80’s before becoming a Christian, I remember hearing the name Savonarola various times—always in a negative context. In an interview, the celebrated writer James Michener criticized Jerry Falwell, stating that he was WORSE than an Ayatollah—he was a Savonarola! Around the same time, while sitting in a college class, I also remember Savonarola being defined as the worst vandal in human history—a proto-fascist cultural barbarian who stood for destroying priceless works of Renaissance art.
It wasn’t until after my conversion that I heard the name mentioned in a positive context—within the historical section of Halley’s Bible Handbook—which was startling!
So, who was this man? Savonarola (1452-98) was a friar of Florentine, Italy who was noted for his rigorous moralism and fiery denunciation of the worldly culture of his day. In his open-air preaching he continually railed against the corruption, greed, and heresies of the Roman Catholic Church—and called to account the decadent Medici rulers of Florence. But even as the “establishment” loathed him, he was equally beloved by the common people! Unsurprisingly, he was arrested, tortured and hanged, with his body burned in Florence’s main square.
As a pre-Luther, proto-Reformer, he taught salvation by God’s grace alone through faith alone (Eph.2:8-9) and affirmed that the Bible alone should be the Christian’s final authority (2Tim.3:16-17)! Denouncing salvation by good works, Savonarola was a forerunner of the Reformation (as Luther later acknowledged).
It is worth noting that the same sort of sophisticated “elites” that persecuted this man in his lifetime persist in vilifying his name! But this is exactly the treatment that Jesus said that we should expect. (Matt.5:10-12, John 15:18-21). Rejoice—and BE a Savonarola!
Terry L. Reese