Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
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A reader asked for my thoughts on the Parable of the Two Sons given in Matthew 21. Anyone can contact me with questions about my articles or any other biblical topic of interest to them; I’ll respond either directly or in an article. My email address is posted with this article, and my home telephone number is listed. The Parable of the Two Sons is basically a comparison of those who obey God and those who don’t, though they pay lip service. Read the entire context of the parable in Matthew 21:23-32. The Jewish leaders considered the...
I’m a creature of habit, but I’m also fairly flexible so I can address things on short notice. Otherwise, when some of my routines get disrupted, the consequences can be extensive. For example, I usually charge my cellphone overnight, every night, on my nightstand. Recently, on a Saturday night, I left the phone on the arm of my living room chair. I knew before I went to be I should get it, but I didn’t follow through on that. Sunday morning, I put the phone on charge with plenty of time for it to fully charge before time to leave for churc...
I suspect most people know a friend or family member who’s contracted COVID-19. I was visiting with a very devout, elderly couple at church that recently who had it. At one point, the lady said she didn’t know how they got it because they were diligent in protecting themselves and others, not that she was blaming God or thought she was being disciplined for some sin (Hebrews 12:4-13), which many people do when bad things happen. Anyway, I responded it likely wasn’t because of anything they did or didn’t do, but somehow God would bring about s...
For a year, we haven’t seen anything like the peace on earth mentioned at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:14). While each political party blames the other for problems, we’re learning much of the destruction was likely caused by anarchists because they want to live without rules. They’ve infiltrated peaceful public gatherings of both political parties to wreak havoc after the patriotic attendees departed. Patriots love and zealously but legally support their homeland, in this case, the United States of America, including our governmental system, whoever...
On Dec. 20, our preacher spoke about “wonderful” as it’s related to Jesus based on Isaiah 9:6, including that Jesus’ birth was wonderful in his because of the simple location, which we presume to be a stable and not a corral (sheepfold), where there also would be a manger with hay. I then wondered: Why, actually, was Jesus born in a stable or possibly even a sheepfold? The easy answer is, “Because there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:1-7).” The inn wasn’t what we call a hotel; it was likely an upper room in one of Joseph’s Bethlehem relat...
Most Americans would agree this has been one of the most, if not THE most stressful year for our country and possibly the entire world. The ongoing political strife worsened this year due to the presidential and congressional elections, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place for about nine months also have kept us from joyfully celebrating any holiday since Valentine’s Day. Have you realized if Jesus actually was born on Dec. 25, Mary’s travail of pregnancy occurred in the same tim...
Those trying to revise our history and destroy America’s greatness were at it again at Thanksgiving. Some even promoted their anti-Christian agenda by calling the early European Americans “Christians” rather than using the traditional term “Pilgrims.” I don’t mean to imply the Pilgrims weren’t Christians; I’m just recognizing it seemed the history revisionists were broadening their negative claims against the Pilgrims to apply to all Christians by using the different terminology. All Christians make errors in judgment and even still sin, need...
America celebrates Thanksgiving this week. With COVID-19 and all the unrest that’s taken place this year, many may feel they have little or nothing to be thankful for, especially because we’re discouraged from traveling and gathering with non-household members during this holiday season. Traveling and gathering might both actually be forbidden outright in the near future, if not before this article is published. The greatest hope-giving book of all time, the Bible, gives us much to be thankful for, the most significant of which the world wil...
This Wednesday is Veterans Day. While veterans are specially honored on Nov. 11, they should be honored at all times. So, thank you multiplied times over, American veterans, for serving our nation to protect our peace and constitutional freedoms. Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day, ended the “War to End All Wars.” Here’s part of what President Woodrow Wilson said at the first celebration of Armistice Day in 1919: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in...
We’re in some very scary times, but they have little to do with Halloween other than changing how we’re celebrating it this year. Hopefully, that’ll be temporary and the effects of COVID-19 won’t last much longer because many people are living in fear of their economic future. The outcome of the current election is even more scary because it’ll have a much longer influence on our country’s future. So, if you haven’t already done so, without regard to your political views, it’s imperative you express your preferences by voting to have any hop...
Homonyms, also called homophones and homographs, are words that sound the same but have different meanings and usually different spellings (for example, bear, as in carry; bear, as in Smokey; and bare, as in naked). I was recently reminded that homonyms can be fun when one of my devotional writers used the words “hole” and “whole” in an article, although, they made no connection about them being homonyms. So I thought I’d write an article about biblical use of “hole” and “whole” and their homonymic variations, although I can’t even begin...
I’ll not say who specifically is the basis of this article because everyone probably knows someone living the earthly life described below. So, picture this: A person becomes a Christian, but they’re never really able to get over their mischievous tendency, some of which is actually sin. Nonetheless, they always repent and ask forgiveness. Finally, they die, and after entering heaven, their mischief continues to the point that God tells them they must go back to Earth to become more mature. Sound familiar? Thankfully, there are a couple of maj...
For my annual devotional plan, I alternate between reading through the Bible during the year and reading two or three devotional books. While this isn’t necessarily a recommendation of either book, this year I’m reading “The Best of the Bible — 365 Must-Read Bible Passages” (NLT, Tyndale House, 1996) and “365 Ways to Know God — Devotional Readings on the Names of God” (Elmer Towns, Regal Books, 2004). The passages used for Sept. 2 were Matthew 21:28-46 and 1 Peter 2:7-8 for the former and latter books, respectively, and presented a com...
There’s a windmill and capped well where I work next to a new well with an electric pump. Most of the windmill is intact, but the vane’s been locked in the furled position so whenever the wind blows, the wheel doesn’t turn. It couldn’t pump water anyway because the sucker rod’s also been removed. The windmill does still try to align itself with the wind occasionally, making an eerie screeching sound. So, this windmill is strictly ornamental, still standing only for its historic aesthetics, having been repurposed for that to maintain at least...
Well, school has started back, sort of, but on a limited basis because of COVID-19 restrictions. Normally, we’d be encouraged to watch out for the school kids who’d be walking to school or waiting for the bus on busy roads (I know; they’ve played in the streets all summer). I can recall teaching my children how and where to cross streets and even walk safely and courteously on the sidewalk (some people this day and time act like they don’t even know how to walk down the sidewalk). That teaching was based on an old car-insurance commerc...
While it’s been exceptionally hot, I was asked recently about the wind by someone who thought spring had been relatively calm and June seemed very windy. The historical weather data showed they were right. In fact, January through May had well-below-average wind speeds (4.4 vs. 5.0 mph average wind speed for January through May and the 115-year average, respectively), while June was in the top 10 windiest Junes on record at 6.1 mph vs. the 115-year average of 4.8 mph. July and August typically are our calmest months averaging 3.4 mph, but J...
We’ve heard a lot lately about peaceful protests and riots that were relatively unhindered, including looting and destruction, with First Amendment constitutional rights claimed to do whatever they want vs. health orders prohibiting mass gatherings that included limiting in-person church attendance, which have been relatively obeyed. The Constitution’s purposes include establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility and providing for the common defense. Every U.S. resident should read and study the entire Constitution as they should the...
That “politics makes strange bedfellows” is certainly true right now in our country with all the turmoil. The problem with strange bedfellows is when they see each other in the morning, they’ll remember being bitter enemies previously. Literally, by the dawn’s early light after our upcoming election, our flag may not still be there. But this article isn’t about politics. Kentuckians of say, “I’m for the Wildcats and whoever’s playing against Tennessee.” That is, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Kentucky’s next game might be against whoever...
May was hot; the fourth-hottest May in the past 100 years for the average daily high temperature and the fifth-hottest for the average daily temperature. We came within a degree of tying the record for the single warmest day in May. So far, in June, we already have tied one daily high temperature record and broken another, and the average daily high is well above the long-term average for the same time period. It’s been hot! This past Sunday was Father’s Day and the first day of summer (my calendar says that summer actually started at 5:44 pm...
Spring usually is considered planting time, and we’re almost finished with spring planting. But in this area, planting takes place somewhere almost year-round. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 states there’s a time for every activity under the sun, including planting. While harvesting isn’t mentioned in that passage, Genesis 8:22 states harvesting comes after planting, and it’s certain that no harvest can happen if the seeding wasn’t done. The lazy, worthless, wicked servant of Matthew 25:14-30 learned when you’ve been blessed, as we’ve all been, we’re expec...
During homeschooling due to COVID-19, I recalled “The Skeleton Song” used for teaching children the parts of the body. Here’s how it goes: “The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone. The leg bone’s connected to the knee bone. The knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone. Doin’ the skeleton dance. The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone. The hip bone’s connected to the backbone. The backbone’s connected to the neck bone. Doin’ the skeleton dance.” This song is based on one written in the early 1900s named “Dem Bones,” or “Dry Bones,” bas...
Since the beginning of this month and almost within this past week, we’ve celebrated Cinco de Mayo (May 5), the National Day of Prayer (May 7) and Mother’s Day (May 10). Cinco de Mayo is often confused with Mexico’s independence day. However, that’s celebrated Sept. 16 to commemorate Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla, which took place in 1862 against French invaders. The defeat of the French was short-lived, and the second Battle of Puebla a year later didn’t go so well for...
During this COVID-19 pandemic, many people are losing hope, not only because of the disease itself but because of increasing joblessness and the now-depressed economy. But there’s hope because in many areas, the disease has reached its apex or will in the foreseeable future, largely because of the proactivity of our governments and the obedience, for the most part, of the people. God won’t let anything get so bad in this world for Christians that we cannot bear it (Matthew 24:21-31). Just over two weeks ago, the world celebrated the death, bur...
Today is April 15, and your taxes would normally be due TODAY. But, in light of COVID-19, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service has extended the filing deadline to July 15, and, believe it or not, there are no extra forms to file for this extension! In fact, some of you already may have received your COVID-19 stimulus funds by direct deposit without having even filed your 2019 taxes because the government can use your 2018 tax return to determine the amount and how to send the funds. Anyway, many areas of our lives have deadlines, such as renewing...
My April Fool’s Day article will wait another year in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Our preacher’s sermon March 22, titled “Fear, Faith, and Hope” (the basis for this article), was exceptional for encouragement. You can view the entire 12-minute sermon at https://www.facebook.com/leonard.lauriault. Our church is complying with social distancing guidelines although worship centers remain exempt from mass gathering limitations. Since we have many at-risk members, several families met in homes in smaller groups (Philemon 1:1-2; Colossi...