Editorials

Below are some editorials written by various people discussing relevant topics for listeners of Christianity For Today.

Editor's Thoughts on War - Pastor ArtHow tragic it is that our world is plagued by war. In my lifetime I have felt the impact of four great conflicts: World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq. Besides these four major wars, there have been countless minor conflicts, which are not minor at all in that they have taken human lives. Whether the wars have been major or minor, they have been started by the acts of wicked... read more	Editor's Thoughts on War
Editor's Thoughts on Pavarotti - Pastor ArtHow saddened we were to hear of the death of Luciano Pavarotti: 1935 - 2007. Dead in his hometown of Modena, Italy at the age of 71, losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. Certainly all lovers of opera mourn his loss. He has been characterized by many as the greatest tenor since Enrico Caruso. I never had the privilege of hearing Pavarotti live and up close in concert. I did hear him on television... read more	Editor's Thoughts on Pavarotti
Editor's Thoughts on Sitting in Church - Pastor ArtHave you ever thought to yourself, why am I sitting here in church. There has to be a very good reason to go to church week after week. Why am I here? As a pastor for many years, I tried to help my congregation to understand the main reasons, why it was important for each of them to sit in the pew. It doesn't matter whether the church is traditional or contemporary or ... read more	Editor's Thoughts on Sitting in Church
Editor's Thoughts on Sharing Christ with Atheists - Pastor ArtDo you know any real live atheists? I don't, right now at least. Actually, the statistics show that most people believe in God. Granted, they may define “God” a little differently, nevertheless, they believe in a “Higher Power”. However, there are atheists out there. I, for one, believe in God--the God of the Bible. In the Bible God has revealed himself as one God in Three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)... read more	Editor's Thoughts on Sharing Christ with Atheists
Troubling Trends at Thanksgiving Time - Pastor Roots Captain, U.S. Navy Chaplain CorpsThere's only so much nonsense any society can tolerate before we either Wake up from our lethargy, or we simply collapse for want of a backbone. I'm referring to several news items that have surfaced this past week wherein our liberties are challenged and thwarted. Allow me to list a few of these for you... read more	Troubling Trends at Thanksgiving Time
Editor's Thoughts on Christmas - Pastor ArtSome years ago I had the privilege of visiting Bethlehem. I went directly to the Church of the Nativity. Descending a flight of stairs I reached a lower level. There the traditional place where Jesus was born is marked with a silver star. Was this the exact place of his birth? How could I know for sure? I couldn’t. However, it really didn’t matter to me. I... read more	Editor's Thoughts on Christmas
Peace and Harmony - Robert DocterThis list of things desired as essential was found in Old St. Paul’s Church, Baltimore, and was dated 1692. In the struggle for peace in our lives, the advice has relevance for us even today. We know it as: THE DESIDERATA Go placidly among the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly;... read more	Peace and Harmony
Editor's Thoughts on a Valentine Prayer - Pastor ArtValentine's Day is here--February 14^th. Everyone gets ready for the big day--cards, flowers, chocolates, special dinners. All this is for people we love: mom, dad, brother, sister, girl friend, boy friend, wife, husband, grandkids. It's kind of a cool thing. Once a year we say, I love you! But wait! Maybe that isn't so cool-to say it only once a year. We need to say this to those close to us often... read more	Editor's Thoughts on a Valentine Prayer
Resurrection From The Dead - Pastor ArtI am a Christian believer. You might wonder, why. There are many reasons. I was born into a Christian family. From my earliest days, my parents and my church taught me the basic facts of the Christian faith. I grew up in a nation that is mostly Christian. I have studied the Bible from childhood. But all of this was not enough... read more	Resurrection From The Dead
Looking For a New Church? - Pastor ArtIt is hard to find a new church! Yes, I know, there are plenty of them around - all shapes and sizes, stripes and colors. But to find the right one, well, that is the real challenge. I have known some Christian people who recently moved to a new community. Having lived in their previous community for a number of years, they were quite comfortable and settled into a church life. ... read more	Looking For a New Church?
Thoughts on Mother - Pastor ArtEvery May we celebrate Mother's Day. It is a time to tell Mom we love her and how special she is. Many give her flowers and take her out to Sunday dinner. If one lives a distance from Mother, a phone call is made. Moms wait for the phone to ring on this special day. Sometimes at church, a flower is given to all the Mothers on Mother's Day. In the past, the men used to wear a red carnation on the lapel of their coat if Mom was still living - a white carnation if she had... read more	Thoughts on Mother
Leadership That Works - Dr. David A. Rupert, Retired Minister and Adjunct Professor Photo Credit: Sebastian Fissore, Cordoba, ArgentinaLeadership is the process of influencing others to accomplish desired objectives. Leadership involves relationships as well as self-development. Different people have said that everything rises or falls on leadership. Why? Because leadership is critical to the life of any organization.... read more	Leadership That Works
A Lesson On Faith - Dr. Chuck Roots Pastor and Captain, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps Photo Credit: Jason Nelson, OhioThe past several months have been filled with visits to the hospital for the Roots family. It all began with the birth of our first grandchild, Alyssa Grace. Due to complications during birth, she was kept in the ICN (Intensive Care Nursery) for nine days, hooked up to electrodes and an IV (intravenous). She came home in early December and has done beautifully. We enjoy her so much!... read more	A Lesson On Faith
Personal Growth For the Chronically Ill - Jonnie Wright Bible teacher and Author of The Silver Bullet: God's Rx for Chronic Pain; Choices: Managing Chronic Pain Photo Credit: Julie Freeman-Woolpert, Concord, NHChronic illness affects nearly one out of every two Americans (133 million people). Impossible you say? 96% of all chronic illness is invisible: no canes, wheelchairs, or other paraphernalia. So despite the hundreds of people you might see in a day, every other person is suffering from some ... read more	Personal Growth For the Chronically Ill
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - Pastor Art, Bible Teacher Photo Credit: Victor Hsu, Shanghai, China, flickr.comSixteen days in August 2008 were dedicated to the celebration of sport with some 200 countries of planet Earth participating. The host country, China, spent 40 Billion dollars to create the Olympic Village with spectacular venues and to host the Olympics. They did a splendid job. ... read more	The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
The American Political Scene - Pastor Art, Bible Teacher Photo Credit: Steve Woods, Collchester, Essex, United KingdomThe whole world is aware that the Americans are having a presidential election in November 2008. The two main candidates are Barack Obama (age 47) and John McCain (age 72). Both are United States senators. For the last two years, at least, they have been running hard for the presidency. ... read more	The American Political Scene
A Response to Economic Struggle in Uncertain Times - David Kendall, David Roller, Matthew Thomas, Board of Bishops Some are saying that we are living in a time of unparalleled economic uncertainty. Predictions of full market recovery are either bleak or very long term. Markets have been reeling, national debt is seemingly unmanageable and the personal impact is quickly being felt by everyone.... read more	A Response to Economic Struggle in Uncertain Times
Christmas 2008 - Pastor Art, Bible Teacher Photo Credit: Mohamed Aly, Alexandria, EgyptHow shall we approach Christmas this year? The whole world is in an economic meltdown. There are still wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is dire poverty in third world countries - especially in Africa and India. Of course, parts of the world (countries where Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism dominate) do not observe Christmas. In any case, the star over Bethlehem still shines brightly for many.... read more	Christmas 2008
A New Year of Changes - Jonnie Wright, author of The Silver Bullet: God's Rx for Chronic Pain, Choices: Managing Chronic Pain, and www.jonniewright.com/blog. Photo Credit: Rob C, Orange County, CaliforniaA New Year has begun. We have just come through the holidays, most of us gasping and glad that it's finally over. So many things to do jam-packed into so little time. Some of us recognized that this last month were holy days and took advantage of the inner peace God desires for us. Most of us, however, got caught up in the frenzy of shopping, baking, decorating, gift exchanges, traveling, family. Too many "have to's" and "shoulds," not enough "want to's" and "did's."... read more	A New Year of Changes
The Resurrection - Pastor Art, Bible Teacher Photo Credit: Rob, YL, CaliforniaJesus Christ is God in the flesh! He came to this earth some 2,000 years ago to undo the effects of the fall (Genesis 3). He spoke as no man ever did. He performed mighty miracles - even the raising of the dead. But the stupendous thing about Jesus was the claim he made. He claimed to be one with the Father. And that is why the Jewish religious leadership crucified him. ... read more	The Resurrection
The Ah-ha Moment! - Jonnie Wright, author of The Silver Bullet: God's Rx for Chronic Pain, Choices: Managing Chronic Pain, and www.jonniewright.com/blog. Photo Credit: Steve Woods, Colchester, EnglandI live my life in the expectancy of the ah-ha moment! A familiar Bible verse comes alive -ah-ha. A pastor's phrase percolates in my brain -ah-ha. Intimacy and transparency bloom in my fellowship/study group -ah-ha.... read more	The Ah-ha Moment!
Does Your Armor Still Fit? - Kit F. Burr, President, Baptist Life Association (II Timothy 2:15), www.baptistlife.org Photo Credit: M Zacharezewski, Warsaw, Poland When was the last time you checked your suit of armor? Does it still fit, or is it too small? Have you kept it in good condition - smooth and shining; or is it rusted and pitted? "What suit of armor?" you ask. "I don't have an old, antique, medieval, sheet metal shell at the top of my stairs like in the movies!"... read more	Does Your Armor Still Fit?
WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE? - Jonnie Wright, www.jonniewright.com Bible teacher and Author of The Silver Bullet: God's Rx for Chronic Pain; Choices: Managing Chronic Pain. Photo Credit: Simona Dumitru, Oxford, England"Religious people are just weak individuals who can't deal with life's problems so they need a crutch called God! They don't want to be responsible for their actions." Have you ever heard a statement like this before? I have. ... read more	WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?
The Pastor - H. B. London, Jr., Vice President for Church & Clergy at Focus on the Family Photo Credit: Anon., Bahrain Focus on the Family's ministry to clergy families began in 1992. I had been the pastor to Dr. and Mrs. Dobson in Southern California. One night we were at dinner with our wives, and Dr. Dobson looked across the table at me and said, "We are receiving a lot of mail from the clergy whose lives are in crisis." And then he said,... read more	The Pastor
Cousin Ardi? - Dr. Chuck Roots Pastor and Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret) Photo Credit: Geri-Jean Blanchard, CanadaWell, here we go again! The banner headline reads, "Darwin could only dream of finding this!" What is "this?" It's Ardi, short for a 4.4 million-year-old Ardipithecus Ramidus. By the way, Ardi is female and about four feet tall. The fossil remains of Ardi were found in the northern regions of Ethiopia in the Awash Region. Paleoanthropologists have been working in the Afar area for more than forty years. ... read more	Cousin Ardi?
I Remember - Pastor Art, Bible Teacher Photo Credit: Christina Chirtes, RomaniaI awoke this morning and began to think about salvation and the wonder of it all. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me that this very day, February 17, 2010 was the anniversary of my salvation 59 years ago. I was surprised. Could it be? I checked the calendar and sure enough. Today, as I write, is my spiritual birthday! ... read more	I Remember

Editorials

Editor's Thoughts on War

Editor's Thoughts on Pavarotti

Editor's Thoughts on Sitting in Church

Editor's Thoughts on Sharing Christ with Atheists

Troubling Trends at Thanksgiving Time

Editor's Thoughts on Christmas

Peace and Harmony

Editor's Thoughts on a Valentine Prayer

Resurrection From The Dead

Looking For a New Church?

Thoughts on Mother

Leadership That Works

A Lesson On Faith

Personal Growth For the Chronically Ill

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The American Political Scene

A Response to Economic Struggle in Uncertain Times

Christmas 2008

A New Year of Changes

The Resurrection

The Ah-ha Moment!

Does Your Armor Still Fit?

WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?

The Pastor

Cousin Ardi?

I Remember