Add-On Options
Have you ever been lured to buy a product only to find that the add-ons nearly doubled its cost? Aren't you glad God doesn't charge us for all the extras He provides us in life?
Alan Smith
Alan Smith
Learning from Jigsaw Puzzles
We sometimes wish that everybody else in the church was "just like me," but the things that make us different are actually a blessing.
Alan Smith
Ambiguous Recommendations
It may be that no Christian characteristic has suffered more in the workplace than honesty. It shouldn't be that way. Jesus wants His people to be known as a people of truth. It is important that those around us can trust what we say without wondering whether we really mean it or not.
Alan Smith
Whom Do I Shoot?
In the heat of battle, armies frequently experience casualties due to “friendly fire,” and the church suffers in the same way.
Alan Smith
A Gift That Doesn’t Need to be Exchanged
Admit it; you've been there. You received a gift that makes you grimace – an orange tie with purple stripes, perhaps, or a battery-operated radish peeler. You can't be impolite and say, "I don't like it. I want to exchange it." So what do you say?
Alan Smith
Reaching Out to the Lonely
The phone rang once, twice - then someone picked it up. “You've got the wrong number!” a husky male voice snapped before the line went dead.
Alan Smith
Don’t Be a Stupid Criminal
Trading is an age-old system. But shouldn’t you make sure whatever you are trading is at least as valuable as what you give up?
Alan Smith
What Is Your Stone?
Sometimes, God will tell you to do things that make no sense in the short distance between your nose and the rocks of obstacles and defeats. Once in a while we can get a glimpse of the big picture and see how it makes perfect sense.
Alan Smith
On Your Hands and Knees
We husbands like the idea of our wives coming to us on their hands and knees. We are quick to memorize Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” And yes, the Bible does teach the leadership of the husband. But it is not a leadership patterned after Genghis Khan. Rather, it is a leadership patterned [...]
Alan Smith
Whom Do You Follow?
Yet another urban legend: According to news reports, Lucky, a German shepherd guide-dog for the blind, has so far been responsible for the deaths of all four of his previous owners.
Alan Smith
A Real Pane
The regular minister was stranded in a snowstorm. A young substitute preacher started his sermon by explaining the meaning of a substitute. “If you break a window,” he said, “and then cover the hole with a piece of plywood – that’s a substitute.” After the sermon, a well-intentioned woman complimented the young man. As she […]
Alan Smith
Dog Diversity
How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb? Golden Retriever: The sun is shining. The day is young. We’ve got our whole lives ahead of us. And you’re inside worrying about a stupid, burned-out light bulb? Border Collie: Just one. Not only that, but I’ll replace any wiring that’s not up to […]
Alan Smith
A Difficult Word
While not difficult to understand, reconciliation can be a difficult word to put into practice. It can be very difficult to get two family members who are at odds to be reconciled. And it can sometimes seem very difficult for us (or for others we know) to be made right with God.
Alan Smith
Afraid to Speak Up
There are times in our lives when we are hesitant to say something out of fear. Not fear of being "shot," but fear of being "shot down," fear of being ridiculed, fear of being embarrassed. As a result, given the opportunity to take a stand for Christ, we choose silence instead. It seems "safe" considering the circumstances. May God help [...]
Alan Smith
